Now initially the first question I should be asking is, what an archive is; well an archive is a collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution or group of people. In this case The Jersey Occupation will be the main area of concentration when considering artist and time period (1940-1945). The particular archive I will be interested in is called Societe Jersiaise’ in which I visited on the 4^th of June, this helped provide me with a first-hand understanding of what an archive and how to approach them. The Société Jersiaise was founded in January 1873 by a small number of prominent Islanders who were interested in the study of the history, the language and the antiquities of Jersey.  Membership grew quickly and the aims of the new society soon widened to include the publication of historical documents, the founding of a Museum, and the study of the Island’s natural history.  The first Bulletin Annuel was issued in 1875 and continues to be the main record of our activities. It was evident that the clear purpose of this archive was to hold Jersey’s most treasured historical imagery and documents dating way back to the Second World War, and originates from the beginning to the end of the war pretty much creating its own story to tell and highlighting the importance of the event, alongside the impact it had on Jersey and the impact it will always have on Jersey. The actual practice of keeping official document is an extremely old ritual dating all the way back to the third and second millennia BC in sites like Ebla, Mari and Pylos, this gives a clear understanding of the significance an archive has on the current historical phenomenon. Archives work in the way of storing photos and document on a computer but in this instance it’s all original copy’s carefully kept away and stored, some so precious they are to only be touched with white fabric clothes to avoid finger marks being left behind on a possible major historical in detail photograph and document. So in the case of the Societe Jersiaise it stores hundred and even thousands of images dating although back to when the archive first opened in 1873. However the period we are interested is much more recent, it still hold a large percentage of images and documents stored in this particular archive when in concern with the Second World War. When we look at all these images being stored, its gets us thinking that clearly there are some historical and significant photographers to thanks for the documentation that has helped us to helped understand and develop our understanding of this particular time frame in Jersey, for example, William Collie. William Collie was most likely to be one of the original photographers to use Fox Talbot’s calotype process in Jersey. Linking some of his unrelated previous work that can be found in exhibition at the Musee Dorsay in Paris, first presented in 2008. Collie was born in 1810 in Scotland and moved to jersey just before 1850 to peruse a business before diverting his work to art, but given his undoubtedly significant position in the beginning years of British photography, incredibly he was not very well known and there is little evidence of his work. Alongside many earlier photographers he started his work as a portrait painter leading onto photographic work, which lead his to produce one of his more famous pieces he made in a series of genre calotype portraits depicting ‘French and Jersey Market Woman’ which has an extremely positive response by the photography critic of the Art Union in June 1847, later being exhibited at the London Great Exhibition in 1851. When in relation to the Société Jersiaise, there is a total of 157 photographs stored by William Collie, although none in which can be viewed online, this could be due to the oldness of the images which have been all said to be the copyright of the Royal Photographic Society. One of those listed in the Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive is a photograph of Elie Jean Filleul, who died aged 102 in 1851.  Most of the recorded images in the archive are listed as portrait however there are around four which are presented as landscapes of Jersey, its said that they feature Mont Orgueil Castle, Gorey, Midvale Road and houses along Queens road all with a date around 1845-1850, clearly holding a historical value. Alongside William Collide being an extremely iconic historical photographer, we also have a man named Albert Smith. Albert Smith was from Liverpool and moved to Jersey in 1892 to start business work, and then turned to photography. It said that thousands of his images survive as glass plate negatives, with his main subjects being known to either be portraits or cattle portraits that were produced in to post cards bought by many. As well as him and his staff strongly working on commissions they also looked in to jersey’s island life capture significant scenes which they believed to portray the beauty of the island itself. It’s reported that around 3300 of Albert Smiths images are stored at the Societe Jersiaise, and that 2000 images of his can be reached online. Although Albert Smith’s photographs were made for the public to purchase and in addition to those in a negative format in the Societe Jersiaise archive there is undoubtedly many of his photographs circulating the island and around the world. These two photographs hold a key importance in the history of the Jersey archive and it is important that their work continues on. From all this research has had given a much better understanding to the importance of an archive and has lead me to be interested to explore my own history. This will help me with my project as it will give me the opportunity to really relate to the idea of family history and the changes that have happened to me and the world. I would like to think that by looking at my own image it will help provide a type of style and context that I can continue forward in my personal study, leading to a better appreciation for the overall project- this is extremely important to me as it will help develop my skill and will grow my thought to look outside the box for inspiration. By looking into more depth about archives it has lead me to have a higher appreciation and understanding for history and the preciousness it holds to many islanders and families, it has also given me the opportunity to further my knowledge and look more deeply in to my personal study’s and where I would like to move forward with my project in to the Occupation. This is essential as it will help focus my images and ideas to achieve the best outcome I can get through the history of Jersey and the support that can be reached at any point from the Societe Jersiaise.

