ATimelineofRyeintheSecondWorldWar

EventsandDevelopmentsinRyeandSurroundsfrom1939to1945

Year Page

1938/9 2

1940 4

1941 14

1942 16

1943 19

1944 23

1945 28

PrincipalSources 29

CompiledfortheRyeArtsFestivalbyPeterMackenzieSmith

2016

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1938-1939

Late1938 Thepopulationareissuedwithgasmasks.

Constructionoftheradiodirectionfinding(RDF,latercalledRadar)station,RAFRye,wherethewindfarmnowis.Towers340’high.Noonelocallyisawareofitspurpose,thoughthere’smuchspeculation.StationpersonnelbilletedinRyeuntiltheconstructionofabarracks,thepresentPhilippinevillage.AnotherRDFstationisbuiltatFairlight,bothpartofaseriesalongtheEastandSouthcoastscalledChainHome.

1939 AirRaidPrecaution(ARP)wardensappointedanddrillsstartedforbothairraids andgasattacks(suggestionthatRyeTennisClubshouldbeanARPoffice).

April27 Conscriptionintroducedforallmenbetween18and41,withexceptionsfor reservedoccupations.ItlastedinvariousformsasNationalServiceuntil1960.

May Ambulancedrivingcoursesstartedbythebuscompany(theEastKentRoadCarCo).

RecruitingbeginsfortheAuxiliaryFireServicewithappealsatfootballmatches.

PublicairraidshelterspreparedinvaultsunderLangtonsintheHighStreet(Adamstoday),theMonasteryGardeninConduitHill,therearofWoolworths,theHopeAnchorHotelcellar,intrenchesintheGunGardens.

8/9July FirstblackoutpracticeinRye.

Civildefencepractice.ChiefDefenceOfficeestablishedat107HighStreet.

TheBoroughCouncilorderwhiteroadmarkingpaintandsandbagstoprotectpublicbuildings.

Firstwhitelinespaintedinthemiddleoftheroad.

RyeBoroughCouncilwasanindependentBorough,oneofthesmallestinthecountry,untillocalgovernmentreorganisationin1974.In1938,followingnationalguidelines,theBoroughorganisedsubcommitteesforspecificpurposesconnectedwithwartimeactivities,includinganARPsubcommitteeandanEmergencysubcommittee.TheEmergency‘Sub-Controller’,MrArthurCornner(alsotheBoroughSurveyor)coordinatedresponsestowartimeincidents,raids,andactionsinRyeduringthewarandreportedweeklytotheEmergencysubcommittee,chairedbytheMayor.

August24 TheEmergencyPowers(Defence)Bill1939enactedbyParliament.Itcontained clausesgivingthegovernmentwidepowerstocreateDefenceRegulationswhich governedalmosteveryaspectofeverydaylifeinthecountryforthenextfiveyears.

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September BarrageBalloonsbegintoappear.

ExpansionoftheSpecialConstabulary.

SchoolchildrenfromLewishamevacuatedtoRyeuntilSpring1940.

September3 11:00.Wardeclared.

TheRyebranchoftheW.V.S.(Women’sVoluntaryServices)issetup.

September9 21:29.AnRAFAvroAnsonditchedintheseaoffFairlight.Thecrewof4werefound sittingontopoftheplaneandwererescuedbyMrRCooke,volunteerinchargeof thelife-savingcorpsinPettLevel,withthehelpofothervolunteersandhisown motorboat.TheHastingslifeboattowedtheaircrafttotheStade.

September10ALuftwaffeDornierdropsabombontheRyeCambertramwayatCamberSands Station.

September29Identitycardsintroduceduntil22May1952.

October ‘DigforVictory’.Thegovernmenturgeseveryonetogrowtheirownvegetableson allavailablebitsofland,publicandprivate.TheRyeartistEdwardBurrafinds himselfgrowingonionsbecausetheFrenchonionsellersonbicycleswhousedto providethembeforethewarcannolongercrosstheChannel.

TheWomen’sLandArmybeginsrecruiting.

October14 Rye’sfirstcasualtyofwar,EdwardCloute,MasteratArmsonHMSRoyalOak,islost with833othermembersofthecrewwhenthebattleshipistorpedoedbyU-47at anchorinScapaFlow.

November AbouthalftheRomneyMarshsheepwerecompulsorilypurchasedandevacuated totheWestCountryandYorkshireundertheGovernment’s‘PloughNow’ campaign.Farmerswereinstructedtoturnoverhalftheirlandtoarable, somethingcompletelynewtothemafterhundredsofyearsofsheepfarming. TheWarAgriculturalCommitteehadthepowertotakeoverandfarmanyland belongingtothosewhodidnotcooperate.

November9 MrGeorgeMarsdenelectedMayorforthethirdyear.

November21 AHurricane,pilotedbyP/ORHerrick,makesaforcedlandingatPett.

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1940January8 Foodrationingintroducedforbacon,butterandsugar.Extendedgraduallyto otheritems.Endedon4July1954.

RyeFoodOfficesetupinFaradayHouse,theMint.

Fish,notontheration,becameveryplentifulbecausethewarkeptbigtrawlersoutofRyewaters.

ScrapmetalandrailingscollectionsbyBoyScoutsandothers.

March29 TheHastingsfishingboatHappyReturnRX198trawledupamine3milesoffRye Harbourwhichexplodedandkilledthetwocrewmen,LouisWhiteandDickEason.

April22 FromtheBoroughCouncilminutes:‘theMayorstatedthathewasshortlytakingup anappointmentintheNorthofEnglandandwaslikelytobeawayforthelengthof theWarandtheCouncilexpressingtheirappreciationofhisservicesandtheir desirethatheshouldremaininoffice,heexpressedthehopethattheCouncil wouldsupporttheDeputyMayorinhisabsence’.

May ASpitfire,runningoutoffuelafterapatrolovertheChannel,landsnexttothe CamberRoad,BroadwaterBendandiseventuallyrefuelledandtakesoffafterthe farmermovedafence.Thepilotwaswearingpyjamasunderhisflightjacketand wastakentoBennett’sbythepolicefornewtrousersandashirt.Whenhesent thepoliceachequefor£2/10/-,theywrotebackandsaiditwasonthem.

May10 GermaninvasionofBelgium,Holland,andFrance.ChurchillPrimeMinister,endof the‘phoney’war.

May14 FormationoftheLocalDefenceVolunteers,laterrenamedtheHomeGuard, formedofmenbetweentheagesof17and65.Some200volunteersintheRye unit,manywith1914-18battleexperience.Underthethreatofinvasion,many regardedthisasasuicidaltask.

‘AuxiliaryUnits’,smallsecretgroupsofthosewhosetaskitwouldbetocarryout intelligenceandsabotagebehindtheGermanlinesafteraninvasion,aresetup. OperationalbasesfortheseunitsintheRyeareawereatIckleshamand Iden/Peasmarsh.

TheBBCbroadcastsanAdmiraltyorderrequestingallownersofself-propelled pleasurecraftbetween30'and100'inlengthtosendallparticularstothe Admiraltywithin14days.Thislistislaterusedforidentifyingsomeofthe‘little ships’fortheDunkirkevacuation.

