5) The end of Operation Sea Lion
By 16th September 1940 the Germans realised the RAF were not defeated and Hitler put the scheme ‘on ice’. He was still talking about it, however, on 24 January 1944! The Plan was finally officially stopped on 19th September, (remember S Day was 24 September) and Hitler turned his attention to Russia.

The Rest of the War
Rye, Camber and Winchelsea Beach were ‘Restricted Areas’, accessible only with a pass, throughout the war. Camber was completely evacuated and mine fields laid there. The whole area was ringed with tank traps, guns and troops.

The Royal Navy took over the Senior School in New Road as HMS Haig. Throughout the War there were visits by many Regiments, including Newfoundlanders and other Canadians. The area was affected by ‘Hit and Run’ raids in 1943. ‘Flying Bombs or Dood1e Bugs’ bombed Rye in 1944. This area had many troops and acted as a ‘Decoy’ to mislead the Germans as to the embarkation and landing places before the ‘D Day Landings’ in Normandy in 1944.