ISLANDERS will be able to view several historical maritime artefacts as part of a Liberation 80 exhibition in St John.
Following a loan from Ports of Jersey, several items that were present at some of the island’s most significant moments during and after the Occupation, will be displayed at St John Parish Hall until Sunday 11 May.
The loaned items include the “Navigation Buoy No.1”, one of the first of the new ‘ballasted’ Type II navigation buoys to arrive in Jersey, where it has been operational since 1929.
Constructed of a riveted steel plate and originally carrying a heavy bronze bell, it was stationed on the La Raudière mark, and is also the only working buoy in Jersey to retain its original wooden waterline fendering.
It was on station at St Helier’s Hinguette mark from June 1940 to September 1941, and would have been used as the last primary port mark by the occupying forces as they approached St Helier harbour at the start of the Occupation.
It would also have been used by the SS Vega as she made her final approach into St Helier on 30 December 1944, carring lifesaving Red Cross parcels for the island’s starved population, as well as by the liberating naval forces as they approached St Helier on 9 May 1945.
Today, it is painted yellow and dressed with a North cardinal top mark.
The upcoming exhibition in St John will mark the first time in its 96 years of service that it has ever been placed more than 50 metres away from the sea.
A 1935 fog bell, which has suffered from the impact of a projectile, will also be displayed, having been loaned by Ports from the Maritime Museum.
Thought to have been located on Noirmont Tower during the Occupation, the navigation bell is the only one of its kind complete with four hammers still in Ports of Jersey’s care.
Visitors to St John’s Parish Hall will see that it has three distinguishing marks, which show that it has suffered from the direct impact of a projectile, although the date of that is unclear.
Together with the artefacts, two handwritten ledgers – written accounts – will be displayed, showing information about the navigation aids, and the people responsible for maintaining them under German command.
Ahead of the exhibition, Harbour Master, Captain Bill Sadler, said he hoped as many people as possible will enjoy finding out about their predecessors.
“We are pleased to loan these important artefacts to be part of an exhibition that portrays the liberation of Jersey from Germain occupation 80 years ago,” he said.
Captain Sadler added: “We hope as many people as possible will enjoy finding out how our predecessors at the harbour managed these difficult times.”
