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HMS Forward was the top secret WWII Royal Naval Headquarters situated in an underground comples deep beneath South Heighton, one mile north of Newhaven in East Sussex.
On the side of the B2109 at South Heighton is a metal gate into the hillside. This is the only surviving visible remains of HMS Forward, a major Royal Navy Intelligence centre from 1941-5. The site was started in May 1941,and about half a mile of tunels were dug by 172 Tunelling Coy RE and lined and fitted by 577 Field Company RE all within 13 weeks. It was complete with filtration and air conditioning,power plant and was one of the first places to have fluorescent lights.Information was receved by land lines and radio -the smaller receiving aerials being nearby but the transmitter was across the valley and much larger.
The tunnel system had another entrance-this was through a trapdoor inside a bedroom of the Guinness Trust Holiday Home, down a flight of over 100 steps to the tunnels 60ft below. There were also 4 pillbxes on the hillside accessible only from below and an observation post/ emergency exit cunningly disguised as a hen house complete with hens.HMS Forward monitored all movement in the Channel roughly from Bexhill to Bognor. It took radar reports from along the coast every 15 minutes and all movements were plotted. Other roles were involvement in the Dieppe raid, Air Sea Rescue and of course D Day when Newhaven saw the departure of many landing craft not only on June 5 but the days to follow. There was also a Canadian Artillery plot there with links to Denton Manor nearby- we know because some of the Wrens who worked in Forward remember Canadian soldiers there and there is a plaque in the manor showing a Maple leaf and the words " Royal Canadian Coastal Artillery Corps HQ" as well as some photos. Curiously the RCA museum and archives have no knowledge of this site.
In 1945 the site was abandoned and shortly afterwards the locals got in and started removing anything of use.In the '70s the pillboxes were destroyed and houses built over the hillside,the part of the Guinness building was demolished in the early '90s and the entrance is now covered by a steel plate in a back garden. A local- Geoff Ellis, decided to try and record this site and in doing so has written a book and produced a video as well as founding "Friends of HMS Forward" a group working towards the restoration and eventual public opening of this unique site , the other 2 built -Dover Castle and Fort southwick were kept in use well into the cold war era and heavily altered.
http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/secret/forward.html
On the side of the B2109 at South Heighton is a metal gate into the hillside. This is the only surviving visible remains of HMS Forward, a major Royal Navy Intelligence centre from 1941-5. The site was started in May 1941,and about half a mile of tunels were dug by 172 Tunelling Coy RE and lined and fitted by 577 Field Company RE all within 13 weeks. It was complete with filtration and air conditioning,power plant and was one of the first places to have fluorescent lights.Information was receved by land lines and radio -the smaller receiving aerials being nearby but the transmitter was across the valley and much larger.
The tunnel system had another entrance-this was through a trapdoor inside a bedroom of the Guinness Trust Holiday Home, down a flight of over 100 steps to the tunnels 60ft below. There were also 4 pillbxes on the hillside accessible only from below and an observation post/ emergency exit cunningly disguised as a hen house complete with hens.HMS Forward monitored all movement in the Channel roughly from Bexhill to Bognor. It took radar reports from along the coast every 15 minutes and all movements were plotted. Other roles were involvement in the Dieppe raid, Air Sea Rescue and of course D Day when Newhaven saw the departure of many landing craft not only on June 5 but the days to follow. There was also a Canadian Artillery plot there with links to Denton Manor nearby- we know because some of the Wrens who worked in Forward remember Canadian soldiers there and there is a plaque in the manor showing a Maple leaf and the words " Royal Canadian Coastal Artillery Corps HQ" as well as some photos. Curiously the RCA museum and archives have no knowledge of this site.
In 1945 the site was abandoned and shortly afterwards the locals got in and started removing anything of use.In the '70s the pillboxes were destroyed and houses built over the hillside,the part of the Guinness building was demolished in the early '90s and the entrance is now covered by a steel plate in a back garden. A local- Geoff Ellis, decided to try and record this site and in doing so has written a book and produced a video as well as founding "Friends of HMS Forward" a group working towards the restoration and eventual public opening of this unique site , the other 2 built -Dover Castle and Fort southwick were kept in use well into the cold war era and heavily altered.
http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/secret/forward.html
Military - Bunkers, Objects - Misc Links: www.subbrit.org.uk
By: Dania