My final selection of images for the Batterie Moltke Photoshoot:

What is Adobe Lightroom? – Adobe Lightroom is a software developed by Adobe Systems for Windows, MacBooks, ISO etc. It is used for photo manipulation and organization, as well as it allowing importing, saving, viewing, tagging, editing and sharing numbers of digital images.

In order to get a larger understanding of Adobe Lightroom i have decided to carry out an experiment where i make small edits to images which is going to help me get used to the software.

When exploring Adobe Light room i decided to use my previous bunker images which have been taken as part of my world war project. The first step included importing the images from the media drive into light room which was successfully done.

To import my images i created a collection set called ‘ Bunker Archaeology’ i then transferred my images from the media drive into this folder which allowed me to be able to access the images. I then pressed the ‘import’ button which is shown below (bottom left hand side).

After this step i then pressed the media button, into the year 12 button, jasmine latimer, year 13, occupation of jersey, bunker archaeology, 10/06/19. After this my images were then imported. (shown below)

I then flagged my images of the best outcomes in order to explore and edit the best images. However, i decided to thin the images more so by singling them by ratings and colour coding them.

After this step i then started to edit my images using light room. This started with pressing the ‘develop’ button which took me to the editing page. I then set the white balance to ‘auto’ as shown below in order to set a bases to the editing stage. This was then followed with other small edits.

This editing step was then repeated with my other colour coded images. (results shown on next blog post)

During the Second World War the Occupation of the Channel Islands lasted five years. After the German forces took St Malo on 22 June, and France surrendered, Jersey was in range of enemy guns, and when Britain decided that defending the islands was impracticable, and compulsory evacuation was ruled out, it was up to people to make their own decisions. About 10,000 decided to evacuate to the British mainland, leaving about 40,000 in Jersey when the occupying force arrived on 1 July. The island was demilitarized, with British troops withdrawn, the island’s lieutenant-governor recalled and the Island Militia stood down, although the unit volunteered as one to go to England to join the main home forces.

Life under occupation – The German Occupation of Jersey began one week after the British government had demilitarized the island fearing for the safety of civilians should there be any conflict. The code name for this was “Operation Green Arrow” and the initial German Air Force reconnaissance flights mistake civilian farming lorries for troop carriers. On the 28th of June , the German Air Force, not knowing of the demilitarization, bomb and machine gun multiple sites on the island. The attacks killed ten people and wound many more. A few days later on the 1 of July 1940 General Richthofen, The Commander of the German Air Forces in Normandy, dropped an ultimatum from the air demanding the immediate surrender of the island. White flags and crosses were placed in prominent positions, as stipulated by the Germans, and later that day Jersey was occupied by air-borne troops under the command of Hauptmann Gussek.

Food shortages – Shopping hours were reduced as goods became scarce. Food shortages on Jersey were finally relieved by the arrival of the Red Cross ship SS Vega, bringing food parcels to Jersey. Before then, substitutes had been used to replace everyday foods, with seawater replacing salt, for instance, and a mixture of parsnip and sugar beet replacing tea. During the autumn of 1944, fuel supplies were almost gone, leaving no gas, occasional electricity, and very little road fuel. Medical supplies were almost non-existent; and most people were without fuel. A Red Cross relief ship, the S S Vega, arrived in Jersey on 30 December with food parcels, and cases of salt, soap and medical supplies. The visits of the Red Cross ship S S Vega proved a lifeline to the starving islanders.

