1940: The Secret War at Shingle Street

Site created: 20th June 2001. Last updated: 7th Nov 2006

The following story relates to events which actually took place near the start of the last world war, at a time when Britain and it's allies had just suffered the worst defeat in it's military history. The truth behind the events presented here is not due to be made public until the year 2021, when they will be released under the Official Secrets Act.

Why the secrecy?

If and when proven, history will record that a foiled invasion attempt by German forces took place off the East Anglian coast at Shingle Street, near Bawdsey in Suffolk. If it had succeeded, the outcome of the last world war would have been very different.

Read On...

A detailed eye-witness account of what happened.
A summary of the events as they unfolded in 1940.
Why the secrecy? Three reasons.
The full story- transcripts of all the letters sent to newspapers and researchers.
A map of the area around Shingle Street where the events occured.
Letters from other witnesses and relatives close to these events.
NEW: emails from readers of this website.
Newspaper articles relating to events at Shingle Street.
Supporting photographic evidence.
Witnesses to events at Shingle Street- a summary.
Newspaper articles and photos of Bawdsey and Darsham Chain Home Radar masts
Excerpt from the wartime journal of William L Shirer.
Links to other relevant sites.

Newspaper article featured in the East Anglian Daily Times in June 2006, summarising the results of the investigation into events at Shingle Street.

Appeal for further information

If you have knowledge of the landing attempt at Shingle Street or you have any comments on this site, please contact the site author: I would be most grateful.

I would especially like to hear from any surviving witnesses with knowledge of the three mass burial pits at Bawdsey, Hollesley and Southwold Common and also anyone who was serving in the armed forces at that time.

I would also like to hear from survivors, witnesses and their relatives from Germany and on the continent who may have any information on the invasion attempt which took place on the East coast of England in late August/ early September of 1940.

Sincerely,
Ronald Ashford
12 Linden Road
Aldeburgh
Suffolk
IP15 5JQ
U.K.

Tel. +44(0)1728 452902

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge and thank those who have helped towards my research of the Secret War at Shingle Street and towards this publication:

Desmond Stewart         Harry J Cork
Robert Burns            Ross Gower
Ron Clayton             Mrs Barbara Kemp
Roy J Proctor           Margaret Paine
Mick Paintin            J M Watling
Ted Vandergrift         F S Plummer
Henry Baldry            J Borrett
Mrs M Dolby 
Gary Ashford

...to name but a few.

Links to other sites of interest

Public Records Office

Documents relating to the evacuation of the village of Shingle Street during the war are available from the Government Public Records Office. Follow the link below and search this site for "Shingle Street" and class code "HO" (Home Office)

Aldeburgh and the Aldeburgh Museum

The files from which this web site was compiled are on display at the Aldeburgh Museum, Moot Hall, Aldeburgh.

Follow the links below for further information.

http://www.blythweb.co.uk/coastguard-court/aldeburgh.htm

Ipswich Public Records Offic, Gatacre Road, Ipswich

Copies of the above files are also held at Ipswich Public Records Office under deposit numbers 12385 HD2061

The River Ore at Shingle Street

More views of Shingle Street.

http://www.cruising.org.uk/around/a_UKports_Ore_ShingleSt.htm

The Battle of Britain

The important role played by bases in Suffolk during the war.

Parliamentary Question
Question asked to Kenneth Clark MP on 26th June 1992 regarding the release of top secret documents pertaining to Shingle Street.

Radar technology pages

References to the Chain Home Radar stations along the east coast of Britain.

Open letter to Dame Stella Rimington
A Copy of a letter addessed to Dame Stella Rimington; former director general of MI5, is published here in an attempt to bring this matter to her attention and to ask for any possible assistance she may be able to offer.

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