Discussion:
1944 travel restrictions in UK to facilitate troop movements
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cecilia
2022-04-14 08:18:22 UTC
Permalink
! gather from a comment in an anecdote that in 1944 there was a a ban,
until about 10 weeks after D-Day, on general travel south in England
because of troop movements to Normandy .

Is it possible to confirm when it ended?

Would next-of-kin of hospitalised seriously wounded soldiers have been
Exempt from the restriction (i.e. able to travel to visit) or would
they have had to wait?
Graeme Wall
2022-04-14 08:49:39 UTC
Permalink
Post by cecilia
! gather from a comment in an anecdote that in 1944 there was a a ban,
until about 10 weeks after D-Day, on general travel south in England
because of troop movements to Normandy .
Is it possible to confirm when it ended?
Would next-of-kin of hospitalised seriously wounded soldiers have been
Exempt from the restriction (i.e. able to travel to visit) or would
they have had to wait?
The ban came in long before D-Day for security reasons. I'm not aware
that it continued long after D-Day, though obviously troop movements and
military logistics would have had absolute priority on rail and road.

Unfortunately google is not very helpful and the books I have all
concentrate on events the other side of the channel after D-Day.
--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.
Graeme Wall
2022-04-14 10:51:32 UTC
Permalink
Post by Graeme Wall
Post by cecilia
! gather from a comment in an anecdote that in 1944 there was a a ban,
until about 10 weeks after D-Day, on general travel south in England
because of troop movements to Normandy .
Is it possible to confirm when it ended?
Would next-of-kin of hospitalised seriously wounded soldiers have been
Exempt from the restriction (i.e. able to travel to visit) or would
they have had to wait?
The ban came in long before D-Day for security reasons. I'm not aware
that it continued long after D-Day, though obviously troop movements and
military logistics would have had absolute priority on rail and road.
Unfortunately google is not very helpful and the books I have all
concentrate on events the other side of the channel after D-Day.
Just to add, the pre-invasion restrictions were on people /leaving/ the
south. Once inside the perimeter you couldn't leave.
--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2022-04-14 12:49:03 UTC
Permalink
Apologies - I'd have gone to email but ... (-:

On Thu, 14 Apr 2022 at 11:51:32, Graeme Wall <***@greywall.demon.co.uk>
wrote (my responses usually FOLLOW):
[snipped]
Post by Graeme Wall
--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.
Given its a *.dcu address, I think you can drop that line (-:

Regards, former *@soft255.demon.co.uk
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Never make the same mistake twice...there are so many new ones to make!
Graeme Wall
2022-04-14 13:24:04 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
[snipped]
Post by Graeme Wall
--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.
It's to help people who don't know about demon. :-)

The address was valid when I set up my news account but then vodafone
screwed it and I couldn't be bothered to set up a new account.

Regards
--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.
cecilia
2022-04-15 22:01:10 UTC
Permalink
On Thu, 14 Apr 2022 11:51:32 +0100, Graeme Wall
Post by Graeme Wall
Post by Graeme Wall
Post by cecilia
! gather from a comment in an anecdote that in 1944 there was a a ban,
until about 10 weeks after D-Day, on general travel south in England
because of troop movements to Normandy .
Is it possible to confirm when it ended?
Would next-of-kin of hospitalised seriously wounded soldiers have been
Exempt from the restriction (i.e. able to travel to visit) or would
they have had to wait?
The ban came in long before D-Day for security reasons. I'm not aware
that it continued long after D-Day, though obviously troop movements and
military logistics would have had absolute priority on rail and road.
Unfortunately google is not very helpful and the books I have all
concentrate on events the other side of the channel after D-Day.
Just to add, the pre-invasion restrictions were on people /leaving/ the
south. Once inside the perimeter you couldn't leave.
Thsnk you.
john
2022-04-14 11:24:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by cecilia
! gather from a comment in an anecdote that in 1944 there was a a ban,
until about 10 weeks after D-Day, on general travel south in England
because of troop movements to Normandy .
Is it possible to confirm when it ended?
Would next-of-kin of hospitalised seriously wounded soldiers have been
Exempt from the restriction (i.e. able to travel to visit) or would
they have had to wait?
I would have thought there would have been reports in the newspapers of
the lifting of the restrictions?
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk or on FindMyPast
cecilia
2022-04-15 22:01:10 UTC
Permalink
On Thu, 14 Apr 2022 12:24:21 +0100, john
Post by john
Post by cecilia
! gather from a comment in an anecdote that in 1944 there was a a ban,
until about 10 weeks after D-Day, on general travel south in England
because of troop movements to Normandy .
Is it possible to confirm when it ended?
Would next-of-kin of hospitalised seriously wounded soldiers have been
Exempt from the restriction (i.e. able to travel to visit) or would
they have had to wait?
I would have thought there would have been reports in the newspapers of
the lifting of the restrictions?
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk or on FindMyPast
Yes of course! <bangs head on desk!>

For both of those, I use the m/cs at the Public Library, which is shut
at present. However, I can access The Times Digital Archive from
home. There's every indication that in August 1944 trains were almost
unbelievably crowded for the general public (regardless of the fact
that the Government wanted people to leave London) but that was not
deterring people from getting away for a holiday. Bournemouth was
very popular and even Hastings, though a banned area, was showing
signs of an increase in population.

