MILITARY HISTORY GROUP VISIT TO GUERNSEY

On a very windy Wednesday at the beginning of September sixteen members of the Military History Group crossed to the Channel Island of Guernsey (some by air but the majority by ferry).   Domiciled in a small, comfy hotel with great views of the sea rolling into L’Eree Bay they ventured out each day to visit the many interesting museums on the Island together with the remaining historical sites of the German occupation during World War II.

First off was Castle Cornet, the ancient royal fortress which has stood guard over St Peter Port for nearly eight centuries.     It was a pity that this was the one day on which it rained, causing the expected air display to be cancelled but the five museums housing The Story of Castle Cornet, The Maritime, The 201  Squadron RAF, The Royal Guernsey Light Infantry and The Royal Guernsey Militia museums held enough interest to occupy the Group for the day.   Seeing all the enormous rocks off of  L’eree Bay left us in no doubt that the Shipwreck Museum in Fort Grey would be full of interest, as of course was the Occupation Museum, the Underground Military Museum, Fort Hommet Gun Casement, Pleinment Tower (a 5-storey naval observation tower used by the Germans 1942-45) and many more places of interest to visit.

On alternate days we chose our own itineries;  a favourite choice was to view the Guernsey Tapestry, ten embroidered panels worked by ladies of the Island, illustrating 1000 years of the history of the Island.   One day several of the sturdy walkers in the Group took the ferry to Herm to circumnavigate that island.   Mention must be made of an archaeological ‘dig’ taking place not far from the hotel where a team from Southampton University and the British Museum were excavating a Neolithic and early Bronze Age settlement.   On their Open Day they exhibited their diagnostic finds of pottery and fine arrow heads.   Alan Povall, swift off the mark as always, has engaged their leader to come and tell Wokingham U3A about their work next year.

 We had two days of good sunshine but it did not rain again although the whole week was very breezy.   All too soon it was time to return to England after seven interesting days spent in good company having expressed our thanks to Patsy and Ted for having organised the holiday so well.

Joyce and Brian Bird