WW1 and WW2 Defences - Suffolk and beyond

We seemed to have spent quite a bit of time in this area so it seemed a good subject for the next blog post on this Somme Trip thread. The close of the Somme Battle in Nov 1916 had given the British command of both sides of the Ancre with the Germans in a salient projecting westwards . The Battle of Boom Ravine was planned as a 'bite and hold' operation to pinch out this salient from the south in order to obtain better positions for the resumption of the offensive proper in the spring of 1917 (the Germans spoilt the plans for the resumption of the offensive proper to some extent by retiring to the Hindenburg Line). Above: Regina Trench Cemetery which overlooks Boom Ravine (Boom Ravine can be seen in the background of the colour image). This trench was captured by the Canadians between Oct 1st and Nov 11th 1916. By this time it was not a trench as such but rather a collection of shell holes organised into a series of defensive posts.   The battle, which took plac...

Well actually managed to use all my annual leave up this year - still a few days left after arriving back from the Somme. On Tue went back up to the Eastern Command Line (more on that later) but today went up to Covehithe in weather that was more like mid June! Ended up at The Warren, much WW2 activity in this area although most now long gone due to coastal erosion - but a pillbox does still survive (think I may have posted on it before). Above: 'Suffolk Square' Pillbox, The Warren Bottom two photos show Covehithe from The Warren A quick look in the wood produced a pleasant surprise in the remains of what may have been the ablutions area of the Easton Wood Coastal Battery. Nothing much left except a drain manhole, a few bricks, broken pottery and some bottles but never the less still a fragment in the landscape surviving from WW2. It is worth noting I have found similar pottery and bottles at Diver sites - I must admit I have not checked the locations lists for any Diver ...

Back from another fantastic week on the Somme. It is frightening to think I have been going over for a week virtually every March with my brother since 1985!!. So a series of posts about this years trip - these are not intended as a 'History of the Battle of the Somme' in anyway but just a few highlights of the trip with some added snippets of history. We sailed form Dover to Dunkirk on Sat 18th allowing for a few hours in the Ypres Salient before arriving on the Somme in the early evening. This only really allowed time for a few visits to some cemeteries and bunkers. First of the big bunkers we came across was at a site called Goumier Farm (or also Gournrer Farm) on the Pilkem Ridge. This was basically a fortified Belgium farmhouse - the  Germans constructed it by enclosing the brick walls in concrete. It was an excellent location with good views over the surrounding area and changed hands many times until finally captured by the 38th...

In 1941 the 11th Highland Light Infantry (15th Division) were tasked with the defence of the Suffolk Coast between Bawdsey and Orford. Battalion HQ and HQ Company were distributed around Hollesley. No 3 Platoon (Mortar), No 4 Platoon (Carrier) and No 5 Platoon (Pioneer) were situated in copses just to the west of Poplar Farm. This Sunday I decided to have a look for any evidence in these copses remaining from the occupation by these platoons. Unfortunately an Equestrian event was also being held in the area during this weekend. I decided to persevere on recoding remains of corrugated  iron, 4" iron pipes etc much to the bemused looks from many horsey people! I also had a continuous commentary of the progress of various horses around the coarse from the loudspeakers (Susie Prank and Bonnie Prince Charlie are two horses I remember for some reason). Above: The copses in which the HQ Platoons were located in - the cars and horse boxes from the event can be s...

This post is basically a few snippets of information  I have found on the 75mm gun and its service in Home Defence to round off this thread.  There were basically two types used for Home Defence: French "Canon de modele 1897" : a revolutionary design at the time due to its recoil system allowing the gun to be continually fired without relaying after every round fired. The gun was the standard field gun for the French during WW1 and the American army were also widely equipped with it. Although America began to manufacture the gun in 1918, very few were shipped to France as most American batteries were equipped with French manufactured guns. America retained these home manufactured guns, largely for training. After Dunkirk when British forces lost many of their field guns, 600 M1897 guns were purchased from America. They were used in Field batteries and also as anti-tank guns. Although the gun was basically the 1897 model, many guns did have their carriages modified. ...

RA 15th Division Operational Instruction No 28 specified  the movement of certain Field batteries to make "the greatest possible fire power for A.T defence" - E Troop 494 battery was included in this instruction. By 16th April troops were to have completed the following task: "(a) Registration of primary and secondary defensive fire tasks (b) Wiring of troop position (c) camouflage, and track plan (d) Communications to bring each new position within the Signal Plan of each Sub-Sector". I had a look for any remains of the new position for E Troop at Tinkers Walks but could find no trace. It is however still easy to visualise the position in the landscape. This post will hopefully illustrate this and also look in more detail at the tasks of this field battery. The battery and its wagon line was sited in the vicinity of Eastwoodlodge Farm. The main observation post was in Walberswick and described as being in the "house with a tower". Above: The batter...