I specialise in World War II history tours/walks & videos in Guernsey, Alderney & Sark 🙂 Photos taken at the time help bring the walk to life.
(67)
I became a tour guide primarily because of my great interest in local history, but specifically military history in connection with the Second World War and the German Occupation of the Channel Islands. I have established eight walks:
THE SECRETS & MILITARY HISTORY OF THE L'EREE PENINSULA
A tour of the L’Eree headland which brings to life my passion for World War II German and Napoleonic histor
y and fortifications around the L’Eree headland area. This circular walk also takes in a Neolithic/Bronze Age passage grave and other Neolithic stone building, features of the Ice Ages from 120,000 years ago, the best preserved WWII German trenches in the island, the wreck of the ‘Prosperity’ – as well as existing German and Napoleonic fortifications. The walk possibly includes a look in a preserved German anti-tank bunker if time permits. THE MILITARY HISTORY OF L'ANCRESSE & PEMBROKE
This tour takes in the area between Fort Le Marchant and Fort Pembroke and focuses on the important and interesting military history of this area from the late 18th Century to the German Occupation during the Second World War. There are many period photographs to help visualise the past. If time permits, a visit to a newly opened-up and preserved anti-aircraft German command bunker is possible. THE SECRETS & MILITARY HISTORY OF THE JERBOURG PENINSULA
This tour is a circular walk around the Jerbourg headland and focuses on the history of this area since prehistoric times, but primarily on the WWII German fortifications of this area, including stores of the first British commando raids of the war. As in my other walks, there are plenty of period photographs to help bring the past to life. THE SECRETS OF THE GERMAN WWII MIRUS GUN BATTERY
A tour of one of the four vast German underground batteries, that made up the largest gun battery in the Channel Islands. This particular one is the best preserved and shows how much effort went into Hitler’s directive of October 1941 - making Guernsey into an impregnable fortress. This tour is brought to life with many photographs taken at the time of its construction and use. THE WWII GERMAN OCCUPATION OF SARK
This all-day walk that I lead twice a year, takes in many interesting sites on the beautiful Channel Island of Sark that was occupied by the German Forces from 1940 until 1945. We will walk the route of two infamous British commando raids, visit the murder scene of a German Officer, look around the area where the German Head-quarters were situated, visit the field where an RAF Lancaster crash-landed, visit the local cemetery and graves of people and personalities who featured in the occupation years, visit two tunnels constructed by forced labour and other places connected with the Occupation. Plenty of contemporary photos help bring the walk to life. We stop for refreshments and lunch. THE WWII GERMAN OCCUPATION OF ALDERNEY
This fascinating all-day tour visits various WWII German fortifications on the peaceful Channel Island of Alderney that was occupied by the German Forces between 1940 and 1945; these include the remains of the only SS forced labour camp on British soil, a coastal defence gun battery and associated structures, two underground tunnels built by Russian & Ukrainan forced labour under the Organisation Todt, an infantry Strongpoint consisting of many structures including the only remaining steel armoured cupola in the Bailiwick and an infantry position that was built into an old Roman fort. If time permits, a visit to the Museum and/or the main German Command Bunker may be possible. We stop for lunch and refreshments. THE GHOSTS OF THE WWII MIRUS GUN BATTERY
In recent years, a number of 'ghostly' goings-on have been reported in many of the four large Mirus underground bunkers, and this has attracted one or two paranormal investigation teams to investigate and see if they can find any evidence of this activity. This tour & talk will concentrate on this fascinating and spooky activity rather than a general Occupation tour of the bunker, with first and second-hand stories and sightings and my own personal experiences. If those who attend are interested, and want further information, we can talk about our paranormal team who regularly investigate there. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE WALKS, I ALSO UNDERTAKE PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS WITH MY TEAM 'PARANORMAL EVENTS GUERNSEY' (P.E.G.)
