Isle of Wight's Military Heritage

Exploring the military heritage of the Isle of Wight from Viking invaders straight through to the present day.

The Isle of Wight has been a popular holiday destination since the Victorian times, with the island known for its mild climate, beautiful scenery and historic connections. It also sits right at the entrance to the important Southampton and Portsmouth docks and because of this, there are a number of impressive castles and fortifications located on the island, including Carisbrooke Castle. Throughout history, the importance of the Isle of Wight has been recognised by invaders and the island was attacked by the Vikings, the Normans, the French and most recently, the Germans during the Second World War. Cowes was the home of Saunders-Roe, the military aircraft and vehicle manufacturer and in the Cold War, the Needles Battery was the testing site for Britain’s Blue Streak nuclear deterrent missileThis book will be of interest to all those who would like to know more about the Isle of Wight’s remarkable military history.