Threat of German Invasion

Air Raid Shelters

Lancing & Sompting, like most British Towns during Hitler’s Blitzkrieg and threatened Invasion (Operation Sealion) constructed numerous air-raid shelters, both public (in exposed locations) and private (like the Anderson and Morrison units in people’s homes and gardens).

Sompting has reason to give thanks for the one at Harriet Johnson School, which itself was bombed although no-one was there at time. It has now been cleaned out and is opened by the Parish Council from time to time at Events.

Lancing also had a good number of public shelters, two of them at Monks Recreation Ground, Crabtree Lane and another at Beach Green. All are currently being considered for refurbishment and possible public access.

Anti Invasion Measures

Like D-day in reverse, enemy access to the beaches at Lancing was of paramount concern to both residents and defenders. The line of the high tide was provided along its full length with giant concrete anti-tank blocks, barbed wire and scaffolding.

The sands themselves were also mined

This action clearly symbolised the desire of local people to finally “bury” their unhappy memories of five years of worry about imminent German domination. The group memory must have played a heavy role in the public uproar when plans to unearth Beach Green some years back were proposed.

Pill Boxes and Gun Emplacements

These measures also figured massively in the landscape, particularly at the Airfield; one fascinating unit at Beach Green was cleverly disguised as part of the back garden of a property on the south side of the A259; it has sadly recently been demolished.

Former Pastfinders’ Member, the late Rolf Rowling, took the iconic black and white image of the blocks and wire being removed from the coast and re-used to bring up the level of Beach Green soon after hostilities had concluded.

We know of a heavy anti-aircraft gun at Coombes but we shall welcome any information about the exact location of others.