Skip to main content

Twin Vickers MG Pillbox, Beach Farm - Benacre

Following on from a recent comment on the blog, I thought I'd post the photos of the twin Vickers Machine gun pillbox, Benacre - visited in April but just never got round to posting. I think the pillbox was also used as an Observer Corps post after the war; safety rails for the observation post still visible although the underground post has been infilled. Several Suffolk Square Pillboxes can also be seen in the area (think I have already posted on these, but lose track these days) as well as some remains of concrete tank blocks on the track which exits the beach.

Coastal erosion continues to reveal the drainage system of military camps in the area, no doubt something new revealed (as well as lost) every year.

Kessingland Coastal Battery now on website. Next post shortly on RAF Station 373.

Image 1 & 2: Twin Vickers machine gun pillbox. Other surviving examples can be seen at Blythburgh and Dunwich. Note rails of ROC post on top.
Image 3: Telephone mast(?), ROC post
Image 4 -7: Showing the two gun positions separated by a anti-ricochet wall, the tables on which the Vickers mg would have sat on and the fields of fire from the embrasures.
Image 8: Remains of tank traps on the track leading off the beach.
Image 9: Section of 4" glazed stoneware drain pipe
Image 10: Remains of drain manhole












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 ...