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May21 AspecialorderinformsthevolunteercrewsattheRoyalObserverCorpspostatthe RyeHarbourMartellotowerthattheyshouldnowconsiderthemselvesmobilised. ‘Anymanmaybesummonedfordutynightorday...redoubledvigilanceis necessaryatalltimes.EverypersonapproachingorpassingnearthepostMUSTbe challenged–nightorday.’

May21 LanceSergeantReginaldMorfordofRyekilledinactionontheretreattoDunkirk servingwiththe7thBattalion,RoyalSussexRegiment.

May22 TheHastingsfishingboatGipsyQueenhelpedbringtoHastingspieraBelgiantug foundinadangerouspositionunderFairlightcliffs.Amongthe100refugeeson boardwasMonsieurDelory,financialdirectoroftheBelgianRailwaycompany,who wascarrying13millionfrancsintwosuitcases.

May22 PrivateFrankBirchallofRyekilledinactioninBelgiumservingwiththe5thCinque PortsBattalionoftheRoyalSussexRegiment.

May26 AlertforthearmywithreportsofparachutelandingsintheRyeandWinchelsea area,thefirstofmanysuchalertsoverthenextsixmonths.

May26 BeginningoftheevacuationoftheBritishExpeditionaryForcefromDunkirk. BoatsfromRyearereportedtohavetakenpart,buttheRyefishingfleetrefusesto participate.TheHastingsfleetwereassembledatRamsgate,butwerenotused.

TrainspassthroughRyewithtroopsevacuatedfromFrance.

May27 PrivateCharlesCollinsofRyekilledinactionontheretreattoDunkirkservingwith the5thCinquePortsBattalion,RoyalSussexRegiment.

June4 EndoftheDunkirkevacuation.

June6 AbleSeamanFrederickAppsRNfromRyelostwithHMSGloriouswhentheaircraft carrierwassunkbyGermanbattlecruisersoffNorway.

June9 SeveralRyeboatsandcrewsassembledtohelpevacuatethe51stHighlandDivision fromSaint-Valery-en-Caux,buttheexpeditionwascancelledbecauseofthespeed oftheGermanadvanceandthedivisionwascapturedenmasse.

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June Antiinvasionmeasures:

• Roadblocks(MonkbrettonBridge,onMilitaryRoad,attheHospital,onWinchelseaRoadandelsewhere).

• Bridgesprimedwithexplosive(anavaldepthchargeisattachedtoMonkbrettonbridge),includingtheStrandBridgeatWinchelsea,therailwaybridgesinRyeandatBredeSluice.BridgesatBoon’sHillandBrook’sGateareprematurelyblownupbyanover-eagerofficerinSeptember.

• PreparationsmadetoblowupthechemicalworksatRyeHarbour.• Ablockship,the97’yacht‘Toquade’ispreparedandfittedwithexplosives

toclosetheentrancetoRyeHarbour.• Dragon’steeth(somestillvisibleatRyeAmbulanceStation).• 12’highscaffoldingisbuiltthelengthofRyeBaybetweenlowandhigh

tidemarks,withtheexceptionofthemouthofRyeHarbour.Someofitismined.

• Signpostsandroadsignspaintedoutorremoved.• Polesandtrenchesinfields.• Hawsersstretchedacrossroadsandfields.• ArtilleryatTillinghamAvenue,SouthUndercliff,UdimoreHilland

CamberRoad.• Heavyartillery(two12”howitzers)atPeasmarsh.• Anti-aircraftgunsattheschoolandRyeHarbourRoad,• SearchlightsatEastGuldeford.• Pillboxesandmachinegunpositionsbuiltthroughoutthearea.• 6”MarkVIInavalgunbatteriesinstalledatWinchelseaBeach(Dog’sHill),

Jury’sGapandCliffEnd.• Abatteryof9.2”navalgunswasalsoinstalledintheRyeDefenceSector.• Minefieldslaid,particularlyalongthecoastandtheRoyalMilitaryCanal.

Thesecausemanyfatalaccidentstosoldiersalongthecoast,aswellastosheepandotheranimals,duringthecourseofthewar.

• Bicyclesregistered.• ‘Settingtheseaalight’installationsatCamberfortheflamebarrage

installedinSpring1941.Thereweremanyrumoursin1940aboutthisweapon,includingaccountsofbadlyburnedbodieswashinguponbeachesinRyeBay.

• ‘Stayput’CircularsandGovernmentinstructions(‘IftheInvaderComes’1940;‘BeatingtheInvader’1941).

• Concernathowtocountergascloudattacksfromenemyships.• TheArmyandRAFbuiltuplargeresourcesofpoisongaswithmeansof

deliverybyaircraft,artilleryandmortars.AWarCabinetdecisionwasneededtoactuallyusegas.

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TroopsintheRyeareaatthistimewerefrom8RoyalSussexRegiment,6and7 Devonshires,andthefirstbattalion,RoyalIrishFusiliers.

Ryeisdesignatedoneof31evacuationtownsintheeventofinvasion.Inthe meantime,theGrammarSchoolisevacuatedtoBedfordforfouryears,other residents(mothers,children,theelderly)toCornwall,Somersetand Gloucestershire.

SomefamiliesmadeplansforescapeacrosstheRomneyMarsh,othersconsidered killingeachotheriftheenemyappeared.

CatchmentBoardOfficeestablishedat16UdimoreRoad.

BarbedwireacrosstheCricketSalts.

AirraidsirensplacedatFerryRoadFireStation,LandgateTowerandtheMartello TowerontheWinchelseaRoad.

ArmyQuarteringCommandant’sofficesetupat3,HighStreet.

June10 Complaints,particularlyfromtheRyebranchoftheBritishLegion,thattheBorough areemployingaconscientiousobjector,MrACYogan.

June19 TheSSRoseburnshelledandtorpedoedoffDungenessbyaGermanE-boatand beachedasatotalloss.ThecrewwereallrescuedbytheDungenesslifeboat. Thewreckwasblownupafterthewarasadangertoshipping.

June24 TheSSAlbuerabeachedoffLyddLightfollowinganE-boatattack.Sevenofher crewwerelost.

July4 TheabsentMayor,GeorgeMarsden,writestotheCouncilfromYorkshireoffering toresign.Thisisunanimouslyaccepted.TheDeputyMayor,JoeCooper,is appointedMayorfortheremainderoftheperiodofoffice.

July5 ArmyengineersblowgapsintheseawallatCliffEndtofloodthemarshesat PettLevel.

RyeHarbourcomesundertheAdmiralty’sDoverCommand.Therestrictionson harbourusecausedbythetidesandaprohibitiononnightmovementsmeanthat theharbourcannotbeusedbyRNgunboats,buta45’convertedfishingboat,the ‘Adela’wasemployedasapatrolboatandequippedwithmachineguns.

July10 ADutchcargoship,theBillS,enroutefromGreenhithetoLlanelliwithacargoof cementattackedandsunkbytheLuftwaffe7milesoffDungeness.

ALuftwaffeDornier17broughtdowninDungenessRoads(justoffshoreoftheold lighthouse)byacollisionwithanattackingSpitfire.Ithadbeenattacking,with21 othersandfightersupport,alargeconvoy(codenamed‘Bread’)at14:00.Twoof thecrewoffoursurvivedandwerepickedup.TheSpitfirepilotwasalsolost.

