Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Sarre Bridge was prepared for demolition in the event of an invasion early in 1940. A defended locality was established around the bridgeand it was covered by a pillbox in a field to the south. By mid August 1941 the bridge defences had been augmented by a string of pipe mines, probably flanking the bridge on its north-east side.

Monument Types

• ROADBLOCK (Modern - 1940 AD to 1945 AD?)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

Sarre Bridge was prepared for demolition in the event of an invasion, by the Royal Engineers early in 1940. Charges were laid, but detonators and firing circuits were only to be fixed on ‘Action Stations.’ A section of the 220 Field Company Royal Engineers at Littlebourne was to provide the demolition party. In mid May, Y Company of the 8 Royal Fusiliers were ordered to establish a defended locality, ‘with all round defence’, to defend this bridge, and the nearby Bolingbroke Bridge (Sarre Bridge was sometimes called ‘South Bridge, Sarre’ to distinguish it from the latter ‘North Bridge’). Roadblock materials were held in readiness and ditches and other defences were contrived with wire, sandbags and other materials. The fusiliers were instructed that ‘digging [might] take place anywhere and property owners who objected [might] be informed that compensation [would] be paid if possible. It was ordered that ‘under no circumstance whatever [should] the enemy be allowed to capture the bridges intact.’ This roadblock may have been roadblock No. 152 in a list made in late 1940. It was one of four major bridges (and several lesser farm bridges) thus treated – the Thanet Bridges – along a Grid Line based on the Rivers Wantsum and Stour (The others, besides Bolingbroke Bridge, being at Grays farm, Pluck’s gutter and Sandwich). The bridge was covered by a pillbox in a field to the south. By mid August 1941 the bridge defences had been augmented by a string of pipe mines, probably flanking the bridge on its north-east side. These comprised pipes filled with explosive and driven into the ground at an angle to the horizontal. They were connected together in series and, on detonation in the event of an invasion, would cause a series of craters forming a continuous anti-tank obstacle. It is believed the Army failed to remove the demolition charges from Sarre Bridge at the end of the War, and they were recently discovered during engineering works.
Owner : Public
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : unknown
Date of visit :

8 Royal Fusiliers 1940, 01/01/40, War Diary 8 Royal Fusiliers 1940 (Unpublished document). SKE15349.

8 Royal Fusiliers 1940, 01/01/40, War Diary 8 Royal Fusiliers 1940 (Unpublished document). Ske15349.

90 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, 01/01/40, War Diary 90 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1940 (Unpublished document). SKE15348.

90 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, 01/01/40, War Diary 90 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1940 (Unpublished document). Ske15348.

49 Battalion Royal Tanks Regiment, 01/01/41, War Diary 49 Battalion Royal Tanks Regiment 1941 (Unpublished document). SKE15350.

49 Battalion Royal Tanks Regiment, 01/01/41, War Diary 49 Battalion Royal Tanks Regiment 1941 (Unpublished document). Ske15350.

Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division, 01/01/41, War Diary Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division 1941 (Unpublished document). SKE15347.

Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division, 01/01/41, War Diary Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division 1941 (Unpublished document). Ske15347.

198 Infantry Brigade, 1940, War Diary 198 Infantry Brigade WO166/1051 October 1940 (Unpublished document). SKE31619.

Sources and further reading

Related records