Jam, Jam, Jam

“Tickler’s Jam! Tickler’s Jam!
How I love old Tickler’s Jam
Plum and apple in one pound pots
Sent from England in ten ton lots
Every night when I must sleep
I’m dreaming that I am
Forcing my way up the Dardanelles
With a pot of Tickler’s Jam.”

 

During the First World War Ticklers Jam became a household name throughout the United Kingdom and many places across the world as it became one of the staples of the British Army during the war. Ticklers jam had more than a dining purpose for the men in the front line trenches and whose popularity would plummet almost immediately after the war.

 The Ticklers jam factory was established in 1878 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire England by Thomas Tickler, with a factory also established in Southall later in the period. In 1914 Ticklers Ltd secured a substantial army contract to provide the army with plum and apple jam, a contract worth £1 million in 1914 prices.

 Tickles jam gained a reputation which perhaps wasn’t the beneficial to it marketing department as it was often described as coming in “two colours, green and red but both tasting the same.” Although different varieties were available Ticklers seemed to the men at the front to be the only preserve produced.

 The men at the front were extremely more utilitarian when it came to their food packaging than we are today. Ticklers jam, send to the front in tins were used for a variety of different purposes such as vases to hold flowers and more bizarrely homemade grenades. Ticklers artillery were Tickler jam tins packed with guncotton, scrap metal and a simple fuse. This simple projectiles show a bottom up approach to adapting to the challenges of trench warfare. These improvised explosive devices would be replaced by the more effective mills grenade which would become a staple of the battlefield. After the war unsurprisingly Ticklers never took a command of the market and production finally ceased in the late 1950’s.

 

Sources

Rod Collins, ‘Ticklers Jam Grimsby’, Lincolnshire thro’ History, life, Lens & Words, < http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/&gt;   

Martin Pegler, Soldiers’ Songs and Slang of the Great War (Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2014)

Russia’s Most Terrifying Enemy

During its long history the Russian nation has fought many deadly enemies, from the Mongols in the 13^th century, Napoleon and his Imperial Guard in 1812, Nazi Germany during the Great Patriotic War and in more recent times the West. But there is one enemy who some believe are still at war with the Russian nation, while others believe the conflict began in 1853 ended in 1966. The Russian threat came not from a World Super power but rather the Northern English market town of Berwick upon Tweed …

 

Contrary to the rather looming introduction the war between Russia and Berwick upon Tweed became one of history’s many diplomatic irregularity. Berwick upon Tween located on the border between England and Scotland was defined in 1502 under the Treaty of Everlasting Peace between Scotland and England as being a part of England but not in England. This resulted in any acts of parliament or any other legal documents Berwick would be named individually. With this in mind when in 1853 Great Britain declared war on Russia, known as the Crimean War, the document stated that war was declared by “Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, Ireland, Berwick upon Tweed and all British Dominions.” However during the Treaty of Paris of 1856 when peace was made between the waring nations, Berwick was not named in the treaty, leaving the border town in theory, at war.

 

Although Berwick was not mentioned in the 1856 peace treaty, there is still debate surrounding whether Berwick is still at war with Russia or when they made peace. One argument states that Berwick did make peace in 1856 as the Wales and Berwick Act of 1746 stated that all references to England were to include both Wales and Berwick and so in the Paris Peace Treaty although Berwick was not mentioned, it was enclosed as part of England. Contrary to this fact it is rumoured that in 1966 the Major of Berwick, Robert Knox signed a peace treaty with a Russian diplomat where it has been said that Knox commented, “Tell the Russians they can sleep easy in their beds.” As comical as Knox’s comment is there is very little evidence to support the supposed 1966 peace treaty as there are no official paper nor do contemporary newspapers comment on the event. And so the questions still remains, when did Berwick upon Tweed and the Russian nation make peace?

