At the AGM Michael Ginns MBE retired from the Committee after 40 years of continuous service - a monumental achievement. He is replaced as Vice President by Matthew Costard, who has retired as editor after 24 years! Paul Ronayne has taken up the mantle of editor - an extremely difficult and exacting role, vital to ensure our profile is maintained. Other Committee positions remain as last year, with Bob Le Sueur retiring as one of our auditors and being replaced by Graeme Delanoe.  

A financial report was made by David Letto and a copy of the summary accounts are here on our website.  

Membership fees remain at:  Single member £18 p.a., Couple £27.00, Junior (under 16) £13.50, Family £27.00 (plus £6.00 for each child), Overseas (not inc UK) Members EUR25/US$35/£23

Festung Guernsey publish their Tunnels book Jersey members will be able to order with next mailing in early March

Day Trip to France - a great day - but it did rain, thanks Noel (pictured) for organising trip.

More pictures here - thanks to Graeme Delanoe

"Feuerplan & Azimuth - The Remaining  Evidence"  - an illustrated talk by Neil Walker

Fabulous talk standing room only - Thank you Neil

A fabulous talk by Bob Le Sueur - Normal life in abnormal times 1939-45

A fabulous selection of slides from Michael Ginns MBE

A very successful archives day at Noirmont, 1000+ visitors and a very good report in the local paper, well done to all involved.

Thank you to Jersey Evening Post.

'Channel Island Surrender aboard HMS Bulldog, 8th/9th May, 1945'– a very detailied  illustrated talk by Mark Lamerton

A very enjoyable Annual Dinner at the Monterey Hotel - Thanks for Noel for organising and Bob Le Sueur

for speaking after the dinner.

Jersey  experiences in the First World War,  contrasting with that of the Second World  War and drawing

some links  between the two – an very interesting illustrated talk by local historian Ian Ronayne

Fabulous talk - Observation posts and similar structures - an illustrated talk by David Maindonald

The CIOS thanks David for his series of excellent talks these last 5 years - he is taking a year off in 2012!

Flak and Rangefinding - The by Neil Walker

French Tanks - an overview of their development 1917-40, their use in Jersey  as runners and as fixed fortifications (turrets) - An illustrated talk by Jeremy Hamon

A very interesting talk on De Gaulle's short visit to Jersey en-route to London in 1940 by Robin Pallot.

A Guide to the German Shoreline Defences of St Aubin's Bay Published, copies will be available

at the monthly meetings or can be ordered via email.

Other books available to members - contact the Secretary if you are interested in a copy.

Archives day Noirmont point - Hundreds of people came to see the various displays. A very successful day.

Thanks to all who helped, in particular Colin Isherwood, Neil Walker, Martin Walton and of Course Mr Noirmont (Paul Burnal).

A display of archive photographs and  Neil explains how the German optics and rangefinders work....

Damien helps on the book sales desk

Junior member Baodan eyes the periscope - after liking the limpet Stew!

Fantastic ramble around Batterie Seydlitz, Thank you Colin for organising and to Oscar Chevalier for giving us access to his land and providing some fabulous insights into life during  the Occupation in this area.

Day trip to Guernsey. Thank you CIOS (Guermsey), Festung Guernsey and Richard Heaume.

During a visit by four members to Hanstholm in Denmark, Jens Andersen, the Museum Director presented four of his books on fortifications in Denmark to the CIOS Jersey Library. THANK YOU JENS. Jens is second from the left in the picture below.

A series of War films to be shown "old style" at the Jersey War Tunnels, organised by Blue Badge guide Remi Couillard. Tickets £10 from Tourism or Jersey War Tunnels. First Showing is "the Blockhouse" - filmed in Guernsey on Thursday 3rd June 2010.

Members were treated to a fascinating talk by Mark Lamerton - Liberation the first 12 Hours.

Annual review published by Guernsey.

A fascinating selection of slides and Talk by Michael Ginns MBE. We were further grateful to have the moving testimony of two people  who had visited HO2 at the time of the tragic deaths of the two boys in 1962.

Alderney at War by Brian Bonnard republished in larger format and available at WH Smith in Jersey, with quite  lot of pictures.

A visit from our French Bunker historians Marc Braeuer (curator of the S414 bunker in Saint-Nazaire) - Alain Durrieu (author of the book « Des Bunkers et des Hommes and Rodolphe Nagaele (Luftwaffe Specialist).