Jersey with no defenses- Hitler ordered the conversion of Jersey into an impregnable fortress. Thousands of slave workers from countries like Russia, Spain, France, Poland, and Algeria built hundreds of bunkers, anti-tank walls, railway systems, as well as many tunnel complexes. In late 1943 the Tunnel Complex Ho8 (now known as the Jersey War Tunnels) in St. Lawrence was converted from an artillery workshop and barracks to an emergency casualty clearing station able to cope with up to 500 patients.. All of the fortifications built around the island were part of Hitler’s “Atlantic Wall”. Today, traces of Jersey’s defenses and wartime occupations can be discovered across the island, especially in St. Ouen’s Bay.

Victoria on the horizon- By 7 May 1945, the German army had surrendered and the end of the war in Europe was announced. During the week leading up to 6 May islanders had been hearing reports of Hitler’s fall in Berlin by way of their hidden radios. In spite of the fact that the island was still officially under occupation, rumors began circulating of an imminent end to the war in Europe. In June 1944, the Normandy landings marked the initiation of ‘Operation Overlord’, the invasion of northwest Europe by the Allied forces. By 7 May 1945, the Germany army had surrendered and the end of the war in Europe was announced. During the week leading up to 6 May islanders had been hearing reports of Hitler’s fall in Berlin by way of their hidden radios. In spite of the fact that the island was still officially under occupation, rumors began circulating of an imminent end to the war in Europe.  Culminating on the 8 May, the Allied military powers had been busy coordinating the necessary steps, behind the scenes, to recover the Channel Islands from their occupation. On 3 May a British Military operation ‘Nestegg’, with the objective of liberating the Channel Islands, was set in motion when a coordinated group of British Army units, collectively known as ‘Force 135’, were called to ‘Stand To’. 

Churchill’s speech- At 3.00pm Winston Churchill crackled onto the airwaves to give, perhaps, the most famous speech of his career. The Prime Minister’s words announced the end to the war in Europe and the “unconditional surrender of all German land, sea and air forces in Europe”. When, amidst great cheers across the island, he uttered the words, “our dear Channel Islands are also to be freed today”. Island-wide flags and decorations sprang up. From a balcony overlooking the Royal Square, Bailiff Coutanche gave an impassioned address and proceed with an emotional rendition of the national anthem. Possessions, forbidden under the occupation, miraculously reappeared, adding to the celebrations. Parties continued throughout the rest of the day and long after the King’s speech at 9.00pm, with several bonfire and firework displays taking place.

liberation day – At 7.15am on 9 May, on the quarter deck of HMS Bulldog, Second-in-Command for Guernsey General Siegfried Heine signed the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the German Command of the Channel Islands, effecting their capitulation. On completion of this, General Heine was then ordered to “immediately cause all German flags and ensigns now flying in the Channel Islands to be lowered”.  At Midday an overjoyed Bailiff Coutanche accompanied a German delegation led by the island Commander, General Major Rudolf Wulf, aboard HMS Beagle anchored in St. Aubin’s bay, where the separate surrender of Jersey was to take place. Arriving at the same time in St. Helier’s harbour was a small naval inspection party sent to report on the health of the islanders, who were promptly overwhelmed by an enthusiastic crowd delighted at seeing their first liberators landing on Jersey soil.

