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.