16th October 2009

Lunette battery opens after a major spruce up
The newly restored Lunette battery was officially reopened on 25th September in the presence of Baroness Andrews of English Heritage and other dignitaries.

Research – can you help?
Any information on the following people would be welcome:-
- Captain Shand of the Parachute Regiment – this officer was with the Regiment during the Second World War; we would very much like to know something of his service career.
- Reverend Blofeld – born 1910 and was a Curate in the St Helens district of Liverpool. Served with the Army Chaplains 1939 – 1945 and lived in Hove.
- Kenneth Coleman died when the SS Shillong was sunk in the Atlantic by U-630. The ship was in convoy HX231 and had been torpedoed on the 4th April 1943, along with another ship. The Shillong remained afloat but on the following day, it was torpedoed again and this time sank with the loss of 71 out of the crew of 78. Kenneth Coleman from Eastbourne was awarded the Kings Commendation for bravery at that time – any information regarding the circumstances of the award would be welcome.
- Volunteer Regiments 1793 – 1809 - a researcher has asked if anybody can help with this rather large subject.
- Irish Artillery - a researcher has contacted the Fort on this subject because of our own 6-inch gun sitting up on the ramparts. Now, not a lot of people know this, but this very gun came to the Fort from the Emerald Isle, a gift from the Irish Government in the early 80’s – it’s even stamped “Duncannon Fort”!
- HMS Northern Sun – Lt A Burke This officer was serving on the ship during December 1944 – does anybody know anything about him
- Private Jack Cashmore of 48 Commando Royal Marines (WW2) information sought
- Wartime needlework a student would like to Hear from anyone who used embroidery during the war as a means of recreation whilst in the armed forces, civil defence the Womens Land Army etc

New to the collection
nbsp;An “SRD” rum jar from the Great War – There’s a lot of controversy over what the SRD stood for as it appeared on food packing as diverse as soda and biscuits – a possible meaning is Service Ration Depot – although, among the more printable versions, the soldiers reckoned it stood for “Seldom Delivered” or “Soon Runs Dry”. But whatever – there was a gallon in it and was supposed to keep 64 men supplied presumably for a day to keep the cold out – slim chance of that and there certainly was not enough for a hangover!
- A Nazi swastika pennant taken from a German staff car at the end of the war.
- Letters of thanks to a lady that knitted clothes for the forces. These letters were written by an officer on board the armed trawler Northern Sun and a Royal Marine Commando.
- Objects have come from some unusual sources but not usually stuck to the bottom of a muddy boot – until now that is. The lady donor of this item was out walking in West Sussex and whilst sitting down for a rest found a brass shoulder badge of the London Territorial Regiment stuck firmly to the sole of her boot.

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12th October 2009

New to the collection
- An “SRD” rum jar from the Great War – There’s a lot of controversy over what the SRD stood for as it appeared on food packing as diverse as soda and biscuits – the most possible meaning is Service Ration Depot – although, among the more printable versions, the soldiers reckoned it stood for “Seldom Delivered” or “Soon Runs Dry”. But whatever – there was a gallon in it and was supposed to keep 64 men supplied presumably for a day to keep the cold out – slim chance of that and there certainly was not enough for a hangover!
- A Nazi swastika pennant taken from a German staff car at the end of the war.
- Letters of thanks to a lady that knitted clothes for the forces. These letters were written by an officer on board the armed trawler Northern Sun and a Royal Marine Commando.
- Objects have come from some unusual sources but not usually stuck to the bottom of a muddy boot – until now that is. The lady donor of this item was out walking in West Sussex and whilst sitting down for a rest found a brass shoulder badge of the London Territorial Regiment stuck firmly to the sole of her boot.

Bevin Boys
The Bevin scheme was devised by Ernest Bevin, the Minister for Labour, to provide labour for the coal mines. The scheme began in 1943 and continued until 1948. During this period some 48,000 men either volunteered or were conscripted to work in the mines.
In spite of the number of men involved and the vitally important contribution that they made to the war effort, their story is seldom told. The fort would very much like to make a permanent display to their history and is looking for personal stories, photographs and related objects to achieve this aim.

Objects wanted
Old car distributor head or rotor arm – preferably from car of WW2 period
Nhs glasses
Bucket and spade of wartime period
Miners safety lamp
Mickey Mouse gas mask

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14th September 2009

Lunette Battery restored
Now that the battery has been completely restored, a leaflet written by Ed Tyhurst at the Fort has been produced - copies are available at, or from, the Fort - please send a sae if you would like one posted - thanks.  An official inauguration ceremony will take place at the battery on September 25th.

