VE Day 75

The Bank Holiday weekend of 8th/9th/10th May was set to include a huge nationwide celebration to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day - the end of the Second World War in Europe.

As a result of the Covid-19 lockdown - most celebrations have either been cancelled or postponed. Activities would have included street parties, exhibitions, parades and other community events.

The organisers of 'VE Day 75' hope to move some of the planned activities to the weekend of 15th/16th August (the 75th anniversary of VJ Day - Victory over Japan Day).

For more information and updates, visit the 'VE Day 75' website.

Many folk had intended to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day by organising street parties. Some have now decided to arrange 'stay at home street parties' instead.

If you organise a 'stay at home street party' on 8th May - send your pics to Village Voices Publishing for inclusion in a future community magazine. Get in touch by emailing: office@villagevoicespublishing.co.uk

During these odd and worrying lockdown times, I'm going through my local history collection and archive. 

A few years ago I bought 49 copies of a WW2 magazine called 'The War Illustrated'. I'm checking each magazine to see if I can find any items relating to the Hoo Peninsula and Medway Towns - for inclusion in my local history columns in the Village Voices Community Magazine and the Strood & Hoo Peninsula Times.

  

The Beacon of Beacon Hill

I recently went searching for the original ‘beacon’ of Beacon Hill on the Chattenden/Upnor border.

The beacon is a circular mound - with a diameter of around 30 metres. A WW2 pillbox was built on the 6.5 metre-high scheduled monument, but previously there would have been a fire basket or brazier (on a pole) on the top. The mound appears on maps as far back as 1570.

The mound is on private land, but you can walk near to it - just walk along public right of way RS116 at the end of Beacon Hill Lane.
 

Engineering Hitler’s Downfall

I took the below photo (and many others) back in 2011. It shows World War Two anti-tank obstacles (Dragon’s Teeth) near Grain beach.

The history of these defences (as well as one of my photos), along with other initiatives deployed during the Second World War, are featured in a book by Gwilym Roberts called Engineering Hitler’s Downfall. It was published late last year and includes a Forward by Admiral Lord West. 

You can purchase the book online (for £18.99) by clicking here.

If you'd like to take a look at my original post from February 2011, click here.
 

Isle of Grain, WW2 Anti-Tank Obstacles

The foreshore at the Isle of Grain is a great place to explore, regardless of what the weather is like! A few days ago I went to Grain for a walk, and decided to take a look at the WW2 anti-tank obstacles north-west of the main beach.

Given its location along the Thames Estuary, the Isle of Grain has a long history as a strategic defensive position.

The concrete anti-tank obstacles (pictured below) were constructed c1940 to protect the area's coastal defences, in anticipation of German invasion.

Three types of obstacle were used to form the defensive line: cubes, pimples (a flat-topped pyramid often referred to as 'dragon's teeth') and caltrops.

Caltrops are a rare type of asymmetric concrete obstacle which can be seen piled against the seawall at the southern end of the foreshore (pictured below). Although there are many anti-tank obstacles across the country, those on the Isle of Grain are of special interest - visually striking because of the different and unusual forms of obstacle which together, at nearly 600m in length, form an impressive defence.

Because of their special interest, these defences were given Grade II listed status in 2009.

Anyone wishing to explore the Isle of Grain foreshore should look at Medway Council’s Tranquil Treks booklet (Walk 1 - Grain). Click here to view this guide.