"HMS Forward"
The Combined Naval HQ Bunker
at South Heighton, East Sussex
TQ 4489 0270
The "Ops" Plotting Room with WRNS at work on the telephones. The room looks cosy and betrays the actual underground tunnel environment. The photograph was taken on 2nd October 1941.
“On 27th May 1941 No’s 5 & 6 sections leave Aldershot to commence work on the Naval Shelter at Newhaven and tunnelling operations begin on June 4th”.
In July No. 2 section billeted in Tunbridge Wells send 26 men to Newhaven to assist in the excavation work at what was to become HMS Forward. Further work was done on the construction of an underground observation post at Fort Newhaven leading to a cliff edge platform. (War Diary Extracts)
In July No. 2 section billeted in Tunbridge Wells send 26 men to Newhaven to assist in the excavation work at what was to become HMS Forward. Further work was done on the construction of an underground observation post at Fort Newhaven leading to a cliff edge platform. (War Diary Extracts)
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Top Left: South Heighton village in 1936. At the extreme centre right edge can be seen Portland Terrace cottages that a front the B2109. Denton House had not yet been built when this photograph was taken. Top Right: South Heighton village in the early 1950's. Denton House can be seen at the top centre edge of the photograph and was probably empty at this time.
South Heighton was before the war, a charming quintessential English hamlet. About one mile north of Newhaven port in East Sussex the village attracted the building of a holiday rest home for the use of the Guinness Trust executive members and was know locally as the Guinness Trust Holiday Home. The holiday home was built in 1938 on Heighton Hill with views across the Channel and a pleasant southern facing aspect. It had 16 dormitory rooms, a communal dining room and sun lounge with all apartments having access to a sun terrace and private lawn. A top floor suite housed the resident caretaker. In 1938 it was the height of holiday luxury but its first open season of 1939 was marred by the aggression of Hitler and it never enjoyed its intended use.
The building was requisitioned by the Navy in 1940 and renamed Denton House. It was to become a full Naval Head Quarters to organise the maritime defence of the Sussex Coast. Though the building was of ample size it was thought necessary to build a secure bomb proof secret extension to the house underground and excavation work was begun to tunnel out the chalk hill below. Work began on this in June 1941.
The building was requisitioned by the Navy in 1940 and renamed Denton House. It was to become a full Naval Head Quarters to organise the maritime defence of the Sussex Coast. Though the building was of ample size it was thought necessary to build a secure bomb proof secret extension to the house underground and excavation work was begun to tunnel out the chalk hill below. Work began on this in June 1941.
South Heighton in 1998 before Denton House was modified. Portland Terrace is clearly seen as a reference point to the 1936 photograph.
The 172nd Tunnelling Company RE totaling some 120 men and joined by members newly experienced from building the Tunbridge Wells Bunker, arrived in South Heighton on 4th June 1941 to begin the work of tunnelling out the hillside below Denton House and to effectively connect the house with the B2109 road, now A26; with a large underground secure bunker.
On completion a vast underground labyrinth of tunnels was made accessible from room 16 at Denton House with 122 steps leading down to the secure communications centre 60ft below. There offices for wireless telegraphy, plotting, coding and telephone switch boards, signals distribution, sleeping accommodation and a simple canteen were constructed.
On completion a vast underground labyrinth of tunnels was made accessible from room 16 at Denton House with 122 steps leading down to the secure communications centre 60ft below. There offices for wireless telegraphy, plotting, coding and telephone switch boards, signals distribution, sleeping accommodation and a simple canteen were constructed.
The only visible signs of anything unusual under South Heighton has always been this sealed up entrance photographed here in the 1980's. It was with some surprise that once officially opened this doorway lead to elaborate tunnels that connect up with Denton House. See Plan Right.
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The plan of the tunnels overlayed onto a modern map of the area showing just how extensive HMS Forward was. The photograph left, was taken from the B2109. Plan courtesy of Geoffrey Ellis.
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The tunnels had electric lighting and were fully air conditioned having two gas locks at either end where internal air pressure could be kept above atmospheric to prevent the ingress of gas. For defence 4 pillboxes were added to the hillside above each fitted with a machine gun and in addition an unusual observation post. This was a cleverly disguised “hen house” complete with two dozen chickens and was only accessible from inside the bunker by a stairway and a 26ft vertical ladder; the observation post also served as the bunkers emergency exit. It was in fact a superb piece of military construction second only in complexity to the tunnels under Dover Castle. This Naval HQ was renamed “HMS Forward” and the fact that this bunker was extremely well planned from the start and given its strong defences and internal security, it was likely designed to hold out “to the last man” should there have been a German invasion of the south coast.
In use, though Dover and Portsmouth HQ’s were responsible for the eastern part of the English Channel, Newhaven became a sub-command of Portsmouth. HMS Forward received reports from ten coastal radar stations built between Hastings and Bognor Regis including Fairlight, Pevensey and Beachy Head, that tracked anything that moved both friend and foe sending regular 20 minute reports back to HMS Forward for coding and redistribution.
