STP Victoria Tower
Details
This is a Martello tower and was the last tower to be built in Jersey. It was constructed in 1837 and named after Queen Victoria to commemorate her accession to the throne. Victoria Tower would have been one of the first military buildings to be constructed under the reign of the newly crowned queen.
The purpose of the tower was to prevent the enemy from landing at Anne Port and to prohibit access to Mont Saint Nicolas, thus safeguarding Mont Orgueil. Following a survey of the island's fortifications by Lieut.-Colonel G. G. Lewis (the Commanding Officer of the Royal Engineers), in 1831, the Defence Committee ordered a series of forts to be built. The tower was constructed under the guidance of Lieutenant-Colonel K. H. Oldfield, the Commanding Engineer in Jersey.
During the Occupation, the German forces fortified this hilltop, but most of their works are now inaccessible. The requisitioned land was used as the headquarters for the 2nd Battalion Artillery Regiment.
Numbers
Four NCOs and twenty-four Other Ranks. Reserve: Three officers, eleven NCOs and thirty-six Artillery Other Ranks and one NCO and twenty Naval Ratings.
German Record Details
3 x le.MG 34 (2 als s.MG eingesetzt)
2 x 5cm Gr.W.210(f)
2 x 20cm le.Lad.Werfer
1 x 3,7cm Pak
1 x 4,7cm Pak K/36 (t) mit MG gekoppelt
1 x m.Flammenwerfer
1 x 40cm Scheinwerfer
1 x 150cm Scheinwerfer (Haus Garenne)
2 x le.MG 34 d.Art
2 x MG 08 d.Art
2 x 2cm Flak 38 d.Marine
Weapons and Equipment
Three light Machine Gun 34’s (two also with heavy Machine Gun mounts)
Two 5cm French mortars
Two 20cm spigot mortars
One 3.7cm Anti-Tank guns
One 4.7cm Czechoslovakian Anti-Tank gun mounted with a Machine Gun mounted on a revolving platform One medium flamethrower
One 40cm searchlight
One 150cm searchlight
Two light Machine Gun 34’s of the Artillery
Two Machine Gun 08’s of the Artillery
Three 2cm Anti-Aircraft guns of the Navy
Objective and Function (translated)
The Strongpoint Victoria Tower has in particular orders to defend Gorey Harbour and Anne Port Bay from enemy landings from the sea and through fire to prevent attack from land and air. Additional defence with infantry. The Battalion Command Post of II/Artillery Regiment 319 and the Radio Location Apparatus (RADAR) of the Navy. By attack against Gorey Harbour work together with Resistance Nest Gorey Harbour, by attack against the Strongpoint work together with the Artillery and Navy
