Hastings Pier in WW2, continued

Requisitioning, June 1940
East Sussex Piers in wartime

On June 23rd, Eastern Command issued fresh instructions regarding the demolition of piers.  The Admiralty had struck back in the argument over who was responsible for the piers, and had pointed out that the first warning of an invasion might be German craft actually landing alongside the piers.  This would mean that it would be too late for the army to insert the detonators and blow the charges.

It was therefore preferable to cut out a bay from each pier as soon as possible to avoid this scenario.

Matters were later clarified by the War Damage Act, 1941 which stated that damage incurred due to preparations to meet enemy attack (regardless of whether the attack came) could be classed as war damage.