Private Charles Davies from Winnipeg, who had served in the 12 Canadian Field Ambulance, wrote the following lines which appeared in a Canadian newspaper in 1919.
SHORNCLIFFE CAMP
Folkestone, though Queen of the Southern Coast,
I'm loath to leave your grassy warren;
Those steep white cliffs that beacon like a genial host
Receding from my eyes night dim with tears.
What soothing hours and happy days so dear does memory recall;
The walk along the Leas, the leafy undercliff, and Oh, that changing sea,
When the rich red sunset sparkles on thy face,
Such are my thoughts of thee picture of grace.
Garden of England! Men of Kent!
Think of your heritage; the flowers sweet scent,
That wooded glade at Seabrook, primrose clad;
The glimpse of moving picture shore to make you glad.
Those verdant meads of Shorncliffe Plain,
Bright green as emeralds after rain.
Deep down in mist of blue lies sleeping Sandgate town,
Whose twinkling lights shine like some fairy's crown.
St. Martin's spire, neath which brave Plimsol sleeps,
Whose noble work the British sailor reaps;
The bugle blasts and all war's grim array,
Much as it did in Moore's fair distant day.
Not even the mists of Passchendaele and its blood strewn duckboard track
Can blot from out my memory the charm of Radnor Park,
Who would not fight for thee, dear land,
For every flower and Kentish maid's fair hand.
Who cares for the muddy trenches and the shrapnel's piercing scream,
The waves of poison and all the ghastly scene?
There are those away in the Golden West dearer than Nelson's name-
Mothers and wives and sisters; it's for them we play the game.
Taken from Coast of Conflict by Michael & Martin George
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Folkestone has had a military presence for many years. In fact, Shorncliffe Camp has been there since 1794, and garrisons manned the Martello Towers before that. During both world wars, troops were stationed at Shorncliffe before being shipped to the front, and today it is still in constant use.
Not so the School of Musketry in Hythe which became the Small Arms School, and has now been demolished. Luckily, many photos are in existence of the latter, and I too have a few, so without further ado, let's take a look.
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If any pictures remain blank after the page has loaded, right click your mouse into the space, and left click 'show picture', and it should come in for you.
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Canadian troops camped out on St. Martin's Plain, Shorncliffe Camp.
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Shorncliffe again, this time we have a Church Parade.
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Still up there, this time we can see Ross Barracks.
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This blurred picture dates from 1913, and it says R.A.M.C. and A.S.C. Camp, Folkestone. Does anyone know what those acronyms stand for?
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You can see photos of the School of Musketry on the Hythe page, but thought some should be here too. It was located on Military Road, Hythe and was a lot older than this photograph!
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Same entrance, and I would guess it to be around the same time frame.
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Here are the barracks belonging to the School of Musketry - also now demolished. They were located around the corner from the School on Barrack Hill.
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Back to Shorncliffe Camp and those tents. This photo was taken in 1913, just before the first world war.
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A military parade in Cheriton Place in 1920. Not a huge turnout for it was there?
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Folkestone was home to several rest camps during the first world war. Possibly during the second too, but I don't have any photos from then.
The rest camps were usually in former hotels or large homes and were used to give the fighting men a break from the conflict.
This one was entitled 'Cookhouse #3 Rest camp' in 1919.
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This was taken the same year, and was of the same rest camp, so I guess the photographer just walked around the front and took the picture from Sandgate Road.
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This was obviously the most popular rest camp to photograph because here is the same one taken a year earlier in 1918. This time it was taken showing the Clifton Gardens entrance.
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Here we are back to Shorncliffe Camp again. This time we are showing you Ross Barracks again. In this picture, they look just like council houses don't they? At first glance I thought I was looking at Canada Close in Cheriton.
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Now this is impressive isn't it? They were the Royald Field Artillery at Shorncliffe Camp prior to WW1.
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The only name I have for this is Shorncliffe. But I am sure someone out there knows the name of the building. Peter Hogben tells me this is the camp gymnasium!
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Now I would have pegged this one as the Boy's Brigade in the 50's, but no - would you believe it is Shorncliffe Camp again, and it dates from 1907?
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This one looks more like its real age. It is in fact a year younger than the one above, and dates from 1908.
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We really are in the 50's now. Shorncliffe military cemetery. The soldier bottom right almost didn't get into the picture did he? And what is with the jaunty helmet? Were they allowed to wear them like that?
Note the Martello tower up on the hill. There are several of them on military property, so of course, the public has no access to them. However, if this is the one on Hospital Hill, I was told it is now a house.
