Saturday exploring

Left St Anna at about half twelve. The weather is warm, sunny, but with a cold bite to the wind so i figured it's definitely a day for exploring. Found myself at Fort Raz but it's all locked up, so i tok the coastal route across the rocks and headed for fort houmet herbe. Its not the easiest of rambles, but i made it in one piece. This was definitely occupied and modified at some point. There's red brick modifications and gun posts on the top of the fort. I want to head inside but its dark even now and i didnt bring my torch. Should think about heading back with someone else that's willing to watch my back while we look around properly.
Im going to head back home now, though. Get to the road and head straight back to st anne. I'll take a quick look for any graffiti around the lit parts of the fort, first though.

Bibette head

The first structure is called Biberkofp, it is a bunker that has been cleaned out. It took a few years for it to be cleared and 3 attempts for Caroline to be able to go completely inside. Use would have been for defence only. Graffiti has been found already and has been documented and recorded. A stenciled graffiti that looks like 2 others from the west battery is on the wall. (The German writting on the wall is "Stopfen-wieder einsetzen! Sonst Todesgefahr! Translated, using google translate as "Insert plug-again! Otherwise danger of death!"). The paths underneath to other chambers go north with many rooms leadingnoff. There is a room that is very tall with what looks like to be a gun bottom. It has a very large heavy iron door to it. There is visible windows towards the top that was used to put the gun out. There is anothe stencilmwhich was found and photographed. What we can make out of it "Bei gasgefahr verbin dunqsstück mit rotem ring ber ausneholen und. Raumfilter ansdrauber S - Fitter oben filter unten" by using google translate "Ausneholen in gas hazard connec dunqsstück with red ring and over. Cabin filters ansdrauber S - Fitter top filter down".

A group of 4 of us scale sketch plan of the East wall of the 4.7cm PakK 36 (t) bunker. The structure itslef is 5meters by 4meters. This bunker woukd have been used for defence. It has a pit infront of the structure (East) that is 3meters deep. This is where the empty shells would have come, out of the chute so it's easier to reload and also doesnt take up space inside. All thatbwould have been seen from the outside of the gun would be the ball mount with the protruding muzzles and viewfinder. ( www.alderneylivingisland.com). The gun is aiming at Château à L'etoc, it may have been defence for it for those who would attack from the bay.

Lager sylt 2015

We entered 5he campby a road that split into two. The germans buolt these road for easy transport. On the way to the gate posgs a bunker, that was cleared 2 years ago it was a guard bunker to guard the people coming in and out of the camp. A pill box left of th gate also who would have had a german man stationed with a peep hole looking towards the gqte posts.

The gate posts themselves are very tall stront structures. Looking at the map of larger sylt (black and white) there is a large d3pression in the soil which isnlabeled as 'Q' it is full of ivy, know to stick to buildings and concrete. Theyhave been addressed as the prisoner quarters.

A foundation of a toilet block that is visible for us to see was excaavted 2/3 years ago, it is not on the map that was illistrated, but was very easy to find with little vegstiin groeth on the top of it.

The cellar sas brick built shower that they used better reasources for themselves, the kitchen entrance had steps going directly down into it. Walking to the comanders house nothing other than the (white airport building) and the gates posts nothing is visible. Showjng that everythung was hidden perpouely.

The commander maximillion, had a tunnel to and from a building in a prisoner area, it has been speculated that it was used for him to take women from the camp.The building has been thought of, to be used as an air raid helter. There are numerous holes and pipe work coming in through the roof. And a stairway going to the roof, there is a shoot thag is assumed to be a loundry shoit and the room underneath used to do loundry. Either way, it shows easy access to the commanders house.

Day one walk

Took a discovery walk to Lager Silt. On our way we tried to identify the buildings we passed, but it's pretty difficult when we don't know what we're actually looking for.

Lager Hellogland was the first fort we passed. There doesn't seem to be much left of it, on the surface, though the vegetation changes suggest there may be something below the surface. What's left standing has been converted into storage by the surrounding populous.
Between Lager Hellogland and Lager Tourgis is a field of changing vegetation and flowers, including poppies.

