Belton at War

Belton Common had been used for military manoeuvres at the end of the 19th century by the Suffolk Regiment. This continued during the First World War when trenches were dug on the Common.

Local people were made aware of the War in a number of ways. Food production was of the highest importance as imports were disrupted by German U-boats. Late in 1916 the East Suffolk War Agricultural Committee contacted the Belton Parish Council about the distribution of Scotch seed potatoes. The parishioners were invited to form a society to run the scheme. The idea was that the Government supplied Scotch seed potatoes at low cost so that everyone could grow them, whether on an allotment or in their gardens. Another local scheme was the creation of 'War Gardens'. The older school children cultivated land belonging to Mrs Smith at the Post Office in Station Rd South. They had instructions from a gardener who taught them to grow vegetables for the war effort. They were supervised by a gardener from Lake Cottage the home of one of the school managers, Miss Rogers.

The school children were also affected by a 'no lights' rule or black out, so Belton would not be visible to enemy airships at night. Because of this the school had to close earlier in winter. Most of all many young men from Belton went away to the war and didn't return.

In 1919 a Parish Meeting was called to welcome home the servicemen, arrange peace celebrations and raise a memorial. Less than 20 years later preparations were being made for another war. In July 1937 the Parish Council first looked into Air Raid Precautions (ARP) and the following January Lothingland District Council invited them to send a representative to their ARP Committee.

In March 1938 a Parish Meeting was called to ask for volunteers. The British Legion were also asked to help. The Belton schoolmaster went on a course to train as a local Anti-Gas Instructor. The fear that gas warfare would be used was strong at the time. Doctors Deane and Perry of Gorleston were invited to be first-aid instructors.

In 1940 the ARP Committee recommended making 12 air raid shelters available to Belton. The cost of transportation and erection was not to exceed £1 each. The Parish Council wanted 15, 10 near the school and 5 near the chapel.

In 1941 the dykes were cleared to supply water for fire fighting, a Utility Squad was formed and sandbags were ordered for distribution in the village. The following year an Invasion Committee was formed with representatives from the Home Guard, First Aid, ARP, Police, Fire Service, Special Constables, Women's Voluntary Service.

In the winter of 1941 solders from the Royal Norfolk Regiment were camped on Yarmouth Racecourse but the weather proved too cold. To provide them with warmer accommodation they were billeted in Belton and many local people had to share their houses with them. Later the troops were sent to Singapore and were captured by the Japanese. The Institute was used as a mess hall. It was also the HQ for the Home Guard, under the command of Col. Dashwood of Caldecott Hall.

A search light was set up on the Common which once again was used for manoeuvres. Just before D-Day American troops were camped there and to lighten their kit before embarking, disposed of many personal items. These were reclaimed by nearby British troops and local people, grateful for items like soap, toiletries, ballpoint pens (a novelty) and clothing.

One particular incident is commemorated on a plaque at the Railway Tavern. On 25 August 1944 an American Liberator bomber, 'Belle of the East', crash landed in a market garden near Sandy Lane. It was returning to its base at Rackheath from a mission over Europe. Some of the crew baled out, three stayed on board but survived the crash. The local first-aid workers, whose base was the Methodist Chapel, commandeered a baker's delivery van and rushed stretchers to the scene. Fortunately there were no fatalities or serious injuries. The pilot had baled out at low height but landed in a dyke. He had seen children playing as the plane came in and was relieved to find that none was hurt. Belton did get at least one air raid during the war. Two thousand incendiary bombs were dropped one night, mostly on the Common. Many of the bombs did not ignite and there was only one fire, the oil room at the railway station. Early in the war evacuees arrived from Romford, Essex. As the war progressed some drifted back home but others stayed and settled. Unofficial evacuees also came out from Great Yarmouth and Gorleston to escape the bombing. Lothingland Council allowed their council tenants to give them temporary accommodation.

Once again in the Second World War food production was of great importance and Belton market gardens were a valuable asset. The emphasis was on food so flower growing had to give way to this.

There are two plaques in Belton Church to commemorate the dead of the two world wars