Devils Own Posted 13 March , 2006 Share Posted 13 March , 2006 Hi Everybody I have lived in Kent for 6 years now and recognise that there are heaps of WWII things to see in the area. Does anybody know of any sites or things of special WWI significance in Kent that are worth a visit? Thanks in advance. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBI Posted 13 March , 2006 Share Posted 13 March , 2006 Faversham..huge Ammo factory explosion here in ww1..hushed up,but many burials in local cemeteries. Sandwich..the Phizer plant still has a completey preserved ww1 Barracks and artificial dock here,also used in WW2 as my Uncle Bob was brought back to here from Dunkirk in WW2. Folkestone..The Road of Rememberance leading down to the Harbour. Maidstone Museum..contains regimental Museum of RWK Dover Castle..lots of WW1 and WW2 stuff in the Castle Museum.Including one of the Footballs kicked over the top on 1.7.16. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils Own Posted 13 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 13 March , 2006 Thanks PBI There's a bit to be going on with there. We really like Dover Castle. Its such a great place and we do spend a lot of time there. These other places will help us to broaden our horizons too. Cheers Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Banning Posted 13 March , 2006 Share Posted 13 March , 2006 If are interested in the Zeebrugge raids in 1918 you can pay your respects to the fallen at Dover (St James's) Cemetery. The vast majority of men killed in the raid were brought back to the UK and buried here. When he died in 1945 Roger Keyes asked to be buried in the Zeebrugge plot with his men. His wish was granted. There is also a designated Dunkirk plot from WW2 too. Also, I believe that the bell that hung at the end of the Zeebrugge mole is now outside Dover Town Hall. This bell had been taken from a Belgian church by the Germans and hung at the mole end to be used as a warning should an attack or raid take place. So, from Belgian church to mole end to Dover Town Hall.... Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zooloo Posted 13 March , 2006 Share Posted 13 March , 2006 The 39 steps, in Folkstone (I think it's Folkstone anyway) zoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 13 March , 2006 Share Posted 13 March , 2006 If you go up the new road from Dover Eastern Docks, the one that curves round from the roundabout up towards Deal, Canterbury and the M20, and then turn left at the roundabout at the top of the hill, you go past the Duke of York School. Keep going and turn left just before you get to the castle. This road takes you to the National Trust car park on top of the cliffs. Don't turn off into the car-park, but stay on the road. When the road levels out at the top of the cliffs look out for a gate into a field on the left with a short stone column nearby. (There may be two columns). One column has a commemorative plaque on it. This is the field from which the Royal Flying Corps took off to fly to France in 1914! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils Own Posted 14 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 14 March , 2006 Thanks again. I'll check out the air field next time I go past. What is/are the 39 nine steps in this instance? A pub or the actual steps in JB's novel or something else entirely different? Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Maier Posted 14 March , 2006 Share Posted 14 March , 2006 The 39 steps, in Folkstone (I think it's Folkstone anyway) Broadstairs I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils Own Posted 14 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 14 March , 2006 Broadstairs? My original question still stands. Cheers Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Saunders Posted 14 March , 2006 Share Posted 14 March , 2006 Going up a war to WW2 there are some big concrete radar sound detectors near Dymchurch, cant remember name of exact location but go past the RSPB Bird Reserve and hang a left, past the pub on your right which means you have almost done a U-turn directionwise, then as the road runs out they are somewhere on your left down a residential road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils Own Posted 14 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 14 March , 2006 Going up a war to WW2 there are some big concrete radar sound detectors near Dymchurch, cant remember name of exact location but go past the RSPB Bird Reserve and hang a left, past the pub on your right which means you have almost done a U-turn directionwise, then as the road runs out they are somewhere on your left down a residential road. So that's what they are. I've seen these on the hill when we have been on the mini-railway (Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Light Railway). The railway itself is interesting from a WWII perspective, as the trains were modified to carry guns and there is a fair bit about them in the Romney railway museum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Saunders Posted 14 March , 2006 Share Posted 14 March , 2006 So that's what they are. I've seen these on the hill when we have been on the mini-railway (Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Light Railway). The railway itself is interesting from a WWII perspective, as the trains were modified to carry guns and there is a fair bit about them in the Romney railway museum. There at an inland water (reservoir?) across some shingle. I can find out the exact name and directions if these will help?