14 August 1943 Part 1

14 August 1943 Channel Islands Sea Defence diary

Weather: wind 270°, 11 m/sec.

22:00. St Sampson, Guernsey, reported that the British fishing boat G.U. 28, with a crew of three, had left St Sampson harbour to fish at 16:25 and had not returned by 21:55. It had last been seen at 16:50 near the western foghorn at Guernsey's northern tip by another British fisherman.

Subsequent investigation established that, in addition to the three crewmen, the boat's owner had escaped aboard it. Three women and a fisherman had also been missing from the island since midday on 14 August; it had to be assumed that they too had escaped aboard G.U. 28. The probable flight to England was reported to the 3rd Security Division at about 22:30. Since no further information about the boat had been received, the escape was presumed successful. The departure of fishing boats from Guernsey was prohibited with immediate effect until further notice.

Construction report, Naval Artillery Battalion 604.

Batterie Mirus: work continued on mine fencing before and behind the perimeter wire, infantry positions around the guns, the day room and living barrack at No. 2 gun, widening the battery's central road, and the sports ground, including a running track and jumping area. Organisation Todt continued excavation at anti-aircraft position No. 5 and shuttered No. 8 for pouring. Windheim carried out camouflage at No. 1 gun and the fire-control post; Oval and Bruns carried out horticultural work at No. 4 gun.

Batterie Steinbruch: plastering continued in the galley building, together with work and painting on the communal barrack. Living quarters in crew bunker No. 4 and the fire-control post were further fitted out. Searchlight Anton's accommodation was completed, and construction began on a workshop with accommodation. Infantry positions and excavation for the petrol tank continued. Organisation Todt completed shuttering at anti-aircraft position No. 2, removed the shuttering from water tank No. 1, reinforced anti-aircraft position No. 1, continued levelling and began the ammunition bunker's sewage ditch. Siemens completed the heating installation in the fire-control post and began the installations in living bunkers Nos. 1 and 2; connections for the Seipa and Epa equipment were completed.

Batterie Strassburg: camouflage painting at the first, fifth and sixth Oerlikon guns was completed, and earthwork began for an ammunition bunker at the second Oerlikon. Wiring at the medical building was completed and a 3.7-cm armoured cupola installed in the Doyle position. Accommodation and ammunition bunkers were camouflaged with paint and nets; day rooms were arranged at the guns, and ammunition work was carried out in Fort George. Organisation Todt carried out no work. The fire-control-post water pipe was repaired.

Batterie Lothringen: work continued on the office barrack, camouflage at No. 1 gun and ammunition rooms 2 and 3, and the infantry close-defence positions. Organisation Todt stripped shuttering from the fire-control post, poured the extension at No. 4 gun and continued horticultural camouflage at No. 1 gun and the first Oerlikon.

T-1022 Roll 2422, scans 0683–0685.