Repelling Sealion

Based on operation orders issued by the 47th infantry division and the 38th Welsh division in 1940-41, it gives details, with place names, of the infantry defence lines behind the coast, between Birdham and Newhaven, and the location of 75mm and 4.5 howitzer positions on the South Downs.

There is a plan of the anti-tank ditch around Worthing, and the sites and purpose of the 16 different structures for defence of the seafront.

Illustrations include minefields and net barriers as sea protection at Pagham, Selsey, Littlehampton and other Sussex harbours.

On land, the extent of mined areas in the county are described, with maps of those at Littlehampton Fort, Birling Gap and Brighton.

The sites of the permanent Sussex coast defence batteries and their armament are listed, with pictures of railway guns at Chichester and armoured train patrol routes in East Sussex.

The communication network between London, the army divisions and the naval bases on the south coast explains how information about an enemy landing would have been sent.

The underground complex at Denton, near Newhaven, which co-ordinated the fire of naval ships and coastal batteries, is also shown in drawings and photographs.

The equipment of infantry divisions, Home Guard, tanks and armoured units seen on Sussex roads is shown, along with German paratroopers, artillery and flame throwers.

Methods used at the time to attack pillboxes, build road blocks, clear woods of the enemy and defend buildings are explained.

The book, Defending Sussex Beaches 1940-42, is available from Middleton Press, Midhurst, price 16.95, from local bookshops and will be available in West Sussex libraries shortly.

John Goodwin

Smugglers Walk

Goring-by-Sea

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