‘Paranormal Events Guernsey’ is a locally-based paranormal investigation team, who have evolved over the last two years, and now regularly host both public & corporate paranormal evenings where we use specialist equipment to try to find evidence of the paranormal. After conducting these investigations for nearly three years, we are now a credible, experienced paranormal investigation team with an array of paranormal investigation equipment at our disposal. Our paranormal evenings are organised and structured so that everyone experiences various investigation techniques, and whatever your beliefs we promise a thought-provoking, fun evening for all. The public evenings are usually fully booked within a short time of advertising them, so early booking is recommended. Those with any previous experience of paranormal investigations, and those who own EVP or EMF meters, infrared cameras or other equipment are most welcome. Please check out our Paranormal Events Guernsey page and also our YouTube Channel - where we have uploaded many videos of our investigations!
05/11/2024
** TOMORROW EVENING **
‘THE FORCED LABOUR CAMPS OF ALDERNEY’
An illustrated talk by moi on the camps that were set up in Alderney to house the thousands of forced labourers sent there to build the numerous concrete fortifications, the conditions they endured, the rumours & myths that have abounded in recent years and the result of the official enquiry of what went on in Alderney during the Occupation.
Location: Guernsey Areo Club
Date: Wednesday 6th November
Time: 8pm (Doors open at 7.30pm - grab a drink as it’s expected to be busy)
04/11/2024
MUSIC VIDEO AT THE VALE CASTLE
During this summer, we had the idea to make a music video combining history, original music, the world’s youngest history presenter ‘Zac’ and a bunch of kids ‘flossing’ to a specially written track by local songwriter Tewnafish called ‘Here We Go’ 👍
‘Floss’ dancing was popular a few years ago, but we decided to try to revive it for this video using the Vale Castle as the backdrop and young kids willing to come along, have some fun and ‘floss’ their stuff … and some parents too!
This is the result …. please ‘like’ or subscribe:
This music video is the result of an idea to combine a bit of history and music with the world’s youngest history presenter and a bunch of kids ‘flossing’ to...
27/10/2024
‘THE FORCED LABOUR CAMPS OF ALDERNEY’
An illustrated talk by me on the camps that were set up in Alderney to house the thousands of forced labourers sent there to build the numerous concrete fortifications, the conditions they endured and the rumours & myths that have abounded in recent years.
Location: Guernsey Areo Club
Date: Wednesday 6th November
Time: 8pm (Doors open at 7.30pm - grab a drink as it’s expected to be busy)
24/10/2024
‘Neon Lights’ is the new track I’ve written, with a little help from AI, after the recent passing of a family member.
I wanted to convey in words and music, the sadness when someone close dies and the emotions that people go through when dealing with such a loss.
This song is for all those who have lost someone close …. may they all rest in peace.
‘Neon Lights’ is the new track written by me after the recent passing of a close family member. I wanted to convey in words and music, the sadness when someo...
16/10/2024
After the results of the enquiry into what went on in Alderney during the German Occupation were published, here is a presentation on ‘LAGER SYLT - THE ONLY SS CSMP ON BRITISH SOIL’
Of all the four main labour camps, Sylt was the most notorious. Originally run by the OT, it was taken over in early March 1943 by the SS Totenkopf Division until the camp was destroyed in July 1944 when the last of the inmates and SS staff left for France following the ‘D’ Day landings.
For those who want to know more about Sylt, the following video made by the world’s youngest history presenter, is based on facts and gives and insight into the camp and the SS staff who ran it:
The Only German 'SS' Camp On British Soil In The Island Of Alderney
Although it's widely known that the British Channel Islands were occupied by German Forces between 1940 - 1945, what is not so well known is that things took...
16/10/2024
Did you know there was once Napoleonic signal stations & towers in Guernsey, Jersey, Sark & Alderney?
Only one survives in the Channel Islands good enough to visit, and a few months ago the world’s youngest history presenter travelled to Alderney to bring you the history of this prominent landmark on the island - ‘Telegraph Tower’ - which played a part in the defence of both Alderney and the other islands against invasion and attacks by the French:
The world’s youngest history presenter travels once more to Alderney where he shows us the history of a prominent landmark on the island - ‘Telegraph Tower’....