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28th August 2009

Dieppe Raid Commemoration
The 9th of August saw veterans, dignitaries and families attend a reception at the Fort before proceeding to the commemoration service in the town centre to mark the anniversary of the Dieppe raid.

Time travelling through water
The Wessex Archaeology photographic exhibition featuring wrecks of ships and aircraft along the Sussex coast has now been unveiled and is proving popular. 

A major new project, just started by Wessex Archaeology, is a study to find how climate change is impacting on coastal archaeological sites – for more information on this visit their website news blog on www.wessexarch.co.uk/blogs/news

Fort has a good rockin’
Tarring the young uns with the same brush – lacking motivation, lazy etc is hardly fair and to prove it local lads Dan and his mate Danny, both under 20, got together and worked very hard to produce a live rock concert for over 300 people in aid of charity and what a marvellous event it was! Everyone had a great time and well done to the pair of ‘em, sorry, them!

Richard the III wins with Oddsocks
Some say he just had a bad press and sure he has his followers but King Richard III is not noted as being the most loved king in Britannia. Not surprising then that the crazy bunch from Oddsocks theatre ensured that he did at least raise a laugh with their alternative Shakespeare production of Richard III played in front of a packed house at the Fort – and who knows, the show might even have cheered his royal ghostness up!

R.I.P Buster the dog
Buster, the Fort Managers’ dog has over the years become a well known sight around the place; sadly he had become increasingly immobile and could no longer live a happy life and so he has been put down.

Research Updates
From previous research enquiries:-

Lt Setchfield - some useful information has been received from the Fleet Air Arm Officers Association:- Lt C024200Y Christopher Emon Setchfield was a pilot with 771 Naval Air Squadron based at based at HMS Seahawk (aka RNAS Culdrose) in Cornwall. Lt Setchfield was flying Westland Wessex HU5 helicopters in the Search and Rescue role up to his death (not service related) on 11th January 1980.

AW Vincent appears on the 1911 census and was born in 1892 at Wellington in Somerset. Not sure what his first name was but his second name was William – would still like more information.

New to collection
-A collection of uniforms from a former RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps) officer; the collection also included objects relating to his father’s service in the Royal Field Artillery during the Great War. One of the most notable objects being an 1864 pattern Prussian heavy cavalry Pickelhaube.
- Wartime shortages forced ladies to “make do and mend”. Parachute silk became a sought after material to make all sorts of ladies garments –a lady donor has added one such example – a slip, to the collection.
- Royal Observer Corps uniform and nuclear explosion plotting chart

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10th August 2009

Fort library and archive
The Fort’s library and archive is being totally re-catalogued to make it more accessible to the Fort and researchers.  Books for the Fort library spare books and magazines would be gratefully received -
o Military
o Naval
o Aviation
o Local history

Wild life notes
It has been a busy time for nesting birds with Kittiwakes building nests in the cliff face whilst this years brood of fledgling kestrels have been trying out their new found flying skills and making a great deal of noise in the process (not that we would complain).

A seagull has taken to catching small rabbits and was seen carrying one into the air and dropping it from a height and then repeating the process several more times before the poor bunny managed to escape – no doubt with a sore head and a permanent fear of flying!

Stoats are a more conventional, if seldom seen, predator – just recently however they have been seen busily searching for meals around the Fort, seemingly oblivious to all and sundry around them.

Snippets
- On 10th July visitors to the Fort were treated to an impromptu air show when three P-51 Mustangs involved in making a film spent some time cavorting across the sky around Newhaven and Seaford
- A grand total of 50 vintage British motorcycles attended a rally at the Fort on the 9th August - great fun!

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1st July 2009

Research – can you help?

Wartime embroidery 
A student has recently visited the Fort as part of her dissertation into the use of embroidery during the Second World War as recreation by servicemen and women.

Commander (later Captain?) Burnaby-Davies Royal Navy
All that we know of this officer is that he served during the Second World War, (and possibly post war) . There may be a connection with landing craft and he was captain of King Faisal’s yacht post war.

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1st June 2009

New Displays
- The pupils of Tideway Secondary School have produced a display of text and cut out figures to tell the personal stories of the holocaust

- A new permanent display of Shoreham and Littlehampton forts plus the Lunette battery is in place. This display will form the basis of a much larger display on fortifications in Sussex

-Wessex archaeology photographic display - For anyone who thinks that archaeology is just digging around in ancient ruins, it might come as a shock too know that maritime archaeology is very important too!

Lunette battery gets a clean up
During the 1850s, following a visit by the Duke of Wellington, the defences were strengthened at Newhaven. New guns were installed on the battery overlooking the river and a new battery, the Lunette, was built down on the foreshore as this area was not well defended by the existing guns.

