THE ARMY
The British regular Army went into the second world war with essentially the attitudes and equipment of the 20s and 30s. Inevitably the army had been scaled down after the massive conscript forces of the first world war, and those “regulars” who had chosen to make it their billet in life were relatively comfortable at the outset.
It was only when the British Expeditionary Force came up against the mechanized Blitzkreig tactics of the Wehrmacht in France and the Low Countries in 1940, leading up to the debacle that was Dunkirk, that those in charge of Britain’s land forces had a sharp awakening to the realisation that this war would be different, perhaps.
With France fallen and the remnants of the BEF snatched off the beaches under the withering fire of the victorious Germans, the defence of the coastline against the invasion which many thought would be inevitable, sooner or later, became a top priority. Even a pre-war idyll such as Hayling Island had to be defended.
Late 1940 to 1941 - invasion threat, Hayling bombed, the defence of Hayling.
A secret memo of August 1941 to the Defence Committee outlined a possible picture of the expected invasion as intense bombing followed by attacks by parachute and airborne troops, then invasion by sea. It said that the Military Plan was that there would be no withdrawal, and that roads must be kept clear of craters, debris, fire or refugees to facilitate movement of troops.
The Ministry of Information, War Office and Ministry of Home Security issued a helpful pamphlet which said that where the enemy landed, or tried to land, there would be most violent fighting and the fewer civilians or non-combatants in these areas the better - apart from essential workers, who must remain. Everyone must stand firm. If fighting were to break out nearby, people were instructed to put their cars out of action, give help to our troops, defend themselves, their families and their homes, and not to help the enemy in any way. Churchill said we would never surrender. But many Hayling Islanders were essential workers on farms. I have not spoken to anyone who contemplated leaving, except on call-up or to follow a serving husband.
A committee was formed to prepare for the scenario that the enemy would land and Hayling would be cut off from mainland services. Sources of fresh water were catalogued - wells, springs, pools and lakes. It was to be ensured that they were fit to use. Stagnant water was treated and tank reservoirs were set up.
Colonel T.C.H. Macafee, CBE, Royal Marines, from near Winchester, was Captain (A) and responsible for advising the Commander of the Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation (MNBDO) on discipline matters, from late 1940 to 1941. The MNBDO were anti-aircraft batteries and coast defence artillery.
His troops lived in holiday camps in the east of Hayling, the officers mostly in large houses. At Seacourt, the former home of Jack Marshall, the Marshall & Snelgrove heir, they used the indoor real tennis court as a gym. Other officers had a mess in the west. He says they were comfortable and well fed as the services had special rations and there were not the shortages of later years. Neither had the MNBDO any shortage of equipment, as Churchill gave them strong backing. Macafee’s formation eventually went to the Middle East and took part in the invasion of Sicily and Italy.
Seacourt, Hayling Island.
During his time on the Island, the Colonel recalls that although he and colleagues were free to go to London, few did, as the city was being Blitzed. They were busy most of the time but played tennis at some of the homes in the west of Hayling and met a number of local people who kindly entertained them. They also had visits by the Entertainments National Service Organisation (ENSA) who performed in the Seacourt tennis court. He says that afterwards, a meal and drinks were given for the ENSA performers in the officers’ mess and an impromptu dance was organised, and that the ENSA girls were attractive.
Men of 219 Battery (57th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment) at Sinah defended Hayling Island and Portsmouth from enemy aircraft. A Hurricane aircraft was shot own in January over what became Northwood Farm. The Polish pilot, Jan Salkowski, had flown over British Ack-Ack guns while chasing a German plane, was caught in friendly fire and landed by parachute.
A plaque to the memory of the six men of the Anti-Aircraft Regiment at Sinah who gave their lives on 17th and 18th April 1941 was erected in July 1994 at the gun-site (now a quiet picnic area) where they died.
Eventually, of course, the tide of the war changed in the allies’ favour, and with the entry of America into the war, the victory in the Battle of the Atlantic over the U-Boat menace, and the triumphs in North Africa beginning at El Alamein, a process began which inevitably led to the massive build up of troops and material which culminated in D-Day. Hayling, too, played its part in this springboard to victory.
What was going on in and around Havant? The Borough of Havant information brochure lists the following local part of what it calls The Ultimate Invasion Plan. From D-Day: A Day to Remember published by the Borough of Havant, June 1994, for the 50th anniversary of D-Day and used here by courtesy of Mrs Marshall:
The King’s Stone in Rowlands Castle marks where King George VI inspected D-Day troops. Rowlands Castle Green was used as a repair area for tanks and armoured vehicles and at nearby Stansted House, Free French and Canadian troops were billeted in transit camp A. Free French troops were based around Hollybank House and Emsworth Common was transit camp A2 for British and Canadian troops. A mine development team, HMS Vernon, was based at Leigh Park House. Carrells Yard was a billet for troops. A service canteen occupied the United Reformed Church Hall in Havant. The cinema in North Street, now demolished, was the soldiers’ mess. Merchistoun Hall in Horndean was headquarters for an armoured unit known as 30 Corps. Stakes Hill had a tented camp for the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and Queen’s Enclosure was a tented camp, A6. Then there was all the activity on Hayling Island, described elsewhere. The discretion of residents all along the Hampshire coast must indeed have played a large part in the information blackout which allowed the invasion to take place with total surprise. Although Hampshire was the focal point for planning and embarkation, all along the south coast similar discretion must have been observed, for troops gathered in other south coast counties too.
In order to keep the massive buildup secret, there needed to be close co-operation between the civil powers and the military, who were often unwelcome “squatters” in their back yard.
Memories of Mr Cyril Lumb, a member of Gosport Town Hall staff, 1944, from a Gosport D-Day tape, courtesy of Gosport Museum:
“You were involved with the work of the invasion committee before D-Day, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I was Committee Clerk for the Invasion Committee from the time it was formed. That was a committee of leading members of the council - and it was served by the officers of the council and also in close cooperation with the military authorities, and with the police and fire services.”
“So you must have known a lot about the preparations for D-Day. Before many people?”
“Yes. We were not told too much in detail as to what was happening, but we were made very clearly aware that the invasion of the continent was imminent and preparation would be made to that effect. I don’t think it was other than common knowledge, that it was bound to take place. The Russians were getting very angry that Britain was not making any direct move to invade the continent and that they were taking all the brunt, but I think it was no secret that an invasion was being planned. So far as Gosport was concerned, it became clear from things that were happening