Norfolk Coast in the Great War: King's Lynn, Hunstanton, Sheringham, Cromer and Great Yarmouth

Towns & Cities in the Great War

by Stephen Browning

Norfolk Coast in the Great War focuses on the trials and joys, the achievements and disappointments, the humor and the sadness of everyday life in a region living on the edge of the country at the heart of the Kings vast Empire. Everyone from the folk who went off to fight, to scouts and schoolchildren, had a role to play in this coastline that had, since the time of the Spanish Armada, been considered a likely place for an enemy invasion. There were days of great tension, even terror, such as on the day of the first bombardment of the coast by the German Navy, and the day of Zeppelin attacks and dog fights out to sea when the flimsy planes of a fledgling RAF took on the Red Baron and his comrades.This unique study is based largely on original archive material, much of it never before published in book form. It is accompanied by many rare and fascinating photographs that show the day-to-day life of the people who lived in the many settlements on the coast and just inland. In addition, this book also gives an itinerary for a walk along the 46 mile stretch of the coast from Hunstanton to Cromer, taking in many of the places discussed and giving views that are exactly the same as they were 100 years ago.

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2017

About the author

Stephen Browning has written a series of books with Norfolk themes. Titles include Discover Norwich, Discover Norfolk – Land of Wide Skies, Spirit of Norwich Cathedral, Norfolk Food Heroes and Peddars Way and the Norfolk Coast Path. He has also written The World of Charles Dickens. In Asia he has written several books aimed at helping young professionals with their English skills, two which have won top awards in Taiwan. Time permitting, he also enjoys writing features for Norfolk magazines and newspapers as well as detective stories.

Reviews

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting review of the impact of the war on the North Norfolk Coast – it starts with a chapter based more around Norwich, then one looking at the impact of the breakout of war on the coastal areas before proceeding around the coast are by area. The book draws heavily and successfully on contemporary newspaper accounts to convey how the war impacted day to day life and (perhaps less successfully for this reader) on memorials and obituaries to capture the terrible impact of the war on those who fought. Some interesting aspects include some modern photography showing scenes from the Great War 100 years on (with typically very little change) and a closing 2-3 page suggested coastal walk.