The Heritage open day included Fort Leicester - although there was little or no reference to the German Searchlight shelter or the two MG stands in the material on site!

I was there for a short time and overheard a number of the questions from visitors about the wartime use.

The September meeting was a well attended slide show by Michael Ginns MBE entitled "Miscellaneous slides"

Great French trip - re-scheduled, after initial problems with an invisible coach (like last year! )

A great day was held - Thank you Paul for organising.

Lots of Photos from Graeme Delanoe here Thanks Graeme.

The Armourer - 6 pages Britain at war - 6 pages

And Noirmont features in the French "Batailles" magazine number 28.

A less well attended but very interesting visit to St Aubin's Fort led by Martin Walton.

A very well attending Walk La Moye Area - led by Michael Ginns MBE, assisted by Jeremy Hamon

We visited M10 and M10a. thanks to the land owners and the Jersey Amateur Radio Society.

The 2008 Review (no 36) has been published by Guernsey and will be distributed to

members over the coming week or so.

Paul Burnal gave an excellent presentation on the M19 Fortress Mortar.

Member Richard le Tissier has published a book entitled Mined where you walk  - an illustrated

history of the German Occupation of Sark 1940-45.

Engelbert Centre, with from Left to right  Geoff, Malcolm, Paul and Kevin - May 2008

An excellent talk by Dr Gilly Carr - The Archaeology of Occupation and the V-sign Campaign,

pictured are Dr Carr with member Mark Lamerton.

The Mar/Apr issue of the Armourer includes a 2 page article by Mark Lamerton

on freedom trench art.

The German War Cemetery book has been updated and re-published. It costs £3.50 and is

available from St Brelade's Church.

Loopholes magazine includes a 3 page article written by a visitor.

Film show with German newsreel film from 1944 - including Rommel's inspection of the troops

The Jersey War Tunnels has received the Renault Char B from Bovington Tank Museum

on six months loan. This was used by the Germans in Jersey and  after the war and sent

to the School of Tank Technology in 1946. Well done to Paul Simmonds and the team from

the Jersey War Tunnels for getting this to Jersey for us all to see at first hand.

You can read more and see a large number of close up pictures about this actual Tank

 in the Japanese book Char B1 bis

50+ members enjoyed the illustrated talk by David Maindonald entitled - Guernsey revisited.

New book published (in German) by Harry Lippmann from (DAWA) MilitarMuseen Kanalinseln

68 pages and over 100 photographs.

The Jersey museum has an exhibition of liberation and 1945 royal visit pictures from David

Gainsborough-Roberts Collection. The exhibition runs until the end of February 2008.

A very enjoyable (if poorly attended!) archives evening thanks to all that helped to organise this.

An excellent talk by Peter Tabb, previewing his new book it is hoped will be published in the

Spring of 2008

Four members of the CIOS (Jersey) appear in an article produced for a local

Kristiansund (Norway) newspaper. They visited one of the only M19 fortress

mortars still remaining in situ in 2005!

A great daytrip to Maisy, Crisbecq and Azeville, thank you Paul for organising

and to Mark Lamerton for the pictures.

Martin Walton leads an excellent ramble around L'Etacq including a visit to the privately owned

670 casemate and tunnel complex - Thank you Chris.

Michael Ginns MBE talks to members about the flak Batteries in St Ouen. The

weather was windy to say the least!

The CIOS (Jersey) Fortifications get an excellent piece in the Jersey Tourism brochure - June

Events Diary

             

Paul Burnal Says a few words at the Launch of the new guide book to the 60+ members present at the Command Bunker, including 20+ from Guernsey and the UK. Richard Heaume (from Guernsey) toasts the CIOS Jersey

Launch of New 18 Page Guidebook to Batterie Lothringen

Engelbert Hoppe (the M19 Commander from 1944/45) returned for Liberation

day. He gave members further insight into his time here in Jersey and his life

after the war, dedicated to peace and Anglo/German relations, His story is

told in the 2007 review.

                           Engelbert signs a 2007 review for young Member Bodie.