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July11 MemorandumfromAdmiralRamsayatDoverconcerningtheuseofthe6”naval gunsinstalledatWinchelseaBeach.Thegunsweretobeusedagainstenemy transportships‘beforetheyhavebeenabletolandtroops,tanks,etc.Battery commandersshouldnotconcernthemselveswithsmallcraftunlessarrivinginlarge numbers...fireshouldbewithheldforbiggergameuntilwithincertainhitting range...batteriesaresuppliedwithonly100roundspergunandnomoreis available.’

July22 PopulationofCamber,WinchelseaBeachandPettLevel(withtheexceptionof somefarmers)given48hourstoevacuatethearea.Camberheavilyfortified. Passesarerequiredforanyonewantingtoenterthiszone.Theevacuationarea preventsseabathing.

August7 MrsAlbrookisfined£2byRyemagistrateswith12/6costsfortakingphotographs ofdefencesatPett.Therearemanysuchcasesduringthewarofinfringementsof blackoutandotherdefenceregulations,includingfoodrationfraud.Thepagesof localnewspaperscarryregularstoriesofcrimeandthelootingofdamagedor evacuatedpropertybythelocalpopulationandsoldiers.Alsoaboutaccidentsand fatalitieswithfirearmsandinminefields,withthesourcesusuallybeingcourtcases andcoroners’reports.Airraidsandbattlesarereportedinsomedetail,butnames andplacesaredeleted:mostraidstakeplaceover‘aSouthCoasttown’and photographsaredoctoredtomakeitdifficulttoidentifypreciselocations. Eachedition,though,willrecord,usuallywithaphoto,servicemenfromthearea reportedkilled,missingortakenprisonerbytheenemy.

August12 13:00.FirstoftwoLuftwaffeattacksthatdayontheradarstation(RAFRye).One soldierwaskilledandseveralwoundedbutthestation’soperations(longrange earlywarningforthesouthcoastandChannel,lookingovertheCapGrisNezarea ofnorthernFrance)werenotdisrupted.Theraidisthesubjectofadramatic paintingbyEdwardBurra,whoisbasedinRyethroughouttheWar.

August18 13:37.(Sundaylunchtime).SevenGermanbombersdetachthemselvesfroma groupof27returningfromaverydamagingraidonRAFKenleyinSouthLondon anddroptwenty-eight50kghighexplosivebombsonRye.18failedtoexplode,but theothersdid:

ThreehousesdestroyedinGodfrey’sRow,WishStreet.

DemolitionofNos.47,48,61,62and63TheMint.

FaradayHouse,TheMint,halfdestroyed.

SecondHouse,MermaidStreet,formerlytheEvacueeHospital,destroyed,together withtheSummerHouseofLambHouse(whereHenryJameswrotemanyofhis works).

OneunexplodedbombfellthroughtheroofofNo11CadboroughRoadandinto thecellarofNo10nextdoorwhere8peopleweresheltering.Nonewerehurt.

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MrFBumsted,oneofthefirstLDVvolunteers,andhisparentswerekilledinthis raidandotherswounded.

Fromtheofficialreport:‘TheinstructionsoftheDepartmentontakingshelterwere notobeyedexceptingbyaverysmallproportionofthepopulation.Sincethe incidenttherehasbeenamarkedimprovementinthenumberofpersonstaking shelterbutthereisratheratendencyforthisnumbertodecreaseinviewofthe spectacularairbattles,whichcanbeseenfrequentlyoverthetown.’

AHeinkel111bomberisshotdownbytheRAFandcrashesatSnargate. ThewoundedflightengineerdieslaterinRyeHospital,therestofthecreware takenprisoner.

August24 AnME109broughtdownatBroomhillFarm,Camber.

August25 03:20.TheHastingslifeboatrescuedFw.ASchmadererfromtheseaoffEcclestone Glen,solesurvivorfromaHeinkelIIIshotdownreturningfromattackingRAF HarwellbyaHurricanenightfighter(FlightLieut,JGSaunders).Thelifeboathadto cutitsenginesinthedarknessuntilacrywasheard.

August29 18:15.AHurricane,shotdownincombat,crasheswithitspilot,HRHamilton,200 yardsEastofCamberCastle.

September Germaninvasionplansincludedlargescalelandingsbythe16tharmywithinfantry andarmouratCamberandthefulllengthofRyeBay;fortankstobedeployed aroundWinchelsea;amountainbrigadeatCliffEndandspecialforcestoattackthe RoyalMilitaryCanal.TheGermanaimlocallywastobypassRyeandadvanceinland alongUdimoreRidge.

TheoverallGermanplancoveredlandingsfromHythetoNewhaven:using1,100 invasionbarges,theyintendedtoland89,000troopsinthefirsttwohours,219,000 troopsonthefirstday,and16divisionswithinthreetofourweeks.

Britishdefencesaimedatopposinglandingsonthebeachesandthenaseriesof areadefencesinland,includinganti-tank‘stop’linesandfortresstownsand villages.Troopsonthebeachesweretoholdtheirpositionsuntilacounter offensivecouldbemounted.

TheBritishArmy’sRyeSectorDefenceSchemeatthetimegivesasits‘Intention’: ‘TheRyesectorwillbeheld,tothelastroundandthelastman.Therewillbeno withdrawalfromthepositionsordered...’

TheDefenceSchemedescribestheBritishArmy’sdispositionsforanarea12,000 yardsalongthecoastand9,000yardsinland(CliffEndtoLyddandincludingRye andWinchelseainland).Infantrywerecomposedofapproximately500menof1 RoyalIrishFusiliersand1Devons.Artilleryconsistedofamixoffixedposition9” and6”guns,andmobile75mm,18pdr,andantitankandanti-aircraftguns,atotal

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of29guns.TheHomeGuardwas268menstrongwith168riflesand16machine guns.TherewerealsoRoyalEngineerandsearchlightdetachments.

Intheeventofinvasion,theGermanforcesallocatedtotheRyeBayareaconsisted ofupto2Divisions(20,000to30,000men).

September1 11:40.LieutenantHerbertStrasser’sME109,onapatrolfromEtaples,isshot downbyaHurricaneandcrashesatStrandBridgeWinchelsea.LtnStrasserbales outandiscaptured.

September4 FourGermanspiesarecaptured,twoatHytheandtwoinLyddafteronetriedto buydrinksintheRisingSunpubat9amonaSunday.Allhadcomeashorein rowingboatsfromafishingboatoutofLeTouquet.OneturnsKing’sevidence,the otherthreearehangedinPentonvilleprisoninDecember.

September5 HighExplosivebombsonWinchelseaBeach.Nodamage.

September6 09:30.ASpitfirecrashesatPeasmarshPlace.

TheSussexExpressandCountyHeraldpublishesalistofairraidsheltersinRyefor thebenefitofvisitors(numbersindicatecapacity):

! Langton’sUndergroundVaults,8-10HighStreet.125.! CoveredtrenchesintheMonasterygarden,ConduitStreet.60.! CoveredtrenchesoffMarketRoadattherearofWoolworths.180.! BasementoftheOldHopeAnchorHotel,WatchbellStreet.23.! CoveredtrenchesintheGunGarden.100.! Concretesurfaceshelter,TheStrand,bottomofMermaidStreet.50.! ConcretesurfaceshelterontheTownSalts,FishmarketRoad,bottomof

Hilder’sCliffsteps.58.! 4surfacesheltersatLionStreetSchools,LionStreet,accommodating27,13,

26and19.! ConcretesurfacesheltersattheSeniorandJuniorschools.

