A Report on our meeting held on 16 February 2026
Rick Hudson told the story of how Bridlington got ready for the war, endured the bombings, prepared for a German invasion, and took on a busy role in the fight back.
He highlighted the steps Bridlington took to ready itself for war including taking in evacuees, introducing food rationing, and recruiting locals into various civil defence roles.
The 1940 holiday season started as usual but soon fizzled out after bombs began to fall. Rick explained why 15th August 1940 was Bridlington’s momentous day in the Battle of Britain. He gave harrowing accounts of some of the bombings that Bridlington endured.
Locals had an understandable fear that a German invasion was imminent. Rick showed how the town prepared for invasion and set up defences. He included details of the little-known gun batteries set back from the coast and the “secret army” hide-outs.
Bridlington housed thousands of soldiers as different mechanised regiments came and went to exercise on the Wolds. Just before D-Day, the soldiers and their equipment suddenly departed almost overnight and Bridlington became a quiet town again.
The vote of thanks was given by Bro John Gatenby.