10 July 1943 Part 1

10 July 1943 Channel Islands Sea Defence diary

19:15. Weather: wind 270°, 5 m/sec. The closure of Route Ida between points 12 and 15 was lifted.

Construction report — Batterie Mirus: fitting-out of the fire-control bunker and gun wiring continued. Infantry positions were laid out within the wire perimeter. Work continued on the sports ground; the concrete road at No. 1 gun was camouflaged, and a staircase was built on the upper gun circuit towards No. 3 gun. Camouflage was fitted at Nos. 2, 3 and 4 guns, work continued on the washing barrack at No. 4 gun, and paths were laid to the living bunkers at Nos. 2 and 3 guns. The wall at No. 3 gun was demolished, and clearing and gardening were carried out at the fire-control post.

Organisation Todt continued embankment work at Nos. 2, 3 and 4 guns. A hot-water tank was installed in the fire-control-post boiler room. At the anti-aircraft positions: concrete work continued at No. 1; levelling at No. 2; plastering at No. 3; and excavation at Nos. 6 and 8. Gardening and camouflage continued at all guns. Air screens were fitted in the bunkers and the bunkers' gastight closures were checked.

Batterie Steinbruch: work continued on the galley, communal barrack and timber lining of the fire-control post. Infantry positions were extended, communication trenches dug and buried machine-gun positions restored. Organisation Todt poured a staircase to the fire-control post, continued excavating anti-aircraft positions Nos. 1 and 6, further banked the ammunition replenishment bunker and continued reinforcement work at anti-aircraft position No. 2. Work continued on the water supply in the fire-control post, and cables and junction boxes were installed.

Batterie Strassburg: infantry positions were extended; camouflage of the guns was completed; and camouflage of the anti-aircraft positions and accommodation began. Reinforcement of the wire obstacles was almost complete. Telephone cabling and installation of the heating and ventilation systems continued. Half of the barracks and accommodation were tarred, cleaning of all latrines began, and clearing work within the battery continued.

Batterie Lothringen: the infantry defensive works were extended; work continued on the shelter for searchlight C and the daytime accommodation for searchlight B. Battery personnel assisted the horticultural camouflage work. Organisation Todt continued reinforcing the second storey of the fire-control post; the first storey of the bearing post was ready to be poured. Horticultural camouflage continued. The source distinguishes the fire-control post (Leitstand) from the bearing post (Peilstand).

Naval Artillery Battalion 605 — Batterie Annes: living bunker II was removed from shuttering and was structurally complete. The base of the fire-control-post living bunker was poured, and shuttering and reinforcement for walls and ceiling began. Earthworks for the drainage of living bunker II and general levelling continued. Battery personnel extended the searchlight positions, field positions and wiring. Siemens and Naval Artillery Arsenal fitters worked on the lighting, telephone and fire-control systems.

T-1022 Roll 2422, scans 0666–0668.