 

Sources

Graham Spicer, ‘Myth Or Reality? Berwick Revisits Its War With Russia’, Culture 24, < http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/art38768&gt;

Michael Southwick, ‘Berwick v. Russia and other Unfinished Wars,’ North-East History Tour, < http://northeasthistorytour.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/berwick-v-russia-and-other-unfinished.html&gt;  

Disney’s Education for Death

 

 

One of Disney’s darker information films created during the Second World War is that on ‘An Education for Death: The making of a Nazi.’ This 1943 Disney production takes the audience through the dark childhood and upbringing of a boy named Hans, displaying the process from innocence, too a brain washed solider marching to war and death. Before discussing the narration of this film I think it is important to identify the motivations and overall message first. The tone of the film is strange as although at the end of the message is that these indoctrinated soldiers march to their death against the allied forces, there is undoubtedly moments of understanding and sympathy, especially for an ill Hans and his mother who are threatened by the anonymous Nazi, representative of the German state. In 1943 the allied were much more confident than they had been in 1942. Although D day was yet to come, Britain and America had won against Rommel the Desert Fox in North Africa and prepared for the invasion of Sicily, while the Russian had halted the German advance and now begun the bloody task of pushing them back to Berlin. With this in mind the film looks to the future and by telling the story of Hans the American government in collaboration with Disney hope to disconnect and absolve the ordinary German citizen and soldiers of association with Nazism, as they knew many were pushed into accepting their doctrine through fear and indoctrination.

 

The story of Hans begins with his parents registering his birth with the anonymous German official who first checks their heritage as any person with Jewish Grandparents were considered Jews themselves. The official then checks the banned names list, headed by Franklin and Winston the leaders of the Western Allies and after being satisfied that Hans is not banned he hands Hans’ mother a hereditary passport with spaces for twelve children. Under the Nazis mothers who had eight children were award the Motherhood cross (1^st Class order) while in 1942 the Gold Cross with Diamonds was created for mothers of 12. These military honours were awarded on the 12^th of August each year, the date being significant as it was the date of Hitler’s mother’s birthday.

 

The German fairy tale shows the Nazi idealised rise of Hitler, however Disney were very clever by using lightening as Hitler attempts to push ‘German’ on his horse. In doing so Disney alludes to the unforeseen events of the Wall Street Crash and the death of President Hindenburg, two events which favoured Nazi politics and advance to power. The story of the rabbit and the fox told to Hans in school that was designed to teach children the importance of race superiority and the survival of the fittest amongst man. The children can be seen in their Hitler youth uniforms, a militarist children’s organisation set up to instil the teaching of Nazism and soldiering into children from an early age. The teacher is also shown in a uniform which could mean one of two thing. The first that he is a leader/ instructor in the Hitler Youth, or it could be a comical reference to the fact that all teachers in Germany had to be a member of the Nazi Socialist Teachers League.

 

At the end the audience watches Hans grow into a solider of the Wehrmacht but as the narrator describes, he sees, says or no more than the party want, the culmination of his education, for death. Once again I return to the films suggestion of sympathy and motivation. The film seems to again suggest that for children like Hans who have grown up under the Nazi regime and had taken up arms were not to blame. Instead these once innocence were warped by ideology and as the films says, ‘in him is planted no seed of laughter, hope, tolerance or mercy. For him only marching and hailing, hailing and marching.’

Donald Ducks Patriotic Duty

 

In 1942 Disney released a propaganda film for the American Government to encourage people to do something which was considered essential to the US’ war effort. The film begins with an upbeat song which calls upon America to pull together and show the World their Yankee Doddle spirit, ending with Donald Duck saluting with Star Spangled Banners rising in his eyes. The radio then goes on to discuss the new spirit in American, “a spirit of a free people united again in a common cause to stamp tyranny from the Earth” all signified by Donald Ducks disgust that “our very shores have been attacked,” referring to the Pearl Harbour attack of December 7^th 1941 which united the country. It is clear that Donald Duck is willing to do his part and after the radio tells him that role he is about to announce won’t get him a medal, will mean a sacrifice and will be a vital of help. This all results in Donald Duck begging the radio to tell him what this duty is and how he can contribute to the war effort. Well what could it be, a role of vital importance that will help stamp tyranny from the world? To fight in the Navy? To join the workforce? No, rather Donald Duck needs to pay his income tax…

 

The Second World War became a period of US history where citizens were happy and indeed proud to pay their taxes in knowledge that it would support the war effort in the fight against the Axis powers. The radio/ narrator continues by talking Donald Duck through his tax return, accompanied by his typically Disney stationary characters, full of wit and humour. For the remainder of ‘The Spirit of 1942’ film, after Donald Duck has eagerly taken his tax return to Washington, the narrator then shows how Donald Ducks and the audiences taxes will be used to bury, sink and ‘beat to earth the evil destroyer of freedom and peace.’ In the end after the destruction of the ‘evil’ axis war machine the film shows a powerful display of nationalism and patriotism. As the silhouettes of tanks, guns and aircraft move across the screen the camera pans to a sunset sky, with the clouds striped and red while in the top left corner the clouds have cleared to show the stars of the night sky, of course to show the star spangled banner. The narrator then gives a stirring speech reiterating Roosevelt’s and the US’ four key war aims, freedom of Speech, of worship, freedom of want and fear, and the final crescendo to this patriotic film campaign, ‘taxes will keep Democracy on the march!’

