Casquets Lighthouses

The Casquets Lighthouses, perched on a treacherous reef northwest of Alderney in the Channel Islands, have long served as a critical navigational aid in the English Channel. Built in 1724 by Trinity House, the original trio of towers—St Peter’s, St Thomas, and Dungeon—was designed to prevent confusion with nearby French lights. Over time, the lights evolved from coal fires to oil lamps, and eventually to electric power, with automation arriving in 1990.

During World War II, the Casquets took on a more strategic role. After the Channel Islands were occupied by German forces in 1940, the lighthouses were seized and fortified. The Germans used the site as a lookout and communications post, integrating it into their broader coastal defense network. In September 1942, British commandos launched Operation Dryad, a daring raid that successfully captured the German garrison stationed there. The commandos disabled the radio equipment and took the seven-man crew prisoner, returning them to England without a shot fired. This operation was notable not only for its precision but also for its symbolic value, demonstrating that even heavily fortified German positions could be breached.

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: Juan Gutierrez Andres
• LETT, B.G., The Small Scale Raiding Force, Pen & Sword Military, 2013.