Ports of Jersey has loaned several important historic artefacts to the Parish of St John for their Liberation 80 exhibition. These include the original and oldest navigational buoy which was on station during the Occupation and Liberation of the Island, together with a 1935 bell which is thought to have been located on Noirmont Tower during the Occupation.
Navigation Buoy No.1
Buoy No.1 was the first of the new ‘ballasted’ Type II navigation buoys to arrive in Jersey. Constructed of riveted steel plate and originally carrying a heavy bronze bell, it first entered service in 1929, and was stationed on the La Raudière mark, making this the oldest operational buoy in service today. It is also the only operational buoy to retain its original wooden waterline fendering.
Buoy No.1 was on station on the Hinguette mark, south of St Helier harbour, from 5 June 1940 to 4 September 1941. It would have been used as the last primary port mark by the occupying forces as they entered the approaches to St Helier harbour at the start of the Occupation.
In September 1941 it was moved to Noirmont where it was placed on the Les Fours station as an emergency mark after the on-station buoy had drifted and become snagged among rocks to the west. No.1 buoy was removed from this station on 11 February 1942 after becoming submerged by a snagged anchor chain.
Following repairs and maintenance it was fitted with a German provided battery-operated light and placed on station on the Raudière mark on 16 July 1943, where it remained until 11 September 1945. It would have been used by the SS Vega as she made her final approach into St Helier on 30 December 1944, and by the liberating naval forces as they approached St Helier on 9 May 1945.
Today the buoy is painted yellow and dressed with a North cardinal top mark. This exhibition in St John will be the first time in its 96 years of service that it has ever been placed more than 50 metres away from the sea. It is due to be placed on the Passage Rock station later this summer.
1935 Fog bell
Ports of Jersey have several navigation bells, with one 4 hammer unit dated 1935 still in its care.
Unlike the bell, complete with 4 hammers also dated 1935, which now sits in the Maritime Museum, the bell retained by Ports of Jersey has three distinguishing marks. These show that it has suffered from the direct impact of a projectile at some stage of its operational life.
Historical records do not confirm the details of this unit’s placement during its service life. However, the damage it sustained would indicate that this bell may be the one originally stationed on Noirmont tower.
Ledgers
There will also be two of the original Harbour Works ledgers on display in St John, together with enlarged printouts from the ledgers showing information about the navigation aids and stations on site during the Occupation.
One ledger record dated 28 December 1942 details the preparation, by order of the commandant, of a navigation buoy to be made ready for service for deployment in Guernsey.
This buoy, together with a lamp and bell with 4 hammers, was towed into position by a German vessel in February 1943. When the buoy was returned to Jersey on 16 June 1945, the bell was no longer with it, and no records exist as to how or when it was lost.
Harbour personnel
During the Occupation, harbour works personnel continued to maintain and service the harbours, their equipment and critical navigational infrastructure under the command of the occupying forces
These historic ledgers record the efforts made by this workforce and the duties requested of them. The ledgers provide a fascinating glimpse into the working lives of the harbour engineering workforce during the Occupation.
Harbour Master, Captain Bill Sadler, said: “We are pleased to loan these important artefacts to be part of an exhibition that portrays the liberation of Jersey from German occupation 80 years ago. We hope as many people as possible will enjoy finding out how our predecessors at the harbour managed these difficult times.”