Churchill’s Weird Idea!

 

Ice carrier

Ice carrier plans

The history of the Second World War is littered with weird and strange invention and ideas from the bat bomb, the Soviet anti-tank dog and the flying jeep. One of the most bizarre of these weapons was the ice fleet, literally ships including aircraft carriers made entirely of ice. Unfortunately this ice fleet was never put into action but the story of Project Habakkuk is an interesting one.

 

By 1942 the Battle of the Atlantic was becoming pivotal as German U boats attempted to starve Britain of supplies by destroying shipping between Britain and her main suppliers, the United States and Canada. Although aircraft could partly cover the convoys, their fuel range was limited as so there was an air gap between Greenland and Iceland where the U boats could hunt without harassment from Allied aircraft. Geoffrey Pyke had considered how a floating iceberg could be created to support a run way. In the knowledge that ice was weak and could shatter Pyke added wood pulp to the water before freezing which created pykrete a strong durable material. The material was first brought to Churchill’s attention when Lord Louis Mountbatten dropped a chunk of this pykrete between Churchill’s legs while he was in the bath which amazing did not melt in the warm water. It was believed that a ship made of this pykrete would be stronger than steel and could be self-healing as any holes could quickly be patched up with freezing water.

 

Churchill quickly became enchanted with the project and hoped for an entire fleet, with ice carriers being deployed of the coast of France and the Indian Ocean, each one measuring 2,000 feet long, 300 feet wide and walls forty feet thick which would have made them the largest floating structures ever built. Each carrier was planned to carry 300 aircraft including spitfires and hurricanes which were not folding wing aircraft.  The next step was for a small scale model to be built on Patricia Lake in Canada in 1943. The model was 60 feet long and 30 feet wide and was kept frozen by a 1 horsepower motor. It was soon found that an extensive series of pipes to run coolant would be needed to keep the pykrete frozen, but ultimately the scale model remained frozen and afloat. Costs for the project although soon spiralled and the amount of materials which would be needed for just one ship would be immense. Churchill soon doubted the projects future as costs spiralled higher and higher, far greater than Britain could not afford.

 

By 1944 the project to build an ice fleet was cancelled. The battle of the Atlantic had been won as American mass produced aircraft and ships took to the battle and the air pocket was closed with aircraft which had a further range. Other projects such as the Manhattan project were inevitable to take the lion’s share of funding from the British and American Governments. Although this project was not carried out it is a demonstration of how during the dark periods of the Second World War governments and armies invested in unconventional ideas in an attempt to gain the advantage over their enemy.

 

Information and pictures taken from: I09, ‘Winston Churchill’s plan to fight Nazis with massive aircraft carriers made from ice’, <http://io9.gizmodo.com/5985335/winston-churchills-plan-to-fight-nazis-with-massive-aircraft-carriers-made-from-ice>

Is a Steam Powered Submarine a Good Idea?

 

Firstly I must apologise to steampunk fans for destroying their image of a steam powered submarine as history shows that using a steam engine to power a submarine is not a particularly good idea and indeed the Royal Navy’s attempt to introduce them is tragically laughable. In 1915 the K class steam power submarines were ordered for the Royal Navy as they were in need of a fast submarine that could serve as reconnaissance vessel for the fleet which the current diesel engines could not keep up with.

 

Submarines before nuclear power usually operated by using a diesel engine while they were above the surface as those engines needed air and an exhaust to work. While they were above the water the engine as well as powering the usual equipment would also recharge electric batteries which were used when the submarine submerged. The K class submarine, although it did have a diesel engine it was equipped with two steam turbines and four electric motors. Of course for steam engines the submarine needed funnels which were designed to retract when the submarine prepared to dive and the furnaces which heated the boilers would dampened and cooled. The submarines were 338 feet long, weighing 2,500 tons, about the same size as a destroyer and on the surface they could achieve a speed of 24 notes, a speed not equalled by a submarine until the 1960’s. Below the surface however they were much slower as the battery powered electric motors could not propel such a large submarine at any great speed.

