47 High St- Sidney Gieves Outfitters Tram Stops-Red Lion Dockyard Old Military Hosptial 1 2 3 Sentry Box 4 5 6 Sheepwash The 52 bed Military Hospital was founded in 1871 to serve Mrs Owen, the Air Raid By the Red Lion there Further along the wall The Dockyard was vital Sidney was a VAD*volunteer Warden, was unable to to the war effort and its the Army Garrison but it later treated patients from the was a tram stop which you can see a narrow, Navy and Dockyard. VAD nurses came from local areas at the age of 15, he helped warn residents when bricked-up entrance workforce increased from not only with the wounded was extensively used and elsewhere in the British Isles to volunteer here during German Gotha bombers where a sentry box would approximately to 4,500, in hospital but he also by those working the war. dropped 32 bombs on at the Dockyard. have stood with an about half of whom patrolled during air raids. armed guard , protecting Blue Town and Sheerness Unfortunately the were women - with many Sidney was also one of the the Royal Dockyard , on 5th June 1917. 11 system had to close as employed in traditional volunteers who attended the were killed including military property and male occupations such explosion at the the trams could not personnel. Edward Perry, manager be repaired because as fitters and electricians. Factory when 109 of Gieves Outfitters. the parts needed were The Womens Royal Naval men and boys were killed in Shrapnel marks can be manufactured by a Service was based at the April 1916. seen on the Dockyard German company. Dockyard. Wall opposite this building.

Blue Town Distance: 1.3 km (0.8 miles) There is free parking along High Street Blue Town. First World War Walking Trails Site of Blue Town 7 Elementary School This was the local school Revealing the history of local people, attended by the young men who worked in the dockyard and those who served in the places and events forces. School children were allowed to miss school in from May to October to help bring the harvest in. These trails were developed in association with 3 4 Barbara Twiselton and Blue Town Heritage Centre 2 11 5 1 6 Please note that the Burgundy trail does contain steep steps, and the Blue trail is completely accessible. 8 7 Please respect the privacy of residents and use the trail in 9 a considerate manner to others.

Our maps and points of interest are provided for historical information only & walking the trails is at your own risk.

10 Please see the website for walking guidance ,directions , full disclaimer, to discover more information and to take part in the The Royal Fountain Site of Old Blue Town South Gate of the Railway Station Dockyard quiz. 8 Blue Town Chapel 9 Hotel 10 11 At the railway station The Hotel had to abide by Smoking and matches were The hull shaped roof of the non- conformist Bethel residents would have their forbidden in the Dockyard the government regulations Chapel was a familiar part of the sky line in Blue permits checked before they so gas lights were installed under DORA to shorten www.kentww1.com Town. Many of the local young people attended could enter or leave the beside the gate for workers Sunday School here, which started at 9 a.m. on a the times when alcohol island. A strict curfew was to light their cigarettes Sunday morning. could be sold to 2 hours at in place whereby no civilian and pipes. 12 hour shifts The QR code below takes lunchtime and 2 to 3 hours could leave or enter the were common and British you to the 100 miles for in an evening. As Sheerness island between 9 pm and Summertime was brought 100 years app, alterna- was a military town those in 5 am. Civilians were not in during 1916 to give tively visit the website the forces were not allowed allowed to leave the island workers the opportunity of for a direct link. to be served alcohol in the by road; they had to use tending their allotments in * Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) formed daytime. the railway. the summer. before the War of members of the Red Cross and members of the St John Ambulance. These men and wom- en were mainly volunteers and served in various roles including nursing, as stretcher bearers, cooks and drivers. All photos courtesy of M L Price. Leaflet design by Laura Haines Sheerness War Garrison Point and Pill Ravelin Battery 1 Memorial 2 Ravelin Wall 3 Boxes 4 This monument is significant Sheerness Burgundy Trail The Ravelin Wall formed part Pre-War this was a popular (Where Tesco carpark is now) as it honours both military 3 of the Sheerness Lines: four holiday beach which was Consisting of two 9.2 inch and civilian whose lives were Distance: 2.3km (1.42 miles) Bastions with a wide moat transformed into complex breech loading guns, set on a lost.In Particular honouring in front to protect Sheerness coastal defences to protect mound of earth, the Ravelin civilian lives lost in the Dockyard and Naval Base the Dockyard and Thames Battery could attack the tragedies of HMS Bulwark in 4 from attack. Ravelin, the fifth estuary. To the left see enemy at sea and in the air. 1914 and HMS Princess Irene triangular Bastion on the Garrison Point and Pill Boxes The vibrations from the firing in 1915. 76 dockyard workers Sheerness side of the moat for observation and firing of these weapons, however, died in the latter disaster, Parking is available at defended the bridge and guns. Part of the defences caused much damage to including 15 year old James (VAD*) formed before the Tesco (ME12 1RH) and Beach entrance to the Naval Base. would have been the gun property of residents and Brown, and 16 year old John battery where Tesco’s car trades people. War of members of the Red Street Car Park (ME12 1HH). This remaining wall shows the Goulding. musket loops. park is now. Cross and members of the 5 All photos courtesy of M L Price. St John Ambulance. These 2 men and women were mainly volunteers and served in various roles including nursing, as stretcher bearers, cooks and drivers.

