Marc H @NewForestRamble Twitter profile

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

This reinforced steel door is built into Portsdown Hill, overlooking Portsmouth Harbour. Behind it is a labyrinth of tunnels with an important D-Day connection... Read on to see what I found when I went inside... I had to wear a head torch. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

There's a bloke in a local Southampton Facebook group. He keeps uploading doctored images of old postcards... Some people are are getting annoyed with him. One person said that his creations are historically misleading and should perhaps not be included in the group. 🤣

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 months

Here's a D-Day thread from the New Forest... that involves oysters. If you look at satellite imagery of the Beaulieu River, you might notice a rather unnatural looking shape cut into the riverbank... Bit odd. 🤔 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

10 months

The story of Spitfire Bridge... 19 October, 1941. On this day 82 years ago, Canadian pilot George Rogers decided to fly under a bridge that straddled the A33 Winchester Bypass in an act of bravado (or stupidity) in his Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk. It didn't end well. 🧵1/4

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

This wall in Southampton might look like any other wall until you look closer to see the ghosts of D-Day who left their mark in it.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

5 months

Walking in the depths of the New Forest earlier and stumbled across some American pierced steel planking (PSP), aka Marston Matting. Which is a little odd... 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

I recently visited this property in the New Forest that was requisitioned in wartime... Upon leaving I spotted something about the steps up to the house. They have a D-Day connection that will often go unnoticed... 🧐 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

Today's the anniversary of the death of Reg Baker, killed in action on June 16, 1944. Reg was the wing commander of the squadrons flying from Needs Oar Point in the New Forest. On this day 80 years ago he was hit by flak, his last words over the radio to warn his men away. 1/2

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

4 months

If you ever walk or camp on Roundhill in the New Forest, spare a thought for this man. His name is Milton Soward. 80 years ago today he was killed. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 months

I was given permission to visit the site, and here are a 4 photos from a collection taken on the day. This is private property, I was allowed onto their land. I hope you enjoyed the short thread. I will try do some more over the next few days as we lead up to D-Day 80.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

This dilapidated workshop on the Exbury Estate in the New Forest in Hampshire has a rather interesting D-Day connection - but you will only know if you go inside. Which is what I did.. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

On this day 80 yrs ago, two pilots of the 365th Fighter Group were killed in action on missions out of Beaulieu Airfield, New Forest. The first, John Weese had taken off that morning at 1155. His P-47 is pictured on a French beach, days after his body had been recovered. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

On & around D-Day, Lepe House in the New Forest had a signals office, where the Women's Royal Naval Service took & delivered messages. From the top of the tower in the middle of the property, Wrens signalled to vessels of the invasion fleet. I wanted to see the view they had..

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

It contained rooms for the Underground Headquarters (UGHQ) to be used during Operation Overlord. A role on D-Day was gathering information and coordinating the Allied naval forces. Here is one of those rooms in action.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

My friend's garden. Just a tiny bit jealous.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

I took these photos in 2020, and thought (and still do), that these structures rising from the undergrowth on Holton Heath in Dorset looked rather brutalist, and futuristic. To me at least. But they are from the Second World War... 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 months

It's no secret that the village of Beaulieu was developed as an anti-tank island due it's possibly of being a through-route for invading forces... If you know where to look, there are hidden pillboxes, defences, and signs of old road blocks you can still see today. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

Here's another wartime photo of one of the rooms being used.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

10 months

In the 1920s, the wrecks of two German WW1 warships were left in the mud of Portsmouth Harbour and eventually forgotten about, before passing into obscurity. Many would pass the remains daily, with little or no idea as to their true identity. Until 2016...

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 months

My friend and I spent a couple of hours today searching for the site of a WW2 air crash in the New Forest. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

This could be that same room today... I found lots of rooms like this.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

During WW2, a secret network of tunnels was excavated between February and December 1942 by 172 Tunnelling Company of the Royal Engineers 100 ft (30 m) underneath Fort Southwick, well out of reach of any bombs of the era.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

80 years ago today, men were locked down in the D-Day marshalling and embarkation areas in the New Forest before they left on June 6. It's still possible to see signs of life. Perhaps these were the the last cups of tea drunk before they embarked for the landing craft.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

We did eventually find our way out.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

I took my son along, we were in there for 60 minutes and got lost a few times. It's like a maze...

