A bit surprising (to me) that the Germans would choose to attack on Romney Marsh, given how many ditches (etc.) are there. I'd say it would be rotten county for armour. Also, the terrain reminds me a little of Anzio, with that escarpment up to high ground to the North.Knouterer wrote:While I'm waiting for the definitive work on the Thompson in British service to be delivered, here's something else that may be of interest.
Defence Schemes, Operation Orders etc. of this period very often contain the almost ritualistic phrase: "The positions will be held to the last man and the last round, there will be no withdrawal."
However, Op. Instruction No. 10 of 134th Brigade (in WO 166/989) of 14 Sept. offered the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers (holding the Rye sector and the coastline to incl. Broomhill Farm) a bit more flexibility:
“1. In the event of a break through on the right of “A” sub-area (135th Bde, Romney Marsh - K) and/or on the extreme left of “B” sub-area (134th Bde), Comd. 1 R. Ir. F. may, at his discretion, withdraw his defences from the beaches EAST of CAMBER FM. 3937 to the switch line running thence to WALLHOUSE FM. 4337, forming a defensive flank facing SOUTH and Eastwards.
2. It is visualised that this operation will create a gap between “B” sub-area and “A” sub-area. The latter will fall back via SCOTNEY 4538 to LYDD 4839. In this event it will be the task of 1 R. Ir. F. to defend the left flank of “B” sub-area to the utmost and no further withdrawal should take place without orders from this H.Q.
3. As a last resort, however, and in the event of enemy moves round his left flank and threatening his left flank from the NORTH and EAST and if comns. with this H.Q. are impossible, Comd. 1 R. Ir. F. is permitted to withdraw to the line of the ROYAL MILITARY CANAL which will be defended to the last round and the last man. In this last event he is further permitted to make such adjustments to his front line WEST of R. ROTHER as the situation may thus demand, back to the ROYAL MILITARY CANAL, but no further.
(Signed) W. Michelmore
Brigadier
Commander 134th Infantry Brigade”
(map is from c. 1920)
As to the orders, the permitted retrograde movement looks very slight and only seems to open an attack corridor northwards , and at what appears to be a Formation Boundary, into the bargain.