I am grateful for the suggestion.
MB
2022-04-20 10:52:55 UTC
Permalink
Post by john
I would have thought there would have been reports in the newspapers of
the lifting of the restrictions?
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk or on FindMyPast
And Hansard.
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2022-04-20 11:47:11 UTC
Permalink
Post by MB
Post by john
I would have thought there would have been reports in the newspapers of
the lifting of the restrictions?
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk or on FindMyPast
And Hansard.
That's an interesting point: is Hansard one of the titles covered by BNA
(and thus FindMyPast)?

Also, the "London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazette(s)" [which is where
certain official announcements are made - I remember it being mentioned
in the Amateur Radio Licence, for example, as one of the places where
changes might be notified].
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

GDPR: the General Data Protection Regulation. It was one of those things in
life that was terribly important but mind-bogglingly dull. Not unlike myself.
- Eddie Mair, RT 2018/6/16-22
Graeme Wall
2022-04-20 12:04:01 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by MB
Post by john
I would have thought there would have been reports in the newspapers of
the lifting of the restrictions?
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk  or on FindMyPast
And Hansard.
That's an interesting point: is Hansard one of the titles covered by BNA
(and thus FindMyPast)?
Hansard is on-line <https://hansard.parliament.uk>
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Also, the "London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazette(s)" [which is where
certain official announcements are made - I remember it being mentioned
in the Amateur Radio Licence, for example, as one of the places where
changes might be notified].
As is the Gazette: <https://www.thegazette.co.uk>
--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2022-04-20 20:43:13 UTC
Permalink
Post by Graeme Wall
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by MB
Post by john
I would have thought there would have been reports in the newspapers of
the lifting of the restrictions?
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk  or on FindMyPast
And Hansard.
That's an interesting point: is Hansard one of the titles covered by
BNA (and thus FindMyPast)?
Hansard is on-line <https://hansard.parliament.uk>
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Also, the "London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazette(s)" [which is where
certain official announcements are made - I remember it being
mentioned in the Amateur Radio Licence, for example, as one of the
places where changes might be notified].
As is the Gazette: <https://www.thegazette.co.uk>
Thanks for those.

Are they online back to the first issue? (Don't reply unless you happen
to know anyway: I could look myself now you've given the links!)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

If mankind minus one were of one opinion, then mankind is no more justified in
silencing the one than the one - if he had the power - would be justified in
silencing mankind. -John Stuart Mill, philosopher and economist (1806-1873)
Charles Ellson
2022-04-20 23:43:34 UTC
Permalink
On Wed, 20 Apr 2022 21:43:13 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Graeme Wall
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by MB
Post by john
I would have thought there would have been reports in the newspapers of
the lifting of the restrictions?
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk  or on FindMyPast
And Hansard.
That's an interesting point: is Hansard one of the titles covered by
BNA (and thus FindMyPast)?
Hansard is on-line <https://hansard.parliament.uk>
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Also, the "London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazette(s)" [which is where
certain official announcements are made - I remember it being
mentioned in the Amateur Radio Licence, for example, as one of the
places where changes might be notified].
As is the Gazette: <https://www.thegazette.co.uk>
Thanks for those.
Are they online back to the first issue? (Don't reply unless you happen
to know anyway: I could look myself now you've given the links!)
Currently back to 1803.
https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/
Apparently that is some time before Hansard was actually "official".
Peter Johnson
2022-04-21 13:19:14 UTC
Permalink
On Thu, 21 Apr 2022 00:43:34 +0100, Charles Ellson
Post by Charles Ellson
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Are they online back to the first issue? (Don't reply unless you happen
to know anyway: I could look myself now you've given the links!)
Currently back to 1803.
https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/
Apparently that is some time before Hansard was actually "official".
There are some gaps in the Historic Hansard, and it wasn't clear when
I raised it with them whether anything was being done to fill them.
MB
2022-04-15 13:54:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by cecilia
! gather from a comment in an anecdote that in 1944 there was a a ban,
until about 10 weeks after D-Day, on general travel south in England
because of troop movements to Normandy .
Is it possible to confirm when it ended?
Would next-of-kin of hospitalised seriously wounded soldiers have been
Exempt from the restriction (i.e. able to travel to visit) or would
they have had to wait?
There were "Protected Areas" (I think another category as well), most of
the Highlands was a Protected Area. There were checkpoints and you
needed a special pass to enter the area and probably to move around.

There would be Field Security Police assigned to the area.

There were smaller ones around various sites also so presumably similar
restrictions were placed in the South of England before D-Day.

By the way, many of the restrictions were very similar to those in WWI.
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