HMS IOLANTHE or Jack’s Navy ~ the story of the Broads Wartime Flotilla Part 2 ~ Bells and bombs

Action Stations at the base of the Broads Flotilla at Hoveton~Wroxham. Gunners and coxswains run from their quarters to the launches.

Two round sand bagged twin mounted Lewis gun MG positions were built in front of the row of Jack Powles boatsheds, one on each corner of the sheds by the corner of the dykes. These were manned by the soldiers during daylight hours, although in practice normally only the right hand emplacement was used.

Other Navy volunteers were Jack Green, Eric Danes, Smith, Bader, Coamer, Weston and of course young Jack who was known so well locally that the unit was lumped under the local pseudonym, Jack’s Navy.

Later an explosives expert arrived by the name of Lt Com Edwards and it was he who drilled a hole into the stone work of Wroxham bridge and packed it with explosives which were to be blown if the balloon went up and the Germans invaded. These explosives are still there as unfortunately he was later killed whilst trying to defuse a German magnetic mine and before he was able to reveal the explosives hiding place.

Motor launches manoeuvring at speed.

To improve the units diet Lt Com Edwards used to take a motor launch up onto Wroxham Broad and drop hand grenades over the side where after a dull explosion and a spout of water many dead fish floated to the surface.

The soldiers lived in a dance hall by the side of the Horseshoes Hotel and there was a bell in their billet to alert them of any danger or alarm and this bell could be rung from the boatshed.

A large brass bell with the legend BROADS FLOTILLA hung for many years at the Arts and Crafts style Petersfield Country Hotel in Horning, until the building was tragically pulled down and the land redeveloped. It is said the bell was presented to the hotel owners by Mr HT 'Perci' Percival ~ the well known boat yard owner. From the 1950s until the 2000s the Petersfield was one of the top places to go in Broadland. The George and Press families ~ associated with Turner's Boatyard and once home to the flower class fleet ~ and HEATHER, were regular patrons.

The Broads Flotilla bell mysteriously disappeared after vandalism of the vacant hotel, prior to demolition. If you know the whereabouts of this important piece of Broadland history please contact us.

Article text: Nigel and Sara Royall ©

Photographs: RH (Lt) Darwall, Imperial War Museum ~ Admiralty Official Collection ©