Douglas d'Enno – författare

It was in 1841 that the London & Brighton Railway constructed the line from Norwood (linking with the London & Croydon Railway) to the coast. The lines built between 1841 and 1868 formed a comprehensive countywide network, extending from Three Bridges to Midhurst and Chichester in the west and (via the South Eastern Railway) from Tunbridge Wells to Bexhill, thence to Rye, in the east. The county’s coastal stations yield their own interesting story. Apart from the stations on main routes, those on branch lines and wayside halts are also included.In this book, Douglas d’Enno explores the absorbing and sometimes colourful story of one county’s railway stations. The older photographs feature early postcards and carefully selected images from railway archives and publications. When juxtaposed with their present-day equivalents, the extent of the change in these facilities for rail passengers can be fully appreciated.

This unique volume is a startling record of memorable and tragic happenings culled from the railway history of three counties in south-east England: Sussex, Surrey and Kent. It is believed to be the first book to describe and illustrate the accidents and unfortunate incidents on a chronological and county-wide basis. The time span is comprehensive, with accounts of the first mishaps dating from Victorian times and the most recent from the twenty-first century. Accounts of wartime incidents have been included. These extraordinary moments in railway history are explored by the author in vivid detail. The focus is not solely on collisions and derailments but extends also to other untoward events, some away from the main line and others on railway premises. The descriptions of the varied and dramatic scenes depicted include details of those caught up in the accidents and interesting particulars relating to the subsequent fate of the locomotives involved.

Although the impact of the Great War on Brighton was profound, the seaside town was spared any direct attack by the enemy. The fear of spies and sabotage, however, was widespread at first and aliens were an issue which had to be swiftly resolved under new legislation. Allies, of course, were warmly welcomed, and accommodation was soon provided for those fleeing the catastrophic events in Belgium. Between 1914 and 1918, Brighton made major contributions to the war effort in many ways: by responding readily to the call to arms, by caring for great numbers of wounded (the story of the exotic Royal Pavilion being used as a hospital for Indian casualties is widely known locally) and by simply being itself – an open and welcoming resort that offered sanctuary, respite and entertainment to besieged Londoners and to other visitors, from every stratum of society.

Long before war was declared on 3 September 1939, Brighton had steadily and carefully prepared for the coming conflict by building shelters, organising defence and rescue services, and providing the population with advice of its own or from government sources. These precautions stood the town in good stead when the first bombs fell on it in mid-1940 and during the many subsequent attacks.The resort did not, admittedly, suffer as grievously as some others on the South Coast, yet civilian casualties totalled nearly 1,000, of whom over 200 were killed, 357 were seriously injured and 433 slightly injured.This is not the first book to reveal the toll of the bombs locally, but it is the first to describe, in parallel, day-to-day events and societal responses during the nearly six years of conflict. As elsewhere, restrictions often made life arduous for residents. Yet despite the hardship, the town's citizens even marshalled sufficient resources to 'adopt' two battleships and generously saved towards assisting with other wartime causes, such as help to our ally, Russia.The hospitality trade and resort-related services suffered greatly during the periods when the defence ban on entering the town was enforced. In many respects, however, life went on largely as before, particularly in the spheres of entertainment, leisure and some sports.Douglas d'Enno, an authority on the history of Brighton and environs, shows in meticulous detail, in absorbing text and numerous pictures, how life in wartime Brighton was a struggle for many, but never dull.

Although the impact of the Great War on Brighton was profound, the seaside town was spared any direct attack by the enemy. The fear of spies and sabotage, however, was widespread at first and aliens were an issue which had to be swiftly resolved under new legislation. Allies, of course, were warmly welcomed, and accommodation was swiftly found for those fleeing the catastrophic events in Belgium.Between 1914 and 1918, Brighton made major contributions to the war effort in many ways: by responding readily to the call to arms, by caring for great numbers of wounded (the story of the exotic Royal Pavilion being used as a hospital for Indian casualties is widely known locally) and by simply being itself - an open and welcoming resort that offered sanctuary, respite and entertainment to besieged Londoners and to other visitors, from every stratum of society. The book looks at the fascinating wartime roles of Brighton's women, who quietly played a vital part in transport services, industrial output and food production. Non-combatant menfolk also kept the wheels turning under very trying circumstances.When the meat shortage became acute, the mayor himself took direct action, requisitioning ninety sheep at Brighton Station for the town which were destined for butchers' shops in London.The names of no fewer than 2,597 men and three women who made the supreme sacrifice were inscribed on the town's memorial, which was unveiled at the Old Steine on 7 October 1922 by Earl Beatty. At the ceremony, the earl acknowledged that 'it was by duty and self-sacrifice that the war was won.' It remained, he said, for those who had survived the conflict to ensure that the great sacrifices of the past, both by the dead and the living, should not have been made in vain. We remember them in this book.

British fishermen are among the unsung heroes of the First World War. The conflict with Germany had an immediate and enduring impact on their lives and livelihood. They were immediately caught up in the sea war against the Kaiser’s navy, confronting the threats presented by the submarines, minelayers, gunboats and capital ship of the High Seas Fleet. Often they found themselves thrust into strange, dangerous situations, which put their lives at risk and tested to the limit their bravery and skill as seamen. This is their fascinating story.For the first time in this two-volume study Douglas d’Enno provides a comprehensive and lasting record of the services rendered by the fishermen and their vessels, both under naval control and on their own account. His pioneering history shows the full extent of their contribution to the British war effort, from minesweeping and submarine detection to patrol, escort and counterattack duties. The areas of action were not limited to the home waters of the Channel, the North Sea and the Western Approaches but ranged as far as the Arctic and the Mediterranean’s Aegean and Adriatic seas. Extraordinary stories are recounted here of the hazards of minesweeping, battles with U-boats, decoy missions, patrols, blockades, rescues and capture by the enemy. First-hand accounts make up the essence of the material. Reports from the leading trade journals, specialist literature and personal manuscripts vividly recall the fishermen’s experiences and the hardships and dangers they faced throughout the war.

The coastal suburb of Saltdean, which straddles the boundary between East Sussex and the city of Brighton and Hove, is best known for its art deco lido, the former Ocean Hotel and the various interesting styles and designs of buildings of the interwar era in particular. The residential area gradually developed on open farmland during that period, while the popularity of the beaches and resort amenities was boosted by the completion, in the mid-1930s, of the Undercliff Walk extending from the East Brighton starting point of Black Rock.In this book author Douglas d’Enno traces the changing face of pictorial Saltdean over the course of its intriguing history, starting with a survey of archaeological finds, then of the foreshore and associated hazards and of early activities on the downland on which the community would gradually be built. Alongside the development of Saltdean as a leisure resort, modern housing increasingly drew in new residents before the Second World War, including a number of prominent figures. Its development was halted during the war but resumed in the 1950s and 1960s as the infrastructure of schools, shops and churches was created for the community. Following its use for war purposes, the Ocean Hotel remained virtually unused until 1953 when Billy Butlin dramatically restored its popularity. For its part, the lido lay derelict from 1945 until 1964, when it reopened to huge acclaim from locals and visitors. This fascinating collection of images will be of interest to those who know Saltdean and this corner of the Sussex coast east of Brighton, and equally to those unfamiliar with them.