September7 At17:45,sixhighexplosive(HE)bombsdroppedalongtheFishmarketandtherear oftheRotherIronworks,oneunexplodedintheRotherjustSouthofMonkbretton Bridge.

142FieldRegimentCommandPostdestroyedbyabombatPlayden.

CodewordCROMWELLissued.Severeinvasionthreatperceived.

September10TenHEand100incendiarybombsdroppedat18:15.Mostinopencountry,but firesatnos.89and117,SouthUndercliffanddamagetoaboatinaRockChannel shipyard.BombsatPlaydenChurch,nodamage.

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September1116:00.AGermanaircraftcomesdownintheChanneloffWinchelsea. Twooccupantsareseenonthewings.Theywerenotrescued.

16:15.TwoHeinkel111bombersareshotdownatBroomhill,EastGuldefordand setonfirebytheircrews(standardprocedure)beforetheyarecaptured. TwoHurricanesshotdownoverCamber/Lydd.

September1313:07.A600kgbombisdroppedontheCamberFieldsfootpathbutdoesnot explode.

September15F/LtGeorgePowell-SheddenshootsdownaDornier17andishimselfshotdownby anotherenemyaircraft.Ashebalesouthisfootiscaughtinthecockpit’scanopy andhedangleshelplesslyintheairastheHurricanerapidlylosesheight.At1,500 feet,however,hisshoecameoff.HisHurricanecrashesatChurchField,Udimore.

SquadronLeaderGeorgeDenholm,COof603Squadron,balesoutofhisSpitfire afterbeinghitbyaDornier.HisplanecrashesonWarrenFarm,Fairlightandthe severedenginebouncesoverthecliffstolandinthesea.

September16AtaCouncilmeeting,theTownClerkrejectscomplaintsfromCouncillorSherwood abouttheperformanceofthecivildefence.MrSherwoodhadseenMrArthur Corrner,thesubcontrolleroftheemergencycommittee,motoringinthetown earlierthatdayandwantedtoknowwhyhewasn’tatthemeeting.

September17AnME109force-landsamileEastofCamberFarm,thepilotistakenprisoner,the planeslightlydamaged.

September20AnunexplodedbombonthelineafteranairraidonHastingsinterruptsthetrain servicetoRye.

September25SgtPilotRaymondGentof501Sqn.shootsdownanME109overGuestling. Thepilot,Fw.WilliKoslowski,balesoutwithseriousburns.Thewreckageofhis planeisnotexcavateduntil1989.

October AJunkers88isshotdownbyHurricanesandcrashesintoRyeBay,4milesoff Camber.

October1 At10:20,tenHEbombsdroppedatCamberCastle.

October4 6HEbombsdroppedontheRyeareaat13:15withtwominorcasualtiesandfive onRyeHarbourat15:32.

October5 AnME109forceddownatPeasmarsh.Pilottakenprisoner.

October7 AnME109(pilotObltVMolders)shotdownbyaHurricaneof605Squadron,crash landsatDolehamFarmandheistakenprisoner.

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October4 HEonRyeGolfClub.

October9 At10:10,18HEbombsdroppedonRyeresultingindamageanddemolitionto:

Nos.1to6BedfordPlace

Nos.19,20and31King’sAvenue.

October13 LyddChurchreceivesadirecthitfromanME109fighter-bomber.Thechancelis destroyed,butthesoldiersintheobservationpointonthetowersurvive.

October14 HEatCrutchesFarmWinchelseaandHayesFarmUdimore.

October15 At20:00alargeHEbombfell200yardsfromRyeRailwayBridgeandcauseda crater30’across.DamagetohousesinKing’sAvenue(incidentR/6). At01:00fiveHEbombsfellatIcklesham.

October18 HEPettLevel.

October20 18bombsdroppedonLyddCampcausingmanycasualtiesamongstCanadian troops.

October21 HEandoilbombsaroundRyeRailwayStation.

October25 RyeHarbourHEandoilbomb.

10:00.TwoSpitfirescollideoverBrede,thepilotsbaleout.Theiraircraftcrashedat StonelinkFarmandPickdickFarm,Brede.

AnME109,shotdownbyHurricanesof501Squadron,crashesatLidhamHillFarm, Guestling.Thebadlyburnedpilotbailsoutandiscaptured.

October26 BombsattheKing’sHeadUdimore.

October27 UffzArnoZimmermannmakesaperfectbellylandinginhisME109nexttoLydd watertowerafterbeingshotdownbyHurricanesof605squadron.

November8 HEandmachine-gunningonCadboroughCliff.

November9 Whenre-electedasMayor,Cllr.JoeCooperisquotedbyTheSussexHeraldassaying “Iamnotonewhoisgoingtoleavetheshipwhensheisindifficulties.”

03:45.AWellingtonbomberreturningfromaraidonDusseldorflandsinthesea 500yardsSouthofCliffEnd.Thecrewarerescued.

November11 Oblt.JosefVolk’sME109crashesatBlackwallBridgeovertheRother.

November17 HEonNewWinchelseaRoad,Rye.

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November28 AnME109withenginefailurelandsatStocksCottage,Udimore,neartheChurch Hallwherearehearsalforanativityplayistakingplace.Thepilot,Uffz.HeinzWolf isdetainedbyaspecialconstablelivingnextdooruntilthearmyarrive.His arrogantanddefiantmannerarousestheindignantfuryofagroupofwomenfrom thevillagewhowatchhimbeingtakenaway.Hisplaneisusedforwartime fundraisinginEnglandandSouthAfricaandisnowinaJohannesburgmuseum. (OnelocalresidentremembershearingthatUffz.Wolf’saircrafthadsufferedafuel leak:therewererumours,unconfirmed,thatGermanaircrafthadbeensabotaged byFrenchmechanicsattheirairbasesinFrance).

HEatTillinghamFarm.

EarlyDec HEat50King’sAvenue,Rye.

AnRAFBlenheimbomber,returningdamagedfromaraidonGermany,crashesat Fairlightandthecrewarelost.

SquadronLeaderO’NeillbalesoutofhisHurricane,woundedintheleg,after shootingdownanME109andisrescuedfromtheseaoffWinchelsea.

December3 HEatRyeHarbour.

December16 ABlenheimbomber,returningfromaraidonMannheim,crashesandisburned outnearFairlight.

December17 01:00.AnRAFWellingtonbomberof99Squadron,outoffuelreturningfromthe Mannheimraid,crashlandsinamoonlitfieldbetweentheRotherandtherailway northoftheironrailwaybridge,acrosstheriverfromtheTennisClub.Thecrew wereunharmed.TheRAFsendslargelorries(knownas‘QueenMarys’)torecover theaircraft.

December18 StokerAlbertBurtonRNofRyelostwhenHMSubmarineTritonwassunk eitherbyamineorbytheItaliantorpedoboatCliointheStraitofOtranto, SouthernAdriatic.

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1941February10 9.2”railwaygunsdeployedatWittershamRoadandRolvendenStations.Theunits weighed86tonseachandthegunhadarangeof16.4miles.Concussionwhenthe gunswerefiredcausedconsiderablelocaldamage.

February26 ASpitfirecrashesnearRyeHarbour.

