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This story has been written to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ People's War site by CSV Storygatherer Coralie, on behalf of Tom Brooking. The story has been added to the site with his wife Winnie's permission and she fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

In 1939 the National Broadcasting Company erected a transmitting station close to Start Point. This relayed programmes of general domestic interest and music, in addition to regular news services. The latter, over a period of time, made people aware that the Germans under Adolph Hitler were opting for 'guns instead of butter', leading to military aggression and cumulating in a declaration of war against Germany by Britain and France (3rd September, 1939). Disastrous events led to the collapse of France, and the British army under dreadful bombardment was surrounded at Dunkerque whence it was evacuated to Britain.

The Country now under the leadership of Churchill, was in imminent danger of invasion. Along our local beaches minefields were laid, and iron tubes were erected in complex defence structures at possible landing points at Torcross, Beesands and Hallsands. These were linked by continuous barbed wire entanglements strung out over the headlands.
Road blocks at strategic positions consisted of concrete sockets in the road into which steel girders could be quickly fitted. Concrete gun emplacements were constructed at Beesands Cellars, on Thornhills and at Torcross at the beach exit of the water tunnel from the Ley beside Greyhomes Hotel, and one on a hill directly inland from the village. The last was in a small copse which also contained a well-built Company Headquarters for regimental units billeted in the old Vicarage, Widdicombe House, Stokeley House, and Island House, and in ‘Nissen’ huts erected in Stokenham Orchard. One officer staying at the first-named was David Niven, a well-known actor. Regiments from which these units came included the Northumberland Fusiliers, the Pioneer Corps, the Durham Light Infantry, the Royal Engineers, the Gloucesters, the Buffs and the Royal Artillery. The latter also operated mobile Bofors guns for use against hostile aircraft. The service-men marched for daily ablutions to ‘wash houses’ on the lower side of Chillington where an adequate supply of water was on tap.

Within days of the outbreak of war, children in school at Stokenham and Huccombe had ‘Practice in Fire Drill and Gas Masks’. A year later (July 1940), in expectation of the aerial blitzkrieg which Hitler planned to launch against S.E. England ‘ the arrival of evacuated children from Coburg Road School in London with five teachers, swelled the number on Stokenham School roll from 79 to 169’. Sixty-five ‘evacuees’ joined the 40 local children at Huccombe. The Parish Hall was taken over for extra accommodation. The possible imminence of invasion prompted the formation of defensive organisation among the civilian population. Those able to bear arms were designated by the initial L.D.V. on armbands (Local Defence Volunteers). These later became the fully uniformed and armed ‘Home Guard’. The main dread was of parachute troops and beach landings. The Coastguard service was augmented and a Royal Observer Corps unit erected its watch-tower at Coleridge Cross. Other groups were organised to deal with possible emergencies — Civil Defence Volunteers with leading Wardens to combat small fires, clear damage by bombs or bombardment, instruct in protection from poison gas, or to clear any disruption of civilian life. Most of the members for the foregoing organisations strained themselves to the limit by duty exercises in their spare time and at night, in addition to their regular work. Special Constables and C.D.Wardens constantly watched to see that no lights were visible from private dwellings and public meeting places. This ‘blackout’ was generally achieved by curtains and door screens. Women formed the bulk of the Red Cross. There were Women’s Voluntary Services, and the Women’s Land Army. The latter were employed on farms, for by this time many of the young able men had been conscripted into one of the services of the Crown. The names of nine of these latter, and one service woman, joined those of thirty-eight who lost their lives in the first Great War, on the Memorial in front of the Church.

Since the winter of 1940, people in S. Devon had either lain in bed apprehensively, or sought refuge in home-made shelters listening to the rhythmic drone of enemy heavy bombers on their nightly missions of destruction in the industrial centres of the North and in S. Wales. In the early autumn of 1943, Plymouth became a prime target. The sight of fires in the stricken city, and the anti-aircraft gunfire, provided a terrifying and pitiable spectacle from the higher ground of the Parish. One German casualty provided an ironical footnote to history. A small bomber in a raid on Plymouth could get no nearer home then destruction in the deep defensive ‘fosse’ dug by our ancestors on the top of Darnacombe between one and two thousand years ago. A bigger one still, laden with a 1,000 lb bomb plunged to the same fate at Molescombe close by Marber Cross.

Meanwhile, Kingsbridge and the surrounding countryside was subjected to ‘tip-and-run’ raids by small fighter bombers. Locally bombs were dropped at Torcross where three thatched houses were demolished and many roofs and windows were ripped off and shattered. Fortunately, there were no casualties but several miraculous escapes. Another bomb dropped at Kellaton where there was similar damage to houses; and yet another dropped harmlessly into a field at Middlescombe. The most serious and tragic incident occurred at Beesands. A bomb from a fighter bomber bounced from the hard Green into the middle of the village near the Cricket Inn. The explosion killed seven people whose remains were laid temporarily in the little Church. Extensive material damage included the destruction of two houses.