At this time, the harbour generally was being improved – a new steamer service to France had started, a railway line had arrived and a new harbour arm on the western side of the Ouse added. Some might call it a lack of planning but new harbour arm caused a serious problem for the Lunette as it “blinded” the line of site from the guns and rendered the battery useless just a few years after it was built. Fortunately however all was not lost as by then Newhaven Fort was under construction.

For too long now the battery has been an eyesore – overgrown and rubbish strewn. But now, the battery is being cleaned up, some parts reopened and the whole structure interpreted.

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18th May 2009

Safety in action week -
As this is being written, the Fort is hosting Safety in action week, an event for primary school children organised by Lewes District Council and Sussex Police. 150 children from local schools are visiting the Fort every day to see practical demonstrations on subjects as diverse as how to behave on a bus, food hygiene, fire safety, first aid and how to avoid strangers.

Horsham Historics weekend 9th/10th May-
Horsham Historics put on their ever popular weekend of historical vehicles and collectables; fortunately the weather held out to make this the most successful “HH” weekend with a record number of vehicles parked on the parade ground.

Fundraising -
Objects from the Fort’s handling collection were loaned to the Hailsham Club who staged an event to raise funds to pay for Normandy Veterans to return to France, raising an excellent sum of £1052.00 – well done to them.

RNAS Cowdray Park - 
Although better known for its jolly polo ponies, Cowdray Park was also home to a small airfield operated by the Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War. The airfields’ main task was as a maintenance base; If you have any information on this airfield, please contact selham.airfield@yahoo.co.uk

Do you have any research enquiries? – If so then please let us know and we’ll put them on the blog.

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11th May 2009

Newhaven Fort museum “Wants” list
We are looking for objects for a Home Front display being planned for next year – can you help?
- A pair of National Health spectacles (the old fashioned round lens type)
- Box brownie, or similar camera (doesn’t have to work)
- An I-pod or discman – again doesn’t have to work and type or model is unimportant
- An old fashioned bucket and spade
- Miners safety lamp

New to the collection
- A 3 foot long model of the merchant ship Fort Trinite donated by the World Ship Society
- A 1914 Star and 1914/18 War Medal of Guardsman 881029 AW Vincent 2nd Btn Grenadier Guards – these were found in a charity shop

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7th May 2009

Happy 100th Anniversary to the Fleet Air Arm!

On May 7th 1909 the Admiralty ordered its first aircraft for its fledgling Royal Naval Air Service and from this small beginning the service grew to become a vital element in Britain’s defence.  The county of Sussex was very much involved in those early days, and has been ever since.

Here at Newhaven a seaplane base was built on the edge of Seaford Bay close to the old tidemills, operating short 184 seaplanes on anti – submarine patrols. One submarine was attacked and seriously damaged. Although few submarines were sunk by aircraft during the war many more were deterred from attacking shipping by their presence.

The base closed at the end of the war and was demolished although some building foundations are present and the base of one of the hangars is still used on occasions by helicopters of the Coastguard when working and exercising with the emergency services.

Just down the road, a small airfield was constructed at Telscombe Cliffs for the duration of the war, although it was never very busy but 12 miles away at Polegate near Eastbourne it was a different story where an airship station was built in 1915 (with an associated outstation at Slindon). The airships operated in the anti submarine role; one of them was painted black for agent dropping in Europe but was never used in this role, it did however operate night reconnaissance sorties on the western front. Eastbourne also had its own airfield that was used by the navy for pilot training from 1913 and there was even an aircraft factory there.

By the Second World War, the county had added Cowdray Park and RNAS Ford near Littlehampton to the list of naval stations. Of these two, Cowdray Park was used for the maintenance and storage of aircraft. The airfield at Ford had been built for the Royal Flying Corps in 1918.  The Navy arrived in 1938. By now the Royal Naval Air Service had become the Fleet Air Arm and Ford was renamed “HMS Peregrine”. The stay was short lived as the RAF took over in 1940 but not before the airfield had been heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe. 

After what was a very eventful war for the airfield, the Royal Navy returned in 1950 and stayed until 1958 when the airfield was sold off.  Today part of it is an open prison which reconnects it to the origins of the airfield when much of the construction labour was provided by German Prisoners Of War!

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1st May 2009

A Piece of History - the Parker Pen Spitfire

Two years ago the Parker Pen Company, based in Newhaven, donated a large scale model, artwork and other objects relating to the Spitfire that they purchased during the last war for the Royal Air Force. The objects themselves are naturally fascinating as is the story behind it all.