March3 16:00.Lt.MartinOttmeriskilledwhenhisparachutefailstoopenproperlyafterhis ME109isshotdownatBrenzettafteraraidonRamsgate.Hisbodyisfoundat Ivychurch.

March15 HMSBritomart,minesweeper,bombedoffRye,allinwardroomkilled,madefor Portsmouth.

March19 AHurricanecrashesatFaggFarm,Udimore.

April16 HurricanecrashattheForelands,Broomhill.

April24 09:02.OberfeldwebelGuntherStruckistakenprisonerafterhisME109,ona missionfromOstendtobombairfields,isshotdownatBlackhouseFarm,Camber. Hewaslaterrepatriatedafterapparentlyfeigningmentalillnessandendedthewar asatestpilotforMesserschmitt.

June ‘NodalPoints’areestablished.Designatedareas(includingRye,Winchelseaand Lydd)designedasfortressestosurviveforsevendayswithoutrelief.NodalPoints containtroops,HomeGuard,civilians(schoolchildren,mothersandchildrenand theoldandinfirmtobeevacuated),animals,firstaidandmedicalservices,food, shelter,firecontrolpersonnelandARP.Theyarecommandedby‘Triumvirates’ (army,police,civilpower–armyincommandonceinvasionbegins).

Ryedebateaboutwho’sincludedintheNodalPoint:RyeHarbour,Playden,Iden, andCadboroughtobeleftoutandtoldto‘stayput’.3000insidethenodalpoint, 450inWinchelsea.

June1 IntroductionofRationingforClothing,endedon15March1949.

July12 SherrypartygivenbytheHomeGuardcommanderforofficersoftheEssexScottish CanadianregimentattheRyeTennisClub.Manysimilarsocialandsportsevents arearrangedbetweenthetownandthegarrison.

June14 AHeinkel111,enroutetothedockyardsatChatham,isshotdownbyFlt.Lt.JG Topham’sBeaufighteratLowerSnailhamFarm,Doleham.Allfourcrewaretaken prisoner.

June22 GermaninvasionofRussia.

August10 The6thManchestersreplacetheCanadianregimentsintheRyeSector.

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August18 ABlenheimbomber,damagedoverFrance,crashesonemileSEofTollgateCottage, EastGuldeford.Twocrewareinjuredandthegunnerkilled.

October HenryJames’Estatesendsa£25contributionfromAmericatotheMayor’sAirRaid DistressFund.

October12 ABritishradiobeaconluresaDornier217EbombertoforcelandatJury’sGap.The crewbelievedtheywereinFrance,didnotsettheiraircraftalightandweretaken prisoner.Theplane,anewversionoftheDornier217,wastakentoFarnborough. Thepilot,OberleutnantDolenga,hadbroughtabottleofchampagnewithhimto celebratehisbirthdaywhenflightwasover.

October21 SpitfirecrashNorthRye.

November24 LieutenantCommanderRobertSkinnerRNofRyelostwhenhiscruiserHMS DunedinwastorpedoedbyU-124intheSouthAtlanticbetweenBrazilandWest Africa.

December20 AbleSeamanJohnSmithRNofRyelostwhenhisdestroyerHMSKandaharstrucka mineoffTripoli.

December26 ASpitfirecrashes400yardsNorthofCarter’sBeachWorks,Rye.

16

1942January1 10:10.CannonandmachinegunattackonRyeRailwayStation.AnME109also machine-gunnedthetrainfromRyetoHastingsatDoleham.Theguardwasinjured.

January17 AbleSeamanFrederickKirbyRNlostwhenhisdestroyer,HMSMatabele,was torpedoedbyU-454intheBarentsSeawhileonArcticConvoyduty.

March ThedefencesofFairlightRadarStationarestrengthenedfollowingthesuccessful BritishcommandoraidonaGermanradarstationatBrunevalontheFrenchcoast.

April24 ReturningfromamissionoverCalais,P/OCharlesBarber’sSpitfirecrashesfroma greatheight800yardswestofWinchelseaStation.Heiskilled.Hisremainswere notfounduntil1986whenhewasburiedwithfullmilitaryhonours.

May18 FishingboatRX101machine-gunnedoffRyeHarbour.Onecrewmemberinjured.

June TheManchesterRegimentisreplacedbytheDurhamLightInfantry.

June15 MerchantNavyengineerEricCastleofRyelostatseawhenhisship,theMVPelayo, wastorpedoedbyU-552intheAtlantic.

August19 LeadingAircraftmanDonaldDennisRAFVRofRyemissinginactionwhileserving with961Squadron.BrotherofGeorge,seeOctober1,1943.

17

September16At06:10one500kgbombdroppedontherearoftheMermaid,bouncedand exploded20’intheairanddemolishedMrBrown’sbutcher’sshopatGreenSteps anddamagedStrandHouse.SecondbombexplodessouthoftheHarbourroad, demolishinganoldgunemplacement.Nos.2and4Underclifftobedemolished. Damageto302houses,40seriously.(incidentR/11).

FishingboatMizpahstrafedinRyeBay,twokilledandonewounded,theskipper CharlieLocke.TheboatwasbeachedandLockeandhisdeadcrewmenwere rescuedbyanothertrawlerandtakentotheStrandat15:00whenrelatives objectedtotheauthorities’useofarefuselorryforthecollectionofthedeadand hiredtheirownlorryfromVidler’s.LockewastakentoRyehospital.Hewaslater awardedtheBEM.

September17TrawlerHMSWaterflysunkbytheattackofasingleFocke-Wulfwhile minesweepingoffDungeness.Therearefewsurvivorsandthebodiesofsomeof thecrewwerewashedupontheDutchcoast.

September22Four500kgbombsdroppedonRyeat1340:oneontheRegentCinema(the manager,whowasonatemporaryappointmenttoescapetheblitzinLondon,is killed)inCinquePortsStreetandoneontheCinquePortsHotel,oneontheStrand (StrandHouse),oneinWatchbellLane/TradersPassagebythedisusedgraveyard, andoneintheYpresTowerareaandGunGarden.CasualtiesintheStrand includedthoseintherepairteamsbroughtintoworkonthedamagecausedby theraidon16September.8peoplewerekilledand11seriouslyinjured.Acatwas foundinthedrivingseatofawreckedcarafewyardsfromthecinemabomb nursingitskittens,whichhadbeenbornjustbeforethebombing.

TheaircraftalsostrafedScott’sFloatandshotatschoolchildrenwalkinghome nearby,butwithoutcausingcasualties.

Some800housesweredamagedinthetworaidsof15and22September,some twice.(incidentR/12).

October5 PrivateAlecTiltmanofRyekilledinactionatElAlameinservingwith1stBattalion, RoyalSussexRegiment.

October7 At14:15,anFW190droppedanHEbombonTramRoad,RyeHarbour,killing MrsEClarkandheraunt,MrsSmith,whomshewasvisiting.

October21 AnRAFBeaufighterisshotdownbyRyeAA,crashes¾mileSouthofWatlands FarmnearWinchelseaStation.Thepilotiskilledandtheothercrewmembernot traced.Asimilareventat21:40on17/1/43broughtdownanotherBeaufighter nearDolehamHalt.Thecrewbaledoutandwereunhurt.

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November5 TheLondonTimesreportsthatMrAlfredRThomsonARA,anofficialwarartist, whoisdeafanddumb,hasbeenshotthroughtheshoulderbyaRyesentryfor failingtorespondtohischallenge.