Archives act as a place for the preservation of significant historical and cultural artifacts. The Photographic Archive of the Société Jersiaise contains over 100,000 images dating from the mid-1840s to the present day. Archives however are not just physical, they can be a digital store of documents, texts and photographs. these can be public or private. The jersey archive also contains historical artists to help people for contextual reference when inquiring about a certain photo or book that has gained attention. 
Digital copies of historical photographs, documents, and audio recordings are the best way to both share and preserve historical items. Handling and displaying the original items cause wear and degradation. However, the items cannot be shared if they are protected from all degradation. Good digital copies allow unlimited sharing while also preserving the original items. Archives significantly improve the way in which historical artifacts and photos can be preserved. Photos are handled in a way which means very little damage is done to them therefore meaning that their quality is retained. They are intended on being used for various different purposes for decades to come. “The goal of Preservation Programs is to ensure that the records of our government will be appropriately preserved so they will be available for use.”
The ultimate purpose of preserving photos and creating archives is to share it with others. Future generations are able to look back at these archives and access information about their ancestors and gain insight about various historical events. Image collections deepen understanding of specific objects of art and the careers of individual artists as they also provide the means for a comparative approach to the study of artists’ works, national schools and period styles. Photo archives build their collections and gather documentation for the works of art they record through purchases, gifts and photography campaigns. Information about ownership, condition, attribution, and subject identification is recorded at the time of acquisition and is frequently updated.
IPhotography acts as a double role in the sense that it provides visual imagery and narrative of real events in history. It taps into the area of photography called Narrative photography. Narrative photography is the idea that photographs can be used to tell a story. Allen Feldman stated that “the event is not what happens. The event is that which can be narrated”. Because photography captures single discreet moments, and narrative as described by Jerome Bruner is irreducibly temporal, it might seem photography cannot actually represent narrative structure. We are able to look back at this narrative and reconstruct the past with the use of photo archives and facilities such as the Société Jersiaise.
The development of digital technology has provided archives and institutions with the opportunity to expand the accessibility of photographs beyond the walls of their homes. Although digital images are not substitutes for the originals, institutions are slowly acknowledging that they do provide an entry, an introduction, to the images. That introduction may be all a researcher needs.Digitizing photographs has also been the catalyst for some institutions to put their physical collections into deep storage, where they are no longer readily accessible, or to inaccessible or even destroy them. This raises urgent questions about the value of the original photographs as artifacts or evidence in their own right.On a much more positive note, digitization also offers the potential to conduct research that could never be done before. For instance, image recognition/matching software is being developed that would allow users to identify particular visual characteristics in a photograph and then search for and retrieve photographs of other works that share those characteristics. Having a physical representation of an image is what I strive for in my own personal archive. The sensation of handling a real life object instead of a digitized version is evidence of our connection to traditional forms of photography and media in general.
I will aim to incorporate the use of archives in my own personal study as I believe this will not only enrich my work but also provide a sense of legitimacy to it. Société Jersiaise focuses on the photographic preservation of the island which I believe is key to allowing us to remember about the tragic times of the occupation and WW2. I will be sourcing images from
Société Jersiaise, who provide digital copies of their archives at a small fee and using these as inspiration for my own personal photography or incorporating them in techniques such as photo collages.

In conclusion the trip to the archives has taught me a lot about the importance of treasuring the islands history and having facilities such as
Société Jersiaise. It has changed my perception of photo archives in the sense that I now understand the amount of work and sheer man power it takes to effectively preserve photographs for decades to come. It has also made me gain great respect for the foundation as they are preserving the islands history for millennia to come through photographic evidence. It is a painstaking and delicate job working with images that are hundreds of years old. It was a worth while experience which has taught me a lot not only about the evolution of photography in Jersey and the various artists who worked and resided here but also about the real life events during the occupation and the types of photos which were captured at the times.

Archives are used to store peoples memories and preserve them so that the past is not forgotten. Archival organisations preserve archives and pieces of history for the public to use and look at the past.Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organization’s lifetime, and are kept to show the function of that person or organization. It is also a place where people can go to gather firsthand facts, data, and evidence from letters, reports, notes, memos, photographs, and other primary sources. they also keep records of many forms including correspondence, diaries , financial and legal documents, photographs and film.

All around the world there are many archives and museums documenting photos and certain objects relating to certain periods of time, which are put together in sections of the museums where they can be acknowledged altogether. Further into the future archives can be used as resources to answer questions about our past, and they may also be used to set legal claims.