 

So what was the problem? Well frankly a steam engine on a submarine was just a bad idea. When an enemy vessel was spotted it would take 4 mins, at best, to retract the funnels which would leave plenty of time for the enemy vessel to spot the submarine and swing into action. Submarines throughout history also have the inherent problem of heat due to the close proximity of the crew to each other and the engines which means that they can get very hot and stuffy. It must have been a hellish existence for the stokers on-board who in the confined space of the boiler room had to keep the huge furnaces burning. Although they were dampened to try and reduce some of the heat before submerging the boilers room became uninhabitable due to the heat and smoke which must made of made the entire submarine an insufferable hot and claustrophobic environment.

 

The submarines were also difficult to control when submerging as K-3 discovered in May 1916 when during a test dive she buried her bow into the bottom as she did not respond to the helm or the diving planes. Other problems included gas leaks, explosions, boiler fires, hydraulic failures … essential everything that could have gone wrong, did. K-2 caught fire, K-4 ran aground, K-15 sank during trials, k-7 was depth charged by a Royal Navy destroyer while K-1 collided with K-4 on a training exercise. K-14’S steering gear jammed on a Flotilla manure which lead K-22 to collide into her as she crossed her path. The situation was made worse when a battle cruiser who could not steer out of the way in time crashed into the bow of K-22. Amazing after all of these disasters the Admiralty stuck the K class program after WW1!  Unsurprisingly the disasters continued… in 1921 K-21 sank when moored up after a valve failed, while K-22 submerged with its funnels open which lead to the inevitable. The last k class submarine to be built, K-26, scalded two stokers to death when a faulty steam valve popped during a trial. In total 17 K class submarines were launched, but by the late 1920’s most had been scrapped or destroyed, K-26 was the last to be scrapped in 1931.

 

It is clear that the K class steam powered submarine was an entire failure. They were badly designed and with the added trouble of the steam engines made these machines dangerous and a horror to crew which surely deserve the nickname they were given, the ‘kalamity class’. Although it is slightly comical to see how badly these submarines performed we must remember that they were manned by volunteers of the Royal Navy. As well as the horrendous conditions on board made much worse by the furnaces the crews took a dark view of their situation, expecting their to be an accident at some point. This feeling of foreboding and fear led the crews of these submarines to name themselves, the ‘Suicide Club’. It is surely justified that these men receive their due respect and admiration for manning these death traps with such dedication and bravery as we reach the many centenaries of the First World War.

 

Information and pictures taken from, War is Boring, ‘His Majesty’s Scary Steam Subs’, <https://warisboring.com/his-majesty-s-scary-steam-subs-85ea39627498#.oskn4pn1r>

 

Information and pictures taken from, Diesel Punks, ‘Steam Subs’, <http://www.dieselpunks.org/profiles/blogs/steam-subs>

The Tragedy of the Vasa

Vasa

Vasa

Vasa model

Vasa Deck

Vasa Cannon

 

 

The Vasa built in 1628 was set to join the powerful Swedish Navy that was intended to help build the great Swedish Empire around the Baltic sea which grew during the 17^th and 18^th century. The Vasa was set to be the most powerful war ship afloat armed with 64 cannons and one of the most ornate. It maiden vogue was however to end in disaster travelling the astonishing little distance of 1,300 meters, less than one nautical mile.

 

So how did this powerful vessel sink so quickly after being launched? In part it was down to human error on the day while a huge part of the disaster was down to the vessels design. On the 10^th of August 1628 the Vasa was set to leave Stockholm harbour, with large crowds lining the quay side, with the water teeming with smaller boats carrying more spectators. Once the Vasa was launched and caught a current it set its sails and a gun salute was fired. A small breeze caught the sails and the ship heeled to port and very slowly recovered, but then a strong gust pushed the ship so far over on its port side that water poured in through the open gun ports. This spelled disaster as it began to sink and within a few minutes the Vasa was on the sea bed at a depth of only 32 meters with the masts above the surface providing which served as something for the survivors to cling on to. As the Vasa had sunk while still in the harbour which meant the small ships which had converged to watch were quick to pick up survivors, while some survivors swam ashore. Thirty people were drowned on board which was a remarkable low number due to the speed of the sinking and that most of the crew had brought their families on board. So what had gone wrong? The ship was designed to have a small amount of hull bellow the waterline which may have made the vessel faster it meant the Vasa was top heavy and so it was inevitable that a small breeze could dangerously heel the ship. Normally if this happened the ship would be ship could be adapted and modified to make it more stable but the Vasa did not have the opportunity.

