| The Thames Estuary has historically been a major waterway vital to the trade and defence of the kingdom. The three rivers which flow into it lead to the country's capital and the need to defend the area in any war was clear. From the Roman observation post at Minster to the Victorian fort at Garrison Point, Sheppey has long played a part in this defence. | |
| At the start of WWII, the defences of the estuary area were quite extensive with gun batteries on both shores. Today, the remains of these can be seen in the foundations of the Catamaran Club and in the control towers by the Tesco car park. Once war was declared, anti-aircraft forts were built and a boom was rigged across the estuary to keep out submarines and the anchorage point was Minster Leas - look out for the large concrete blocks on the foreshore today. | |
But none of these defences could keep the channels clear of mines - and so a minesweeping base was created in Queenborough. The base was at the old Flushing Pier, close by the hard and a few feet from where the memorial now stands. |
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| The Liverpool excursion steamer, St. Tudno, acted as a depot ship for the flotillas of mineweepers. At the start, the sweepers, "Smokey Joes", were mainly converted fishing vessels but as the war progressed, purpose built motor minesweepers, "Mickey Mouses", joined. The sweepers moved slowly along the channels facing attack from aircraft, torpedos, U-boats and mines. |
The work was not done without loss to the men and an annual
ceremony and parade takes place in Queenborough to commemorate and remember
all the people involved.
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Email: tourism@swale.gov.uk