L'ancien sémaphore de Kerhoazoc
L'ancien sémaphore de Kerhoazoc
When we talk about semaphore, we obviously think of the invention of Claude Chappe, during the Revolution. This young engineer developed with his brothers a system which he called “telegraph” making it possible to transmit by signs from one point to another 92 numbers referring to a glossary of 92 pages each comprising 92 numbered words. Using signals exerted on a mast provided with articulated arms and read using a telescope, it was enough to transmit two numbers, the first for the page, the second for the number of the word. Sentences were thus composed. Decided in 1793, a first line of these semaphores was installed between Lille and Paris. Each post copying the signals of the previous post located about 7 km away, this system allowed the Convention, in 1794, to learn in less than an hour of the victory of Condé-sur-Escaut over the Austrian army. In the other direction, orders could be transmitted to armies much faster than on horseback. Different systems made it possible to encrypt them.
Claude Chappe's invention was quickly perfected by Charles Pillon (or Dupillon 1 ) then applied to the Navy by Louis Jacob in order to install a whole series of semaphores equipped with 4 articulated arms along the French coast. The numbers displayed corresponded to whole sentences appearing on lexicons. The lookouts could thus, from the coast, quickly send their observations to the Maritime Prefecture or the latter send orders to the warships that remained in sight, after a warning cannon fired by the semaphore.
In the Pays d'Iroise, that of Kerhoazoc in Landunvez was the most northerly. To the south followed the semaphores of Porspoder, Corsen at Plouarzel, Les Renards at Le Conquet, Saint-Mathieu and Bertheaume at Plougonvelin, without forgetting that of the island of Molène 2 . Via Le Minou and Portzic, they communicated with the Maritime Prefecture of Brest. The semaphore of Kerhoazoc could also be related to that of Ouessant or Aber Wrac'h.
It was in 1845 that the American Samuel Morse invented both his alphabet formed of dots and dashes and his hand manipulator capable of sending short and long electrical signals. In a short time the "electric telegraph", thanks to a cable, replaced the aerial one. It also equipped the semaphores, but until Morse communications were carried out by means of radio, since called TSF (Télégraphie Sans Fil), the Dupillon mast with 4 arms was retained in addition to the usual set of pennants and flags to communicate with ships.
It was Napoleon who, in 1806, decided to build strings of semaphores. Most of those established on the coast replaced former guardhouses dating from Louis XIV. In 1860, the Admiralty of Brest decided that each semaphore would be designed on a T-shaped plan to house both staff and operational equipment: international code flags and pennants, weather equipment, telegraph, spare halyards and pulleys, ammunition for the cannon, and various equipment for 20 men in the event of mobilization. The watch room, the largest, had five windows looking out to sea. Two accommodations were provided for a lookout, his assistant and their entire family because the vigil had to be ensured 24 hours a day and it even happened that the wives took part in the service. The staff also had a cellar and a small vegetable garden. The buildings were covered with a white coating so that the signs of the terrace, seen from the sea, were easily detached.
The war of 1914-1918 showed the danger posed by submarines. In order to detect them, an acoustic chamber connected to an immersed hydrophone was built.
During the general mobilization of 1939, it was necessary to accommodate under the roofs the 20 reservists who had come to reinforce the lookouts. These sailors slept in hammocks.
In 1940, when the Germans arrived, equipment was hidden among the population of Landunvez so that it did not fall into the hands of the occupier. He seized the semaphore and built a blockhouse nearby.
In August 1944, the Germans left the semaphore in order to flee the Osttruppen (Russian soldiers enlisted by force among them) who had revolted. But they took care to blow up all the installations.
Since then, the semaphore of Kerhoazoc has not been rebuilt, but its ruins have been consolidated. They spread out in a deserted moor at the foot of a great landmark which remains alone to look out to sea. A great tag catches the eye. It is the last testimony of the interest that the man took to him.
L'ancien sémaphore de Kerhoazoc
L'ancien sémaphore de Kerhoazoc
When we talk about semaphore, we obviously think of the invention of Claude Chappe, during the Revolution. This young engineer developed with his brothers a system which he called “telegraph” making it possible to transmit by signs from one point to another 92 numbers referring to a glossary of 92 pages each comprising 92 numbered words. Using signals exerted on a mast provided with articulated arms and read using a telescope, it was enough to transmit two numbers, the first for the page, the second for the number of the word. Sentences were thus composed. Decided in 1793, a first line of these semaphores was installed between Lille and Paris. Each post copying the signals of the previous post located about 7 km away, this system allowed the Convention, in 1794, to learn in less than an hour of the victory of Condé-sur-Escaut over the Austrian army. In the other direction, orders could be transmitted to armies much faster than on horseback. Different systems made it possible to encrypt them.
Claude Chappe's invention was quickly perfected by Charles Pillon (or Dupillon 1 ) then applied to the Navy by Louis Jacob in order to install a whole series of semaphores equipped with 4 articulated arms along the French coast. The numbers displayed corresponded to whole sentences appearing on lexicons. The lookouts could thus, from the coast, quickly send their observations to the Maritime Prefecture or the latter send orders to the warships that remained in sight, after a warning cannon fired by the semaphore.
In the Pays d'Iroise, that of Kerhoazoc in Landunvez was the most northerly. To the south followed the semaphores of Porspoder, Corsen at Plouarzel, Les Renards at Le Conquet, Saint-Mathieu and Bertheaume at Plougonvelin, without forgetting that of the island of Molène 2 . Via Le Minou and Portzic, they communicated with the Maritime Prefecture of Brest. The semaphore of Kerhoazoc could also be related to that of Ouessant or Aber Wrac'h.
It was in 1845 that the American Samuel Morse invented both his alphabet formed of dots and dashes and his hand manipulator capable of sending short and long electrical signals. In a short time the "electric telegraph", thanks to a cable, replaced the aerial one. It also equipped the semaphores, but until Morse communications were carried out by means of radio, since called TSF (Télégraphie Sans Fil), the Dupillon mast with 4 arms was retained in addition to the usual set of pennants and flags to communicate with ships.
It was Napoleon who, in 1806, decided to build strings of semaphores. Most of those established on the coast replaced former guardhouses dating from Louis XIV. In 1860, the Admiralty of Brest decided that each semaphore would be designed on a T-shaped plan to house both staff and operational equipment: international code flags and pennants, weather equipment, telegraph, spare halyards and pulleys, ammunition for the cannon, and various equipment for 20 men in the event of mobilization. The watch room, the largest, had five windows looking out to sea. Two accommodations were provided for a lookout, his assistant and their entire family because the vigil had to be ensured 24 hours a day and it even happened that the wives took part in the service. The staff also had a cellar and a small vegetable garden. The buildings were covered with a white coating so that the signs of the terrace, seen from the sea, were easily detached.
The war of 1914-1918 showed the danger posed by submarines. In order to detect them, an acoustic chamber connected to an immersed hydrophone was built.
During the general mobilization of 1939, it was necessary to accommodate under the roofs the 20 reservists who had come to reinforce the lookouts. These sailors slept in hammocks.
In 1940, when the Germans arrived, equipment was hidden among the population of Landunvez so that it did not fall into the hands of the occupier. He seized the semaphore and built a blockhouse nearby.
In August 1944, the Germans left the semaphore in order to flee the Osttruppen (Russian soldiers enlisted by force among them) who had revolted. But they took care to blow up all the installations.
Since then, the semaphore of Kerhoazoc has not been rebuilt, but its ruins have been consolidated. They spread out in a deserted moor at the foot of a great landmark which remains alone to look out to sea. A great tag catches the eye. It is the last testimony of the interest that the man took to him.