HMS Forward later excelled itself by being foremost in the planning and execution of the D-Day landings in June 1944 and then on into the intensive weeks that followed.
In use, though Dover and Portsmouth HQ’s were responsible for the eastern part of the English Channel, Newhaven became a sub-command of Portsmouth. HMS Forward received reports from ten coastal radar stations built between Hastings and Bognor Regis including Fairlight, Pevensey and Beachy Head, that tracked anything that moved both friend and foe sending regular 20 minute reports back to HMS Forward for coding and redistribution.
HMS Forward later excelled itself by being foremost in the planning and execution of the D-Day landings in June 1944 and then on into the intensive weeks that followed.
The tunnel plan laid on top of a modern aerial view of South Heighton. The exact orientation is skewed somewhat by the different aspect ratios. The vertical plan by Geoffrey Ellis being the more accurate depiction.
The construction of the tunnel complex was said to have been copied from the design of Montgomery’s bunker sited under Reigate Hill. In fact the underground HQ at Tunbridge Wells was also of a similar design; two parallel tunnels about 200ft long connected by galleries like rungs on a ladder each 50ft in length. HMS Forward has five such rooms and is in fact smaller than both the aforementioned sites with a living area of 6750 sq feet. By comparison the Tunbridge Wells bunker provided some 9000 sq feet of living space.
By November 1941 the tunnelling work had been completed and the fitting out work had begun. The bunker officially entered service in December 1941 and continued in service through to its decommissioning in August 1945. It was finally abandoned in November of that year.
But it is interesting to see that where as the Tunbridge Wells bunker HQ was virtually unused HMS Forward was fitted out with the very best equipment of the day and fully used through out the full duration of the war. It became a very important and thoroughly efficient command centre perhaps aided to a great extent by the tunnelling out in chalk which was both self supporting and strong and perhaps more importantly with the use of electronic equipment, dry.
By November 1941 the tunnelling work had been completed and the fitting out work had begun. The bunker officially entered service in December 1941 and continued in service through to its decommissioning in August 1945. It was finally abandoned in November of that year.
But it is interesting to see that where as the Tunbridge Wells bunker HQ was virtually unused HMS Forward was fitted out with the very best equipment of the day and fully used through out the full duration of the war. It became a very important and thoroughly efficient command centre perhaps aided to a great extent by the tunnelling out in chalk which was both self supporting and strong and perhaps more importantly with the use of electronic equipment, dry.
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By the very nature of military tunneling being kept secret it is very rare to have photographs of just that. But in July 1941 an official photographer was assigned to visit the workings under South Heighton and to document progress. We don't know how many photographs were taken and what happened to them all but these five have survived and give a fascinating view of the men of the 172nd tunneling company hard at work on HMS Forward. (iwm collection)
The construction details of the bunker are staggering: 1400 flagstones, 2000 breeze blocks, 3000 bricks, 20,000 Sq ft of plywood and roofing felt, copious quantities of concrete, gallons of white wash, air conditioning plant, 3 x 450 gallon water tanks, a standby diesel generator with fuel and all the electronic telecommunications kit and furniture. After the war much of this equipment was removed, looted and destroyed both officially and unofficially.
The standard method of bracing the tunnels was by regular steel mining supports fish plated together at the top by bolted plates marked “G&K Cardiff British Steel”. This is the company of Guest and Keen who supplied much of the countries mining equipment during the war years. The steel frames were then panelled over with Arcuate galvanised metal sheeting that was added as the tunnelling process advanced into the chalk filling about 1yard at a time. It is interesting to note that all military tunnelling in WW2 seems to have followed the exact same procedure varying only in the size and scale of the construction undertaken, whether this be a deep shelter, command post or head quarters.
The standard method of bracing the tunnels was by regular steel mining supports fish plated together at the top by bolted plates marked “G&K Cardiff British Steel”. This is the company of Guest and Keen who supplied much of the countries mining equipment during the war years. The steel frames were then panelled over with Arcuate galvanised metal sheeting that was added as the tunnelling process advanced into the chalk filling about 1yard at a time. It is interesting to note that all military tunnelling in WW2 seems to have followed the exact same procedure varying only in the size and scale of the construction undertaken, whether this be a deep shelter, command post or head quarters.
This superb model of HMS Forward was constructed in 1993 by members of the Newhaven Historical Society and offers a 3D view of the tunnels. It really illustrates just how much work went into the construction and fitting out of this Naval HQ in 1941 against the background of probable invasion and aerial attack.
The tunnels officially came back to light on 12th December 1992 when after the Guinness Trust Home had reverted officially to Denton House was undergoing partial demolition for area redevelopment. Selected members of the Newhaven Historical Society became the first people to legally enter the tunnels since they were sealed in November 1945. A plaque found over the fireplace in the house confirmed the Naval HQ and had the dates 20th June 1940 and 31st August 1945 carved into it. The operational period of HMS Forward lasting a full five years.