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Dipping back in time to 1890, we see some soldiers coming along Military Road from Shorncliffe Camp. At least that is what the card says, but Alan Taylor tells me that it is in fact Risborough Lane.
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Another photo of the School of Musketry in Hythe.
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The same place in 1910 However, this time we are privileged to see the buildings on the inside of the gates.
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I am a little confused about this one and the next. The building clearly has Y.M.C.A. (Young Men's Christian Association) on the side, but I have no other information on it.
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This is entitled 'Y.M.C.A. No.3 Rest Camp'. So did the Y.M.C.A. organise rest camps for the troops? This No.3 camp looks very different to the No.3 above doesn't it?
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Here we have the High Street in Hythe with some soldiers marching along in front of the Guildhall. I wonder if they were from the School of Musketry, or had walked all the way down the hill from Shorncliffe Camp?
There are firing ranges all along the seafront in Hythe which are still in use today. Possibly these men were coming from there.
When I lived on Pennypot Estate, the rat-a-tat of guns was a common sound.
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I don't have a date for this one, which is a shame. But here are four mounted military men at Shorncliffe Camp.
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Now here is a strange photo, and I am sure someone can tell me what it is all about. These people are all standing on top of a WW1 tank - was it the one which stood up on the Durlocks for many years?
Is it a royal visit? I would imagine the man with the chain around his neck was the Mayor of the day. Is the man with the cane George V1, and would that be Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (before she became mother to a queen) on the right?
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So far, I have shown you military photos mainly from the first world war era. However, Folkestone was very badly hit during the 1939-1945 war. It was targeted partially because of Shorncliffe Camp, they also aimed for the railway stations, the gasworks and the airfield at Hawkinge. Plus, it was often the last piece of land before the Germans left the British shores to go home, so unloaded their bombs as a farewell present. A great many civilians died, and it took years and years to rebuild. I can remember a lot of destruction still in place during my childhood in the 50's, and bombs were still being found unexploded.
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Before we take a trip to the second World War, please check out this web page that I found on the devastation wreaked upon Tontine Street and other areas in 1917. Having lived in Tontine Street myself, it moved me deeply. I noticed that among the list of the dead there was a couple by the name of Beer, which was my grandmother's maiden name. I wonder if they were related to me.
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Click here:
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The next few photographs, along with the captions are taken from the wonderful book 'Target Folkestone' by Roy Humphries, because they did not of course make postcards of the devastation that was Folkestone during both wars. I highly recommend this book. It covers all aspects of the 39-45 war, and how it affected the residents of Folkestone, and also has a roll of honour to those civilians who died. The ISBN is 0948193514 published by Meresborough Books in 1990.
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All that remained of the Stuka dive-bomber which was shot down on 15th August 1940 whilst attempting to attack RAF Hawkinge. The Ju87B of 10/LG1 struck the high tension wires at Shorncliffe Road and spun into 82-83 Shorncliffe Crescent. Both German airmen were later buried at Folkestone New Cemetary, Hawkinge, where they remain to this day.
Imperial War Museum
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In nearly every incident there are stories of remarkable escapes and frequently one heard that well worn cliché "There But For The Grace Of God, Go I". But here at 30 Morrison Road, luck had run out for 59 year old Grace Taylor and her 28 year old daughter Freda Cox, when a Junkers 88 bomber attempted to strike at the nearby railway tracks, on 6th October, 1940.
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Folkestone Library
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The night of 18th November 1940 saw the heaviest casualties in the town when a parachute mine exploded on Beach Street, shortly after 4 a.m. In all, 14 people were killed and 60 injured. Fifty-six shops and houses were either demolished or partially demolished and more than 800 damaged, with a further 700 seriously affected. So widespread was the damage that much of the area was never rebuilt.
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The Mayor, Alderman George A. Gurr had said during a council debate on whether to supply beds for people using air raid shelters "...the council were considering arrangements to put up 1,000 beds or bunks and possibly one of the large hotels would be used. Personally..." he went on, and now in his third year of office, "...I think it best to stay home in bed!..." The parachute mine, which drifted slowly onto Morehall Avenue in the early hours 29th May 1941, caused 13 fatalities out of a total of 56 casualties, the Mayor and his wife among them. Over 600 dwellings were damaged.
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Folkestone Library
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Inspecting the damage in George Lane soon after the town's heaviest shell bombardment on 13th June 1944. The Central Cinema entrance is on the extreme right of the picture and Mr. Pink's Stores is in the centre. 88-year-old Mr. Pink was the oldest shopkeeper in the town and the shell-scarred shop was looted by people who took flags and bunting on display for the King's visit in October.