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

The tunnels and rooms can also be accessed via steep staircase from Fort Southwick on the hill top.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

But an incredible place to explore.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

I run a Facebook Group for New Forest & Hampshire WW2 History... A group member just won the Internet by uploading photos of his home decoration project. He's only gone and recreated the Southwick House D-Day map on a spare bedroom wall.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

It all starts to look the same after a while... It's used as an Airsoft venue currently. We were lucky that the manager opened it up out of hours for us to check out.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

Here are some more images.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

10 months

And as someone pointed out... lovely humour in the Squadron Leader's write up... "He explained damaged wing by having flown through bypass bridge at Winchester with minus 3 foot to spare." 🤣

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

American soldiers waiting to embark were stood there for such a long time queuing to leave, they took the time to inscribe their names and initials into the wall.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

Does anybody else get mildly excited when they see buildings like this?

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 months

The New Forest D-Day 80 brochure produced by Culture in Common is being dropped to villages in the area today. Inside is the story of Htin Yain Lao. Lao was a Burmese pilot who flew a RAF Typhoon out of the New Forest. He married a girl whilst based at Needs Oar Point. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

10 months

Thankfully for him, and despite his huge error of judgement he was able to crash land at Odiham with no injuries. From that point on the bridge was known by locals as "Spitfire Bridge". "P-40 Bridge" obviously didn't have the same ring or patriotic qualities to it. 🧵3/4

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

10 months

Spitfire Bridge was demolished in the mid 1980s when the A33 was upgraded to the M3. Here's the view of the Spitfire Bridge location today. 🧵4/4

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 years

(1/36) For 18 months I've been walking the site of RAF Beaulieu in the New Forest, Hampshire. Most will walk there & see nothing little, but look closer & you'll find lots of evidence of this Second World War airfield (USAAF Station 408). Follow this thread for a tour.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

6 months

The New Forest campsites open again in March, some are sited on what were WW2 airfields. I wonder if some campers realise the history of where they are when they pitch-up? Here's Holmsley South with caravans parked on what were once dispersal pans for medium range bombers. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

10 months

PS: here's the entry I found in the Squadron's operational records just in case you missed where I posted it buried in other replies to the thread.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

But back to those steps up to the house... I found it poignant to think who might have passed over these concrete blocks on June 6, 1944, and what happened to them. We will never know.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

The weekend a farmer invited me onto his land which is adjacent to one of the New Forest's Second World War airfields... Needless to say, I got a little excited. (Does anybody else get excited by stuff like this, or is it just me?) Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the thread🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

6 months

I have a magazine from August 1944 which appears to show Bournemouth Beach after it re-opened to the public, despite beach invasion defences still being in place. Not sure if these images have been shared online before so I scanned them this morning. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

4 months

80 years ago today, an incident occurred that became known as the Exbury Junkers Mystery... A Luftwaffe Ju 188 appeared over the Isle of Wight shortly before 730 am. It was shot down by two Typhoons from Needs Oar Point, with support from an AA gun at Haxland, Exbury. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

A few years ago I was at a party in Lymington, when the owner of the property invited me into a room to see this box. Colin Maud was the beach master of Juno beach at the D-day landings.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

10 months

I created a montage of "then vs now" photography showing the New Forest Airfields of WW2. Here's a clip with three of them. The full version showing all 12 airfields is online: search YouTube for "new forest airfields then vs now". Hope some find it interesting. 🤓

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

On this day 79 years ago, Norman Blacklock of 263 Squadron took off from RAF Beaulieu, New Forest in his Typhoon. He attacked enemy shipping near Northern France. He was last heard over radio saying “I am going into the drink…” He was never found and was aged just 23.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

1 year

Did my weird hobby again today... I track down old WW2 airfield buildings that are no longer on WW2 airfields, but have been taken away and re-assembled for different purposes. First spot today: I believe this was once on Lymington Airfield, now on a farm 2 miles away. 🧵1/4

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 months

But it wasn’t just a floating dock made here. The basin was extended in 1944 for the construction of concrete pontoons known as Beetles for the Mulberry Harbour. 50 were built here, and I believe they all went to Normandy. /

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

And another... it took people a while to see this one. Then the fireworks started.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

10 months

I was at Beaulieu Airfield earlier today with the son of one of the Czechoslovak airmen shown in this photo. 31 Czechoslovaks died flying out of Beaulieu, they suffered a lot. But his dad was one of the lucky ones and lived to the ripe old age of 91. 🧵1/3

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

10 months

George soon realised his error when he saw an HGV driving under the bridge towards him. He took evasive action, clipped the brickwork under the bridge, and tore 3 feet of wing tip off his 400 Squadron RCAF P-40. 🧵2/4