Researching and exploring the ideas of archives has allowed me to gain information which will be useful with my personal studies. It also allowed me to have further understanding of Occupation in Jersey and helped show me what life was like during this time. Visiting Société Jersiaise has broadened my knowledge and has allowed me to see photos which were created during the occupation which I have never seen and wouldn’t have seen without the visit.

Within photography archiving is important as it holds two roles for photographers. First, it is a good idea for a photographer to keep an archive of all of their images. This is so that they can organise their images based on different projects. On the contrary, it can be particularly helpful in demonstrating how they have progressed and developed their images.

Introduction

The German occupation of the Channel Islands lasted for most of the Second World War, from 30 June 1940 until their liberation on 9 May 1945. The Bailiwick of Jersey and Bailiwick of Guernseyare two British Crown dependencies in the English Channel, near the coast of Normandy. The Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles to be occupied by the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces) during the war.

Anticipating a swift victory over Britain, the occupiers experimented by using a very gentle approach that set the theme for the next five years. The island authorities adopted a similar attitude, giving rise to accusations of collaboration. However, as time progressed the situation grew gradually worse, ending in near starvation for both occupied and occupiers during the winter of 1944–45.

Before the Occupation

Between 3 September 1939, when the United Kingdom declared war against Germany, and 9 May 1940, little changed in the Channel Islands. Conscription did not exist, but a number of people traveled to Britain to join up as volunteers. The horticulture and tourist trades continued as normal; the British government relaxed restrictions on travel between the UK and the Channel Islands in March 1940, enabling tourists from the UK to take morale-boosting holidays in traditional island resorts.^[1] On 10 May 1940, Germany attacked the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg by air and land and the war stepped closer. The Battle of France was reaching its climax on Empire Day, 24 May, when King George VI addressed his subjects by radio, saying, “The decisive struggle is now upon us … Let no one be mistaken; it is not mere territorial conquest that our enemies are seeking. It is the overthrow, complete and final, of this Empire and of everything for which it stands, and after that the conquest of the world. And if their will prevails they will bring to its accomplishment all the hatred and cruelty which they have already displayed.

Evacuation

The realization of the necessity of civilian evacuation from the Channel Islands came very late. With no planning and secrecy being maintained, communications between the island governments and the UK took place in an atmosphere of confusion and misinterpretation. Opinion was divided and chaos ensued with different policies adopted by the different islands. The British government concluded its best policy was to make available as many ships as possible so that islanders had the option to leave if they wanted to.

Emergency Government

The British Home Office instructed the Lieutenant Governors that in the eventuality of the recall of the representatives of the Crown, the Bailiffs should take over their responsibilities, and that the Bailiffs and Crown Officers should remain at their posts. The Lieutenant Governor of Jersey discussed with the Bailiff of Jersey the matter of being required to carry on administration under German orders. The Bailiff considered that this would be contrary to his oath of allegiance, but he was instructed otherwise

Invasion

The Germans did not realise that the islands had been demilitarised (news of the demilitarisation had been suppressed until 30 June 1940),^[ and they approached them with caution. Reconnaissance flights were inconclusive. On 28 June 1940, they sent a squadron of bombers over the islands and bombed the harbours of Guernsey and Jersey. In St. Peter Port, the main town of Guernsey, some lorries lined up to load tomatoes for export to England were mistaken by the reconnaissance flights for troop carriers. A similar attack occurred in Jersey where nine died. In total, 44 islanders were killed in the raids. The BBC broadcast a belated message that the islands had been declared “open towns” and later in the day reported the German bombing of the island.

Occupation

The German forces quickly consolidated their positions. They brought in infantry, established communications and anti-aircraft defenses, established an air service with occupied mainland France, and rounded up British servicemen on leave. and the Germans occupied the island of Jersey for 5 years

Liberation

Liberation of the German-occupied Channel Islands Plaque in the Royal Square, St Helier: On 8 May 1945 from the balcony above Alexander Moncrieff Coutanche, Bailiff of Jersey, announced that the island was to be liberated after five years of German military occupation. On 10 May 1985, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent unveiled this plaque to commemorate the Liberation.Although plans had been drawn up and proposed in 1943 by Vice Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten for Operation Constellation, a military reconquest of the islands, these plans were never carried out. The Channel Islands were liberated after the German surrender.On 8 May 1945 at 10:00 the islanders were informed by the German authorities that the war was over. Churchill made a radio broadcast at 15:00 during which he announced that Hostilities will end officially at one minute after midnight tonight, but in the interests of saving lives the “Cease fire” began yesterday to be sounded all along the front, and our dear Channel Islands are also to be freed today.