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This is just a taste of Roy Humphrey's fascinating book, and if you can find it, I highly recommend you buy it.
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This is a photograph that I used to have on my office wall. It was this tank that I was referring to in the picture further up the page. The tank dates from the first world war, and it seems to me I remember it being up there. Is it still there? I don't know. What a magnificent view across Folkestone and the channel those children must have had!
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Home
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2005 and the anniversary of VE Day. Celebrations were taking place right across the country, and Folkestone was no exception. It was looking very patriotic up on The Bayle, where a street party took place. This photo was sent to me by Karen Rennie, who owns Rennies Seaside Modern in The Old High Street. Her husband Paul is getting into the mood of the occasion by sporting a Victory V pin.
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Don't forget - if any photos remain blank after the page has loaded, right click your mouse into the space, and left click 'Show Picture'.
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The BBC also did an excellent series called 'The People's War, and featured stories from the general public who experienced what it was like to live through the war. If you would like to read the articles pertaining to Folkestone, click on this link: http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?q=Folkestone&scope=all&tab=all&recipe=all&x=27&y=9
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Alistair Duncan, who sent me some photos of his own below, answered these questions for me:
RAMC = Royal Army Medical Corps
ASC = Army Service Corps
Thanks Alistair! :-)
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Alan Taylor came up with the answer to this one, and it is not royalty at all. Here is what he says:
This photo is of the official reception on 29th July, 1919. The tank was presented to Folkestone by Major General Sir E. D. Swinton K.C.B. The Mayor is Sir Stephen Penfold, next to him is Sir Philip Sassoon M.P. and next to him Major General Swinton. At the back is Town Sergeant Mr. E. Chadwick and behind the Mayor is Alderman George Spurgen.
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Taken from the Illustrated London News, These were the Easter Monday Volunteer Manoevres capturing Caesar's Camp in 1890.
Note the viaduct in the background.
Not a pleasant day for it by the looks of it!
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I am not quite sure why Belgian soldiers were leaving for the front on bicycles from Folkestone in 1914. I do know that Germany occupied their country that year, were they training in the UK before the war started?
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This photo doesn't look that old, but it shows the married Men's Quarters at Shorncliffe Camp in 1903
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Here the military men stationed at Sandgate had to share their field with a lot of sheep in 1905
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Shorncliffe Barracks again in 1904
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A 1903 photograph of Shorncliffe Hospital. There was a remarkable amount of colour photography around in these early days wasn't there? Yet move up to the 60's and you rarely see any in colour. Very strange!
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This could be a detachment from D-Squadron, Royal East Kent Yeomanry Mounted Rifles (Hussars) at Shorncliffe Camp, c1908. I wouldn't like to swear to it though.
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This was sent to me by Chris Long, who says the following"
"This was given to my father Horace by his father Alfred after the great war, He has told me it was given to all the folkestone lads who served in the 1st 2 3 4 or 5th Folkestone battalion at the end of the war 1918 by the Folkestone council. I dont know why or if indeed it was ever sung, Maybe someone out there knows"
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Here we have Moore Barracks and Napier Barracks at Shorncliffe Camp
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The Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Shorncliffe
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Alan Taylor sent me this photograph of a Military Tournament taking place at the Pleasure Gardens in 1905. You can see the Pleasure Gardens Theatre in the background. That ball looks as if it might be made of metal doesn't it? What they were doing with it is anybody's guess!
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In the background here, you can see Somerset Barracks, again at Shorncliffe.
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I guess this card was designed to help Folkestonians rest easier in their beds at night.
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There was a beautiful bed of flowers on The Leas in 1956. It commemorated the Victoria Cross, naming five recipients of it.
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William Reginald Cotter (March 1883 - March 14, 1916) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 33 years old, and an Acting Corporal in the 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 6 March 1916 near Hohenzollern Redoubt, France, Corporal Cotter's leg was blown off at the knee and he was also wounded in both arms. He nevertheless made his way unaided for 50 yards to a crater, steadied the men who were holding it, controlled their fire, issued orders and altered their dispositions to meet a fresh counter-attack. For two hours he held his position and only allowed his wounds to be roughly dressed when the attack had quietened down. He could not be moved back for 14 hours and during all this time he had a cheery word for everyone.
Grave/memorial at Lillers Communal Cemetery, France. 7m NW of Bethune. Plot IV. Row E. Grave 45. Headstone.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the The Buffs Regimental Museum (Canterbury, Kent).
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Two photos of Folkestone's War Memorial. I would guess the top one is the most recent, judging by the amount of foliage that has grown behind it.
