Royal Air Force in Great Yarmouth
Battle Of Britain Parade 1951
By Malcolm Raynor
There was a RAF presence and connection in the area, certainly for many years but in particular from the late Thirties until the late Fifties. In the First World War the Royal Navy Air Service had a base on the South Denes. At the end of the War it was amalgamated with the Royal Flying Corps to become the Royal Air Force and a development at that time led to the formation of the RAF Marine Service which provided Air Sea Rescue and had a base at the mouth of the River Yare in Gorleston on Sea, and the actual RAF Operational Stations being inland at Colitishall and Horsham St Faith.
However, the main involvement was the proximity of the Radar Stations to the Town and its facilities for off duty Airmen who were stationed there pre 1939 until the late fifties when the last station becoming redundant. That being RAF Hopton which had been built and opened in 1938 .The other Radar Stations in the Vicinity being at Happisburgh and Winterton, they having closed shortly after WW11. However, the Raf Works Department still maintained a Depot at the latter .
From Hopton the personel enjoyed the Off Duty Periods in Gorleston and Great Yarmouth and to a lesser degee in Lowestoft. In the main the Floral Hall in Gorleston on Saturday Nights for dancing to Eddie Gates and his Band. That seemed obligatory whilst roller skating at the Wellington Pier and in the Winter at The Gorleston Holiday Camp had the advantage of being indoors. As many liked to have a drink the most frequented hostelries were -- The Dukes Head in Yarmouth mainly due to the fact the Yarmouth- Lowestoft Bus Stops were within a few yards . In Gorleston the King William IV and the Pier Hotel and of course The White Hart In Hopton Village.
During The Battle Of Britain remembrance period the unit provided yearly a Flight on Parade (with an Raf Band from Raf Halton if my memory serves me well) In 1950 the parade started at the Wellington Pier and marched to The Britannia Pier. In 1951 it appears to have been assembled at the Town Hall to march through the Town. To the most if not all who served at Hopton it is considered it was a most memorable time and considered to be the Halcyon Days in their lifetime. I am sure and they are grateful for the Local populace for the friendliness hospitality (and I suppose tolerence on a few occaisions) and we recognize the same.
During the 1953 East Coast floods the airmen at Hopton were mustered and were involved in the rescue of the citizens from Southtown, Cobholm and the adjacent area.