THE EVACUATION

Although this general title is given to events in the Parish and surrounding area between the end of 1943 and that of 1944, a more accurate one would indicate three thousand individual experiences. We all had our own arrangements to make, and our impressions of what was going on, and our individual emotions.

In brief, the general circumstances were as follow. Conquest by the Germans and their allies enabled them to fortify practically the whole of Europe. Allied against them were Russia, Great Britain and the United States. The former were engaged in bitter campaigns by land from the Baltic to the Black Sea. If the two Western Allies were to recover ‘fortress Europe’ as the Germans called it, a landing had to breach its coastline defences. Plans and preparations concentrated on the beaches of Normandy. Massive defences indicated the need for a combination of air-power, transport by sea under naval protection, and the landing of an army with overwhelming offensive weapons. Supreme command was vested in U.S. General Eisenhower.

It was landing on mined beaches and through underwater obstacles which called for practical experiences and study. Start Bay offered the nearest rehearsal conditions, and as live ammunition was to be used, the civilian population was quickly induced to get out of the way. Such is the simple rather crude way of putting it, but for many it involved pulling up the roots of a lifetime, the separation of families, and the interruption of work and community life. Further, there was fear of the sequel. Was the American General to be believed when he promised that the houses were to be immune from damage (so far as practicable), or were we to be excluded for years from a waste-land?

The area affected in the Parish included Torcross, Stokenham, Chillington and Sherford. (The other parishes were Blackawton, East Allington, Slapton and Strete). All houses, schools, churches and miscellaneous buildings were to be completely emptied, all animals were to be taken away, and the Government was to have vacant possession on 20th December, 1943. The emotional response ranged from tragic broken hearts among the elderly, to excited wonderment among the children. The general attitude was of acceptance over-ridden by the practical business of where to go and how to get there.

An information and organisation centre was set up in the Parish Hall. All possible assistance was afforded in ensuring accommodation elsewhere, in the provision of help in the dispersal of farm stock, and with free transport. When people were ready to leave, they had to lock all doors and hand in all keys, tied and labelled.

On 12th November, Stokenham Church was packed to capacity by those under notice to quit, and to hear addresses of explanation and encouragement from the Lord Lieutenant of Devon and an American General. In the main, American troops were to engage in this immense military exercise.

This involved landing from the rough waters of Start Bay on to the steep slopes of Slapton Sands already prpared with mines, defensive obstacles and defending troops. Two bridges were established across the Ley. One, a pontoon type for vehicles, spanned the Ley at its narrowest part, the other contructed of iron scaffolding and boarding went across a wider part.

Covering shell-fire from ships' guns and 'planted' explosive devices brought as much realism as possible. There was surprisingly small damage within our parish boundary. Torcross suffered some damage, but the major incident occurred near the Parish Church. A shell blasted a hole in the nearby Church House Inn. The explosion lifted out a section of roof on the south side of the Church, and all the stained glass in the windows on that front was blown out and later replaced by plain glass.

The rood screen at Sherford Church had been carefully dismantled and put into safe storage. The Stokenham screen had not been considered worthy enough in historical character to deserve such treatment.

The Government had made promises of restoration and compensation. After return and re-settlement, the general feeling seemed to be that the business of evacuation on the whole had been carried through with efficiency, compassion and generosity.

Return was more gradual than the exodus. Some never came back; they died away from their native soil. Those who did return rejoiced, but realised nothing of the transformation which was to begin in the Parish within a quarter of a century.

In retrospect, the party of celebration at the old School, with dancing of the 'Lancers', to the accompaniment of a single piano, by survivors from the nineteenth century, was the last fling of the old order.

CONFIDENTIAL

HEADQUARTERS 29TH INFANTRY DIVISION
A.P.O. 29, U.S. ARMY

19th January 1944

Subject: Appreciation for Use of Slapton Sands Training Area.
To: The Rev. J. A. Davys, Stokenham

I wish to express my appreciation to you, and through you to as many residents of the Slapton Sands Training Area as possible, for the use of this part of the country for training our troops.

When I consider the sacrifices made by the people of this section, when moved from homes and lands they have been occupying for generations, I deeply regret war has required such a brunt of military necessity be borne by them. As a result of this contribution, however, an excellent training ground has been provided. Its value for the task which lies ahead is immeasurable.
According to reports which have received, no permanent damage has been done to homes or farm lands during the training to date. When the use of this area as a military training ground is complete, I sincerely hope it will be given back to its former residents in the original condition, and I shall do everything possible to personally insure inevitable wear is kept to a minimum.

Please accept once more my deep appreciation for the sacrifices these Devon people have undergone in order to insure successful prosecution of the war against our common enemy.

Sgd. C. H. GERHARDT
Major General, U.S. Army,
Commanding.

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