10 July 1940

10 July 1940 Channel Island defences and transport requirements

Light cloud, sunny, severe thunderstorm in the evening. Our own reconnaissance on Guernsey confirms that no modern fortifications or batteries exist. Some old forts contain old gun barrels as museum pieces.

A small motor vessel provides communication between Guernsey and Sark, occupied by an Army detachment. A powerful seaworthy motor lifeboat is available for communication with Jersey. There is as yet no sea service to the mainland. The chief difficulties are lack of suitable vessels, shortage of personnel and inadequate protection of the route from Cherbourg to the islands.

Apart from Cherbourg and ports in the inner Bay of St Malo—St Malo itself lies outside the sector—there are no suitable harbours from which a service can operate regardless of tides. [Handwritten addition: also Granville.] The principal ports on the west coast of the Cotentin have been reconnoitred, particularly Carteret and Portbail, which give the shortest crossing to Jersey. All these ports dry out at low water.

To provide an initial service for small passenger movements and limited freight, a pilot boat is immediately being made ready and equipped. It will be stationed at St Helier, Jersey, and sail from there to Carteret on the rising tide, returning to Jersey on the falling tide. Available smaller vessels are to serve between Jersey and Guernsey.

This service cannot be considered adequate in the long run. Larger military transports, including light and heavy anti-aircraft guns, and probably relief transports in the foreseeable future, will be necessary. Regular supply of the islands will become an urgent issue in a few weeks [“days” corrected]. Exporting tomatoes and potatoes from the islands to the mainland is also desirable.

A regular service from Cherbourg to the islands is not recommended. The route is unprotected, and losses to submarines or motor torpedo boats must be expected. Protection by our own aircraft or motor torpedo boats will not always be available. Navigational and weather conditions, as already demonstrated, also impede regular service. By contrast, the route from St Malo to St Helier on Jersey appears relatively secure. For navigational reasons, submarine operations there seem unlikely; it is much farther from enemy bases and protected by intervening ... [Continued on the following page.]

Channel Island transport assessment continued

[Continuation.] ... islands occupied by us. The principal traffic from the islands to the mainland also followed this route in peacetime. St Malo harbour is in good order. Signed Stichling.

T-1022 Roll 2448, T1022_R2448_English_Translation.docx. Archive and frame references follow.
PG 38117 | Frame 00512 | War diary page 18
PG 38117 | Frame 00513 | War diary page 19