Orford and Amateur Cricket!

Despite no posts in the last couple of weeks, have visited a few sites - much material for the blog which is just as well, as with vegetation now growing up, field work will probably slow right down until Oct/Nov. So on Sun 16th walked from Orford to Butley Ferry and back around Gedgrave Hall. Orford was a company locality during 1940-42, and Orford Quay considered a possible enemy target, allowing them to sail badges up the River Alde and unload at the Quay. Indeed this was the assumption for unloading the main  enemy force in Exercise Force Donnerwetter which I have already blogged on. 

In the  car park at Orford a number of concrete blocks can be found, at least a couple I am certain are standard 3 ft tank blocks. Others have scaffolding poles through the middle, possibly  for anchoring naval Z1 scaffolding? They may of course not be war time at all, sometimes you have to take a step back and remind yourself that every lump of concrete you come across is not the remains of some anti-invasion defence! Along the seawall just to the south is a Suffolk Square dug into the seawall, covering the approach to the Quay. At Butley Ferry, came across some scaffolding remains, again possibly war time or perhaps just the remains of an old jetty. Nothing on the walk back past Gedgrave Hall.

During the last week, a couple of finds on the heath, a small aluminium or zinc tag and a .50" browning round (now deactivated!!! - have also attached a pic of all the SAA found over the last couple of yrs). The tag has writing on it: Rendan Manufacturing Company (GB) Ltd / Brit. Patent 480082 / Brit. Appln. 35433/38 / CTS. 294/W/9446 (CON.I) / R.W.E.S Type No A000394. All I have been able to find out about this is that Rendan Manuf. Co was wound up in 1952 and had a works team in Halifax & District Amateur Cricket Association league, certainly playing during the war. I guess the tag must have come from some sort of ammunition box.
Much more to come over the next few weeks, including another trip to the Eastern Command Line this last weekend.

Photo 1: Concrete blocks, Orford. Second in from the right almost certainly a 3 ft tank block

Photo 2 and 3: Suffolk Sq dug into seawall, Orford.

Photo 4: Remains of scaffolding at Butley Ferry

Photo 5: Browning .50 heavy MG round (deactivated - note marks on bullet left by the jaws of bench vice!!) and unidentified metal tag.

Photo 6: Small arms ammo found to date