In 1940 a very real possibility existed that the Island would the first target for an invasion by the German Army and preparations were made for this eventuality. In Shanklin the Home Guard stood ready for an onslaught whether it should come by sea or overland. Short of guns and ammunition it certainly had enough to cover the approach from the South and as the picture shows, the rifle positions to cover this are still in existence close to St. Blazius Church.
Shortage of hand grenades did not prevent throwing practice and one group assembled in the upstairs rooms of the Black Cat tea rooms for a simulated attack on a passing lorry using swede turnips.
However it was realised that the Home Guard might not be enough to repel the advancing troops and plan B was prepared. Captain Dick Wheway, the local radio repair man, recruited a clandestine band of local men who were ready to operate as guerrillas should the worst happen. Their operations would centre on a secret underground cavern they had excavated under the cover of darkness in the America woods. In preparation it was stocked explosives and detonators and emergency supplies.
The local army units erected miles of beach defences consisting of a framework of scaffold poles which stretched from Yaverland to Luccombe. The pier was a possible landing point so a cunning strategy was put into action. A vast gap was blown into the pier deck and if a battalion should land there and try to march ashore, disaster would ensue.
After the war the breach in the pier was repaired with reinforced concrete. Ironically this was the only part of the pier to survive after the storm of 1986 when all of the iron structure was washed away.
My name is Rob Marshall.
I spent my childhood in Shanklin and lived here until I joined the forces in 1942. Memories of the town in the first years of the war remain clearly in my mind. Although it was a difficult and highly dangerous time with frequent bombings and the threat of invasion it was an exciting time for young lads and the very thought of defeat did not cross our minds. I still live on the Island having spent most of my life as a teacher working for the Island Education Service.
On the 14th & 15th March 2002 a group of SHAA Hoteliers dug out and planted a garden at Shanklin Station. We built a fence that would enable us to reach the garden to weed regularly. All the plants and timber was donated by local island companies and to commemorate this, a large plaque was attached to the fence. SHAA Chairman at the time was Les Burrows who along with the Committee at the time organised the gardening weekend. We found a local man to weed once a week for us and we felt that we had achieved something worthwhile.
Recently though, the garden was looking very tired and overgrown but still bore the SHAA name. The committee was looking for a solution when Lesley Hampshire from the Green Towns’ Shanklin approached SHAA to invest some money and time into re-planting the garden. This was greatly appreciated by the Committee and we donated £50.00 to help with the planting. Having been donated a boat, which is now planted out and is situated to one side of the garden they have achieved a lot in a small time. Lesley has also undertaken to keep up with the weeding eventhough it is now more difficult to obtain entry into the gardens as permission is always needed. The garden now is a vast improvement and if anyone has a free ten minutes just pop in and have a look.
I am part owner of the Snowdon Guest House with my husband Michael since 2001. I was previously employed in investment banking in London since 1984 for a foreign government. I am a committee member of SHAA and Shanklin Christmas Festival and run a weekly coffee morning for lady hoteliers. Interests include tourism, Shanklin Theatre, walking, family, reading and the Isle of Wight.
Say ‘National Service’ to the younger members of the Shanklin community and they might think you are talking about the National Health Service. However, say the same words to the older members and the response might not be printable!! So, what is or was National Service? It was a period of time during which all young men had to serve in the Armed Forces. Registering at the age of 17, a deferment, or delay, may be granted if serving a recognised Apprenticeship or other training such as University thereby entering at the age of 21.
Why? Well the First World War ‘consumed’, and I make no apology for using that word, a lot of men and as there were not enough volunteers, ‘conscription’ or National Service was invoked to bring the numbers up and thus every able bodied man had to go.
Come 1939 and the Second World War. Men already serving and due for release were kept in. Many volunteered ‘just to win the war’, or as it was put on their Service Documents, “For the duration of the present conflict”, meaning ‘when I have won the war for you, I want to be released.’ However there were still not enough men so the 1939 National Service Act came into force. At first it was men aged 19 – 41. In 1941 the age was raised to under 51 and in December of that year unmarried women of 20 – 30 were called up.
‘But the war finished in 1945. Why did National Service continue until 1960?’
With the end of the war, those who should have been released at the end of their term during the war were released as were those who signed ‘for the duration of the present conflict’, and of course those who were called up for the war effort. This left the services very short of men, so the 1947 National Service Act was brought in. Men over 18 had to register for 12 months service with 5 years on Reserve. In 1948 this was extended to 18 months and with the advent of the Korean War, extended to 2 years in 1950. The final call up was in 1960.
Two facts people are not aware of, between 1945 and 1960, 1.1 Million men served in the Army, 433,000 served in the Royal Air Force and about 140,000 served in the Royal Navy. 395 national Servicemen were killed in action and another 200 lost their lives in accidents
And the second? Bevin Boys. What are, or were Bevin Boys? So many men had been taken from the mines to serve in the Armed Forces, the mines were short of men, so Ernest Bevin, Minister of Labour and National Service at that time devised a method whereby 48,000 men were drafted into the Coal Mines instead of the Armed Services.
National Service now? Find an ex National Serviceman in Shanklin and ask him. If you did your stint in National Service, how about telling us about it?
Came to the Island with my parents in 1947 when they bought an hotel. Chose not to follow that line so trained as a Marine Electrical Engineer. Served two year National Service in the Royal Navy. Married and settled in Leicester and retrained as a Telephone Engineer. Returned to the Isle of Wight in 1972 as a Telephone Engineer. Wrote a City and Guilds Course for the Home Office for use in Prisons and prisoner training. Had my own business until 1986, then returned to Marine Electrical Installation and Design at FBM Marine at Cowes. Designed the Electrical Installation of the first Red Funnel Red Jets. 4 children long since flown the nest, 2 on the North Island, 2 still remain here and one grandson. Now retired spending time with The Friends of Shanklin Theatre and involved with ex Royal Navy Associations.
