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Such was the concentration of warships in Portland harbour when the Great War began, the Admiralty decided to move them to avoid a pre-emptive German attack. A redundant battleship was then scuttled across the southern entrance to the harbour to prevent enemy submarines and torpedoes attacking through it.

The U-boats were never far away though, as proved by the sinking of the HMS Formidable west of Portland Bill just four months into the war. Minesweepers based in Portland were in constant use to keep the path though Weymouth Bay clear.

In 1917 Dorset was the focus of the Admiralty’s anti-submarine strategy, with a base built on Portland. Much of the pioneering work into underwater sound echo-location – which would eventually become Sonar – was done here.

Another tempting target for the Germans in Portland was the Whitehead torpedo factory. The factory was in full production day and night during the course of the war, with over a thousand workers using Wyke Regis Halt each day.

Location: Portland, Dorset DT5 1PP
Image: HMS Formidable launched in 1898 and sunk off Portland 1915. Photograph courtesy of Stuart Morris
Presented by Tony Adams

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