The first “Dorset” magazine was launched by Rodney Legg in Spring 1968 and featured Tyneham prominently.
The magazine itself was primarily founded as a weapon in his first and best-known campaign: to return Tyneham to the villagers who had been evicted in 1943.
John Newth, September 2011
Tyneham Action Group
In the first issue of Dorset, Rodney Legg invited readers to ‘help form a “Tyneham Action Group”. He asked for letters of support with the intention of holding a public meeting to plot the first steps of the campaign to force “The Surrender of Purbeck”.
On 18 May 1968 around 20 people met in response to the invitation at the Moule Institute near Dorchester. A committee was formed with Philip Draper (1902-1979) as its chairman.
I called the meeting that formed the Tyneham Action Group to organise and renew the fight to free the part of Purbeck still in military occupation. Public opinion is wielded by the group, whose total strength of paid members make it the largest countryside body in Dorset.
Rodney Legg, Fight for Tyneham, 1969
The summer Bank holiday saw the Tyneham Action Group at Tyneham car park.
After the publicity drive, the newspaper features, the television items, Tyneham Action Group … decided to hold a meeting within the Isle of Purbeck to consolidate their position locally, to disseminate information and to pass a resolution with regard to their future aims. 1
‘Exiles’ step up fight for village
Tyneham’s small but vociferous group of “exiles” yesterday fired another shot in their attempt to regain possession of the tiny Dorset village from the Army.
The Tyneham Action Group, whose supporters include Lord Salisbury, has now published a booklet called the Fight for Tyneham outlining its campaign.
The battle began 26 years ago when Britain was at war. Then, the “exiles” surrendered their homes and the surrounding land willingly when the Army requisitioned the area to use as a firing range.
But when the Second World War ended the Army stayed on. Despite an earlier pledge that its tenancy was only to be for the duration of the war compulsory purchase orders were used to make the Army’s tenure on this lovely stretch of English coast permanent.
But the population of Tyneham, which numbered less than 200 before the war, would not give up.
Calling themselves “the village that lost the war,” they continued to harass the authorities, finding support among local and national groups with an interest in seeing the land used for peaceful purposes once more.
Two months ago, Lord Salisbury led a protest deputation to Whitehall demanding action. Television and Press reports have kept the issue on the boil, and the action group aims to turn the Tyneham issue into a “national scandal.”
The Birmingham Post, 12 August 1969
Friends of Tyneham
Friends fall out over Army
Two conservation groups have clashed in the fight for he release by the Army of the Dorset coast village of Tyneham.
Friends of Tyneham, an organisation who claim a membership of more than 1,000 have accused the 400-strong Tyneham Action Group of treachery.
The allegation followed a week-end decision by the T.A.G. to disband after six years after the Government ruling that the Army must remain in occupation of tank and firing ranges in Lulworth and the Tyneham Valley.
Both groups wanted the Defence Ministry to return Tyneham village, commandeered for training during the Second World War, to the original householders or their descendants.
The Friends of Tyneham are continuing their campaign with demonstrations in Dorset and London and with a barrage of letters to M.P.s and Government heads.
But T.A.G. president, Maj. Gen. Mark Bond, of Moigne Combe Owermoigne, near Weymouth, said: “Although we are far from satisfied with the Army’s continuing occupation of the area, we feel we have got to accept facts as they are.”
The decisions were taken at a meeting in Wareham at the week-end which was raised by Friends of Tyneham founder secretary, Mr Rodney Legg, of Milborne Port, and chairman Mrs. Mavis Caver.
They accused members of being Traitors to the Tyneham cause and Mr. Legg said: “We standby what we said. They have given the impression that the fight is over but it is not.”
Bristol Evening Post 20 November 1974
1943 Committee
John Gould‘s wish to return to Gardener’s Cottage was the symbol of hope and resistance for the 1943 Committee.
John died bitterly disappointed at not being able to return to his former home.
Page last updated: 10 March 2024
- Fight for Tyneham, 1969[↩]