After the evacuation of Dunkirk, there was a period of intense activity to prepare defences against an immanently expected invasion of South East England. The Germans were massed on the French coast after their lightening victories in France and the Low Countries. Now Britain was firmly in their sights. It would only be a matter of time before they turned their attention to invading the land they could see just 22 miles away over the English Channel. Continue reading Nazi Invasion Between Hastings and Hythe
Tag: Home Guard
1940’s Weekend at RHDR
“Clover Sisters” are Big Hit at 1940’s Weekend
Passengers arriving at New Romney Station on 14 & 15 May were transported back to the 1940’s. There was an American services party going on
with war period dancing and singing performed by the USO Lindy Hoppers and the amazing Clover Sisters. Platform One was being used as a dance hall and there were American uniforms everywhere. Continue reading 1940’s Weekend at RHDR
Bombed by Both Sides
by Graham Watson. From the November 2010 issue of Rye’s Own
I was born in Rye East Sussex, in May 1936, and lived at Godfrey’s Row which was a terrace of five houses situated opposite the Pipemaker’s Arms Public House, in Winchelsea Road. In 1940 the first kits of the Anderson shelter, the outdoor type, which consisted of a large hole dug by the householder, with curved sections of corrugated iron bolted together and placed in the hole to form the walls and roof . The earth which had been dug out to from the hole was then thrown back over the shelter to give it added protection. Continue reading Bombed by Both Sides
The Very Heart of Rye
First Published in the November 2003 Issue of “Rye’s Own”
The old Lion Street School, now the home of the Rye Library and Further Education Centre, has a question mark hanging over it’s future existence.There are proposals for the Library to be re-sited in a new building on the old Central Garage site, there are also plans for moving some of the educational facilities to this new building.
250 Years Of Rye Cricket
By M. C. G. Thomas
Part Two
1901 Players included F. Phillips, W Clarke, R Bloomfield, A. Adams, R Burra, L Ashburnham & C. Longley
1902 Cricket Week v T. Oyler’s XI, Charlton Park, New Romney, & Lydd Camp…F. Phillips 113 * v T. Oyler’s XI (F. Phillips was killed in the 1st World War) Continue reading 250 Years Of Rye Cricket
The War Years & Beyond
The late John Smith’s account of his time as Rye Town Clerk. Reprinted from “Rye Memories” with thanks to Jo’ Kirkham. The War Years and Beyond
I started work in the Rates Office, then at 107 High Street (now the Easton Rooms) in 1936. Mr. Cyril Powell, Rating and Valuation Officer was my boss and Mr. Ambrose Huxstep my Senior. Mr. Huxstep and I were responsible for writing all Continue reading The War Years & Beyond
Dads Army at Pett.
HOME GUARDS KEEP WATCH ON A NAZI DIVE BOMBER This remarkable picture turned up at Rye Auction Galleries. It shows a Home Guard contingent (possibly from Rye) who were first on the scene when a Stuka Dive Bomber made a forced landing in a field near Pett on August 31st. 1940. Continue reading Dads Army at Pett.
Adventures in Rye July 2001
Winnie Hollands died on Sunday 10 June 2001. A very brave lady, she prepared two last ‘Adventures’ knowing that the sands of time were running away. They were completed just four days before she was taken from us.
Adventures in Rye
By Winnie Hollands
Lying here in Richard’s house at St. Mary’s Bay in a room overlooking the sea I have had plenty of time to think back over 84 years and remember the highlights of my life. Everyone has to die at some point but when you know you have only a very limited time before you reach that point it really does focus the mind. Continue reading Adventures in Rye July 2001
Down Rye Way
The Rebel Farmer – And One of the Most Interesting Men I ever Met
By Jim Hollands
Farmer Jack Merricks of Icklesham. often called the Rebel farmer. is surely one of the best known of local personalities. His clashes with various Government Continue reading Down Rye Way
Ernest Hatter
40 years with East Kent Born in Cinque Ports Square, Rye in 1900, Ernest Hatter, one of a family of nine children, was educated at Mermaid Street School. The cottage where he spent his childhood was one of many situated behind where the Continue reading Ernest Hatter