St Mary’s Bay Opening
05.12.11
NEW CADET CENTRE FOR ROMNEY MARSH CADETS ARMY AND AIR Cadets from St Mary’s Bay and the surrounding area joined the Lord-Lieutenant of Kent The Viscount De L’Isle MBE and other local dignitaries at the official opening of their new Joint Cadet Centre on Saturday 3rd December. ... The new Centre will be home to 50-60 Army and Air Cadets plus eight Adult Instructors and replaces both the previous Army Cadet Force accommodation on the site as well as the Air Training Corps Hut located at the Marsh Academy in New Romney. The new 302m2 building includes a drill hall, kitchen, toilets and store rooms as well as offices for adult personnel and classrooms. Romney Marsh has long been associated with the Armed Forces and is steeped in military history: the previous buildings on the old St Mary’s Bay military Camp were constructed before WW2 where during the War they were used to house troops and equipment connected with Defence Operations as a counter to the expected Nazi invasion of 1940, after Dunkirk. This involved use of the adjacent Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Light Railway (better known locally as the ‘Little Railway’) in moving troops and equipment all over that part of Romney Marsh. In June 1944, the old Camp played its part again in the War effort towards D Day. From this area, together with the Light Railway, the Pipe Line Under The Sea (better known as PLUTO) was brought together and then transported via the railway to the shore off Dungeness and then pushed/towed across the English Channel seabed, supplying much needed fuel to the Allied Invasion Forces. Commenting on the new building, Colonel Stephen Oxlade, Chief Executive of the South East Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Association said, “We are delighted to be able to provide these Cadets and their Adult Instructors with a much needed new base with modern facilities. The new also facility allows us to maintain our strong military connections in the area whilst allowing the local youth community to enjoy the opportunities, challenges, skills and qualifications the Cadet Movements offer.” For further information about joining either Kent Army Cadet Force, contact (01622) 750328 or Kent Air Training Corps on (01622) 754188. We particularly welcome enquiries from adult members of the public, aged from 18-50 years, who may be interested in the challenge of becoming uniformed Adult Instructors.
