Timely reminder of Battle of Britain

Seventy years ago this summer the skies overhead were dotted with planes in the opening stages of the Battle of Britain of which the Eastbourne air show is a timely reminder.

On the Sussex coast below precautions were being taken to repel an expected invasion by the German 16th Army.

From a number of different places I have collected rare photographs, maps, and plans of many of the defences along the coast of East and West Sussex and published them in a book which your readers may be interested to read.

There are plans of the army ground defences at Newhaven fort and Pevensey Bay, and photographs inside the underground naval and army joint control centre at Denton.

The net barriers off Beachy Head and the minefields at Birling Gap are described along with views of tanks on Seaford head and the armoured train and rail guns which moved along the lines between Dungeness, Polegate and Lewes.

There are also good pictures of the Eastbourne, Pevensey Bay and Bexhill coast batteries. “Defending Sussex Beaches 1940-42″ is available to borrow from East Sussex Libraries or from Middleton Press, Midhurst. £16.95. (ISBN 978-1-906008-76-6)

^{STORY SOURCE : EASTBOURNE HERALD : LETTERS 10 SEPTEMBER 2010}