1 August 1944

1 August 1944

At 23:52 the Guernsey radar station located several enemy targets three nautical miles east of Sark. They advanced as far as the Ecrehous reefs north of Jersey, attempted to pass through slowly, then turned back and withdrew southwards west of the reefs. Although they remained within the Jersey Artillery Group's field of fire for 36 minutes, Battery 5./1265 fired only six salvos without effect. The Channel Islands Sea Defence Command opened an investigation into why the enemy had not been engaged more vigorously. [T-1022/2175, scans 0007 and 0011]

The command expected St Malo to become isolated and ordered preparations for harbour demolition and for the defence of the fortress. It warned that the islands’ already difficult supply position would become critical if the St Malo route was lost, since Granville was no longer available and alternative traffic from Brest would be hazardous and limited.

Jersey batteries 3./1265 and 5./1265 fired on radar-located targets. The diary recorded a reported hit on a destroyer; three independent observers were said to have confirmed the observation. Batterie Strasbourg on Guernsey also engaged sea targets. These were contemporary German claims and were not independently verified in the diary.

St Malo reported enemy armour moving from Pontorson towards Dol and prepared the immediate demolition of the harbour installations. A 19:20 attack by forty Mitchell bombers destroyed the MAST oil depot near St Malo railway station but caused no damage or casualties in the harbour or roadstead. The Harbour Commandant was appointed deputy to the Fortress Commandant.

Roll 4009, PG 37596, scans 0097–0106.
Roll 2424, PG 38004, scan 0912 (St Malo Harbour Commandant War Diary).