New signage has been installed at a World War Two bunker in St Ouen.

The placards tell the stories of the soldiers who operated there. 

In this case, the bunker along the Five Mile Road was used by the German Machine Gun Battalion 16. 

These signs have been placed by the Jersey Fortifications Study Group, which opens bunkers around the island for visitors and locals to gain a greater understanding of Jersey's history. 

One of the signs at the St Ouen's bunker, created by George Blake

Dave Mustow from the group tells us about the Nazi Machine Gun Battalion 16:

"The bunker was in control of the MG Machine Gun Battalion 16 where El Tico stands today.

"The first company of the battalion were located at steps point 43- the name of the bunker.

"In addition, this battalion also manned other positions at High Tower (where The Watersplash is today), St Peter's Barracks, St George's School Lamon Mill and other locations around the area."

Inside the bunker

Alongside reading these signs, islanders and visitors can head into the bunker, where the fortifications team has recreated what it would have been like to live inside them during the war. 

Dave Mustow tells us an account from the Commander of the bunker:

"The story is called 'The Pig in the Minefield': In the early stages of the occupation, to feed soldiers and civilians, a system was reliant on imports from St Malo and occupation of livestock.

"With the Allied recapturing of Europe in 1944 -1945, and the Channel Islands now stranded and alone, Red Cross parcels arrived for civilians giving them some hope of survival.

"For the Germans, the words of Prime Minister Churchill loomed large: 'Let them starve'. In the case of desperate hunger, many Germans began to find ways to sneak in food, from hiding potatoes in ammunition crates to hunting rabbits and eating family pets.

"For the soldiers of this strong point, something larger was in mind. During March the crew managed to smuggle a live pig down to the bunker from a nearby local farm, and discarded unwanted bits into the sea.

"All the meat was chopped up, salted and placed in empty ammunition boxes and buried in a minefield. The German police with a bloodhound came in the morning following the scent of the pig and searched the bunker and interrogated the crew.

"The crew said they knew nothing about the pig and the police left them alone, leaving the crew to get away with it - it was crazy!"

Inside the bunker

Condor Ferries have funded this latest signage, using part of their Community Fund. 

Dave tells us that while the placards make a great addition, this may not be the end of their work with this bunker: 

"Hopefully next year we'll have another surprise for people when they come down - with a machine gun turret!"