Skip to main content

More from Yorkshire

I have just not had the time time to get out and about in Suffolk lately, so this post is about a couple of section posts on the East Yorkshire Coast. They are basically chevron shaped concrete posts based on the 'V' shaped earthwork section post.  They consist of a sunken concrete 'V shaped trench' with embrasures at field level. One example can be found at Robin Hood's Bay (with a sunken entrance at each end) and another at Cayton Bay (sunken entrance on each of the inner walls). Half of the one at Cayton has already fallen over the cliff top and the one at Robin Hood's bay is sure to suffer from cliff top erosion in the near future. This type of section post was probably more common in the North than on the East Anglian Coast - I am unaware of any examples in Suffolk although similar 'L' shaped section posts can be found in Norfolk (e.g. Bacton).
This blog and the accompanying website have now been going for about one year. I realise the blog has strayed all over the place - not just focused on its original objective to document field work on existing anti-invasion defences in Suffolk. This is mostly due to the fact that the more I have looked into the whole subject the more info I have found and the more threads to follow up on. The whole project has been more successful than I ever dreamed off (with near on 3000 hits on the website and 2400 hits on the blog since May 2010 - I would have considered a 100 hits a success!!) so thanks to everyone who has taken the time to look.
Time now to announce another 'Work in Progress' as it already has had a few hits:
This site is intended to look at civilian roles in respect of anti-invasion preparations - from the Home Guard to Emergency and Invasion Committees.
Images 1 to 3: Section post, Robin Hood Bay.
Image 4: Simple Google sketchup model on the above section post.
Image 5 to 7: Section post, Cayton Bay.
Image 8: Page from 1925 Manual of Field Works, illustrating various earthwork section posts including the 'V' or chevron shaped post.

































































Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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 ...