Geoffrey Ellis of Newhaven Museum took it upon himself to be amongst the first people to enter the long sealed up bunker and to conduct a modern day survey with official permission from the property owners. His tireless work founded the “Friends of HMS Forward” conservation group and resulted in a book, “The Secret Tunnels of South Heighton” published by SB Publications in 1996. Any reader wishing to know more about the story of this bunker in exquisite detail should read a copy of this book. Recently a companion 70 minute DVD documentary film also available from Newhaven Museum, has been released.
Geoffrey Ellis campaigned relentlessly to try to get the bunker recognised as a national monument and thereby secure English Heritage funding to open it as a tourist attraction. However, modern political problems and the complex matters of fragmented ownership of the land above the bunker have unfortunately made this dream impossible and so the tunnels are again secured and abandoned awaiting a change of human perception. This is indeed a shame given the historical importance of the site and it is perhaps fool hardy to simply do nothing and allow the passage of time to initiate the inevitable collapses of the empty tunnels together with the potential destruction of the properties built above them.
Geoffrey Ellis of Newhaven Museum took it upon himself to be amongst the first people to enter the long sealed up bunker and to conduct a modern day survey with official permission from the property owners. His tireless work founded the “Friends of HMS Forward” conservation group and resulted in a book, “The Secret Tunnels of South Heighton” published by SB Publications in 1996. Any reader wishing to know more about the story of this bunker in exquisite detail should read a copy of this book. Recently a companion 70 minute DVD documentary film also available from Newhaven Museum, has been released.
Geoffrey Ellis campaigned relentlessly to try to get the bunker recognised as a national monument and thereby secure English Heritage funding to open it as a tourist attraction. However, modern political problems and the complex matters of fragmented ownership of the land above the bunker have unfortunately made this dream impossible and so the tunnels are again secured and abandoned awaiting a change of human perception. This is indeed a shame given the historical importance of the site and it is perhaps fool hardy to simply do nothing and allow the passage of time to initiate the inevitable collapses of the empty tunnels together with the potential destruction of the properties built above them.
Courtesy of Geoffrey Ellis and Newhaven Museum
HMS Forward was witness to a number of wartime historical events and anecdotes are common among those that once served at the HQ. Two worthy of reproduction are:
1) A telephonist who recalled being in constant touch with a naval unit on Arromanches beach during the first hours of D-Day, but did not know what was being said due to all communications being in numerical code.
2) The incompetent officers who fussed about the expense of essential extra circuits being fitted in the plotting room in February 1942 and while waiting for this to be sanctioned, let the German Channel Dash convoy slip through unimpeded.
1) A telephonist who recalled being in constant touch with a naval unit on Arromanches beach during the first hours of D-Day, but did not know what was being said due to all communications being in numerical code.
2) The incompetent officers who fussed about the expense of essential extra circuits being fitted in the plotting room in February 1942 and while waiting for this to be sanctioned, let the German Channel Dash convoy slip through unimpeded.
All plans courtesy of Geoffrey Ellis Newhaven Museum
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One of the fascinating features of HMS Forward were the unique external pillboxes and observation post. The plan left, illustrates how the four pillboxes were arranged and accessed. The observation post was disguised as a hen house, illustrated above; complete with real chickens! Though it may also have served as the emergency exit it is not clear just how egress worked without compromising the integrity of the entire underground HQ.
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HMS Forward Key Dates:
20/June 1940 First operational day
11/ Feb 1942 Channel Dash of German capital ships
19/Aug 1942 The Dieppe raid
6/June 1944 D-Day
25/Aug 1944 Paris liberated
8/May 1945 VE Day
5/July 1945 Last operational day
31/Aug 1945 Decommissioned
21/Nov 1945 Sealed up and abandoned
12/Dec 1992 Reopened by NHS Members
20/June 1940 First operational day
11/ Feb 1942 Channel Dash of German capital ships
19/Aug 1942 The Dieppe raid
6/June 1944 D-Day
25/Aug 1944 Paris liberated
8/May 1945 VE Day
5/July 1945 Last operational day
31/Aug 1945 Decommissioned
21/Nov 1945 Sealed up and abandoned
12/Dec 1992 Reopened by NHS Members
The visitors book for HMS Forward has survived and is in the Newhaven Musuem collection. Many of the top brass visited the HQ throughout its tenure and the book is a unique record of wartime operations.
Sources and Thank You's: Geoffrey Ellis for his tenacious research work and campaigning for the recognition the site deserves. He allowed us access to photograph the tunnels on three separate occasions in the late 1990's. Newhaven Museum records. Imperial War Museum, photographs. All plans and drawings by Geoffrey Ellis. Geoffrey Ellis' book and dvd are available to buy from Newhaven Museum and come highly recommended.
Copyright: text, colour photography, layout design Steve Sullivan, January 2021
