The Evacuation of the South Hams
The Evacuation of the South Hams
As part of the necessary preparation for the successful invasion of German occupied France, it was vitally important that all troops had to undergo a series of training schedules and then full-scale exercises under conditions as near resembling those of the five landing points in Normandy as possible.
Slapton Sands and the immediate landward area was one of four major exercise areas designated for specialised use with live ammunition. Hayling Island, Bracklesham Bay and Littlehampston were the three other main training areas which came under strict military rule from the end of 1943 to the autumn of 1944. Slapton Sands with its small ley, low cliffs at either end of the flat coast road was not all that dissimilar from the beach and cliffs code named Utah west of the River Vire in Normandy. It was smaller, had fewer fortifications but was well away from German planes crossing the Channel towards the more populated areas of England.
A notice of requisition was passed to the Devon County Council under the Defence Regulations Act of 1939 specifying that a certain area of the South Hams was to be fully evacuated of civilians and livestock by the 20th December, 1943.
This gave six weeks notice for the moving of about 750 families, comprising about 3,000 people, 180 farms, villages, shops, etc. Some 30,000 acres would have to be cleared in these weeks so that troops could move in and start setting up camps, defence points and ringing the area with guards.
The area took in the villages of Torcross, Stokenham, Chillington, Sherford, East Allington, Blackawton, Strete and Slapton and many hamlets. The requisitioned land covered the coast from just north of Strete to just south of Torcross and formed a diamond like area.
All movable possessions from homes, shops and farms were to be taken and useable crops still in the land could be removed. Nothing was to be left apart from empty buildings and churches.
Meetings were convened in the various village halls telling people of the plans and how they could get help in the form of packing cases, transport and food and assistance with the actual work of handling heavy furniture, farm equipment and livestock.
The people were naturally taken back by the order to evacuate but it was wartime and almost anything could take place.
Plymouth had suffered a devastating blitz, young children were living in the area as evacuees, husbands were at war so this move, it was explained, however difficult, upsetting and inconvenient it would be was necessary and would make a very practical contribution to training troops to win the war.
Two information centres were set up at Blackawton and Stokenham and staffed by the Women’s Voluntary Service. Help was forthcoming from many people throughout Devon and offers of accommodation given while farmers roundabout shared fields and equipment with those who lost their land. Advice was given about obtaining help, seeking alternative accommodation and storing furniture and goods.
Emergency kitchens were able to supply meals to those in the middle of moving; transport, in one way or another, was made available for moving out tons of domestic and farming goods to many parts of the West Country.
There were, of course, difficulties especially with the elderly folk many of whom had never left the area before and with sick people where it was necessary to find them beds in nearby hospitals. These and many other problems were overcome by a willingness on most people’s part to pull together and make the most of it. The war was on and this was one consequence of the times.
As the few weeks passed so the land and villages took on a deserted appearance. The once crowded roads, down to the shore, the busy farms, the cattle grazing the fields, the people talking in the village shops were to be no more. The large villages were soon empty then came the many farms and finally the isolated houses.
The various churches had to be cleared of valuables and very old furnishings. No guarantee that anything left would be undamaged during the exercises. Treasures such as crucifixes, silver crosses and plateware were carefully packed by experts and monuments, windows and fittings were protected by sandbags. Almost all the churches had a lot of old and fragile woodwork. This required very careful dismantling and packing helped in many cases by the incoming U.S. troops. The inns closed their doors for the last time and the cellars were emptied of their stocks of cider and beer.
During the last few days of the evacuation sentries came into the area. American officials checked on the clearing operation, the last people left, taking with them as much of their crops as possible and finally the centres closed and the volunteers moved out.
A silence fell over the area, an uncanny feeling that this was the lull before the storm. Weeds soon appeared in unattended gardens and fields, hedgerows grew out of shape and houses, farms and other buildings quickly gathered dust during those last days of 1943.
First Published October 2010 By The Dart