Tynemouth and Wallsend at War 1939 - 1945

Despite their relatively small size, Tynemouth and Wallsend were key communities in the national war effort. Tynemouth was situated at the key entry to the River Tyne and was well-defended against enemy attack, with several forts and other measures in place. Wallsend was home to key wartime industries and hosted a large number of heavy and light industrial works, making significant contributions to the war effort. The fishermen of the North Shields fishing fleet also played a dangerous role during the war, supplying fresh fish to a near-starving wartime population. The book also looks at the considerable contribution made by the men and women who volunteered for the ARP and Civil Defence Services.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 221 pages
\n Publication date: 19 March 2018
\n Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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Despite their relatively small size, Tynemouth and Wallsend were crucial communities in the national war effort. Situated on the key East Coast, they played a significant military and civil role in the war. Tynemouth, located at the key entry to the strategically important River Tyne, was well-defended against enemy attack with several forts and other measures in place. The scenic seaside town saw a large military build-up, with several different army and naval units rotating through the area to man defenses and to train, while the local Home Guard unit was voted one of the best in the country and was asked to give a radio broadcast on its methods (despite some comic accidents along the way).

Wallsend, a largely urban industrial community, was home to key wartime industries, with its shipbuilding yards (including Swan Hunters) building and repairing huge numbers of vessels, both naval and merchant, throughout the war. This made the town a significant target for the Luftwaffe, and several determined raids were made, which inflicted heavy casualties, especially during 1941. The area also hosted a large number of heavy and light industrial works, which made significant contributions to the war effort. The fishermen of the North Shields fishing fleet also played a dangerous role during the war (many, including one of the author's grandfathers served in the Royal Naval Reserve) when supplying fresh fish, already a dangerous task, to a near-starving wartime population, was made more dangerous through enemy action.

The book also looks at the considerable contribution made by the men and women who volunteered for the ARP and Civil Defence Services. The heavy raids resulted in great loss of life, including the most deadly single attack outside of London when over 100 people were killed.

\n Weight: 524g\n
Dimension: 157 x 232 x 18 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781473867543\n \n