 

As well as being the World’s only preserved 17^th century ship it is one of the most beautiful with some exquisite art works including several hundred sculptures, approximately 700! The Vasa was also ornately painted with strong colours from red, blue and yellow with gold leaf and served as a strong statement of Sweden’s naval presence. Tragically the Vasa is now suffering a second death.  In the 333 years the Vada lay at the bottom of the Stockholm harbour the ship was heavily polluted with toxic chemicals which in the cold dark water slowed the decaying process but now out of the water the ship is decaying. The preservation staff ensure the museum is kept at a temperature between 18- 20 ^oC and the humidity at 53%. Although these methods will slow the deterioration like any preserved artefact it will not last forever and so I would encourage all to experience such a tangible artefact from history.

 

 

Information taken from, The Vasa Museum available at, <http://www.vasamuseet.se/en>

More information at, Amusing planet, ‘Vasa: A 17^th century warship that sank’, <http://www.amusingplanet.com/2015/01/vasa-17th-century-warship-that-sank-was.html>

For further information about the history, preservation and the location of the museum which houses the Vasa visit their website, http://www.vasamuseet.se/en

 

A Pirates Bed Time

Captain Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart)

Captain Edward Teach (Black Beard)

 

A pirate ships is often imagined to be a truly unruly place, crewed by drunken and unruly men headed by a blood thirsty captain who was surrounded by his plunder and empty rum bottles. Although pirates could still be a rather violent forces who plagued the rich trade routes of the world throughout the history, they were governed by strict and prudish rules.

 

Possibly one of the best sources which provide us an insight in the laws of the pirate ship come from Bartholomew Roberts, otherwise known as Black Bart (1682- 1722) ship the Royal Fortune. Black Bart first rule was that every man would have “an equal vote in affairs of the moment. [And] He shall have equal title to the fresh provisions or strong liquors at any time seized.” Essentially this made the ship a democracy in which each man could have his say and then when available all would share in the provisions on board instead of say the captain lion taking the lions share.

Another rather surprising rule said that, “None shall game for money, either with dice or cards” while another stated that “The lights shall be put out at eight at night” and finally “No boy or woman shall be allowed [on board]. If any man shall be found seducing one of the latter sex and carrying her to sea in disguise, he shall suffer death.” These rules portray an entirely different view upon the pirate crew who its appears could not gamble, were in bed early and if they smuggled on board their wife, girlfriend or favourite prostitute then they would be put to death! Rather interesting Black Bart made provision for his wounded comrades stating that “Every man who shall become a cripple or lose a limb in the service shall gave eight hundred pieces of eight” which provided his men with an insurance scheme in the advent of injury.

 

Other pirate’s codes were equal as surprising and liberal which overturn our previous thoughts of this band of cut throats. Black Beard, perhaps one of the most well-known pirates in history had rules which included that, “If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle with her, without her consent, shall suffer present Death.” Essential the men were restrained ‘in their appetites’ or at least from them taking what they wanted.

These pirated code drastically challenge our preconceptions on pirate life as the portray a life of routine, discipline and order which perhaps in one way can explain their success in becoming true menses of the sea.

 

Mark Mancini, ‘11 Rules From an Actual Pirate Code’, <http://mentalfloss.com/article/58900/11-rules-actual-pirate-code>

‘A Pirate’s code of conduct’, <http://www.blackbeardlives.com/day3/code.shtml>

 

Pictures taken from, The Daily mail: < http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-457724/The-Real-Jack-Sparrow-He-eaten-Johnny-Depp-breakfast.html> & above top secrets: < http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread1054599/pg1>

Clear for Action!

In the times of the Jolly Jack Tar  the men who manned the mighty ships of the line and the agile frigates of Nelsons Navy, there are many aspects of a life at sea which have been rather overlooked. The food the men ate and how a ship prepared for battle were both vital aspects to a life on a Royal Navy warship but involved some bizarre things.

