Defence of the Nation
Index
Introduction
As an island nation Britain has been defended by the East Anglian coast right from the 3rd century, when 'Saxon Shore' forts at places such as Brancaster in Norfolk and Walton Castle in Essex defended Romano-Britain from continental pirate invaders.
In the 17th and 18th centuries famous battles took place off the Suffolk coast and in the North Sea against the Dutch. Martello towers and forts were constructed along the Suffolk and Essex coasts to protect harbours and the coast from invasion during the Napoleonic period.
More recently, beaches were mined during the Second World War. Barbed wire, scaffolding and herring barrels filled with concrete obstructed the beaches and chains of pill boxes provided defensive lookouts.
Defence of the Nation
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Royal Naval Patrol Service
The Royal Naval Patrol Service was formed in 1939 from the members of the Royal Naval Reserve. Based at Lowestoft many of the peacetime fishermen and merchant seamen formed the backbone of the new service.
Two major aspects of service was in anti-submarine and minesweeping duties. During the six years of WW2 about 70,000 men served with the RNPS in some 6,000 ships. In the early years of the war the casualty rate was very high until more successful mine counter measures were developed.
In 1940 the service was called on to supplement the Royal Navy's presence in the Norwegian campaign. It was during this campaign that the one single Victoria Cross was awarded to a member of the service.
Lt. Richard Stannard VC, the winner of that award, was a peacetime merchant officer and in command of HMT Arab, part of the 16th A/S Flotilla sent to Norway in April, 1940.
Comments
Appeal to find Royal Naval Patrol Service veterans ‘Navy within a Navy’ set to commemorate fallen WWII comrades with memorial dedication on 23 August 09 The Royal Naval Patrol Service, the ‘Navy within a Navy’, who cleared the seas of devastatingly effective Nazi mines during World War II, is appealing to former sailors to attend a special dedication event at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield. Established in August 1939, with an initial fleet comprising 6,000 fishermen and 200 requisitioned trawlers, drifters, pleasure steamers and whaling vessels, the Royal Naval Patrol Service played a key part in the war effort. Growing to a force of 66,600 men and women, with 2,000 ships, and operating from the Arctic to the creeks of South East Asia, they worked tirelessly to keep lanes open to ports and were instrumental in enabling the successful D-Day Landings. Over 125,000 mines were laid in Europe alone during WWII and the impressive new memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum features a replica of the type that the Royal Naval Patrol Service had to clear. The memorial commemorates the 13,890 men who were lost, of whom 2,385 have no known grave. The sailors were drawn from fishing ports and other towns and cities across the UK. They were stationed at HMS Europa, a base erected on the municipal gardens in Lowestoft. Former members are urged to attend the dedication of the new memorial at midday on 23 August. John Hodge, Birmingham branch secretary for the Service’s veteran’s association, said: “We played a uniquely valuable and dangerous role during the War and suffered enormous casualties. This memorial, which is situated at the centre of the Arboretum, is a fitting tribute to all of our brave comrades that didn’t make it home. “We’d encourage all former members of the Royal Naval Patrol Service to get in touch and attend the event.” John Hodge can be contacted on 0121 308 4596Andrew Baud National Memorial Arboretum
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Theme: Royal Navy
Theme: Defence of the Nation
Photograph of The Duchess of Kent
The Commanding Officer HMS Ganges greeting The Duches of Kent on arrival at HMS Ganges in 1942