In July 1941 the Parker Pen Company contributed £5,000 towards the Royal Air Force “Spitfire Fund”. The fund raised money from companies, individuals, towns, parishes and other sources to purchase aircraft of all kinds (not just Spitfires). Over 2,000 aircraft were provided in this way.

The money contributed by Parker Pen purchased Spitfire Mark Vb , serial AD384; This aircraft was built at Castle Bromwich and delivered to 313 (Czech) Squadron at Hornchurch in Essex in 1941 wearing the name of its donor “Geo S Parker” in small letters below the cockpit. On arrival at Hornchurch the code letters RY-P were added to the fuselage and the aircraft was ready for what was to be a fairly short combat career.

As the squadron title implies, 313 Squadron was manned mainly by Czech pilots and was engaged in daylight bomber escort and offensive fighter sweeps over North West Europe. On April 12th 1942, the squadron was detailed to escort RAF Boston bombers on operation “Circus 122” to attack targets at Hazebrouck in the Pas de Calais. The pilot of AD384 for this sortie was Sgt Otakar Kresta (Service number 787457).

At around 13.40 the bombers were intercepted by German fighters and Sgt Kresta found himself in a dogfight with a Focke Wulf 190 flown by German ace Staffelkapitan Rolf Gunther Hermichen of JG26. The fight was short lived and although Kresta was uninjured, his aircraft was severely damaged and he had no option but to crash land his aircraft about 4 miles north of Cassel where he was immediately captured by German soldiers.

Following capture, Otakar was sent to Stalag Luft III at Sagan where he spent the remainder of the war.  Although he did not take part in them, he was present at the time of two notable escape attempts; the first being the “Wooden horse” escape in which three POWs made a successful escape to England by tunnelling out of the camp from under a vaulting horse and the later “Great Escape” when 76 men got away from another tunnel – 3 made it back to England whilst the rest were retaken – 50 of those recaptured were then murdered by the Gestapo under Hitler’s orders.

Released at the end of the war, Otakar returned to his native Czechoslovakia where he died on October 10th 1992 at the age of 74.

Thank you to the Czech Air Force Museum Kbely for providing information and photographs of Otakar Kresta.

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14th April 2009

Easter fun at the Fort brings bunnies and bikers
In spite of the seasonal weather, the Fort had a busy Easter; workshops found a ready audience of budding arists and there were lots of oohs and aaghs (with a few yeuks) with Zoolab’s animal handling sessions – everything from furry bunnies to snakes and huge cockroaches!
 
Over 70 classic motorcycles invaded the Fort on Easter Sunday for a charity motorcycle run – all pre 1975 and all British – or “proper motorbikes” as our George would say.

Grand Magazine reopened
The Grand Magazine was one of the most important parts of the Fort; holding the gunpowder for the shells – these being filled in the nearby Laboratory.  Earlier in the year it was closed for a routine structural survey but we are pleased to announce that it is now open to the public again.

Garden Organic
Thanks to the generosity of Garden Organic at Ryton we have a good selection of old seed varieties, that would have been used during the war, for our Home Front “Dig for Victory” display.
 
For the record, Garden Organic is a charity dedicated to preserving flower and vegetable seeds of the past – many old varieties, now out of production, can provide a valuable genetic source for future varieties.
 
For further details contact – Garden Organic Coventry CV8 3LG http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/

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1st April 2009

New meeting room
Over the years the old Master Gunners Quarters have been used for a variety of purposes and was, until the beginning of last year, the Fort’s very cramped office. Having moved across the parade ground to a larger office, the old office has now been converted into a new meeting room – a nice comfy one it is too and, what’s more, it’s available for hire!

Birthday parties
Having revamped and repackaged the birthday parties, it’s good news to report that they are going very well – lots of interest so for a super birthday party with a difference why not contact the Fort and ask for details.

Car clubs at the Fort
Seems like we are getting a lot of interest from classic car and bike clubs venturing to the Fort for a run out – the next one is on the 18th April when the MG club is putting in an appearance.

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30th March 2009

Focus on the Robertsbridge Aviation Society
In amongst the various displays and collections at the Fort, there are several from other museums and societies and from time to time the blog will focus on them.  This time it’s the turn of the Robertsbridge Aviation Society which, established in 1964, is one of the oldest aviation societies in the country.

The society was originally set up by members of the Royal Observer Corps, to maintain their aircraft recognition skills, and named the Robertsbridge Aircraft Recognition Society.  First meetings were held in the homes of its members but as the society grew new premises were sought.  Eventually the society moved to its current premises at Bush Barn Farm just north of the village.  With the move came a change of title to the Robertsbridge Aviation Society to better reflect the fact that it had not only grown in size but in scope of activities – everything from modelling to research, and aircraft preservation.

