The Alderney Cow

Alderney Military Annals
Volume 1
Edited by
Trevor Davenport

CONTENTS

1. Alderney and the 1890 Naval Manoeuvres
2. Tanks on Alderney (during the Second World War)
3. Aerial Photo-Reconnaissance and Intelligence Maps of Alderney during the Second World War
4. British Divers employed by Germans in Alderney in 1943
5. A Short History of Battery ‘Blücher’, Alderney
6. The Last German Convoy from Cherbourg, June 1943

During the thirty years since its first publication, there have been a number of articles in the Alderney Society Bulletin that have described certain aspects of the military and naval history of the island. Considering the effect and influence that military matters have played in the history and development of the island, these Bulletin articles have been relatively few in number. Moreover, it is only in the last ten years or so that there have been any comprehensive publications that describe both the Victorian and German fortification of the island together with the stone and concrete legacies of these periods which so dominate Alderney’s landscape.

It has been suggested that, while the articles in various past Bulletins have covered many aspects of Alderney’s military history, they frequently remain hidden and forgotten in boxes or, at best, in obscure shelves of those who still retain their Bulletins. It has become obvious that there is considerable interest in Alderney’s martial past, and in the last few years disdain for anything relating to the German Occupation has given way to curiosity. As unpleasant memories fade, the most traumatic period in Alderney’s history is now becoming an accepted part of the island’s military past along with the Victorian period and is increasingly of interest to both visitors and islanders alike.

Consequently the Alderney Society has decided to republish certain of these articles, together with some updating of the text and illustrations, in a series of publications entitled Alderney Military Annals. It is hoped that these will be of interest to those visitors to the museum who are particularly interested in the military and naval aspects of the island’s history.

This first volume of Alderney Military Annals is composed mostly, but not entirely, of articles from recent Bulletins. This is mainly because they have numerous illustrations and need little editing.

Cover photographs:
37mm Flak gun on York Hill
Braye Harbour during 1890 Fleet Manoeuvres
Torpedo Boat No27 - British First Class Torpedo Boat 1886
15cm K18 gun of Battery ‘Blücher’

Price:£3.50 (GBP)
Plus postage (varies according to destination).

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