Battle of Blandford

 

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 Christchurch to Stalbridge. ‘Stop lines’ were natural obstacles, such as rivers, in strategic positions which could be enhanced to hinder the enemy’s advance.

Blandford was also a ‘tank island’ which were key defensive positions to be vigorously defended at all costs. River and railway bridges would be prepared for demolition and road surfaces cratered. Railway and river banks would be defensively enhanced and anti-tank obstacles put in place in the form of large concrete blocks. Pill boxes were constructed in strategic positions. Had the invasion taken place, it is questionable how effective these defences would have been. Even by 1941, after the defeat of France, it began to be realised that such defensive fortifications were ineffective against a mobile mechanised force such as possessed by the German Army. Blandford would have had to face the full advancing force of a large number of German Panzer tanks.

To combat the invasion, secret guerrilla units were set up, known as Auxiliary Units, and trained in irregular warfare. Service in these units was considered to be highly dangerous with a life expectancy of just twelve days. They had orders to shoot each other if capture by the enemy seemed likely. Bases were typically in woodland far from public view. They consisted of an underground construction of brick with a corrugated iron roof and were heavily camouflaged. Training was provided at a secret location with the first point of contact being Mabel Stranks, a post mistress in Highworth, Wiltshire. It has been said she was on Hitler’s death list.

Locally, Spetisbury had an Auxiliary Unit patrol consisting of seven men led by a local farmer. While in Stourpaine, there was a base hidden in a copse just off the Shaftesbury Road. There were also units in Winterborne Whitechurch and Child Okeford. Members of the units could not even tell their families of their roles and were required to sign the Official Secrets Act. It is probably only due to some of the hidden bases being later discovered that the potential role of the Auxiliary Units came to light. How much of the town of Blandford would have still been standing had the Second Battle of Blandford taken place?