German Military Geology and Fortification of the British Channel Islands During World War II

Edward P. F. (Ted) Rose is an alumnus of Oxford University (1st class honours in geology 1963, followed by a DPhil for a thesis on Libyan fossiliferous limestones 1966) and a former British reserve army officer. He pursued a full-time career lecturing on geology in the University of London, at Bedford College 1966–1985, Royal Holloway 1985–2003, until retiring to an honorary research fellowship at Royal Holloway: his current appointment. He served in the reserve army 1960–1990, 1967–1990 in the Royal Engineers (Volunteers) as a military geologist with brief attachments to British forces worldwide (British regular forces having no geologists who serve as such). The senior geologist with call-out liability within the British Army 1974–1990, he transferred in 1990 into the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, as a colonel. He was an active member of the University of London Military Education Committee 1996–2009, finally as chairman, and served 2013–2017 as founding President of the International Association for Military Geosciences. He has contributed to over 130 journal articles or book chapters on historical aspects of military geology, co-edited three books on this subject for the Geological Society of London, and in 2014 received the Society’s Sue Tyler Friedman Medal for excellence in research into the history of geology.

“The book is much more than a collection of papers; however, it represents the most comprehensive volume on the topic and is beautifully illustrated in colour and very carefully edited to provide the reader with a full understanding of the reasons behind the fortifications, and the thinking behind their construction … . This book … is well produced, beautifully illustrated and carefully put together. If you have any interest in the topic at all, then this is a book for you.” (Peter Doyle, Geology Today, Vol. 37 (2), March-April, 2021)“The book is lavishly and beautifully illustrated with photographs of the fortifications, original drawings and sketch maps of the military works and historical military geology maps. Many examples of the German fortifications, particularly tunnels and observation posts, survive in the landscape today and some have been adapted for modern use, such as museums.” (Judy Ehlen, Geoscientist, geolsoc.org.uk, 2020)

• Chapter1.Introduction.-Chapter2.Geology.- Chapter3.Geologists and the German Armed Forces.-Chapter4.Jersey and the German Army.-Chapter5.Jersey and the German Air Force.-Chapter6.Guernsey and the German Army.-Chapter7.Guernsey and the German Air Force.-Chapter8.Alderney.-Chapter9.Groundwater Investigations: German and British.-Chapter10.Conclusion: Contemporary Context and Postwar Legacy.