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 months

Designed to have a lifting capacity of 1,000 tons, 220 feet long, 41 feet wide... it took a lot of concrete. But it worked, and she was launched into the Beaulieu River a couple of months before D-Day. Possibly the largest object to ever float on the river. /

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

6 months

On this day 80 years ago, Norman Peter Blacklock of 263 Sqdn flew from RAF Beaulieu on a recce towards the Channel Islands. He failed to return. I found him in this photo. After doing that I recognised a few others to mention... 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 years

(1/9) Twitter sleuths; I have photos of American GIs in the New Forest, July 1944. The soldiers never returned to pick the photos up from the photographer, so they would never have seen them. Hoping to get copies to the families if they can be found... here's the story (thread)

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

They have been made post-war from recycled pre-cast concrete beach-hardening mats aka "chocolate blocks". These were used on beaches to support the troops, tanks and equipment as they were loaded on to Landing Craft. Here is the concept being constructed in Gosport.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

5 months

On this day, 13 March 1945, the biggest ever bomb dropped on UK soil was released over the New Forest. Here we see her heading towards what became Sandy Balls holiday park... thankfully the 22,000-lb Grand Slam kept going to Ashley Walk bombing range.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

1 month

It appears that 81 years ago Canadian troops left very visible (and personal) marks in the New Forest which you can still see today... Here's a piece of hidden WW2 history I walked past earlier and thought you might find interesting.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

It wasn't until 10 days later that Canadian troops reached his body and were able to bury him. French villagers are so grateful to the sacrifice that Reg made, they renamed a road after him. 2/2

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 years

My mother gave me this biscuit with great fanfare, as if it was a treasured heirloom. She said it was my great grandfather's biscuit from 1914 when he was in the army. My family has been handing down this biscuit for 107 years - probably still tastier than a Rich Tea though 😂

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

Check this one out he did... see what you can spot

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

Here's another... you need to look hard though as he was trolling quite hard here.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

9 days

In the ruins of Beaulieu Abbey you will find this plaque. It was set here in 1969 in memorial to the SOE agents trained in the village during wartime. An estimated 3,000+ were trained in the dark arts of warfare in requisitioned houses on the Estate. 1/2

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

10 months

I believe this could be the legend that is George.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

1 year

#OTD 78 yrs ago, May 30, '45, William Eagle DFC died in a crash near Brockenhurst. His fiancée, a land girl at Denny Sawmill, New Forest, saw his Hurricane spiral dive to the ground. He'd downed 7 enemy aircraft during WW2. He's buried at Beaulieu Cemetery if you ever pass by.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

I've seen it elsewhere in the New Forest too. Here it is strengthening the side of a road. This wasn't too surprising though, as it was near what was a military depot in WW2.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

5 months

Because it's not on or near its natural habitat which would have usually been a WW2 airfield. It was designed to be laid over grass to create a temporary runway. Here's an example....

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

9 months

On this day 81 yrs ago 15 men were killed on their way to Beaulieu Airfield, Hampshire (pictured): A Halifax of RCAF 405 Squadron left Topcliffe airfield, loaded with equipment for their stay in the New Forest, eight airmen in addition to the regular crew of seven onboard. 1/2

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 months

The Wates construction company won a contract to start experimenting in the oyster beds building what was to be called an Admiralty Floating Dock (AFD). And more mud was dug out, and construction began in 1943. /

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

Here's a D-Day 80 tale relating to the New Forest involving a lucky man (or perhaps he's not so lucky, you decide), plus P-47 Thunderbolts, the Royal Navy and US landing craft. On this day 2 June 1944, 1st Lt. Allen Guest took off from Beaulieu in his USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt. /

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

From the tower they could also signall to vessels coming out of the Beaulieu River using Aldis lamps for morse code. I took this video last year to appreciate the view they might have had on D-Day, (minus the landing craft and vessels of course).

