Isle of Wight Zoo commemorates D-Day
Tea, cakes, music and a PLUTO veteran - the D-Day commemoration on the 6th June looks set to be a big success at the Isle of Wight Zoo.
This Sunday the focus of the Isle of Wight Zoo won’t be the animals, but the fort itself. The fort helped secure an allied victory in the D-Day landings, but due to the secrecy of the project very few people know how crucial it was.
The PipeLine Under The Ocean project (PLUTO) was set up in order to supply the allies with fuel for d-day and beyond. It was inevitable the withdrawing Nazis would destroy all the fuel they could in an attempt to slow the allied forces down, but PLUTO combated this. Pipes were laid between England and France, with the Isle of Wight being a key part of a project described by General Eisenhower as being "second in daring only to the artificial 'Mulberry' Harbours". The zoo housed thirteen of the sixteen Sandown pumps, with the three remaining ones at the adjacent Brown's Golf Course.
Although most of the pumps were broken up and dismantled at the end of the war, a few survived. One went to the forerunner of the National Grid, and for many years was used to wash their insulators. However with the closure of the station a new home was sought, which is when experts on the Isle of Wight were contacted, who helped trace the original positions of the pumps under the fort’s gun arches. The return of the pump to the zoo was the culmination of years of work from many sides.
Over the last few years staff at the zoo have been restoring the interior of the fort to create a World War II themed lounge in sympathy with the fort’s history. It seemed only fitting that the official opening of the area should be on the anniversary of d-day, Sunday 6th June. PLUTO project veteran Laura Barlee will cut the ribbon. Ms Barlee worked at PLUTO command Norfolk House during World War II, and is a second cousin of Clement Atlee.
The day will have a celebratory atmosphere, with face painting and craft activities, as well as the chance to view some original war time artefacts on loan for the day. The zoo is particularly keen for local people to sample this unknown piece of their history, and would like to remind them that they can get a special discount if they bring proof of their residential status. Staff would also be very interested to hear from anyone with memories of D-Day on the Island, and invite those people to contact the zoo with their stories.