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This photo and the two below were sent to me by Alistair Duncan who was stationed at Shorncliffe with the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion (IJLB) in 1975/76 and again in 1981/83 as a Cpl instructor. Alistair is in the front row, 9th from the left.
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Alistair is easy to pick out of this group. He is the only one in dress uniform.
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IJLB Marching around Folkestone
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Lee Podgson, who has also sent me some fabulous recent photos of the harbour buildings, sent me this one of a WW2 bunker on the East Cliff. Did you know it was there? I didn't!
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I believe Lee took this one on the same day, they are WW2 aircraft on display at Capel-le-Ferne
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If you have your own memories of Folkestone during the war, or military memories at Shorncliffe be sure to share them with us by jotting them down in the guest book below
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This page updated Nov 25, 2007
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This photo is from 1914, just after England had declared war. I stand to be corrected of course, but this photo hit the newspapers of the day saying that these people being marched up the Road of Remembrance, as it was later called, were a large party of German Reservists, who had been arrested trying to cross to the Continent. We have to remember that this was war, and propaganda was the order of the day. Why would Reservists be in the UK? Were they not more likely to be Germans who had made their home in England, and were desperately trying to get out before even their neighbours turned against them, and they were arrested and interred? (as they were here) Living in another country myself, I guess I can relate. If England and Canada decide to go to war against each other, one of those people could be me!
See Swiss Cottage on the left? I was trying to read that sign, and I think it says 'Central' at the top, and below that I can make out the words Ranger or Banger Veldt, does that mean anything to anyone?
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This was the Fat House at No. 3 Rest Camp. Why was it so called I ask? Was it the cookhouse? Did they render down fat here or something?
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Back to earlier photos of Shorncliffe Camp. There is Calvary training taking place on the left, and the soldiers on the right are WW1 era.
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This is the first ship I have shown you on this page. But the Folkestone ferries were kept very busy during wartime taking troops and supplies back and forth across the Channel. This one is the SS Biarritz during WW2 in her Dazzle camouflage. She was built in 1915 and went out of service in 1948. Her sister ship the Maid of Orleans, which was built in 1918 was lost during the D Day landings in June 1944, but the Biarritz saw the remainder of her distinguished career trooping with the Ministry of Transport. This photo was sent to me by Chris Wood, who scanned it from a book called 'British Cross Channel Railway Passenger Ships by John de S. Winser - 1994.
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This photo of Risborough Lines, Shorncliffe Camp was sent to me by Lisa & Tony of Folkestone.
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I was trying to buy this one, but was outbid by Stephen Ratcliffe of Folkestone, who was kind enough to send me a scan - just as good and twice as cheap! :-) The card, dated 1916, was entitled Soldiers Institute, Shorncliffe Camp, which I assume is the building on the hill, because if I am not mistaken, the one at the bottom is Horn Street school. I am curious about the buildings on the right, would they have been stables belonging to the house you can see far right? The card was sent from a soldier to his girlfriend. Did he return after the war? Did they marry? We will never know.
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This beautiful modern view of the Warren was another sent to me by Lee Podgson. Why is it on the Military page? Because if you look to the bottom, you will see he was standing on the WW2 bunker that is still up on the East Cliff.
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These two photos of the Military Cemetery at Shorncliffe Camp were sent to me by Peter. Those graves on the left look pretty old don't they? Thanks Peter! :-)
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"When i was a child I was machine gunned by a German plane whilst playing in the road (Church Rd Cheriton). Missed me but apparently one girl was killed.
The Author Roy Humphreys who wrote the books about the war in this area lives near me, and has a lot of records of that time.
He tells me the incident is logged, but without detail. Pity, because my memory of the event is hazy. Would love to know it my memory of one killed is correct."
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Peter Hogben of Hawkinge wrote to following to me. Does anyone else remember this incident?
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Roll of Honour
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An incomplete list of Folkestone civilians killed as a result of enemy action during WW11
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An incomplete list of casualties of the Great Folkestone air raid on Friday, May 25th 1917
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" None of us could have predicted our fate when in the second week ofJune 1917, our small group walked up a narrow gangway and was packed together on an old paddle steamer. As the men crowded on board, the group that I was with moved to stand by the port side paddle As we pulled out of Folkestone harbour we watched England and the white cliffs gradually recede into the darkness. I was not the only one who wondered whether we would ever set foot on her soil again"
Harry Patch, the last fighting tommy.
Harry did come home and lived to 109 years old
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Sent to me by Tom Compton, who is searching for a photo of their ship, St. Cecelia. Can anyone help?
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You will find Jack Anderson on the People page