Batterie Mirus is a massive gun battery, the largest in the Channel Islands, which had 30.5cm Guns on four sites in Guernsey. The site of one of the guns is being restored by Festung Guernsey and is on private land. It is a large bunker complex and is well worth a visit.
Access is only available by booking through Tours of Guernsey and they provide tours roughly on a monthly basis. Tours for groups such as clubs, sports and social events and corporate tours are also available by contacting them through the website.
The tour lasts approximately 1.75 hours and are led by Amanda Johns who is one of the Festung Guernsey volunteers. Amanda is extremely knowledgeable about both the site, the construction and use of the guns.
Amanda has many period photographs and other visual aids to tell the tale of how the site came into being and events there.
Below you will find a small number of photographs I took on a visit in September 2022. There are many interesting features to see including original paintings on the walls. These pictures are just a taster of what you can see. Amanda was ably assisted by Pierre Renier also of Festung Guernsey who has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things relating to the islands during the occupation.
I highly recommend this tour if you get the opportunity to visit.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading the blog post.
I also co-host a podcast with Keith Pengelley in which we talk about the occupation of the Channel Islands month by month using first hand accounts, diaries and our research in the archives. You can find us on all the major podcast services. Just search “Islands at War” or visit our podcast page here.
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Also happy to be contacted with questions about the war in the Channel Islands, media appearances, podcasts etc.
© Nick Le Huray