Lager Tourgis is off limits to us, but a preliminary survey of the outside suggests it's very well preserved, despite the fact we know parts are falling down. The windows are barred and boarded up and there are concrete block chimneys as well as more modern red brick and plumbing pipes.
There's a white washed stone and cement cone right next to the fort. We have no idea what it's there for, yet. More research needs to be done on Fort Tourgis.

There is a third and fourth fort in the distance (Fort Doyle and Fort Grosnez?). I knew they were frequently built, but I didn't realise they were so close together. They really are in walking distance from each other. Now I double check, actually, its more likely to be Fort Grosnez and Fort Albert.

On the right on our way to the West gun battery there was a smallfield of grassland. There were a couple of patches of yellow wild flowers. Why only in such close patches that are far apart? It's probably nothing but still caught my attention as strange.

The west batterie seems to be a series of bunkers, some of them are overgrown with plants but the entrances to others are open. They'll be something to explore later if we can.

We've arrived at Lager Silt now. Time to see what we're doing for the rest of the day.

Alderney Field Group 2015

Starting the wqlk from the house our first location of interest was the quarry, which distributes water all around the island. Opposite the quarry on the beach front we noticed a gun point situated in the rocks. It has been made out of concrete and rock to blend in with the natural rock. To the right of the beach front a fort has been built under the instructions of Queen Victoria.

Our next area of interest was the main camp for jewish prisoners which have the main gate posts still intact. (142) Interstingly the owners of the house have put a matching set of posts up, not knowing why the first set were in the first place.

An area that wasn't alocated in the map that we have explored was the German 10.5cm K331 (f) and machine gun bunker for beach defence. From this angle you can see the fort that is previously mentioned.
The second gun bunker was the German 7.5 Pak 40 that has a visible concrete marknthat enabled them to move the large machine gun.
The Victorian Caponier has two loopholes to enable younto see across the bay east and south, it was also used for flank firing.
Another bunker, on top of the previous would have held the Geman 60cm searchlight sheltrt with the crewroom/generating bunker. It has a room to be kept in to protect frkm the weather and again it has the view from the east tothe west of the bay.

We passed Fort Tourgis an abandoned Victorian fort that was used to hold prisoners during World War Two. It has been abanded for years and has an eerie feel to it. There is a white painted cone shaped structure after Fort Tourgis. We are unsure of what this is or what it is useed for.

We passed a very old rock, the Neolithic Dolmen rock. The french translation is La Roc à l'Epine. We also passed a Vicorian Fort, Fort Clonque that can only be accessed when there is a low tide.

On our way to the gun battery we passed what we believe to be as another bunker, there were two access points but had iron bars to keep us out. . The battery itslef was rather large and covered in a type of camofladged cincrete. Although still visible to us standing, when yiu wakk away from it, it hides in the grass. If the path had not been there, we would have missed it. There is access points to go under and  it is visible to see through holes jn the concrete. On the second battery there is a metal ladder leading underneath but it is garded by iron bars. There is also another access point, a ramp that goes underneqth. It is barely noticable ciered in shrubs and grass but it is possiboe to see thqt there is a wall on each side leading down underneath.

For the amount of constructiin that has been built by those who were either forced (slave labour) or volunteered the island never went inti combat. Alied invation 1994.

Fort Tourgis - 21/07/2014

Looked at Fort Torguis, to see what has happened to it over the years. Its eerie there to know that over the years so any people have stayed there, and theres so much history there and yet its completely deserted now. It was incredible to see the graffiti that has been added over the years and how different people respond to it.
I think the main thing that makes the Fort so eerie is how well some things have weathered, compared to other items. In the basement prep room there were writings on the wall in pencil that are still complete and legible, whereas within the prison cells there are pencil marks that are nearly completely faded.
In the prep room there is evidence of how these historical sites are treated, as the rear of the door has had a target etched into it, and a projectile has been fired at the targets, then removed the objects.
On one wall there was a range of graffitis from various years, including 1991, 1977 and 2003.