6

1

12 5 Beachfields Park 6 Losel’s Studio 7 Another few steps along This was previously the studio 9 the prom enable you to of Franz Losel a German see the start of Beachfields photographer who aroused Park. By WW1, with the suspicion when he was seen 8 development of Sheerness taking pictures of passing ships as a holiday resort, this and the Ravelin Battery. He area was becoming of was imprisoned in Brixton Jail despite the fact that no evidence 10 recreational importance with was found against him. a bandstand, bowling green, the Victorian Royal Navy 11 Swimming Pool.

Sheerness Clock Holy Trinity Church 10 11 Tower Inside the church is a plaque Erected in 1902, the Coronation commemorating the 77 Memorial Clock has often On Street Parking The Victoria Working civilians who died as a result served as the focal point for Men’s Club 9 of the HMS Princess Irene the town’s celebrations. The is available. Please disaster on the 27th May display to celebrate the Armistice The secretary at this club in 1918 was undoubtedly the consider residents 1915. 76 of the dead were Sheerness-on-sea 18 Meyrick Road- McCudden family ;which could accommodate most spectacular when it held dockyard workers who had Railway Station 1,000 members; was John flag-festooned wires across while parking. 8 been on board when the ship 12 Lockwood. His son, John The Crescent: the Union Flag, William and blew up accidently. The Railway Station was George, served safely through the Stars and Stripes and the Amelia lost three closed during the war and the First World War on HMS Tricolour most prominent of their four sons it was used as a security Church of SS Henry and Elizabeth ;* Voluntary a depot ship Aidfor Detachment (VAD) Great Chart credits:among them. 1) 1896ASH Courtesy of Ian Wolver- during the War, point for adult residents, 7 submarinesformed based before in Harwich. the War of members son; 2) 1934ASH Courtesy of Ian Wolverson; 3) 1894ASH their youngest whose permits were checked Fund raising concerts would The McCudden Memorial son Maurice was of the Red Cross and members of the Courtesy of Ian Wolverson; 4) 1935ASH Courtesyon leaving of and entering the have been held at the club dedicated to Major James too young to island. McCudden and his two serve. Uniquely duringSt the John War. Ambulance. These men and Ian Wolverson; 5) 1895ASH Courtesy of Ian Wolverson; brothers, who also lost their William, James women were mainly volunteers and 6) 1898ASH Courtesy of Ian Wolverson; 7); 19136ASH lives in the Royal Flying Corps, and John all served in various roles including nurs- Courtesy of Ashford Museum; 8) 1937ASH Courtesy of Ian is displayed here. James was served with the one of the most skilled pilots Royal Flying ing, as stretcher bearers, cooks and Wolverson; 9) 1938ASH Courtesy of the Ian Wolverson; 10) in the British Air Force, being Corps. William drivers. 1939ASH Courtesy of Ian Wolverson. awarded more medals than died in 1915 and any other airman in the First John and James World War. in 1918.