The Sarre Trail

ARRE in the Second S World War

Sarre was to be a model defence village. The Battalion 1. Pillibox was instructed “…to prepare the village of Sarre for all This ruinous pillbox The Sarre round defence, as an example for what might be done to is one of a number other villages.” of pillboxes which Trail were placed in Sarre The village was divided into a Company HQ with three during the war. “...prepare the village of Sarre for all round platoon areas. Many buildings, including houses were Three of these survive defence, as an example for what might be done fortified, roadblocks were established and pipe mines today in the village. to other villages.” 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion War Diary were placed under the roads and bridges. Pillboxes are cast Type 23 Pillbox. Copyright Andy Brockman The village of Sarre developed at a key road junction This trail will explore the key sites of Second World War concrete guard posts on the approach to the Isle of Thanet. In1940 it also defence around Sarre. We shall explore the methods by which included weapons ports. There are many controlled one approach to RAF Manston. which the government hoped to resist enemy invasion types of pillbox, the most common being the Type 22 and highlight the rich archaeological landscape available Pillbox, two of which can be seen in Sarre forming an In July, because of its strategic importance, the village to those interested in the history of defence. outer perimeter of the defences to the south. The was turned into a strong-point by the 1st Canadian third pillbox was a Type 23 with a central well for an Pioneer Battalion. The walk starts at The Crown Inn which was used by anti-aircraft gun. These are rectangular and are most RAF pilots from Manston during the war. Their names commonly found in Lincolnshire rather than can still be seen scratched on the window glass. in Kent. Please note that all the properties featured in Continue up the hill. this trail are private property.

Starting from The Crown Inn, follow the A28 up the hill Portion of a map drawn by Canadian to the right. Engineers showing the defences START of Sarre 3 A28 MARGATE SARRE 2

5 4

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OLD ROAD 2. Sarre Mill 6 Sarre Windmill is a grade two listed smock mill. Built in 1820 by millwright John Holman it was a A28 CANTERBURY working mill producing Sarre Mill defended observation post. Copyright Andy Brockman 5. The stone ground flour King’s Head until the 1930s. In the Second World War the height The King’s Head and location of the mill was taken advantage of as Inn was the The King’s Head unit headquarters. 4. Defended an observation post. A number of defences were central “keep” Copyright Andy Brockman houses placed around the mill including machine gun posts within the defence and pillboxes. scheme where the troops would make their Preparations were made for civilian Cross the road. The quarry ahead of you is last stand against the invaders. Here Canadian the Underground Headquarters. Engineers improvised a giant petrol bomb ignited houses, such as Sarre by phosphorous grenades which could be released to House to be fortified swing across the road and incinerate incoming German as defensive strong 3. the tanks and vehicles. There are rumours of tunnels linking points. The houses underground would be strengthened Sarre House was a heavily defended various buildings enabling the troops to change location strong-point during the Second World War headquarters with thick concrete without being seen. At the start to protect them from of the war the Walk down the hill past the King’s Head. tank and machine-gun fire. The troops manning these 1st (London) Infantry Turn right into Old Road. The large house strong points would attempt to control the area around Brigade of 56 Division where the road turns round to the left was them with machine guns to create overlapping fields of (formerly the a defended house. Follow the path for 300 fire where any attacker would be fired on from at least 1st (London) Division) WW11 Nissen Huts by the underground metres to a bridge over the River Wantsum. two positions. Sarre House was a heavily defended bunker. Copyright Andy Brockman was responsible for strong-point during the the defence of Sarre. 6. BRIDGE Second World War. This brigade was later replaced by the128th Infantry Both bridges (this one Brigade and then in 1941 by the 131st Infantry Brigade. and the one which you WWII The Brigade’s headquarters were located at Sarre Court, can see to your left) the large Manor House opposite The Crown Inn. In on the southern edge addition, a large underground battle headquarters was of the village were built in the disused quarry. prepared for TRAIL demolition. Pipes The ruined wartime Nissen huts on the floor of the were placed under quarry were probably built to serve a nearby anti-air- the road and filled Defended road bridge across the A28. craft battery. with explosives with the aim of destroying the bridge and creating a Continue up the road and follow the ARRE footpath on the left around the quarry, flooded ditch which would be difficult to cross under machine gun fire from the strong-points in the houses. in the Second bearing round to the left. Follow the path S World War down to the road. On the right hand side is Now return to the village by the same path. the former King’s Head public house.

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public archives are ever expanding. ever are archives public

Photo Imperial War Museum. War Imperial Photo

the possibilities for historical research in family and and family in research historical for possibilities the serving with an anti aircraft battery, December 1942. 1942. December battery, aircraft anti an with serving

A member of the ATS (Auxillary Territorial Service) Service) Territorial (Auxillary ATS the of member A history is all around us if you know where to look, and and look, to where know you if us around all is history

the UK. UK. the The physical evidence of this fascinating period in our our in period fascinating this of evidence physical The

building of defensive works such as pillboxes all over over all pillboxes as such works defensive of building

Volunteers (soon renamed the Home Guard) and the the and Guard) Home the renamed (soon Volunteers

German Air Force ‘ luftwaffe’ reconnaisance map of Sarre defences. Sarre of map reconnaisance luftwaffe’ ‘ Force Air German

the south coast, the formation of the Local Defence Defence Local the of formation the coast, south the

measures, including the fortification of beaches along along beaches of fortification the including measures,

preparation for this, the government took a number of of number a took government the this, for preparation