 

An ordinary sailor’s diet was at best, boring, with each meal revolving around salted meats, dried peas, cheese, butter and ships biscuits. Although the salted meat was put in water to try and remove some of the salt it remained incredibly so. The meat remained so salty that officers on watch around meal times had to watch the sides of the ship as the men often tied rope to the meat and threw it over board in an attempt to get some of the brine off. The meat was often so tough that sailors could carve it into fancy things like ornate boxes and keepsakes which shows just how tough this meat was. Officers meanwhile had a more varied diet which included more meats and preserves, however along with their uniforms they had to pay for these luxuries themselves. Although the Royal Navy boosted of the rations they provided, shortages on board often occurred which lead to the cutting of ration and in some the cases men turned to other sources of food. Rats were a major problem aboard but one solution to the infestation was to eat these pesky vermin. Lieutenant James Gardner on board the HMS Brunswick in 1802 described how the ship was full of rats and so after capturing some they were baked into a pie with some pork. Officers eating rats was only done in desperation or experimentation but it did happen and could provide some extra protein and variety to sailors diet.

 

When an enemy vessel was sighted the crew would fly into action in order to prepare their ship for battle. Hammocks and provisions had to be stored, guns and ammunition prepared and the men had to get to their post. It was not uncommon for Royal Navy ships at this time to have live animals on the decks which provide fresh eggs, milk and meat. Most of these animals were privately owned by officers and the Captain who could enjoy the fresh produce. During preparations for battle these animals unless stowed below decks were meant to be lowered into the small boats which were towed behind the warship. However time was everything, the deck had to be cleared ready for battle to allow free movement and so if the animals were not stored in time, they were simply thrown into the sea to fend for themselves. Any left of deck would be at the mercy of cannon and musket balls flying across the deck and they are vivid description of animals being hit by cannon balls during battle. Other items which needed to be removed were the partitions which made up the officers’ quarters and the officer’s sea chests which contained all their possessions which were meant to be removed to the hold (the bottom of the ship) or to be placed in the boats toed behind to ensure they were not smashed apart which would spray deadly splinters across the deck. Again if there was not time to remove the sea chests and furniture then they would be thrown overboard, which must have been very dishearten for the officers who after a savage and exhausting battle may return to mess to find all of his possessions had been thrown overboard and lost forever.

 

 

Source

Roy & Lesley Adkins, Jack Tar The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary Seamen in Nelson’s Navy (London: Little, Brown Book Group, 2008)

Picture taken from,  http://www.ship-paintings.com/ship-paintings/hms_victory.htm

& from the Royal Museums Greenwich: http://collections.rmg.co.uk/

 

Toy Trains At War!

Armoured train

Armoured train

Armoured train

 

The Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway (RH & DR) is a 15 inch gauge light railway which runs along the English Kent coat. The line is one of the smallest public railways in the world, the Wells and Walsingham line in Norfolk currently holds the prestigious title but the RH & DR heralds itself as the ‘Kent mainline in miniature.’ The line as well as providing services for the many tourist who visit, also offer a school train service for pupils during the term.

 

The Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway experience during the Second World War is of particular interest due to its obscurity. With its position along the Kent coat the line would have been the first to see German bombers fly overhead on their way to attack inland. In response the War Department requisitioned the line and unleased the world’s only armoured miniature train.  The armoured train consisted of a steal plated steam locomotive named the Hercules which was accompanied by two steel armoured bogie wagons which housed an anti-tank rifle and a Lewis gun in each, all manned by men of the Somerset Light Infantry. To get a sense of the rather bizarre sight of a miniature train armoured and carrying an arsenal of weapons, I refer you to the Pathe video and pictures attached. Although some may see this endeavour as smacks of desperation, it can be observed how the British home forces used all the tool available to hand. With its position along the coast and the ability to move swiftly it is perhaps reasonable to see why Britain mobilised a toy train in defence of its home territory.

 

When peace returned to the World the RH & DR returned to its civilian service, proclaiming its return in 1946 with a re-opening spectacular accompanied by the comedic duo of Laurel and Hardy. The pairs slap stick improvised routine was witnessed by thousands of people and was seen by many more through the short newsreel attached bellow. This bold show signalled the return of the light railway and although the line suffered from package holidays in the 1970s the line continues to survive providing tourists with a unique experience.

 

Sources

Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway official website, <http://www.rhdr.org.uk/about.html>

Narrow Gauge Pleasure, ‘The Romeney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway’, < http://www.narrow-gauge-pleasure.co.uk/railways/rlyromney.aspx>

Pictures taken from, ‘War in Toy land’ <https://m.warhistoryonline.com/featured/war-in-toyland-the-only-miniature-armored-train-in-the-world.html/2>