An excellent talk by Dr Gilly Carr entitled 'Occupation Trench Art and

Narratives of War'

The 2007 Review is published and will be distributed to members during the next week.

The Armourer magazine for May/June 2007 features an article by Dr Gilly Carr (Who is

talking to us on the evening of 8th May)  entitled Occupation artefacts and Narratives of

War and covers 4 colour pages.

The free magazine 24 Seven has a 3 page article on our work at Noirmont and features our

president Paul Burnal.

Millbrook 4.7cm Pak 36(t) anti-tank gun Bunker is undergoing restoration work

An excellent talk on Aerial recognition - by Trevor Davenport from Alderney

AGM

A very interesting talk by Chris Addy from the War Tunnels research centre.

Feb 2007

Further excavations at the Sechsschartentürme bunker at Corbiere. A 2 page spread in the local paper. 

Further excavations taken place at Noirmont. Ammunition bunker no VI (as the inscription

says) and the barrack hut position.

David Maindonald gave a comprehensive slide show comparing pictures taken 25 years ago

to the same fortifications today

Jan 2007

Hazel R. Knowles Smith has published her research "the changing face of the Channel

Islands Occupation - Record, Memory and Myth. Hazel gave a talk to us in the Spring of 2005.

Simon Dodkins arranged his first Archives evening. It was a great success with 50+ members

reviewing a small selection of our files.

Thanks to Geoff for his excellent display of wartime artefacts from the Masonic temple , to John

for his family album of cuttings etc, to Odette and Dave for the drinks/nibbles and artefacts they

brought along, to Martin for his display of maps and signs to Malcolm for cycling the German

bicycle along for display and of course for Simon organising the evening and retrieving the archive

files.

Thanks to all others who gave raffle prizes or helped before and on the night itself. £78 was raised

for CIOS Funds.

A short visit to the mushroom tunnels - numbers were very limited and 25 people visited

on the day.

Jeremy Hamon gave an illustrated talk "Norway - its not just the big guns"

An excellent Annual Dinner at the Ommaroo attended by 40+ members including Chris Davies

from the UK. Peter Tabb gave an excellent after dinner talk.

Visit by Rene Roede (Fortress books) and 20 "bunkerfans" from Holland.

An illustrated talk on Sark during the Occupation by Richard le Tissier.

Archives book number 8 re-published. The Organisation Todt and the Fortress Engineers in

 the Channel islands (members will get a flyer within one week explaining where to get one

from).

The Esplanade 4.7 is back!

An excellent piece by Ian Chatterley in the states staff magazine "Changing States".

Michael Ginns MBE leads 35+ members of the CIOS on a ramble around the North of St Ouen's

Bay.

The July/August Armourer magazine includes an article covering Guernsey's German

 Occupation Museum's 40th year of opening.

A return to his Bunker! Engelbert Hoppe (82) visits the "M19" at Corbiere

where he served to May 1945.

Paul Burnal leads 40+ members of the CIOS on a ramble around Corbiere.

The 2006 Review (No. 34) is printed. It runs to 128 pages and was published this year by

Guernsey.

Michael Ginns MBE leads 40+ members of the CIOS on a ramble around the Esplanade area.

Visit by Henk Meijer from Holland, he is involved with a Bunker restoration group and they have a

website: http://www.bunkerbehoud.com take a look.

This month's Armourer magazine includes an excellent article on Liberation

maps by member Mark Lamerton.

Jersey Member Richard le Tissier will be publishing a book entitled "Island Destiny" on 12th May

(£6.95) which tells the story of Werner Rang, a German medical orderly who be-friended and later

married Phillis Barker, from the Island of Sark. Richard will also be giving a talk to the CIOS

(Jersey) in September.  Local members will be able to buy this book NEXT MONTH in St Helier bookshops. Information on availability for UK/Overseas members from Seaflower Books, 16A New

St Johns Road , St Helier, Jersey JE2 3LD

www.ex-librisbooks.co.uk

Martin Walton gave a very informative illustrated  talk  entitled "German Artillery in Jersey" and

bought along some large ordinance to show the principles.