To coincide with Dr Gilly Carr's exhibition in Guernsey ( http://www.cont-ed.cam.ac.uk/who-we-are/institute-staff/133-gillian-carr) an excellent new book has been published and is available from La Société Jersiaise Bookshop.

The Jersey Tourism booklet for the Spring/Summer 2010 includes Tony Robinson who is quoted as saying...." The survival of these historic sites is down to a band of volunteers - the Channel Islands Occupation Society......." Thank you Tony, praise indeed.

101v at Noirmont opened for the first time since 1948 - Thanks for all who helped or came to support the entry.

Mural in the 101v

Whoever loves his nation, proves  it only through the sacrifices which he is willing (or ready) to give for it"

10 Feb

A fantastic visit to the cold war civil emergency headquarters - ex telephone repeater Bunker. Many thanks to Mark Lamerton for organising and to Michael Long for opening for us and giving an insight into the cold war.

CIOS Jersey member Geraldine Hultkrantz publishes a fiction book set in Jersey in the Occupation entitled A Time to Tell (available at Waterstones), this is Geraldine's second book her first being a biography of her Father's exploits whilst in the 30th Assault Unit under ian Fleming (Available at the Maritime Museum).

An excellent talk on Telephone and Exchange Bunkers by David Maindonald

2009

Excavations at Noirmont 101v are complete - entry to the bunker itself likely to take place in early 2010.

An excellent talk on the banking crisis 1940-45 by Mrs Mary Gibb.

Michael Ginns MBE in conjunction with the Jersey War Tunnels publishes his long awaited definitive book on the occupation of Jersey. Entitled Jersey occupied 1940-45, the book runs to 540 pages and is only available from the Jersey War Tunnels - Michael will be signing copies 10-12am on Saturday 6th November.

We are looking at the best way to make these available to UK and overseas  members - without he postal costs being prohibitively expensive.

An excellent further slide selection and talk by Michael Ginns MBE

German Railways in Jersey

Works starts on the excavation at Noirmont - The 101v Bunker, help can be given on Sat or Sun pm over

the coming weeks.

Excellent talk by Neil Walker on German Optics

Visit by Sven Zimmer and Julia Remmel

Sven opens a B1.1 Bunker as part of the Westwallmuseen Saar-Mosel e V

www.westwallmuseen-saar-mosel.eu

French trip

Resistance Museum - St Marcel

Grand Blockhouse - Batz-Sur-Mer

FL242 V. Naval Flak Brigade Command Bunker at St. Marc-sur-Mer

Batterie

St Nazaire

Paul Burnal led a fantastic walk around Rozel Fort thanks to the kind permission of the owner.

It was interesting to see the Searchlight dolly wheels which he has uncovered.

The second group stragglers finished with a look at the second tank turret position on the pier,

now a water overflow tank.

Britain at War July 2009 includes an article on members Damien Horn's museum.

Martin Walton walks members around Batterie Mackenson, showing photos from 1945 when the Guns were removed.

A great annual dinner was enjoyed by 30 members.

Engelbert Hoppe visits us once again to see his "old bunker" and "new friends".

2009 Review Published

Archives day at the Jersey War Tunnels - thanks to all helpers on the day this was well received and there was a significant increase in attendance over November!

Tony Robinson from Time team visits our Bunkers at Corbiere and Noirmont, he was in the island

undertaking some work for tourism.

Member and Blue Badge guide Tom Bunting with Tony at the M19

Tony looking down the barrel of our 10.5 K331(f)  Schneider gun at Corbiere

Malcolm, Jeremy, Paul B. and Kevin with Tony (Thanks also to Paul T. for opening casemate)

David Chapman gave a talk to a full audience entitled Methodism in the Occupation to tie in to the Launch

of his book:

New Book Launched: Guernsey under Occupation The Second World War Diaries of Violet Carey, which will be published by Phillimore & Co. Ltd see www.phillimore.co.uk for further details.

AGM - Welcome Bernie, Damian and Colin. Thank you to Malcolm, Kevin and Geoff. Book sale raised £132 for the CIOS, Thank you to all who participated or donated books.

Colin Isherwood made a welcome return as a presenter by talking to us about the German road system.

14 Jan

Alderney revisited - An excellent illustrated talk by David Maindonald, showing pictures taken in the late

1970's

The January issue of British Archaeology includes an 5 page article by our good friend Dr Gilly Carr, looking at WW2 Relics in Guernsey (thanks mark for the tip off on this one)