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protect the Royal Navy’s ships. The eastern end of this wall is submerged. The island has a functioning rail- way which was built to carry granite to build the break- water and its attendant for- tifications. The railway now carries tourists in ex-London Underground railway car- riages.


All across the island are Victorian forts and German defensive structures which testify to the strategic impor-


tance of the island’s proximity to mainland France. The Romans used Alderney as a stepping stone to Britain having Longis (or Longy) bay as their harbour and building a fort, Castrum Longini in AD320 to protect it. The fort’s remains can be seen at the site now known as the Nunnery. The island’s long and varied military history culminated in the German occupation during the Second World War. After Dunkirk it became obvious that the Channel Islands could not be defended against German army sweeping across Europe. The garrison and the vast majority of the islanders were evacuated and within 2 weeks the island had been occupied by Hitler’s army. During the following five years


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Hammond Memorial


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