 From 1803–1807, East Cliff Lodge was the headquarters of Admiral Keith, commanding the North Sea and Channel Fleets.And during the same period, Jane Austen’s brother, Francis, organised a corps of “Sea Fencibles” (a sort of naval militia/Dad's Army) from the town to protect the South Coast of Britain from invasion.Between 1804 and 1816, over 300 transports came to Ramsgate Harbour to embark more than 50,000 men, horses and materials to the continent.