November5 The24thSouthWalesBorderersreplacetheDurhamLightInfantry,followedby theWelshRegiment.

November9 BrigadierGeneralEdwardWaceelectedMayorwithJosephCooperasDeputy.

November27 Ofz.HBierwith’sFW190attackedaslowmovingtrainapproachingLyddStation, hauledbyalocomotivedrivenbyCharlesGilbertfromAshford.Bierwithopened firewithcannonatthetrainandthenflewoverthelocomotivejustasitsboiler exploded.Hiswingtiptouchedtheengine,theplanecrashed,andhewaskilled. MrGilbertandthefiremansurvivedandthelocomotivewasrebuiltandreturned toservice.

December1 PrivateRobertSellmanofRyekilledinactioninTunisiaservingwiththe2nd Battalion,HampshireRegiment.

December6 08:32.MrWilliamEdwardskilledandtwoothersinjuredbystrafingFW190son YpresTowerSteps.StrafingofRyeHarbour,RyeForeign,Winchelsea(MillRoad), GuestlingandFairlight.

December11 StrafingatRyeForeignkillsMrGeorgeShilling.

19

1943January ThousandbomberBritishraidsonGermanybegin,passingoverRye.

January4 ADornier217,minelayinginRyeBay,crashesintoFirehills,Fairlight,causing extensivedamage.Thecrewoffourarekilled.

12:56.Alow-flyingFW190,underfirefromWinchelseaAA,collideswithoverhead cablesandcrashesatCastleFarmnearWinchelseaBeach.Thepilot,Fw.Herbert Muller,isdecapitated.

January13 FW190aircraftattackWinchelseacausingonedeathandmanycasualties;Rye ambulanceandfirstaidpartycalledin.

January15 At16:09,FW190aircraftstrafedtherailwaycrossingnearFerryRoadand surrounds,twopeoplewereinjured,41premisesslightlydamaged.(incidentR15).

OneFW190crashesatWinchelseaBeach.

January17 ABeaufighter,shotdownbyfriendlyfire,crashes100yardsSouthofDolehamHalt. Thecrewbailout.

20

February2 08:50.ThreeFW190aircraftcrossthecoastatPett,strafebuildingsthereandat WestfieldandSedlescombebeforedroppingthree500kgbombsonBattlecausing extensivedamageandtwociviliandeathsintheHighStreet.Theythenstrafed housesandfarmsatAshburnham,Herstmonceux,HailshamandArlingtonbefore crossingthecoastatCuckmereHaven.Thewholeraidlastedfiveminutes.

February10 At18:05,500kgand250kgbombsweredroppedonRyeatHavelockVillasandthe CustomHouse,TillinghamAvenue(thefootpathnearNo.4),ontherailway immediatelysouthofthelevel.373housesdamaged.(incidentR/20).

February12 RyeHarbourclosedtoshippingtoenablesecretexercisesinthemouthoftheto17 Rotherwithamphibioustanks.

March13 Sgt.EMurrowcrashlandshisSpitfire200yardsnorthofWinchelseastationafter escortingUSAAFbombersonaraidonAmiens.Heemergesunhurtwithhis aircraft’swingsandtailrippedoff.

March17 TheHastingsfishingboatEVGRX152,largestintheHastingsfleet,trawlsupamine whichexplodes.Hercrewsurvive.

March31 Sevenofthecrewof11ofminesweepertrawlerHMSCauloniasavedbythe HastingslifeboatoffJury’sGap,threedied.

April10 TheHastingsfishingboatBoyBillieRX61trawledupamineoffDungeness. Witnessessawhercrewofthreeinspectingwhattheyhadfoundwhenitexploded andkilledthemall.

May AbombingdecoysiteissetupatCamberCastle.The'Starfish'decoyoperatedby lightingaseriesofcontrolledfiresduringanairraidtoreplicateanurbanarea targetedbybombs.InMay1943a'QL'decoywasoverlaidatthesiteaspartofthe NavalCoastdecoysforDoverCommandtoprotectasystemofcoastalloadingand landingpointsknownas'hards'.This'QL'decoydisplayedsimulatedlightingto reconstructthe'hards'andtheirassociatedbuildings.The'QL'decoywas commissionedaspartofOperationFortitudeSouthinpreparationfortheinvasion ofEurope.FurtherbombingdecoysitesforDoverCommandwerelocatedatWorth andSandwichFlats.

July1 SpitfirecrashatWinchelseaBeach.

July14 StaffSergeantTerenceMontagueofRyekilledinactionoverSicilyservingwiththe 1stGliderPilotRegiment.

July18 RiflemanAlbertDeeproseofRyekilledinactioninSicilyservingwiththe1st Battalion,LondonIrishRifles.

21

August20 RoyalNavalcombinedoperationsbaseHMSHaig(theSeniorSchoolonNewRoad) commissionedpaidoffon10/1/45.TheRyeandCamberTramway(suspendedin 1939)broughtbackintooperationtodelivermaterialsfortheconstructionofthe AdmiraltyJettynexttotheHarbourmaster’shouseatRyeHarbour.Thejettyis intendedforRNlandingcraft.

TheAdmiraltyalsohadadvancedplansforatelecommunicationscontrolcentreto bebuiltintotherockunderWatchbellStreet,buttheywereneverimplemented.

September6 AUSAAFFlyingFortress(B17)returningdamagedfromaraidinEurope,landson floodedmarshlandatPettLevel.Thecrewhadbailedout,butthepilot,Lieut.G Peegram,stayedonboardandbroughttheplanedownsuccessfully.

AFlyingFortresscrashesatsea½mileEastofPettLevelCoastguardLookout. Thecrewof10arenottraced.

October1 AircraftmanGeorgeDennis(brotherofDonald–see19August1942)diesina JapanesePOWcampinThailand.

October5 LanceSergeantFrederickWhitnallofRyekilledinactioninItalyservingwiththe6th Battalion,RoyalWestKentRegiment.

October13 PrivateWilliamSoutherdenofRyekilledinactioninItalyservingwith5thBattalion, HampshireRegiment.

October14 AdamagedFlyingFortressfromtheUSAAF568bombsquadronreturningfroma raidontheball-bearingfactoriesatSchweinfurtappearsoverIcklesham,thecrew baleoutandthepilotsetstheplanetoflytowardsthesea,butitturnsagainand crashesatKnockbridgeFarmwiththecockpitendingupjustshortoftheRobin Hoodinn.

October18 AFlyingFortresscrashesatKnockbridgeFarm,Icklesham.Thecrewbailout.

October20 Bombfallsontheminefieldatthe13thgreenatRyeGolfClub,damagetothe clubhouseandthetramway.

October21 ATyphoonof245SquadroncrashesintotheseaoffFairlight.Thepilot,F/OEdwin Bater,bailedoutbutdrowned.

November AmilitaryconvoypassesthroughRyefromUdimoreRoadtoNewRoadforthree daysandnightscontinuously.Itisnowthoughttohavebeenpartofthedeception operationtopersuadetheGermansthattheinvasionofEuropewastocomeacross thePasdeCalaisratherthantoNormandy.