HMS Beagle, which had set out at the same time from Plymouth, performed a similar role in liberating Jersey. Two naval officers, Surgeon Lieutenant Ronald McDonald and Sub Lieutenant R. Milne, were met by the harbor master who escorted them to his office where they hoisted the Union Flag, before also raising it on the flagstaff of the Pomme D’Or Hotel. It appears that the first place liberated in Jersey may have been the British General Post Office Jersey repeater station. Mr Warder, a GPO lineman, had been stranded in the island during the occupation. He did not wait for the island to be liberated and went to the repeater station where he informed the German officer in charge that he was taking over the building on behalf of the British Post Office.

Sark was liberated on 10 May 1945, and the German troops in Alderney surrendered on 16 May 1945. The German prisoners of war were removed from Alderney by 20 May 1945, and its population started to return in December 1945, after clearing up had been carried out by German troops under British military supervision.^[c

Aftermath

10 May 1945: The restoration of British administration is proclaimed

The main Liberation forces arrived in the islands on 12 May 1945. A Royal Proclamation read out by Brigadier Alfred Snow in both Guernsey and Jersey vested the authority of military government in him. The British Government had planned for the relief and restoration of order in the islands. Food, clothing, pots, pans and household necessities had been stockpiled so as to supply islanders immediately. It was decided that to minimize financial disruption Reichsmarks would continue in circulation until they could be exchanged for sterling.

About Battery Moltke

Battery Moltke is a costral artillery defense system which is incomplete. It is located in Jersey Channel Islands in the parish of St. Ouens. The site contains a number of bunkers and gun replacements which were designed and used to protect St.Ouens bay, as well as in case of attack as the Island was included in the occupation where the Nazis had occupation over Jersey.

A association called ‘The Channel Island Occupation Society’ is an organisation which is made up of volunteers in order to help preserve/ operate some of the bunkers as museums in Jersey while still keeping the original site open. The volunteers all study the occupation of Jersey and help seek awareness so they can help to educate the public of World War Two.

Our Day at the Bunker Site

On the 10th of June 2019, me and my classmates headed down to the bunkers at ‘Batterie Moktke’ at St. Ouens on a photography trip. We began the trip with an information meeting with a CIOS member who started the tour by giving us an insight as to what the occupation was like. This was done in front of a canon used in the war which is shown below, the tour guide as showed us images from the war and told us his experiences as a little boy after WW2 had finished. After learning about the artillery we went on to view the main bunker which was turned into a museum which the public could go and see. This bunker was of course underground and included many rooms, all of which had real war objects which had been preserved. Most of these elements were kept in glass boxes. Some of the different real object we saw during out visit were elements such as radios and typewriters. My favorite part of this tour was the introduction where we were being educated on all of the information of the site while being in the site itself, so we could see the elements he was describing for itself.

Few facts we learnt from our tour guide

• Batterie Moltke was located in Jersey Channel Islands and was built by the Germans in 1942 as protection in world war two.
• The guns which were shown in the images were originally french guns which were reused by the Germans from the bunkers. They were used through the open concrete posts which allowed them to defend St. Ouens Bay, the guns also allowed them to be able to target the rest of the island of Jersey in case of attack.
• After the war the British dismantled the guns and they were thrown over the cliff which have been collected and restored since. However, a few still remain in the bottom of the cliffs which we are no longer allowed to take.

Contact sheets from the bunkers…

Most successful images

I have tried to replicate a photo from the Jersey Archive in the modern world. I tried to capture more modern items in the photo (Such as modern clothing and accessories) whilst avoiding including aspects which will give away the time this was taken in, such as a car driving past.