I am researching and anticipating writing an article about the Subourne Battle Area for (hopefully) commercial publication. I am looking for any information/photo's about the area from June 1942 to May 1944 and what Army Units trained in the area. Thank you.......
A battle area came into being during 1942 and occupied a stretch of countrysdie within a large bend in the river Alde. The villages of Sudbourne and Iken were evacuated, Sudbourne Hall became the Officers Mess for the Tank Corps and Highland Light Infantry, whilst troops were under canvas in Sudbourne Park. The closing of the local pub, The Sudbourne Chequers, was a cause of great concern. It reopenrd in 1948 and closed 1991, it is now residential. Had some good Darts nights inthere in the 70's and 80's.
This might help: a local farmer, a Richard Symes, near Dunwich Heath did a research project now a few years ago into the coastal defences and exercise area there. He persuaded the National Trust to recognise the area's history hence the section on: Dunwich Heath and Beach A few of the hits: Exploring Suffolk’s array of WWII defences , Home » Walberswick - Coastal Defences of World War 2 I know a local enthusiast for such topics and will alert him to your project.
I took these August 2015. You'll have to excuse the rubbish writing across it, can't delete it ? For some reason they would not copy from a folder, had to photograph them off my screen to post them-up ?