22

November3 TheSSStoraa,carryingacargoof2500tonsoftankpartsinaconvoyfrom SouthendtoCardiffsinksin30secondsafterbeingtorpedoedbyanE-boatinthe middleofthenightof2/3November10milesoffHastings.21ofthe35Englishand Danishcrewmenwerelost.RemainsoftheshipcanbeseenintheHastings ShipwreckMuseum.

December11 GermanplaneshotdownbyRyeAA.

December20 02:35.AnRAFMosquitoof488squadronshootsdownanME410,illuminatedby searchlights,overIden.Thepilot,Lt.HeinzBaack,iskilledinthecrashatBoonshill Farm,Iden.Thenavigator,MichaelStrasser,baledout,sufferedabrokenleg,and wastakenprisoner.

23

1944January2 AnFW190crashesinflamesonCamberSandsduringthenight.Thepilotiskilled.

January21 SergeantArthurPopeRAFVRlostonaraidoverBerlinservingwithNo76Squadron, BomberCommand.

January28 LaunchinRockChannelofaMotorFishingVessel(MFV,120tons,length65’,beam 19’)thefirstwarshiptobebuiltinRyesincetheNapoleonicWar,thefirstofsix builtbyCharlesMorrisandSonsLtdfortheRoyalNavy.Usedasfleetauxiliaries andminetrawlers,threeoftheseMFVssawservicewiththePacificfleet.Each MFVwasmadefrom100Sussexoaktrees.

February4 GeneralMontgomeryaddressestroopsontheCricketSalts.

March15 ATyphooncrashesintheBredeValley.

March19 ABostonaircraftcrashesatUpperLidhamFarm,Guestling,injuringitsthreecrew.

April1 1622.AMustangcrashesintoBredeRiverMarsh.

April17 AUSAAFFlyingFortressturnsback,severelydamagedbyflak,fromamissiontothe MesserschmittfactoriesatAugsberg.Thepilot,Lt.WHJohnson,ordershiscrewto baleoutovertheMarshandtheplanecrashes,killingLt.Johnson,ontheHam Streetturnoff,whichisnowtheB2070fromBroadlandstoAshford.Aplaqueanda flagnowmark‘Johnson’sCorner’.

April24 TherescuetugHMSRoodeZee,workingfortheRoyalNavy,torpedoedbya GermanE-BoatoffDungenessandsunkwithallhercrew.

May1 AMustangcrashesintheBredeMarshes.Thepilot,RichardCHughes,isburntto death.

May12 LanceCorporalHerbertHobbsofRyekilledinactionnearCassinoservingwiththe 1/6thBattalion,EastSurreyRegiment.

May25 10:45.ATyphoonshotupincombat,landsinMerricksField,ManorFarm, Icklesham.

May27 ASpitfireof402Squadron,escortingabombingraidbyMitchellsonCormielles, crashesatAshesFarm,Icklesham.Thepilotbailsout.

June AJunkers88,shotdownoverWinchelseaatnight,crashesatBrookland,Kings StreetLane,atthelevelcrossing.

June RocketprojectorsagainstV1sinstalledalongtheRye-Winchelsearailwayline.

June ThefirstpetrolpipelinetoFranceunderoperationPLUTO(PipeLineUnderThe Ocean)iscompletedfromDungenesstoAmbleteusetosupplytheAlliedForces.

24

June7 At08:25,aUSAAFMarauder(B26)isshotdownbyfriendlyfire(otheraircraft testingtheirgunsbeforecrossingtheChannel),crashesatEastGuldeford, BlackhouseFarm,crewsafe.

June18 AV1damagesfourhousesandasearchlightpostatWickFarm,Udimore.

June21 01:52.A‘FlyB’(V1FlyingBomb)shotdownbytheRAFatHacking’sFarm,300yards southofCadboroughCliff.6sheep,4cattleand1horsekilled.

TheVI(alsoknownasa‘diver’,buzz-bomb,flyingbomb,or‘doodlebug’),wasa25’ longcruisemissilelaunchedonadirecttrajectoryfromsitesinNorthernFrance, aimedatLondon.MostofthetrajectorieswereovertheRyearea.TheV1sflewat 350-400mphatabout2,300feet.About8,000werelaunched,ofwhich2,300got through.Theywerecounteredbyacombinationofradar-guidedheavy3.7inch anti-aircraftandBoforsguns,fighteraircraftandballoons.Thegunsdevelopeda patternofexplodingshellsattherightheightabout700yardsaheadoftheV1.The protocolwasthatthegunscovered10,000yardsouttoseaand5,000yardsinland, withtheRAFfurtherouttoseaandbehindthegunsinlandandwithaballoon barragebeforeLondon.ConsiderablecareneededtobetakenwithAlliedaircraft, whichwereinstructedtodeviateregularlyfromtheircoursestoavoidbeing mistakenforadiver,evenwhentheywereflyinginlanesspecificallysetasidefor them.ThefightershadtodiveontheV1fromabovetomaketherequisitespeed andfireatarangeofbetween250to160yards,anycloserandtheaircraftrisked beingdestroyediftheV1exploded.Themostsuccessfulaircraftatshootingdown V1swereTempests,MosquitoesandSpitfires,andthebattlealsosawthefirstuse oftheRAF’sfirstjetfighter,theGlosterMeteor.Balloonshadsomesuccesses althoughsomeV1swerefittedwithcablecutters.TheV1swerefiredatarateof about100to200aday,sometimesinsalvosandincloudyweathertoconfusethe defences.Thebarrageonlystoppedwhenthelaunchingsiteswerecapturedbythe AlliesinFrance.TheRAFandtheUSAAFlostsome450aircraftand3000men attackingthelaunchsites.

June22 AUSAAFLiberator(B24)bombercrash-landsatDengeBeachafterbeingattacked byanFW190onaraidoverTourney-sur-BrieinFrance.Thetencrewallsurvive.

June23 20:50.V1shotdownbyRAFhitsYewTreeField,RoadEndFarm,Udimore. (Cottagesdamaged,slightcasualties).

June25 18Ryepropertiesdamagedbymachinegunattacksfromenemyaircraft (incidentR/25).

June27 V1shotdownnexttoIckleshamVicarage.

V1shotdown50yardssouthofFloatFarm,Udimore,damageto5dwellings.

June28 ATempestcrashesatEastGuldeford.

25

June29 V1shotdownbyRAFhitsMilitaryRoad,Rye,onekilledandthreeinjured. 55housesdamaged,onedestroyed(incidentR/26).

V1shotdown,destroysMountCottage,Militaryroad,Playden.

June30 V1shotdownoverLeasom,nocasualties,64housesdamaged(incidentR/27).

July1 05:45.AnRAFTempestfromNewchurchcrashesatRyeMarshFarm,Winchelsea, whileattackingaV1.Thepilot,FlyingOfficerTedKosh,aged21,waskilled.

July3 00:55.V1atCadboroughFarmHouse,UdimoreRd,152housesdamaged. Twopeoplekilled,othersinjured(incidentR28).

ATempestcrashesinHoughtonGreenlane,Playden.Thepilotiskilled.

July4 10:04.V1shotdownatDumbWoman’sLane,Udimore,threeinjured,several housesdamaged.Oneofthegunnersbasedheresaidthatalocalfarmer’sgeese couldbeheardgivingawarningsecondsbeforeV1sappearedonthebattery’s radarscreens.

July5 V1shotdowninChapellane,Iden,Ninepeopleinjured,onehousedestroyed othersdamaged.

