Once
upon a time,
before the town of Portsmouth was founded, this coastline was made
up of creeks, low-lying marsh and water. Over the centuries the coastline
has altered, but the town's position here on the south coast, its
proximity to the open sea, coupled with control of the harbour and
its entrance, have secured Portsmouth's place in history as one of
the world's great anchoranges and a rendevouz for British shipping
in times of war for over 800 years
Recent Acquistions : December 2008
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Autograph book, one of two collected by Ivy Guy-Hawthorne and her mother in the 1940s. They include many signatures from Free French soldiers who were based at a camp next to their house in Emsworth during the Second World War. The page shown says in French: “Ray of sunshine during a sad afternoon“. The badge shows the Free French symbol, the Cross of Lorraine, and was given to them by one of the Frenchmen.
Donated by Mrs Ivy Guy-Hawthorne
Military History Collection, 2008/340 – 2008/343