11/10/2024
I had the pleasure of being asked to take part in a podcast yesterday for the popular ‘Islands at War’ podcast series with Nick Le Huray & Keith Pengelley …. about the Lancaster that landed in Sark, the German Railway, the Allied Air Raids on Fort George & the Alderney Labour Camps and recent enquiry into how many died on the island …. out soon!
‘Islands at War’ is definitely worth searching out and listening to if you have an interest in the German Occupation of the Channel Islands …. Nick & Keith do a brilliant job in getting interesting Occupation-related topics out there to the public to listen to 👍
SS-Hauptsturmführer Maximillian List: Commandant Of Sylt Concentration Camp On Alderney
In light of the recent findings into how many forced workers died in Alderney during the German Occupation there, the world’s youngest historian has put together a little video about SS Commandant Maximillian List who was in charge of Sylt Camp from March 1943 until March 1944.
The video also shows where he had a chalet built next to the camp, what is left of it today and what happened to LIst after he left Sylt Camp in March 1944.
Sylt was one of four main camps on Alderney that were built by the Organisation Todt for forced workers of various nationalities who were bought over to construct the huge number of concrete fortifications required by the German Authorities.
In light of the recent ongoing enquiry into how many forced workers died in Alderney during the German Occupation of the island, YouTube’s Zac Osborne has pu...
02/10/2024
THE HISTORY OF THE ALDERNEY BREAKWATER
In a recent video, the world’s youngest history presenter takes us back to the mid 1800s when France was once again a threat to England and the Channel Islands. As part of the military defences, a long breakwater was built at Braye in Alderney to provide protection for the ships of the Royal Navy.
Zac shows when and how it was constructed, and what happened to the breakwater after the threat from France subsided.
Told with his usual charisma, this 11 minute film is a delight to watch and is complimented by captivating cinematic music and a few outtakes at the end 🙂
Filmed one day in December 2023 during slightly ‘challenging’ conditions, he braved the elements to bring you this little bit of history.
Please comment/share - this encourages him to do more videos!
In this video, the world’s youngest history presenter takes us back to the mid 1800s when France was once again a threat to England and the Channel Islands. ...
02/10/2024
INSIDE A WW2 GERMAN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS
In this recent video, the world’s youngest history presenter shows just how brave he is by going inside a WWII German underground tunnel in the Channel Island of Alderney and walking the complete length of this ‘atmospheric’ tunnel.
The Channel Islands had many of these underground tunnels built by forced workers, however the majority are now inaccessible due to collapse and flooding.
Zac hadn’t been inside this tunnel for over a year, but noticed some water ingress in the roof towards the rear which is starting to break up the rock … this is a potential danger to those who may explore it.
It was constructed in 1942\1943 by Russian ‘slave’ workers, who endured unbelievably harsh conditions. Zac hopes that by showing what they did during those bleak times, their memories are kept alive.
Please subscribe and share away:
In this video, Zac shows just how brave he is by going inside a WWII German underground tunnel in the Channel Island of Alderney and walking the complete len...
28/09/2024
I have recently acquired a very rare & unique photo of a German train carrying cement en route to the north or west coasts - most likely from the cement store located at the rear of Quayside on Northside, St Sampsons.
The photo was taken in the old Kenilworth Vinery, now known as Parc Le Lacheur after the States bought the land in 2021 to develop over 130 affordable homes.
For orientation, I have attached a 1945 photo showing an overview of Kenilworth Vinery and the surrounding areas:
In it you can see two 90cm railway lines (marked blue & green) that joined up in Kenilworth Vinery: one line came from St Peter Port to the Bridge, then went down Nocq Road, into Kenilworth Vinery and onwards to cross Route MIlitaire and beyond. (The gateway in the boundary stone wall just where the two lines joind up is still there).
The second one came from the Northside area of the Bridge before crossing Vale Avenue and Lowlands Road - this area stored all the cement, steel and wood that was needed to build the fortifications as well as where the majority of the granite was crushed that was needed for both the concrete and for bedding the railway tracks on.
In this photo, you can also see the locations of where the train photo was taken and of where the train was at the time the photo was taken.