Not only did the move provide the RAS with better facilities such as a new clubroom, it also allowed it to fulfil its long term goal of establishing a museum that has since grown into a large and fascinating collection of aircraft engines, cockpit sections, uniforms and all sorts of related ephemera.

Regular meetings and outings to places of interest feature in the society’s calendar and membership is open to anyone with an interest in aviation.

At the Fort, the society has on display a fascinating collection of ephemera from engines and propellers, large chunks of a V-1 flying bomb to uniforms and assorted objects from crash sites.

For further details on the society and its museum collection contact:-
The Robertsbridge Aviation Society c/o The Hollows, Oakhurst Road, Battle East Sussex TN33 OJL
Tel: 01424 773428
E-mail: Chinook@supanet.com

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23rd March 2009

New Objects for the collection include -
German wartime medicines including a field bandage and an anti gas ointment stick known by one and all as a Hautentgiftungsmittel !

Also War and Defence Medals of Nurse Audrey Smith.   The collection already has a wonderful portrait of this lady who served as a nurse during the war. More details on her life and career at a later date….

Blast from the past – literally!
When, following years of dereliction and neglect, the Fort was officially reopened to the public on April 7th 1982, by Sir Harry Tuzo GCB OBE MC, Master Gunner St James’s Park. A key part of the opening ceremony was the salute by 25 pounder field guns, provided by the Royal Artillery. 

In spite of appearances (note the frightening gap in the fence, 30 feet above the parade ground), the Fort had seen a remarkable restoration and had been saved from destruction – it deserved to be opened with a bang!

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10th March 2009

Events past - Soundwave
Lewes District Council once again hosted the annual Soundwave festival, including a event at the Fort on 20th February, which was a hip hit with the young ‘uns of Newhaven! Entitled 'Urban Dayz', it featured music, art, dancing and at the end of the day a “Guitar Hero” competition.

International Women's Day 
Honoured guest, for the Fort’s contribution to International Women’s Day on the 8th March, was wartime cook Margueritte Patten who spoke to the audience of Amy de la Hayes talk on the Women’s Land Army.

Nature notes…
The raptors have been busy – the kestrels are in abundance and no doubt starting to breed soon. We like birds of prey here but there are some life forms that certainly don’t; one such was the racing pigeon seen being munched by a Sparrowhawk – the feathers blew everywhere!

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1st March 2009

New for 2009 - 'Declaration To Disaster'
2009 is the 70th anniversary of the start of the Second World War and to commemorate this the battle re-enactment group, the 'Croix de Guerre' has put together a fascinating display of photographs, uniforms and weapons relating to the first months of the war from September 1939, through the “Phoney War” to the battle of France and the Dunkirk evacuation

Display upgrades include….
Several displays have been upgraded and improved with new objects, bigger cabinets and improved labelling and lighting. Look for these in the Dieppe Raid/ D-Day, Sussex Land,sea,air, Life in the fort and The collection – in the latter are some of the many new objects that have been donated in recent times and the new “Declaration to Disaster” display

...and we await….

A photographic display depicting the role that Gipsies and Romanies have played in the armed forces during the world wars.  This will be in place from the beginning of June until the end of the season.

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27th February 2009

New to the collection
For a small village, Rodmell made a major contribution towards raising funds for war weapons during the Second World War and for their achievements were awarded a model Spitfire for fundraising during a “Wings for Victory week in 1943” and, in the same year, a model destroyer during “Warship week”; both of these models have been kindly loaned to the collection.

Medals and photographs relating to London born Arthur Ball who served during the war in Burma and India, first with the Surrey Yeomanry and then with the 2nd Recce Regt of the Royal Armoured Corps, seeing combat in the Battle of Kohima and elsewhere.

Other new arrivals have included a hand drawn map of an area of South London and Fire Wardens rota relating to Chief Fire Warden Louis Edwards; model guns and tanks, and even a 1934 car driver’s emergency first aid kit.

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23rd February 2009

Major award for the Fort!!
Against tough opposition, Newhaven Fort was awarded the Sussex Express Business Award for Best Visitor Attraction on Friday 20th February.

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2nd February 2009

Rough weather Mark II – snow, snow, thick, thick snow!
It’s easy to forget this was once normal British winter weather and it used to last for weeks not just a day or two. Tomorrow it will all be gone and we’ll wonder what the fuss was about!

22nd January 2009

Rough weather Mark I -Even the Geese are walking!
You know the weather is rough when even the geese take shelter and this photo says it all as a pair of Brent geese (Branta Bernicla to birdwatchers), shelter from the high winds and driving rain at the Fort today.

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