This map annotated by the 21st (Eastbourne) Battalion, Sussex Home Guard details the top secret strategy for defending Eastbourne and the coast in 1942.
In 1942, the strategy for defending the coastline in Eastbourne changed. As the army left the coastal positions, the Coast Artillery and Home Guard took over. Although a full scale invasion wasn’t ruled out, the main threat was perceived to be from small commando raids. This map alongside the documents it was discovered with, describe the way the Home Guard would occupy machine gun posts and operate patrols. The map shows the location of the existing Dannert wire (large coils of barbed wire), more Dannert wire ready in gardens to be rolled out and roadblocks. The red circled numbers show Rally Points detailing the number of men and Machine Guns. Over 5000 men passed through the ranks of the 21st Battalion throughout the Second World War.
Information provided by Peter Hibbs