The comparison photo I took today in the same location of where the original photo was taken of the train, shows how much vegetation has taken over since clearing the site a year or two ago.
You can clearly see the terraced houses on the south side of Salt Pans Road in both of the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos - I used this for orientation as well as the double shed buildings seen in the original train photo.
For more details on the German railway between the Bridge and Route MIlitaire, here is the link:
My sincere thanks to Digimap Guernsey and Rohan Thorn
28/09/2024
*Tomorrow Sunday 29th September*
A TOUR OF THE WWII MIRUS GUN BATTERY
This is an opportunity for a guided tour around of one of the four vast 1000 m2 WWII German underground bunkers and associated gun position that made up the largest gun battery in the Channel Islands.
This particular one (Gun No 3) is the most atmospheric, and remains just as it was at the end of the Occupation with original paintwork and stencils on the walls.
You can see just how much effort went into Hitler’s directive of October 1941- making Guernsey into an impregnable fortress with help from photographs taken at the time of its construction and use.
This is an easy walk/tour and suitable for children.
SUNDAY 29th September 2024
4.30pm - 6.00pm
MEET: In the roadside car park outside the Houguette School in St Peters (past the Longfrie pub on the main road from the airport to L’Eree).
Adults: £12
Children under 12: £6
(Family of 4: £30)
Contact 07781 121650 to book.
25/09/2024
For those who have not seen this, last year YouTube’s youngest ever history presenter travelled 6,000 miles to Thailand - ‘the land of smiles’ - to film a quick guide to this charming country.
For those who have never been to Thailand before, it gives a a brief but interesting look at Thai life and culture.
Zac travels 6,000 miles to Thailand - ‘the land of smiles’ - for his latest video.Filmed last November, this is a quick guide to this charming and peaceful c...
23/09/2024
THE TRAGIC DEATH OF THE GERMAN COMMANDANT ON THE ISLAND OF SARK
This is the new video by the world’s youngest history presenter (& Guernsey resident) Zac Osborne, and this time he travels to the beautiful Channel Island of Sark to bring you a little known story about a tragic accident that occurred during the German Occupation involving the German Commandant of the Island. With in-depth research and contemporary photos, Zac narrates the story with his usual engaging charisma.
To make this video a little more special, Zac’s Dad produced all the music, including the last track at the end called ‘Johann’s Journey’ - in memory of the German Commandant who lost his life.
Zac hopes that you enjoy watching this short film, and that you ‘like’ and/or subscribe to his YouTube Channel to inspire him to make more videos on the history of the Channel Islands and of other interesting places!
Please share away 🙏🏻
#
In this video, young Zac Osborne, the world’s youngest history presenter, travels to the beautiful Channel Island of Sark to bring you a little known story a...
12/09/2024
FORT GEORGE: MILITARY CEMETERY AND TARGET OF ALLIED AIR RAIDS
This Sunday 15th September, as part of the Autumn Walking Festival 2024, TG Walks is hosting a special walk around Fort George that takes in some of the graves in Fort George cemetery - the final resting place for 2 Allied airmen and 111 German military personnel during the Occupation (the only German war graves left in the island).
For the second part we talk about the Allied Air raids that took place in early June 1944 to help pave the way for ‘D’ Day, and visit the remaining evidence of these raids.
DATE: Sunday 15 September
TIME: 9am - 11am
COST: £12 pp (£8 for children under 12)
MEETING POINT: By the main entrance into Fort George at the top of the Val des Terres)
Contact 07781 121650 (booking required please)
04/09/2024
HISTORY WITH A MUSICAL TWIST!
This techno dance track was written by local songwriter ‘Tewnafish’ for a kids music video which is now available to download/stream on most major online music stores here: https://share.amuse.io/track/tewnafish-castle-dance
The video, filmed in a couple of hours near the 800 year-old Castle Cornet with the help of Dave Hyett & Jo Wheatley, is now on YouTube and features around 25 kids aged between 5 and 12.
The idea was to combine a modern dance track with history …. a sort of juxtaposition between old and new!