July7 V1shotdownatRectoryLane,Iden.

July8 21:27.V1shotdownonCadboroughMarsh,nocasualties,73housesdamaged.

July10 V1explodesintheairbetweenRyeandRyeHarbour.Damageto73houses, nocasualties.

PrivateCharlesPayneofRyekilledinactioninNormandyservingwiththe7th Battalion,RoyalSussexRegiment.

July11 19:32.V1atGreyfriarsCliff,Winchelsea,damagesthreepremises.

July13 14:47.V1atChapelFields,Winchelsea,damages17dwellingsand14requisitioned properties.

July13to16 InstallationofOperationDivergunemplacements,rocketsatRyeHarbourMartello tower,ATSgirlsonCamberguns.Some1300gunsandsupportingradarequipment movedfromSouthofLondontoRye/Camberintwodays.ResidentsofRyeatthe timeremember,aboveall,theshatteringnoiseoftheconstantgunfire,dayand nightfornearlythreemonths.

26

July16 Lt.BobBenton’sUSAAFThunderbolt(P47),damagedescortingbombersinaraidon Nantes,crashesatIdenLock.Lt.Benton’sfootwasjammedinthecockpit,buthe managedtopulltheripcordandhisparachutepulledhimfromhisplaneatthelast minute.

July20 09:27.V1atRyeHarbourdamagesthreebuildings.

July22to28 Damageto34RyepropertiescausedbyAAfire,nocasualties.

July24 05:49.V1atRyeHarbourdamagestwohouses.

Jul29-Aug Damageto35propertiesfromAAfire.

August3 At12:30,CaptainJeanMaridor,aFrenchpilotoftheRAF91stSquadronwithten V1killstohisname,flyinghisSpitfireoverthecoastatRye,spottedaV1andgave chase.AstheV1madeitswaynorthherealisedthattheapparenttrajectoryofthe V1wasBenendenSchool-awartimehospital.Afterseveralattemptstoshootthe V1down,CaptainMaridor‘sfinalburstwasat50yardsandheandhisaircraftwere destroyedinthesubsequentexplosion.ThereisamemorialtohiminBenenden Church.

August4 V1shotdownNWofUdimoreRoad,damageto35properties.(incidentR/33).

V1atGreatFaggFarm,Udimore,damagesthefarmhouse.

August5-11 Damageto26RyepropertiesfromAAfire.

August11-18 DamagetosixRyepropertiesfromAAfire.

August14 04:23.V1shotdownontheSaltingsbehindtheRotherIronworks,twoslight casualties,damageto397properties.

August17 06:13.V1atRyeHarbourdamagesfivehouses.

August24 V1atRyeForeignkills10sheep.

August28 V1hitsRyeGolfClubonthe15thfairway,ruinstheclubhouse.

VIdestroysCamberChurchandsurroundingbuildings.

August29 16:54.V1attheMartelloToweratRyeHarbour.

August30 LastV1heardoverRye.

September9 AVenturacrashesatEastGuldeford.

September11WarrantOfficerJohnHallofRyekilledinactionoverGermanyservingwith514 Squadron,RAFVR.

27

September13CorporalRobertPenfoldofRyekilledinactioninItalyservingwith2/5thBattalion, RoyalWestSurreyRegiment.

September14LieutenantAlanSmithofRyekilledinactionnearRiminiservingwiththe12th Battalion,HampshireRegiment.

September17GunnerHenryBoothofRyekilledinactionatArnhemservingwiththe1stAir LandingAnti-tankregimentoftheRoyalArtillery.

September21ABostonaircraftcrashesatMoneypennyHouse,EastGuldeford.TheFrenchcrew escapebeforeitsbombsexplode.

October ItalianandGermanprisonersofwarworkinginagricultureontheRomneyMarsh.

October19 LeadingAircraftmanRichardGilesofRyelostonoperationsflyingfromMasirah Islandwith244Squadron,CoastalCommand.

October24 APiperCubcrashesnearRye.

November17 09:50.TheHastingslifeboatcalledouttoassistalandingcraftreportedindifficulty inveryheavyseasoffWinchelsea.Thelandingcraftwasforcedashoreat GallowaysnearLyddandthe29crewmadeittothebeachwhilethelifeboatwas capsizedbyahugeswell.ThecrewmanagedtorightitandreturnedtoHastings severelyshaken,thoughtheenginestartedfirsttime.

28

1945February6 AnAvroAnsoncrashesatLowerMarsham,Pett.

March28 AUSAAFFlyingFortress,returningdamagedfromadaylightraidonGermany, crashlandsontheforeshoreatRyeHarbour.

April20 Blackoutrestrictionslifted.

May8 Germanysurrenders.

[OneoftheBoroughofRye’snotableachievementsduringthewarwasthroughNationalSavings:atotalof£796,886wasraisedthroughNationalSavingsandassociatedefforts}.

29

PrincipalSourcesInformationfortheTimelineisderivedfromthefollowingpublicationsandrecords,withtheadditionofsomepersonalaccounts:

InvasionofEngland1940:ThePlanningofOperationSealion.PeterSchenk.ConwayMaritimePressLtd.1990

TheMinutesofRyeBoroughCouncilanditsEmergencySub-Committee1939-45(EastSussexRecordOffice,Lewes)

TheMinutesofBattleRuralDistrictCouncilEmergencySub-Committee1939-45(EastSussexRecordOffice,Lewes)

WinchelseaAPortofStrandedPride,MalcolmPratt.MalcolmPratt1998.

SussexPolicefiles1939-45.(EastSussexRecordOffice,Lewes)

TheRAFPhotographicSurveyfortheOrdnanceSurvey1945(EastSussexRecordOffice,Lewes)

CabinetOffice,WarOffice,Admiralty,RoyalAirForce,MinistryofShipping,andMinistryofHomeSecuritypapers.1939to1955(NationalArchives,Kew)

Rye’sWar.JosephineKirkhamEd.RyeMuseumAssociation2002

KentandSussex1940.StuartHylton.PenandSwordMilitaryBooks.2004

Front-LineSussex.PeterLongstaff-Tyrrell.SuttonPublishing.2000

Rye’sOwnMagazine

TheRyeMuseumanditswebsitewww.ryemuseum.co.uk

TheEnglishHeritageNationalMonumentsRecordwww.pastscape.org.uk/

TheDefenceofEastSussexProjectwww.pillbox.org.uk/

RyeLibraryanditswebresourceshttps://e-library.eastsussex.gov.uk/

RyeCollegeLocalHistoryGroup:

‘WingsoverRye’theRecollectionsofCliffordBloomfield.JosephineKirkham(Ed).No14intheRyeMemoriesSeries.ThomasPeacockeCommunityCollege.1994

RyeinWorldWarII.AddressbyJosephineKirkhamatRyeRemembranceDayService.November2009

TheWinchelseaMuseum

DunkirkTheNecessaryMyth,NicholasHarman,Coronet,1980

AllHellLetLoose,MaxHastings,2010

AMaritimeHistoryofRye,JohnCollard,ShortRunPress,1985

EastSussexunderAttack,ChrisButler,Tempus,2007

RomneyMarshatWar,EdwardCarpenter,SuttonPublishing,1999

DefendingSussexBeaches,JohnGoodwin,MiddletonPress,2010

TheSussexExpressandCountyHerald1939-45