Nonetheless, the threat of invasion was very real. In In real. very was invasion of threat the Nonetheless,

as these”. as

continuously on guard against false rumours such such rumours false against guard on continuously

reason “The general public must do their bit by being being by bit their do must public general “The reason

rumours were detrimental to public morale and for this this for and morale public to detrimental were rumours

Gazette tried to reassure its readers, declaring that the the that declaring readers, its reassure to tried Gazette

particularly strong. On 16th July 1940 the South Eastern Eastern South the 1940 July 16th On strong. particularly

and Belgian coast, meant that fears of invasion were were invasion of fears that meant coast, Belgian and never tested. tested. never

The position of Kent, facing the ports on the French French the on ports the facing Kent, of position The the Home Guard and the Auxiliary Units’ training was was training Units’ Auxiliary the and Guard Home the

Thankfully mainland Britain never saw an invasion and and invasion an saw never Britain mainland Thankfully

German parachutists dressed as nuns. nuns. as dressed parachutists German

might lead to reprisals against the civilian population. population. civilian the against reprisals to lead might

rumour circulated that the invasion would begin with with begin would invasion the that circulated rumour

survive for at most two weeks and their actions actions their and weeks two most at for survive

parachutists would pose as the Red Cross while another another while Cross Red the as pose would parachutists

Members were informed that they would probably probably would they that informed were Members

Some even believed that “Fifth Columnists” or or Columnists” “Fifth that believed even Some

event of an invasion. This would be dangerous work. work. dangerous be would This invasion. an of event

how the German army would come were widespread. widespread. were come would army German the how

with slowing down and harassing enemy forces in the the in forces enemy harassing and down slowing with

looked imminent and rumours about when, where and and where when, about rumours and imminent looked

Auxiliary Units. These Top Secret groups were tasked tasked were groups Secret Top These Units. Auxiliary

the invasion of mainland Britain by German forces forces German by Britain mainland of invasion the

Sarre village wall. wall. village Sarre government had plans for a secret civilian resistance, the the resistance, civilian secret a for plans had government

Following the fall of France in June 1940, 1940, June in France of fall the Following

Faded lettering of a Second World War sign still evident on a a on evident still sign War World Second a of lettering Faded In addition to those serving in the Home Guard, the the Guard, Home the in serving those to addition In

Civilians would play an important part in this plan. plan. this in part important an play would Civilians

we shall never surrender”. never shall we

we shall fight in the hills; hills; the in fight shall we

the fields and in the streets, streets, the in and fields the

the landing grounds, we shall fight in in fight shall we grounds, landing the

INVASION fight on the beaches, we shall fight on on fight shall we beaches, the on fight

whatever the cost may be. We shall shall We be. may cost the whatever

THREAT OF THREAT “We shall defend our island, island, our defend shall “We

Winston Churchill declared. declared. Churchill Winston

World War World S

in the Second Second the in his famous speech on 4th June 1940 Prime Minister Minister Prime 1940 June 4th on speech famous his ARRE

that the German army would face bitter resistance. In In resistance. bitter face would army German the that If Britain were to be invaded the government intended intended government the invaded be to were Britain If WWII If you know anyone in your community who lived WWII ARRE Trail through the Second World War and might have in the Second memories of the Home Front why not talk to them S World War and if they agree, record their stories? TRAIL Sarre was never actually invaded but the village still felt the pain and dislocation of war. Children and other people considered non-essential under the Defence Regulations were evacuated. Several civilians were killed when Sarre was hit by German bombs during a major air raid on RAF Manston on IN THE FIELDS & 12 August 1940. The Canadian troops helped deal Photo Imperial War Museum. with the aftermath of the incident. If your community contains surviving buildings from IN THE STREETS What is left is a unique record of a model defended the Second World War such as pillboxes make sure village which was designed to put into practice Winston people appreciate them for what they are - increasingly Churchill’s promise to turn the fields, streets and landing rare and important survivals of a time when Britain’s grounds of Britain into a fortress which would fate hung in the balance. They need to be preserved never surrender. against the day when the last living witnesses are gone and all that is left to tell the story of perhaps the most FIND OUT MORE momentous summer in British history are concrete, Now you have explored the Government’s attempt to photographs and records in the archives. prepare Sarre as a potential battlefield, why not look around your own home area to see what remains of HOW TO GET THERE the attempts to stop the Blitzkrieg had it come to the Car: Sarre is 8 miles from Canterbury and 7 miles Find out how Sarre streets of Britain over seventy years ago. from Ramsgate on the A28. Parking and refreshments would have Ibeen are available at The Crown Inn. You can find out more about the Second World War on central to the Home Front and the steps taken to defend Britain Bus: Stagecoach services 8, 8A and 9 serve Sarre a German invasion against potential invasion on these websites: village from Canterbury and Thanet. defeating The trail is approximately 1.6km long with The Defence of Britain Project: parts being off road, so is not accessible for archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/ wheelchairs or prams. dob/ Every effort has been made to ensure that all information given The Pillbox Study Group: in this trail is correct at time of going to print (July 2013). pillbox-study-group.org.uk/ No liability can be accepted by the authors for any loss, damage or injury caused by errors or omissions in this wording. BBC History: Content advised by Andy Brockman and Rod Scott. bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/ ARRE in the Second Information on Second World War defence sites in Kent World War can also be found on the Kent Historic Environment S Record kent.gov.uk/HER

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