THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE —  created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

UP THE GLENS

Copyright Valerie Martin 2003

Everyone was not law abiding during the war years.    In 1943 a Canadian soldier pleaded guilty to robbing a Worthing man and was duly sentenced to six months in prison.   The Judge, Justice Charles was very outspoken on this occasion and said he wanted the defendant "flogged".... but luckily for the serviceman the law did not permit this punishment for the crime.

On the 19th June 1943, a large group of officers made their way to the Gun Inn to celebrate the third year of the mobilisation of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders and were greeted by the barmaid, Nellie Skinner —

"My, there are a lot of you Glens here tonight  — up the Glens".

"Up the Glens" they are reputed to have responded, giving birth to a battle cry that was to be heard on the beaches on D-Day and as the troops advanced across Europe to the liberation of The Netherlands and VE Day.  It became a regimental saying and is still in use whenever The Glens are gathered and is used at regimental functions. 

On 24th May 1996 a group of Canadian war veterans returned to Findon for a commemoration ceremony. In June, 1942 these same men were part of the Canadian Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders Regiment encamped in Nissen hut accommodation under the trees at Muntham and engaged in battalion exercises around Findon.  The veterans returned to look for traces of their 1942 encampment at Muntham. 

Photograph by Martin Snow.

Later they unveiled a memorial badge and plaque mounted outside the Gun Inn. 

Photograph by Martin Snow.

It was unfortunate that the weather marred their visit and it was such a pouring wet day for their return. Perhaps having been stationed in Findon all those years ago, they were used to it.

Continue if you would like to read...Peter Sanderson is Posted to Sussex

This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.