APPENDIX JThe Times, 15 May 1945OCCUPIATION OF HELIGOLANDSCOTS GUARDS TAKE OVERADMIRAL'S VISITBy a correspondentHELIGOLAND, 13 MayThe British occupation of Heligoland, the tiny island fortress dominating the entrance to the German ports, had some remarkable features.This was the first time in many generations that a British admiral and British infantry, a company of SCOTS GUARDS, had taken an island using enemy warships.Rear-Admiral MUIRHEAD GOULD, naval commander in north-west Germany, travelled to Heligoland with a staff of gunnery and disarmament experts in two German speedboats, small but powerfully armed coastal escorts, with German crews.The discipline and seamanship of these Germans was good and whatever they may have felt about the voyage, their professional pride forbade any slackening. The Commander wore the Iron Cross. Before the Admiral was escorted on board, gun blocks were removed and explosive charges removed. These were common sense precautions, although the whole attitude of the Germans around Wilhelmshaven is one of willing and genuine cooperation. During the voyage the German crew assembled in the stern, except for the Commander and a German sea pilot, both of whom remained near the British Admiral, and it was the German Commander who respectfully said, "Heligoland in sight, Sir."At this time we were joined by five ships of the 7th German Minesweeping Flotilla, ships of the famous M class, which gave our men much trouble during the war. These ships carried the men of the SCOTS GUARDS, who are to form the temporary garrison under the command of Major RAYBURN. They came fresh from their triumphs with the GUARDS ARMORED DIVISION, and some senior officers accompanied them.As we reached the port of Heligoland we passed two merchant ships full of German soldiers, the 2500 men who had formed the garrison, men who had operated the huge guns. They were being taken to the mainland, five sleek black submarines lay outside, and another lay in a submarine bunker. The commander of each stood stiffly saluting in the conning tower.RAF DAMAGEAshore, our party were met by German naval and military officers and a crowd of fishermen, many of whom hoped that the order to evacuate the island would be postponed. The Admiral went ashore on a jetty littered with the wreckage of the last RAF raid. There were two major raids, in which 1300 bombers were used. One of his staff drew up a document in which the Germans pledged themselves to observe the terms of surrender faithfully and in detail. The German commander, Captain ROEGGELER, using an overturned water tank as a table, signed at once.The present intention of the British is to destroy every kind of armament on the island, including, of course, mines, and to evacuate the population, at least temporarily, with the exception of a few who will be left behind to carry on such essential services as they function.Until the disarmament experts have completed their work, it is difficult to say how many guns were put out of action in the two RAF raids. I saw several large ones that had been knocked aside, with large gaping holes in the turrets. One gun barrel was pointing skyward, but little was left of it except the barrel. It seemed obvious that no thickness of concrete could withstand a decent hit from the largest bombs, although by some strange coincidence the huge submarine bunkers had suffered nothing except bits of concrete chipping off the roof. Inside, the roof did not have even a crack, and all repair and maintenance equipment was in good working order. Outside, the spring sun beat down strongly on the ruins of the houses and batteries, but inside the submarine bunker it was cool and refreshing. The fort's big guns had never been fired during the war, except for practice firing, but anti-aircraft guns had been frequently used on low-flying aircraft passing overhead.APPENDIX KORDER OF BATTLE2ND BATALLION SCOTS GUARDS15. May 1945BATTALION HQLieutenant-Colonel HN CLOWES - Commanding OfficerRIGHT FLANKMajor WDM RAEBURN, MBECaptain MJ FITZHERBERT-BROCKHOLESLieutenant GCW RADCLIFFELeutenant AJ SINCLAIRLieutenant AHR LYELLLieutenant D. MILLENC.SMJ LINDSAYC.QMSG COSGROVE