German WWII Defences, La Corbière (MP2) Jersey (CI)
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Once upon a time, a long time ago (1961) when I was working in Jersey (CI) I became aware of the Nazi occupation of the island covering the period 1940-45. The signs of the occupation were to be seen along part of the coast in the form of the observation towers and gun batteries which were to provide a "ring of steel" around the island.
Although more had been planned, only three towers were constructed before the end of the occupation: No.2 at La Corbière (shown above); No.3 at the north-west most tip of the island; and No.1 at Noirmont Point, overlooking St. Brelade's Bay.
It was this last one I chose for my suggestion that it be turned into a German museum with a certain amount of bells and whistles. I made the suggestion in a letter to the Jersey Evening Post, the island's only newspaper, and one which came through the occupation in grand style.
My letter suggesting a museum,
and the put down by G C H LE COCQ
I was quickly put down by G C H LE COCQ who was very insulted by my suggestion, and there the matter rested.
My recent comment to the Jersey Evening Post
and C Le Verdic's reply
Jumping forward to today, the Post reported recently that an archeological dig at Grouville had turned up a ceramic plate with a swastika on it. I was reminded of my 1961 suggestion and drew the paper's attention to it anew in a comment on their piece (above).
This evoked a reply from C Le Verdic as follows:
What a superbly penned put down from G.C.H. Le Cocq (not De Dotteville, then?) and what superb revenge has been served cold by Noirmont eventually getting your museum and, as far as I know, Le Cocq not getting his cross.So I checked it out, and sure enough
P.S. Well done keeping the cuttings. I would have done the same!
The bunker has been restored to a very high standard and provides a unique insight into the sheer scale and thoroughness of German military engineering.I'm sure it lacks some of my suggested bells and whistles but it is a restoration.
It is said that revenge is a dish best served cold and it is none the less sweet for a wait of over half a century.