There were approximately 36,000 troops stationed in the British Channel Islands during the German Occupation. After the Islands' liberation in May 1945 there was literally thousands of tonnes of German equipment to dispose of.

Much of it was dumped and sealed up in the German tunnels around the Islands and left to rust away as shown in this picture. 

Other items were dumped over the cliffs into the sea and some bits used as scrap metal but a small amount of gear survived and was kept as keepsakes and put up in lofts and attics to gather dust for many years.

My Grandfather Donald Le Gallais kept a few bits tucked away and passed them onto me along with many fascinating stories of that time.

I have heard many of the elder generation talk about their excitement as young boys when they would go to gun sites or into the many deserted bunkers and tunnels to gather as much as they could carry and described it as an Aladdin's Cave for collectors.

Most of it has ended up in a number of museums which can be seen around the Islands today. These are well worth a visit with vast collections on show.