Send your local news and pictures to [email protected] and we will use as many as we can in the magazine or on the website. Old pictures of Rye and Rye people with details are very welcome and add so much interest for our local and overseas readers with memories of the town. Keep in touch with Rye by supporting “Rye’s Own”. Continue reading Send Your Stories and Pictures
Just recently, John Horner, who now lives in Hastings, loaned me two albums packed with photographs of his father and events in Rye and the local area in the 20th. century. Many are previously unpublished.
Alfred Horner, known to all Rye as Alf, was a friend of my father. They both worked in businesses in the town and later had their own grocery shops. They were in the Home Guard together in the war years and continued running shops in Rye until they died, within two months of each other, in 1969. Continue reading Alf Horner – Noble Hero
On May 8 sixty years ago the War in Europe came to a close and the population of Rye, who had been in the front line since War was declared on 3 September 1939, celebrated the news with impromptu parties and the hoisting of flags and draping of bunting across the streets. This, the most famous picture taken in Rye during the War, shows the Rye Home Guard on parade through Landgate. Taken in 1940, at the height of the invasion scare it reflects the determination that these men had to defend their town and country. Many went on to join the regular army. Continue reading VE Day in RYE 8 May 2045
Rye went to war on 3 September 1939 – As war was declared a German Coaster was still tied up at The Strand. The German family who crewed her were well known and liked in Rye, They had been bringing in timber from the Baltic and Continue reading Rye at War
In August and September of 1940 Ryers had a grandstand seat for the greatest air battle in history, the “Battle of Britain” that was raging in the skies overhead.
The town suffered another serious bombing attack on October 9th, 1940 when 18 50 kilo bombs were dropped, doing extensive damage.
In September the invasion threat was at its height, it seemed certain that the Germans would attempt an invasion at any minute. With the idea in mind that a man would fight harder defending his own home town the Rye company of the Home Guard was allotted the positions on the town side of the river, along the Continue reading Rye at War – Part Two