(One of the dancers is 6 year old Zac - the world’s youngest history presenter).
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tim's Guided Walks posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Contact The Business
Send a message to Tim's Guided Walks:
Videos
The world’s youngest historian loving the new song that I have written for Guernsey’s exciting, new and undiscovered female vocalist …. brilliantly recorded by Mikey Ferbrache, it will be released in the next couple of weeks or so ……
Merry Christmas everyone and thank you for watching my YouTube history videos over the last year!
I hope you watch the new ones planned for next year!
Love Zac xx
On 8th August 1963 The Beatles played in Guernsey for one night at Candie Gardens.
This afternoon, Guernsey Arts organized local Beatles tribute band ‘1963 Revisited’ to play songs from the early Beatles years to mark the anniversary
Here is a small selection of songs that were played to the large crowd …
YouTube’s youngest historian Zac Osborne's first steps to becoming a rock drummer ..... for his dad! 🎶🤪🤣🤣
DID YOU KNOW THERE'S A GERMAN TUNNEL RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE IMPERIAL HOTEL?
This 10 minute video shows the inside of a German tunnel at the back of the Imperial Hotel in Rue des Valniquets, Pleinmont.
The tunnel, called Ho. Imperial, is ‘L’ shaped with an accessible upper entrance and a mostly sealed inaccessible lower entrance.
(Ho. Is the German abbreviaton for Hohlgangsanlagen, or ‘cave passage dwelling’)
It does not appear on any official German maps, but along with another two other tunnels, this tunnel is mentioned in documents from a high level meeting in Paris in November 1942 in discussion about emergency power generating stations in the island.
The hard manual work in German tunnels was carried out by mostly unskilled labour of various nationalities working for the Organisation Todt (OT), and due to the dangerous nature of the rock and the work, there were a number of deaths, though exact numbers are not known.
This tunnel is some 2 – 3 metres wide and high, which is the dimensions of a pilot tunnel – the first stage in tunneling. A series of holes were first drilled around the shape of the proposed tunnel and in the centre, charges were inserted into the holes and detonated – the remaining hole being the pilot tunnel; for whatever reason, this particular tunnel never got to the next stage.
On entering the upper entrance, it is a 30 degree slope downwards for some 20 metres, with the first 5 metres of that length curving to the right before going down another 16 metres. At the end on the left there is a small 3 metre excavation leading to nothing, and on the right, the tunnel goes along for some 27 metres to the other entrance, which is sealed except for a small diameter hole on the middle allowing light through. Just before this entrance on the left, there is a small 3 metre excavation chamber which contains an empty Geocache box; this box used to be full several years ago, so it seems it is not used anymore - I presume because of
GERMAN TUNNEL AT PLEINMONT
Ever wondered what is beyond this tunnel ........
This 7 minute video shows a German personnel shelter next to a 60cm searchlight position - part of Resistance Nest 'Under Pleinmont' (Wn. Unter Westberg) - one of the German defence positions in this area.
The shelter and searchlight position are accessed by two entrance/exit tunnels found along the road called Rue de la Varde between Pleinmont Point and Fort Pezeries.
This small tunnel system is also called Ho. La Varde (Ho. was an abbreviation for 'Hohlgangsanlage' or 'cave passage dwelling' and was the official name for a German tunnel).
There is a 'hole' in the roof of the searchlight shelter, and this was a machine gun position in a tobruk pit - accessed by a ladder through a steel plate.
There is a date on the wall near the south entrance of 11.6.42 that was inscribed by Army Construction Battalion 152 - this ties in nicely with the main building of fortifications in the island between 1942 and 1943.
\
Unfortunately some dog owners think its okay to throw their 'dog nappies' into the tunnels ... you can see in the video, creating resentment towards the majority of responsible owners.
My thanks to:
'German Tunnels in Guernsey, Alderney & Sark' by Festung Guernsey
You've been warned ....!
