The build up to Pearl Harbor 1941

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The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor stunned the world – and brought the USA into the Second World War. The attack was made without warning and without a declaration of war, a fact which ensured a devastating Japanese victory but meant also that the USA would fight hard to achieve revenge.

Following the defeat of France by Germany, the Japanese had insisted that they be allowed to station troops in French colonies in Indo-China. Under pressure from Germany, France had agreed. Although there was no formal alliance between Italy, Germany and Japan they became know collectively as the Axis Powers. US President Roosevelt viewed the move with deep suspicion. He was already opposed to the Japanese invasion of China and feared that this presaged a greater expansion still. He introduced an immediate trade embargo, along with the British, and persuaded the Dutch government-in-exile in Britain to suspend exports of oil from the East Indies to Japan.

Without oil from the East Indies and rubber from British Malaya the Japanese army would quickly grind to a halt. The Japanese decided to invade both territories to secure the supplies, but worried about the US reaction. If the US declared war, the Japanese would be severely overstretched, particularly at sea. The only way to avoid overstretch was to destroy the US Pacific Fleet at the outbreak of war. Thus it was decided to assault the main US naval base at Pearl Harbor without warning.

Planned by Admiral Yamamoto, the attack was to be made by aircraft launched from aircraft carriers. A convenient storm front was used to mask the approach of the Japanese fleet from the American base until the moment that the aircraft were flown off just after dawn on 7 December. Among the 350 Japanese aircraft were conventional fighters and bombers, plus torpedo bombers equipped with specially designed torpedoes that would run just below the surface in the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor.

The Attack on Reigate Castle 1648

In the spring of 1648 a new Civil War broke out in England as the harsh rule of Parliament after the defeat of King Charles I took hold. The rebellion began in Kent in May, prompting Henry Rich, Earl of Holland, to make a speech in Surrey supporting the uprising. By early July some 600 men had come armed to support Holland, among them George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, and his younger brother Francis. Holland led his small force to attack Reigate Castle, then a store of weapons for the local militia garrisoned by a small Parliamentarian force. When the Royalists arrived they fired a few shots, after which the Roundheads fled north to Kingston. The two Villiers brothers led the few cavalry in the Royalist force in pursuit. They had just crossed Surbiton Hill and were riding down what is now Villiers Road when they were ambushed by men from the Kingston garrison. Francis was killed outright, and George unhorsed. Backing up against a tree, George Villiers drew his sword and managed to hold off a determined assault by no less than six Roundhead troopers long enough for a comrade to bring him a horse on which he made his escape. Having looted Reigate Castle of anything useful, Holland led his men out of Surrey to join Royalist forces elsewhere.

from The Little Book of Surrey by Rupert Matthews

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Book Description

Publication Date: 1 Nov 2010 | Series: Little Book

The Little Book of Surrey is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. The county's most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters, royal connections and literally hundreds of wacky facts about Surrey's landscape, towns and villages (plus some authentically bizarre bits of historic trivia), come together to make it essential reading for visitors and locals alike.

Teashops and Pubs in Kent

If there are two marvellous things about England that can be found nowhere else on Earth, they are pubs and tearooms. Both types of hostelry have their fans, but together they sum up so much about England that is special and unique.

Each drive in this book starts at a pub and ends at a tearoom. The drives have been designed so that you will be able to have a light lunch at the pub, then travel leisurely through the beautiful Kent countryside - stopping off at points along the way - and arrive at the teashop in time for a nice fresh cup of tea and a slice of cake around tea time. What more pleasant way could there be to spend an afternoon in Kent?

Of course, each drive could be completed back to front, taking morning coffee at the tearooms and finishing at the pub for lunch. And it is always possible that you might find the stopping off points so full of interest that you take longer than expected. I have tried to guess how long an average person might spend looking around a church, battlefield or beauty spot, but these are only my guesses. You should keep an eye on the time. If it is slipping away from you, try to head off for the teashop, or pub, and come back to enjoy the stopping point later.

These journeys are for you to enjoy, not to rush through. Each drive has been planned to take you through the finest scenery that links the various places to be visited. For the most part the routes will take you along lanes and B roads, though some A roads are included when these offer good views. Generally, take your time and do it your way.

This book contains detailed driving instructions for each route. However, it is as well to keep a road map to hand on your outings. Local councils are skilled at introducing sudden changes to road markings and signs. What has been a right turn for years may suddenly become a bend in the road to the right while what used to be the straight road continuing on has become a turning to the left. And mini roundabouts can be installed almost without notice.

Several of the teashops listed in this book are not open seven days a week during the winter. They are generally open at weekends year round, but if you are planning to complete one of these drives during the winter months, it would be wise to phone in advance. The pubs, by contrast, are generally open seven days a week all year round.


from Teashop and Pub Drives in Kent by Rupert Matthews
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Walking from HorsHGoudhurst to Horsmoden in Kent

Horsmoden Church

Having viewed Goudhurst  church head west along Church Road. You will pass Weeks Tea Rooms on your right. At the crossroads turn right along North Road, the B2079. After about 200 yards turn left up the narrow Bird Lane. This ends in a T-junction.

2) Turn left along Lidwells Lane. Follow this narrow lane as it twists down the hill to cross the River Teise beyond Trottenden Farm.

The Teise was subjected to a huge amount of landscapeing and drainage works in the 1950s. This included the removal of mills, the introduction of weirs and the cutting off of many meanders. This led to a drastic change in the meadows, which were drained so that they became drier and less prone to flooding. The inevitable result was that the river became much less attractive to wildlife while heavy rains resulted in water gushing down the straighter, deeper riverbed to cause water levels to rise much quicker in the Medway, into which the Teise empties. The results of some of this work can be seen from the bridge as you cross the river.

3) At a crossroads turn left along a narrow lane that leads to a second crossroads. Turn left to reach Horsmoden Church.

Compared to the violent history of St Mary’s, this church of St Margaret has had a very quiet life. It was built in the 1320s by the wealthy vicar, Henry de Grofhurst. His memorial brass still lies in the chancel floor. Also buried here is John Read (1760-1847), a local man and keen gardener who achieved fame by inventing a stomach pump that could empty a person’s stomach of suspect food or drink both painlessly and harmlessly.

The only puzzle about the church is why it stands here on a gentle slope above the Teise, not in the village itself a mile to the north. According to local legend, the village used to be clustered around the church, but when the Black Death struck the survivors abandoned the pestilential site and moved north, returning only to worship God.

Archaeologists have confirmed that the medieval village was around the church, but unfortunately for the tale the new village did not form until about 150 years after the Black Death. Perhaps there was something about the little valley where the village now stands that was simply more attractive. There is a spring of pure, sweet water for a start.