John Ogden: Orford’s Atlantic Wall Breakers

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In 1942, over 400 inhabitants of the countryside between Orford, Snape and Slaughden were compulsorily evicted from their homes by the War Office and not allowed to return until 1947/48. In the interim, these 12 square miles of the Suffolk Sandlings and were used as a testing ground for armoured equipment and assault techniques that would be used to great effect on D Day and beyond. John Ogden tells the story of this remarkable and little understood intervention in recent history of the local area, which had ramifications far beyond its more normally tranquil countryside.

After reading history at Durham and a brief flirtation with the wine trade, John Ogden joined the Army on a short service commission and, unlike most of his contemporaries, he then forgot to leave for the subsequent 34 years. He lives in Walderingfield and is currenlty Rear Commodore of its sailing club, a member of the nascent Southwold Harbour Board, and a trustee of Landguard Fort. He was until recently the Armed Forces Commissioner for Suffolk.