A CENTURY ago the residents of Beachley were suddenly evicted from their homes to help with the war effort, and this weekend the community is coming together to remember.

On 3rd September 1917, the residents of Beachley received a letter ordering them, under the Defence of the Realm Act, to leave their home within 11 days.

In the early months of 1917, while under constant threat from German U-Boats, the government decided to boost shipbuilding capacity by building three new National Shipyards, the largest of sites, and number two was at Beachley.

The rapid eviction reached the national papers and even as far afield as New Zealand. The church and school were closed, and the population scattered leaving Colonel Percival Scrope, the substantial landowner at nearby Sedbury Park, and the parish vicar Reverend Steer, to try to help re-house residents and assist with gaining the compensation they were due.

Within a few weeks of the eviction of more than one hundred young and old residents and the commandeering of farm land stretching across most of Tidenham Parish, the rural peace was shattered.

Their homes were taken over to create offices and some accommodation. Camps were built at Sedbury for the 3,000 to 5,000 Royal Engineers and at Beachley for the 4,000 German prisoners of war who were to carry out the construction of National Shipyard No 2.

To mark the centenary of this important milestone in the community’s history, the Tidenham Historical Group and 1st Battalion The Rifles, have organised a commemorative parade and community event from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday 17th September, at Pavilion Road, Beachley.

The event will commence at 2pm with a welcome from Lt Colonel Baker followed by a parade and display by the Rifles.

The Beachley Old Boys Association and Royal Engineer Associations standards will be paraded.

The Beachley Military Wives Choir will perform during the afternoon.

There will also be refreshments, children’s games, stalls and exhibits from various local community organisations such as the Severn area SARA, the Coastguard, and lave net fishermen.

The school will also be opened to the public for the first time, courtesy of the Beachley Old Boy’s Association.