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 1 A253 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. Overall (Rev.4) leaflet .indd 1 10/09/2013 12:43 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 Copyright Andy Brockman Brockman Andy Copyright 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.