YouTube history guide Zac Osborne has some news for you all .... ignore it at your peril ...... 🤪
This is really scary ….. filmed yesterday at the Mirus bunker for Zac Osborne’s new history video (unedited version)
At last … proof of the paranormal 👻😱
Tomorrow Friday at 7pm is the official release of the song I wrote for Emily Emily Jennifer Fern called 'Train of Life'
You will be able to find it on Emily's YouTube Channel here at 7pm tomorrow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU17_045pJ4&feature=youtu.be
One afternoon late last year, I was in town holding my young son explaining something, when an elderly lady came up to me and said ‘Enjoy holding your son because one day you’ll pick him up, and that will be the last time you’ll ever hold him', and as she turned to walk away she added 'but you don’t know it at the time’, and off she went.
That short encounter had quite an impact on me. After the last song I wrote for the film ‘Stirling’s War’ I was looking for some inspiration to write my next song - and that inspiration came as a direct result of those few words that she said to me.
‘Train of Life’ is a song written about certain events/experiences that happen in our lives on our one-way, no-return journey through life, and three of these experiences are reflected in the three choruses:
1. The excitement of your ‘first love’
2. The realisation that your children grow up so fast and will leave home one day as adults
3. The sudden loss of a close friend or family member who you were only talking to a few hours before, or sudden break up of a long term relationship
However, the one phrase that elderly lady said that had the biggest impact on me were her words ‘but you don’t know it at the time’. I just had to somehow include it in the song …… which I managed to do at the end.
‘Train of Life’ features the beautiful voice of Emily Fern, Tim Osborne on the piano/keyboards and Mikey Ferbrache on acoustic & electric guitars; Mikey also produced and recorded it at Apocalypse Studios in Guernsey.
Mikey also filmed it mostly on the train in Alderney and at the Giffoine.
VERSE 1
We all know life
Is a one-way train
It can’t slow down
Nor go round again
Every now and then
I was filming my son in a German tunnel in Sark with my family at the weekend for his history guide YouTube Channel …… and during the editing, I discovered several ‘grunting’ type noises were heard (two loud ones and couple quieter noises) …. These were not made by us (me, my partner and two kids), no one else was in the tunnel and we didn’t hear anything at the time ……
I recently filmed the inside of the German tunnel under Essex Hill near Longis Bay in Alderney - hope you enjoy it:
ps .... spot the ghost 👻🥺
Tim Osborne became a Silver Accredited tour guide in 2013 primarily because of his great interest in military history covering the pre-Napoleonic and Napoleonic times, and especially the German Occupation during the Second World War, when the islands were occupied by German Forces from July 1940 - May 1945. He also has a keen interest in pre-history and local general history. . Although Tim is a full-time airline pilot, his working roster allows him enough time away from his job to conduct various walks/tours that he has established in the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Sark. These include:
THE SECRETS AND MILITARY HISTORY OF THE L’EREE PENINSULA : A walk which brings to life his passion for WWII German and Napoleonic history around the L’Eree headland area in Guernsey. This circular walk also takes in a Neolithic/Bronze Age passage grave and other Neolithic stone building, features of the Ice Ages from 120,000 years ago, the wreck of the ‘Prosperity’ where all hands were lost and the best preserved WWII German trenches in the island - as well as existing German and Napoleonic fortifications. The walk concludes with a look in a preserved WWII German anti-tank bunker. Contemporary photographs help bring the past to life.
THE MILITARY HISTORY OF L’ANCRESSE AND PEMBROKE: This walk takes in the area between Fort Le Marchant and Fort Pembroke in Guernsey, and focuses on the important and interesting military history of this area from the late 18th Century to the German Occupation during the Second World War. If time permits, a visit to a recently opened-up and preserved anti-aircraft German command bunker is possible. There are many period photographs to help visualise the past.
THE SECRETS AND MILITARY HISTORY OF THE JERBOURG PENINSULA: This is a circular walk around the Jerbourg headland in Guernsey, and focuses on the history of this area since pre-historic times, when this headland was an important defensive position, but primarily on the World War II German fortifications in this area. This includes visiting various structures of Battery Strassburg (the first operational German Naval gun battery in the island) and other German fortifications, the site of the old Jerbourg Signal Station that was built on an old watch tower that was part of Chateau Jerbourg, the Jerbourg Monument - which replaced the original monument demolished by the Germans and visiting the area where the first British Commando raids of WWII took place. Three Napoleonic-era cannon batteries can also be seen on the walk. As in his other walks, there are plenty of period photographs to help bring the past to life.
