Brighton in the Great War

Douglas d'Enno

Jan 2016 · Pen and Sword

About this ebook

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.

About the author

Douglas d'Enno is a historian, linguist and journalist who has made an exhaustive study of the impact of the First World War not only on Brighton but also on Britain's fishermen and their vessels (the first volume of his Fishermen Against the Kaiser was published by Pen & Sword in 2010, with research continuing for the second). After a career which included several years spent applying his linguistic and editorial skills in a publishing environment - primarily - as a translator in public service, he has devoted himself to writing and research. Through contributions in the past to The Argus and local/community publications, he has established a reputation as a leading authority on Brighton and the surrounding area. Published works include The Saltdean Story (1985), The Church in a Garden (2001), Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths around Brighton (published by Wharncliffe/Pen & Sword in 2004), Brighton Crime and Vice 1800-2000 (published in 2007, also by Wharncliffe/Pen & Sword), and a number of 'then and now' pictorial books on the Brighton area and on Sussex. A book on the county's railway stations through time is in preparation and plans are being laid for a book on Brighton in the Second World War.