New Years day Part 3

After mapping another crawl trench/weapons-slit system, had a good stomp around and found another two systems, one comprising of many pits including a text book V shaped weapons-slit. What strikes me about all the systems I've found so far is their field of fire - with hundreds of hectares of heath to chose from for training (if indeed that's what they are), my guess is the sites were chosen so that they could actually be utilised if the need ever arose. I am now wondering, if the vast area of Sutton Common (another major training area) contains similar remains I have many happy hours of searching to do in the future!
Todays icing on the cake however was the discovery of a field emplacement for a vickers machine gun. It comprises of a six foot sq, within which is a 2 ft wide L shaped slit for the crew and a platform for the gun (see photo from Manual of Field Works 1925). Although photos of trenches etc never seem to really come out well, hopefully the photo does illustrate how well this fits the manual specifications - the L shape slit is clearly visible as dark shadow (outlined in red) and the platform is outlined in yellow. Whether it was dug for training or real, its still a real thrill to find such remains.

All in all a perfect start to the new year!

Comments

Eastern Command Line - a lazy post

As the title suggests, just a lazy post today, a few pics of CRE Colchester design pillboxes in the Sudbury area to round of the thread on this May visit. Also one pic of concrete road block cylinders now being used as part of river bank defences. This is the first time I have come across this type of road block in Suffolk although I suspect it was probably used quite widely on this Stop Line, perhaps I will come across more examples / references in time. These pictures do show a timeless landscape - traditional floodplain meadows still used for grazing, with the Second World War clearly marking its presence. Lets just hope both the pillboxes and grazing meadows will be preserved.

RAF Hethel Defence Post

At RAF Station Hethel, a remarkable defence post still exists. Admittedly, RAF Hethel is in Norfolk and not Suffolk, but the records for this site do provide some interest in relation to the defence of airfields in Eastern Command. Work on Hethel began in 1941 and the station was opened late 1942 and was actually one of the RAF Stations handed over to the USAAF for the use of its bomber units. The defence post was constructed in accordance with a new policy adopted by Eastern Command. Previously, airfield defences had been built as a result of the Taylor Report and largely consisted of pillboxes and breastworks which were large and conspicuous and vulnerable to air attack. Experience at Crete had shown the need for small inconspicuous field works. The new defences were to now consist of small two man weapon-slits and small machine gun pits constructed in accordance with “Infantry Training, 1937” Supplement No.3 – “The design and lay-out of Field Defences, 1942”. Above...

Anti-tank ditch

December 31st Decided to visit the anti-tank ditch at Aldringham Walks this afternoon. It was constructed between late 1940 and early 1941 and ran from (north to south) Sizewell to the north of Thorpeness Mere. Some of its length is still visible today (see map and bottom photo)). The war diary of 9th Cameronians (15th Div) mentions the construction of the ditch in Margaret Wood (vicinity of No 12 Platoon, B Coy). The diary also mentions a pillbox being destroyed by the RE in No 12 platoons area, but no luck in finding any remains this time. The diary would also indicate the ditch was a combined obstacle with Z1 scaffolding. The top left photo shows the remains of a weapons pit/shell slit; six pieces of angle iron revetment still exist - one of the pieces is clearly visible in the photo. Perhaps this is part of No 12 platoons position. Many years ago when beating up the young woodland I found a Yorkshire billhook with the WO arrow dated 1946, so this area would appear to have ...

WW1 and WW2 Defences - Suffolk and beyond

Search This Blog