THE SECRETS OF THE MIRUS GUN BATTERY: This is a tour of one of the four vast 1000m2 WWII German underground bunkers and gun positions that were part of the largest gun battery in the Channel Islands. This particular one is the best preserved and shows how much effort went into Hitler’s directive of October 1941- making Guernsey into an impregnable fortress. Although there is mains electricity and lighting, it is advisable to bring a torch. This tour is brought to life with many photographs taken at the time of its construction and use.
THE WWII GERMAN OCCUPATION OF SARK: An all day walking tour that takes in many interesting sites and fortifications on the beautiful Channel Island of Sark that was occupied by the Germans from 4th July 1940 until 10th May 1945. This includes walking the route of two Allied Commando raids: Operation Hardtack 7 – a complete failure, and Operation Basalt – the unfortunate raid that gave rise to Hitler’s infamous Commando Order (Kommandobefehl) on 18 October 1942, which stated all Allied Commandos encountered by German forces should be killed immediately, or after interrogation by the Gestapo. The tour also includes walking around the ‘Citadel’, the area in the centre of the Island where the German Headquarters were situated, visiting the field where an RAF Lancaster crash-landed after mistaking Sark for the Isle of Wight, and the scene of the murder of a German Officer and taking in other places connected with the Occupation, including two tunnels built by conscripted and forced labour. Tim has gained special permission to access private properties for this walk, which takes place twice a year in both the Guernsey Spring and Autumn Walking Festivals. Photos taken at the time help bring the walk to life. (Ferry and lunch/drinks extra).
THE WWII GERMAN OCCUPATION OF ALDERNEY:
This all day tour takes in a variety of sites and fortifications on the peaceful Channel Island of Alderney, some 17 miles north of Guernsey, which was occupied from 2nd July 1940 until 16th May 1945. The tour includes a walk around Battery Annes, an accessible site that housed four 15cm guns, a command post, personnel bunkers and other structures that were under the control of the Army. Also included are a visit to the remains of SS Lager Sylt, the only SS concentration camp that was on British soil, and the site of it’s Kommandant’s house with adjoining tunnel; Stutzpunkt Biberkopf, a German strongpoint that is easily accessible and has a wide variety of structures including searchlight shelters, mortar positions, personnel bunkers, a 10.5cm coastal defence gun position and a steel cupola that housed machine guns; and one or two tunnels built by forced foreign labour. A visit to the museum is a possibility if time permits. Photos taken at the time help bring the walk to life
(Ferry, minibus and lunch/drinks extra).
A PARANORMAL EVENING AT THE WWII MIRUS GUN BATTERY:
The main aim of this tour is to try to find any evidence of the paranormal as we walk around a large 1000m2 WWII German underground bunker in darkness, attempting to communicate with any spirits, entities and energies that reside there with our modern technical equipment including EMF Meters, EVP recorders, Rem-pods, Laser matrix grids, Infrared camcorders and a new SLS (structured light sensor) camera. We also attempt to communicate using a glass tumbler, and have had amazing results with this. Those with an interest in the paranormal, German fortifications and those with any previous experience of paranormal investigations are welcome. Red or UV torches are required. Whether you are seriously into the paranormal or just want a bit of fun, everyone is welcome.
As well as these five walking tours, which take place mainly during the Guernsey Spring & Autumn Walking Festivals and the Heritage Festivals each year, Tim is also happy to arrange bespoke walking tours in Guernsey for groups or work social outings, whether it be in connection with the WWII German Occupation, the Napoleonic era or prehistoric times. Tim also arranges regular paranormal evenings in one of the large underground bunkers at the WWII Mirus Gun Battery where modern ghost hunting equipment is used to capture evidence of the paranormal. Future locations are being sought.
