| Newhaven Fort
Newsletter - July 2004 (25kb, newsjul04.pdf)
It will reopen daily from 1 March until 31 October - 10.30am till 6.00pm
- and include weekends in November 10.30am - 4.pm (last admission 1 hour
before closing).
In addition to experiencing the sights and sounds of Britain at war,
visitors to this award-winning coastal fortress will also see a fascinating
new exhibition telling the fort's story through original photographs.
Future events will include an evening of outdoor theatre in August, with
Oddsocks Productions original production of 'The Legend of Robin Hood
& Little John'. Tickets and further details will be available nearer
the time.
The fort will be running its popular Easter Quiz, the Horsham Historics
Rally in May, Model & Hobbies shows during July and August and the
exciting Battle of Britain flypast in September. There will also be a
special commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of D-Day - more details
nearer the time.
Newhaven Fort Prepares
for
D-Day
On the 6th June 1944, Britain and her allies launched
the greatest invasion of all time against the might of Hitler’s
fortress Europe. At 9:30am, the B.B.C. gave the world the news it
had been waiting for. The brief message from the Supreme Headquarters
Allied Expeditionary Force read,
“Under the command of General Eisenhower,
allied naval forces supported by strong air forces, began landing
allied armies on the northern coast of France.”
D-Day had finally arrived
156,000 troops with supporting armour were landed
on five beaches between Le Havre and Cherbourg. The operation was
supported by 1213 warships, 4123 landing craft, 1600 other ships,
11500 aircraft and 3500 gliders.
Sussex and the South Coast was the springboard
for the planned invasion of Normandy. In the weeks leading up to
D-Day, thousands of troops poured into East and West Sussex to stay
in sealed camps ready for the big push into France. Jeeps, trucks,
tanks and armoured cars lined the lanes of the county and stack
of rifles were piled up, ready to be grabbed by soldiers.
For Sussex people, who were fighting the war on
the home front, it was a time they will never forget. The beaches
were a mass of tangled barbed wire to foil Hitler’s would
be invaders. Piers had their middle section taken away for the same
reason. Young boys and men too old to join the Army patrolled the
Downs as part of the Home Guard forces in the look out for German
paratroopers.
In Newhaven, the port was full of all types of
landing craft, motor torpedo boats and other ships. Further up the
river there were more concealed under camouflage covers and waiting
for embarkation to Normandy.
The story of D-Day has been told in countless
books and films and during 2004 it will be repeated so that new
generations will learn of the heroic events and personal sacrifices
which changed the history of the world.
Sunday June 6th 2004 is the 60th anniversary of
D-Day and Newhaven Fort will be commemorating the occasion by hosting
a Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance, followed by an afternoon
programme of events. Due to the service, the Fort will open slightly
later than usual at 12 noon.
Operation Overlord –
Service of Remembrance and Commemorative Event
The 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings
Newhaven Fort – 6th June 2004
Programme
| 11.00 |
Official Service of Remembrance in the presence of Her Majesty’s
Lord Lieutenant for East Sussex (approx 45 minutes) |
| 11.45 |
March off by Standard Bearers |
| 12.30 |
Fort opens to the General Public |
| 13.00 – 16.00 |
Arena displays featuring the Horsham Band RBL, the Sussex
and Surrey Yeomanry Band, Sea Cadets, Sussex Army Cadet force
and the Air Training Corps throughout afternoon.
Also the Royal Observer Corps Reunion & Display
The Sussex & Surrey Yeomanry Reunion
Models/Paintings/Artefacts display and sale
Living History Display
Vintage Military Vehicles Display
HMS Forward display |
| 16.15 |
Spectators to take seats for the Sunset Ceremony |
| 16.30 |
Sunset Ceremony
Bands
Evening Hymn
Lowering of flag and taking salute |
| 18.00 |
Fort Closes |
All timings approximate except the 11.00 Service
of Remembrance and 16.30 Sunset Ceremony.
|
New displays for 2004
Visitors to Newhaven Fort will be able to see some important changes to
the displays. There have been many detail changes throughout the fort
but the most important ones have been to the Home Front and Life In The
Fort displays.
In the Home Front, the vitally important war work of Women has been recognised
with a large display dedicated to Women at War. Centred on the Women’s
Land Army, there are artefacts, figures and information relating to all
aspects of this often neglected subject. The wartime kitchen has been
considerably improved and moved to replace the old NAAFI display. Anyone
who remembers the war will certainly not forget the shortages and rationing,
a subject that has been given special attention in a brand new display.
Amongst many other changes here, the Home Guard has also been given special
attention.
Life in the old fort was grim, but this does not mean the displays have
to be! A new purpose-built display has been set up with a colourful array
of uniforms, medals, firepower and personal artefacts-, many of which
are on display for the first time.
Plans for further improvements to the “Sussex Land, Sea and Air”
and “The Fort and Newhaven” are in hand for later in the year.
Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club
Within the Fort there are a number of displays set up by local organisations,
newest of which is that of the Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club
(WADARC). The WADARC has a fascinating working display of radio equipment,
including wartime SOE “Spy” radios located in a formerly disused
magazine beneath a gun emplacement. This display will be opened officially
to the public on April 25th and will thereafter be open on special open
days.
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Newhaven Fort is twinned with the
MUSEE DES ABRIS
Tel: 00 33 3 22 75 16 17
http://www.somme-1916.org
Set in the heart of the Battles of the Somme (1914-18),
within a tunnel which saw active service as an air raid shelter in 1939,
the museum recreated the daily life of soldiers in the trenches on the
Western Front. The museum is situated in the centre of the town of Albert,
approximately 90 minutes drive from Calais or two hours from Dieppe.
MUSEE DES ABRIS OPENING
TIMES
Open 1st March to 15th December
9.30am - Midday and 2pm - 6pm
(During July and August 9.30am - 6pm) |
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Car
Parks