May 8th 2020
75th Anniversary of VE Day
Dovery Manor Museum celebrated the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe with this tribute to those who served both at war and at home, from the three parishes of
Porlock, Luccombe, and Selworthy.
A book further exploring the subject
Those Who Served: Porlock, Luccombe, and Selworthy
in the Second World War
by Jeff Cox
will be published shortly.
More than 200 local men went away to war, 27 of whom gave their lives for their country. They fought in many theatres of war: defending the evacuation from Dunkirk, at El Alamein, at Anzio, protecting the
North Atlantic convoys, on bombing raids over Germany, and in the jungles of Burma.
We pay tribute to each man in the Roll of Honour.
We also remember the hundreds of men and women who did so much to support the war on the home front, including:
This tribute gives just a snapshot of the three parishes at war. The full story of the district’s wartime involvement will be lodged at the Museum for future consultation, together with an exhibition of WWII equipment and memorabilia.
Much of the information and many of the photographs have been gleaned from material gathered and curated over many decades by the late Dennis Corner, the renowned local historian and author. Without his passion for the district, many of these stories would have been lost forever. He will be sorely missed.
75th Anniversary of VE Day
Dovery Manor Museum celebrated the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe with this tribute to those who served both at war and at home, from the three parishes of
Porlock, Luccombe, and Selworthy.
A book further exploring the subject
Those Who Served: Porlock, Luccombe, and Selworthy
in the Second World War
by Jeff Cox
will be published shortly.
More than 200 local men went away to war, 27 of whom gave their lives for their country. They fought in many theatres of war: defending the evacuation from Dunkirk, at El Alamein, at Anzio, protecting the
North Atlantic convoys, on bombing raids over Germany, and in the jungles of Burma.
We pay tribute to each man in the Roll of Honour.
We also remember the hundreds of men and women who did so much to support the war on the home front, including:
- the Home Guard platoons in Porlock and Selworthy;
- the Women’s Voluntary Service, who were the backbone of the war effort at home;
- those who volunteered for Civil Defence duties;
- those who opened their homes to evacuees;
- the military units who trained in the area;
- the victims of deadly plane crashes;
- and the political campaign launched in Porlock that the Nazis in Berlin watched closely.
This tribute gives just a snapshot of the three parishes at war. The full story of the district’s wartime involvement will be lodged at the Museum for future consultation, together with an exhibition of WWII equipment and memorabilia.
Much of the information and many of the photographs have been gleaned from material gathered and curated over many decades by the late Dennis Corner, the renowned local historian and author. Without his passion for the district, many of these stories would have been lost forever. He will be sorely missed.
Simply click on each photograph below to read the full story.
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Roll of Honour
Twenty-seven men from the three parishes died in the war. We pay tribute to each man and his service to his country. |
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Home Guard
Our local 'Dad's Army', the Home Guard, stood ready to defend the Vale from invasion. |
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Civil Defence
So many others pitched in - as enemy plane spotters, air raid wardens, firemen etc. |
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Women's Voluntary Services
The women of the district led the wartime effort on the home front. |
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Evacuees
Many opened their homes to care for children and mothers evacuated from the big cities. |
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Military Operations
The military came to the district to prepare for war. |
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Plane Crashes
War came to the Vale with three dramatic and deadly plane crashes. |
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Appease Hitler or Fight?
In November 1938, a political campaign was launched in Porlock that both gripped the nation and was watched closely by the Nazis in Berlin. |
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Acknowledgements
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