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

80 years ago this morning, USAAF P-47 Thunderbolts of the 365th Fighter Group, aka the Hell Hawks, taking off from Beaulieu in the New Forest. 47 took off this morning, only 45 would return today.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

1 year

One of my favourite places in the New Forest is Bagshot Moor, East Boldre; over the road from Hatchet Pond. If you walk here yourself, you may stumble across what looks like a large capital T dug into the ground, and wondered... WTF is that...? Let me explain. 🧵1/4

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

9 months

On this day in 1951, a Short Sunderland flying boat crashed in the Solent whilst attempting an evening test landing at RAF Calshot. It reportedly struck an obstruction in the water, bounced, and sank up to the wings. Two of the crew were killed. 1/2

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 months

However, those oyster beds would be transformed for a new use in WW2. Why? There was a shortage of steel to make floating docks to repair ships and landing craft, and the idea of a concrete floating dock was erm... "floated". /

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

There must have been a lot of it going around. But what a fantastic job it did.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 months

In the 1880s, this was originally just one basin scraped out from the mud. The oysters were a delicacy and they were sent by train to London. But the cost of producing them far outweighed the price they could fetch, and the business closed. Not a profitable enterprise. /

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 months

On this day 30 May 1945, William Eagle DFC crashed east of Brockenhurst in a Hawker Typhoon. The accident was witnessed by his fiancée who was working at a sawmill with the Women's Land Army. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

Hope you enjoyed the short tour. Time for a coffee. ☕️

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

7 months

The Forestry Commission have recently cleared gorse, brambles, and bracken from the walls of the bomb store north of Beaulieu Airfield in the New Forest. If you've not paid it a visit before, now is a good time to do so.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

He has just said he's going to start his own Facebook group so to not annoy everyone. When he does, I will upload the link so you can enjoy his future creations.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

But I've also found it fly-tipped on heathland... Which goes to show fly-tipping in the New Forest is nothing new.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

These are the remains of concrete used to fill the steel casing of an Upkeep Bouncing Bomb test in August 1943. It was dropped from a Lancaster over a valley in the New Forest at the Ashley Walk bombing range.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

If you’d been in Southampton on the 5th of July 1936, you would have seen something you’d likely never seen before. The Hindenburg, with swastikas on her fins. Here's a selection of photos taken that day from Southampton, RAF Calshot, Hythe, Totton, and Fair Oak. 🧵1/6

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

5 months

I found more a few minutes later, about a hundred meters away. Perhaps it was used by Forestry workers in the immediate post-war period. Hard to say. Something to look into.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

7 months

83 years ago today, Polish RAF pilot Jan Falkowski shot down a Heinkel 111 over Portsmouth. Falkowski's Hurricane was damaged by return fire. He baled out and broke his leg landing on Hayling Island. Mistaken for a German, he was guarded in hospital until his identity was proven.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

Can you see it?

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

3 months

A humble brag, so I apologise but wanted to share... I started this WW2 history society in the New Forest 18 months ago. We're now seating around two hundred people each month in front of guest speakers for these talks. Here are the next dates. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

The hut was used to store supplies. Whilst now a workshop used by Estate workers, you can still the see the labels on the bricks which offer a fascinating insight into the 1940's food the troops and sailors were given. Pilchards and lard anyone? Not something I'd want at sea.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

5 months

Entire building were even dismantled, transported, and re-erected elsewhere. Here's a handcraft hut on a farm. This was once on Beaulieu Airfield... 8 miles away.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

5 months

So why is it here? Bit of a mystery....

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

25 days

Me and an intrepid companion went on a trek in the Forest today to find the site of an air crash from 1943. 🧵

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

4 months

On this day 80 years ago, 10 April 1944, the peace of this field south of Buckler's Hard in the New Forest was shattered by the arrival of four squadrons of Typhoon Fighter bombers, trucks, support staff, and pilots of different nationalities.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

9 months

Today marks the 7th anniversary of when I sent this photo to my wife before my phone battery died. We are still married, and we still have this child.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

8 months

I’m 47 years old and not ashamed to say I’m extremely excited by what the next couple of hours hold.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

The hut was once part of HMS Mastodon (some personnel pictured). It was a stone frigate involved in the training of landing craft crews and the provision of food supplies to vessels in the Solent in the lead up to D-Day. It was under control of the Victualling Department...

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

5 months

This is what it was used for in wartime...

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 years

Robert Steinhaus was just 22 when he died on Beaulieu Heath, New Forest, 4,000 miles from home. Taking off from Beaulieu Airfield, a flare gun dropped onto the floor, fired, and cut a hydraulic line in the cockpit, causing a catastrophic explosion.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

2 months

Chocolate and baked beans. Now you're talking.

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Marc H

@NewForestRamble

5 months

Fantastic photo of a BOAC flying boat over Hythe and Southampton Water, I assume late 1940s. It must have been so exciting and I assume even glamorous to go one of these for your holidays during that era.

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