THE CRUCIAL role Shanklin Chine played during the Second World War was remembered at a special event on Sunday.

Anglo-American wartime comradeship and sacrifice was marked by a series of events, as a large gathering of invited guests recalled the role played by the chine in preparations for the Dieppe Raid of 1942 and the D-Day invasion of Hitler’s Fortress Europe in 1944.

The programme was primarily organised as part of the 75th anniversary commemoration of D-Day.

The dramatic terrain of the chine’s coastal ravine had proved an ideal training ground for detachments of Royal Marines and US Army Rangers during the build-up to the Normandy landings of June 6, 1944, when men billeted in Island towns perfected a range of climbing and abseiling skills.

The chine had already fulfilled the same preparatory function two years earlier when men of 40 Royal Marine Commando trained there for the raid on Dieppe in August 1942, a tragically ill-fated military venture with heavy Allied casualties which, nonetheless, enabled vital lessons to be learnt in planning for D-Day.

A collaboration between the chine and Royal Marine veterans’ associations, Sunday’s events included the formal opening by Susan Sheldon, IW Lord Lieutenant, of a D-Day 75 exhibition in the heritage centre — which also recalls the chine’s pivotal role in the top-secret Operation PLUTO (Pipe-Line Under the Ocean) project to fuel the Allied advance from the invasion beaches.

During an outdoor service of remembrance and thanksgiving a tree commemorating the D-Day role of the US Rangers, and those among its number whose lives were lost, was planted by Lt Col Michael Skaggs, marine attaché representing the USA ambassador to Britain.

Wreaths were laid in memory of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The service included poetry readings and summaries of the wartime exploits of the Royal Marines and its commando forces who trained at the chine.

  • Our special edition, 96-page commemorative publication, D-Day 75, will be available from Friday. It tells the story of D-Day at home and on the battlefront, with features from across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and the IW. See the County Press on Friday for further details.