In 1781, the British Army fought in the Battle of Blandford. However, this was not in Blandford Forum in Dorset but Blandford, Virginia in the USA. It was during the American War of Independence. However, if in 1940 a German invasion of Britain had taken place it is almost certain a Second Battle of Blandford would have taken place but this time on Dorset soil. Operation Sea Lion was the code name for a plan by Adolf Hitler to invade Britain in 1940. Some 2,400 barges had been collected from around Europe to enable the German Army to cross the English Channel. Suitable landing points had been identified by the Germans between Dover and Lyme Bay. The small seaside village of Burton Bradstock, near Bridport was considered as particularly suitable because of the profile of its beach. The British authorities had decided to make Blandford Forum a key point in the defences against a German invasion. The town was on what was called a ‘ stop line’ which ran along the River Stour from Ch...