Monument record MKE129402 - Site of pre-First World War military exercise: the Battle of Clapham Hill

The 'Battle of Whitstable' was the opening engagement in an anti-invasion exercise and manoeuvres to defend Sheerness and Chatham in 1910. The plan was to land an invasion force in North East Kent to be resisted by Territorial Army troops. Manoeuvres took place in other parts of the country at the same time with the whole operation scheduled between 23rd July and 6th August. The Battle of Clapham Hill (an eminence which commands Whitstable from the landward side and on which a five hour battle was centred on Wednesday 3 August). The invaders were judged to have won the day and forces moved west at the end of the day. The “war” concluded after a final battle near Iwade, the result of which could not be decided. Today, metal detecting finds have been discovered in the area that derive from the exercise including a London Irish Rifles cap badge and a Birmingham Metals and Munitions mark II cartridge case marked with a C. The letter C was included on cartridge cases as cordite was first introduced – to warn soldiers of the greater ‘kick’ cordite generated. This practice was dropped in 1908. It seems very likely this cartridge was fired during the ‘battle’. (1)

<1> Alan Nutten, 2023, The Battle of Clapham Hill (Unpublished document). SKE58636.