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils Own Posted 14 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 14 March , 2006 There must be a few of them in that area then. Its a great area for militarily historical things. I fire my SMLEs at the ranges at hythe where the School of Musketry used to be. I wonder how many soldiers passed through there? Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J T Gray Posted 14 March , 2006 Share Posted 14 March , 2006 IIRC the sound mirrors (two parabolic and one shaped like a curved wall) are at Greatstone. There are also remains of PLUTO (PipeLine Under The Ocean) near to the lighthouse, aircraft debris trawled up by the fishing boats... Martello towers a bit further up... Deal Castle... In fact relics of centuries of war at! Not to forget the landscape of stark and weather-beaten beauty (well, it would be if there wasn't a flaming great power station!) that is the 'ness itself. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Maier Posted 14 March , 2006 Share Posted 14 March , 2006 Broadstairs? My original question still stands. ... Apparently, Buchan had in mind the private steps to the North Foreland Estate. The original and long since replaced oak steps were 78 in number. The suggestion is that he halved the number to 39 because it appears more incomplete and seems to lead on to something beyond. Buchan went to Broadstairs on holiday just a few days before war was declared in 1914, and he started the novel in St Ronan's Guest House in Stone Road. The book was published in 1915. My source is All the Devils are Here, David Seabrook, Granta, 1-86207-483-6. This is an extraordinary work about the Thanet and Medway coastal towns, and mingles present day observation with historical and literary associations. In its informed discursive style I can only compare it with the works of WG Sebald. Anyone who knows these towns will be rivetted by the book. Highly recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils Own Posted 14 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 14 March , 2006 I loved the 30 steps. It was the first real book that I'd ever read. I must have a look at this Thanet book that you have mentioned. Cheers Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobpike Posted 15 March , 2006 Share Posted 15 March , 2006 May I suggest the Chatham Naval Memorial & Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery which has some black CWGC headstones! Bob There is a large naval section in Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery which was reserved by the Admiralty and served the Royal Naval Hospital in Windmill Road. The section contains most of the war graves as well as burials of the pre-war and inter-war years. Among the First World War burials in the naval section are those from HMS 'Bulwark', blown up in Sheerness Harbour in November 1914, HMS 'Princess Irene' which suffered an internal explosion in May 1915 and HMS 'Glatton' which suffered the same fate in Dover Harbour in September 1918 (the bodies were not recovered until March 1930). The plot also contains a number of graves resulting from the air raid on Chatham Naval Barracks on 3 September 1917. In all, Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery contains 834 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 82 of the burials are unidentified and there are special memorials commemorating a number of casualties buried in other cemeteries in the area whose graves could not be maintained. Second World War burials number 385, 21 of these burials are unidentified. Most are in the naval section. There are 2 Foreign National war burials and 2 non war service burials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Saunders Posted 16 March , 2006 Share Posted 16 March , 2006 May I suggest the Chatham Naval Memorial & Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery which has some black CWGC headstones! Woodlands Road also has 3 VCs (although Ive only ever found 2 of them). HMS 'Glatton' which suffered the same fate in Dover Harbour in September 1918 (the bodies were not recovered until March 1930). Any idea why the recovery was so long after the event? I have often puzzled over this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobpike Posted 16 March , 2006 Share Posted 16 March , 2006 Jonathan, Who are the other two, please? Bob ESMONDE, EUGENE KINGSMILL Initials: E K Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Lieut-Commander (A) Regiment: Royal Navy Unit Text: H.M.S. Daedalus (825 Sqdn.) Age: 32 Date of Death: 12/02/1942 Awards: VC, DSO Additional information: Son of John Joseph and Eily Esmonde, of Drominagh, Co. Tipperary, Irish Republic. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Naval Reservation. Grave 187. R.C. Cemetery: GILLINGHAM (WOODLANDS) CEMETERY Citation: The following details are given in the London Gazette of 3rd March, 1942 : The King has been graciously pleased to approve the grant of the Victoria Cross, for valour and resolution in action against the enemy, to Lieut.-Comdr. Eugene Esmonde, D.S.O., R.N. On 12th February, 1942, Lieut.-Comdr. Esmonde was in command of a squadron of six Swordfish ordered to attack the German battle-cruisers Scharnhorst and Gnezsenau and the cruiser Prinz Eugene, which were entering the Straits of Dover strongly escorted by some thirty surface craft. After ten minutes' flight his squadron was attacked by a strong force of enemy fighters. Touch was lost with his fighter escort and all his aircraft were damaged. Nevertheless, cool and resolute, challenging hopeless odds, he flew on towards the target through the deadly fire of the battle-cruisers and their escorts. The port wing of his aircraft was shattered, but still he led his squadron on, only to be quickly shot down. His high courage and splendid resolution will live in the traditions of the Royal Navy and remain for many generations a fine and stirring memory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Saunders Posted 16 March , 2006 Share Posted 16 March , 2006 One is an Admiral - cant remember name or when he died - he is the one I havent found although I havent looked that closely. I can look him up at home. The second is actually one of the first VC winners, David Bell. Would be happy to arrange to meet you there some time if you wanted to see where he is buried. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobpike Posted 16 March , 2006 Share Posted 16 March , 2006 Jonathan, Interesting, I have visited the cemetery once & saw the VC above, but next time I venture that way I'll PM you, many thanks, Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan Posted 16 March , 2006 Share Posted 16 March , 2006 Lived in Canterbury for about 2 years between October 94 and Sept 96, Kent has a strange hold on my memory now! Ahh, that long hot summer of 95! Anyway... I seem to remember there was a museum on the seafront at Ramsgate (I think?). Had loads on recovered bits from WW2 aircraft and the like. There was also an exhibition of some port around the Pegwell Bay area - was the BEFs main port throughout the First War, suppose to be huge but not much trace of it left now. They had rescued bit from a wall that had loads of soldiers graffiti on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Banning Posted 16 March , 2006 Share Posted 16 March , 2006 The three VC winners in the cemetery are Sgt David Bell, Lt-Cdr Eugene Kingsmill Esmonde and rear Admiral Claude Congreve Dobson. Never been there myself but always use the following website for VC burial sites. Have attached the link for Kent but you can get back to the Home page at the bottom. http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/kent.htm cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils Own Posted 16 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 16 March , 2006 Lived in Canterbury for about 2 years between October 94 and Sept 96, Kent has a strange hold on my memory now! Ahh, that long hot summer of 95! Anyway... I seem to remember there was a museum on the seafront at Ramsgate (I think?). Had loads on recovered bits from WW2 aircraft and the like. There was also an exhibition of some port around the Pegwell Bay area - was the BEFs main port throughout the First War, suppose to be huge but not much trace of it left now. They had rescued bit from a wall that had loads of soldiers graffiti on. The Pegwell Bay port is probably the one that PBI mentioned in the first reply, the one at the Pfizer plant. I would quite like to see it but the security at Pfizer is probably better than it was during the wars. Still I have some friends there and I will work on them. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 17 March , 2006 Share Posted 17 March , 2006 Much of the Richborough Camp is outside of the Pfizer plant and can be seen today....barrack blocks, and the small prison is still as it was (but the roof went a few years ago and the rain has washed off almost all of the graffiti, although a visit last Sept showed some still visible). Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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