The French Magazine 39/45 Magazine number 232 includes a reprint of the article in the 2005

review entitled "Les projecteurs allemands a Jersey 1940-1945"

AGM held, some changes to Committee and a change to rules of the Society to confirm CIOS

(Jersey) is not a re-enactment organisation and to not allow the wearing of military uniforms at

An L403 Fortress Command Bunker uncovered (on private property) for the first time since 1951.

Members had a visit on 1st April.

Some vegetation clearing at Le Fret Point has uncovered more of a large personnel/storage bunker hidden for a number of years in the undergrowth.

Jersey granite and German Concrete - a talk by Michael Ginns MBE

A year on from the 4.7cm Pak 36(t) anti-tank gun position at Resistance Nest Richtfeuer being

"saved" it has started to be demolished! The latest is this is coming down and will be re-erected -

 (without the observation slit) - Get your last photo's whilst you can.

Jersey Heritage offer MP2 as a Holiday let.

http://www.jerseyheritagetrust.org/heritagelets/la%20corbiere%20radio%20tower.htm

Dedication of a Bench at Noirmont Point in memory of two very hard working members of the

CIOS in Jersey - Ray Palmer (died 2000) and John Aubert (died 2004)

Jan 2006

Jeremy Hamon gave an illustrated talk entitled Scheinwerfer

A new Osprey book announced - due to be published in February 2006. Number 41 in the Fortress series entitled The Channel islands 1941-45: Hitler's impregnable Fortress. Written by Charles

Stephenson.

(This is now out but has a different cover)

A new "then and now" book published called As time goes by - the occupation years (available

at all good bookstores in Jersey.

A talk by Alan Allix with slides showing the staff of FK515 at college house

A talk by Michael Ginns MBE "The Siege of Cezembre"

Chris Shaw gives a talk to  members on

"The construction & durability of the concrete of the Atlantic Wall" on 21 September 2005

A talk on the big guns by Terry Gander

The Jersey Evening Post dated 20 August 2005 discusses possible "Ghosts" in the German tunnels/bunkers. Overseas member Dave Williams recently visited and felt a "presence" in a

number of fortifications. He has even seen OT  and slave workers "in" HO8 [Jersey War Tunnels].

Michael Ginns MBE is pictured with Dave Williams investigating the whole subject at Les Landes.

A recent publication on minefields, published in Guernsey.

Festung Guernsey is looking likely to be published in the next year or so. The limited leather

bound edition can be ordered from Guernsey for £750 and an "ordinary" version is also promised.

See link below for further details.

NinexFive magazine for August 2005 (Issue 6) includes a full page advert for the TA and shows

the TA repairing the roof of the Noirmont Command Bunker.

Michael Ginns MBE answers questions during the ramble around Tabor Lane to explore the

 tank billets and workshops.

The April issue of 39/45 Magazine includes an 8 page article on the German fortifications of the

Nicolle Tower, owned by the Landmark Trust and used as a holiday home, is open to the public

for the first time since renovation. This tower started life as a signal tower in the mid-1700's and

was used by the German occupation forces as an Observation Post for Batterie Seeckt, located

The 2005 Review (No. 33) is printed. It runs to over 150 pages and was published on 12 May.

Also published by the CIOS is an archive book entitled Operating Under Occupation. Both are

available (see "Books for Sale" page).

                        

Type 634 Bunker at Stp Corbiere. The turret was removed by explosives in 1953 but the bunker

has been excavated and is connected by a ladder and tunnel to the adjacent M19 Type 633

Fortress Mortar Bunker. Picture 2 shows the stove and escape shaft hatch, and picture 3 the

The 4.7cm Pak 36(t) anti-tank gun position at Resistance Nest Richtfeuer looks to be saved and will be integrated into the "Island site" development.

We will wait and see what happens - Thank you Matthew for lobbying for this.

  

Looking down the ramp of No. 2 Gun at Batterie Lothringen, showing the newly excavated

passage to Ammunition Bunker No. I (on the right as you descend the ramp) and Ammunition