Shingle Street - Shingle Extraction, minefields and Donald Duck tanks

Another visit to Shingle Street recently, to take another look at some concrete road ways which I think are military. On my last visit to TNA I came across a document  which may explain their purpose - for shingle extraction.

There was an increasing need for ballast in 1943/44 due to the construction of new aerodromes for USAAF bombers and fighters and also for repairs to existing runways. The Air Ministry had been drawing ballast from Shingle Street to meet this priority work and in July 1944 wanted to open up further pits. This required opening up a gap in a minefield in the vicinity of the tank blocks between the two most northerly Martello Towers (the blocks still survive). Eastern Command carried out a recce of the beach and concluded it would be necessary to clear all five minefields in the area before shingle extraction could continue as further shingle extraction would result in disturbance of the minefields. It was estimated that it would take one platoon of Field Company RE's three months to clear the five minefields. Eastern Command only had one Bomb Disposal Company available, which were on a course of Company Training.

Above: Concrete tracks and proposed new extraction area, Shingle Street

Top two images show the track south of Shingle Street. Bottom two images show track to north of Shingle Street which was reinforced.

The Air Ministry Superintending Engineer considered that only a path had to be cleared to allow for the construction of 10 ft roadway. The plan was to  take only shingle brought up by each successive tide. The Air Ministry was working in consultation with various other bodies including the Coast Guards and East Suffolk Rivers Catchment Board, who were very concerned about the danger of coastal erosion.  On Aug 8th Eastern Command stated that to clear the pathway for the track would only take 14 days (although still maintained that all five minefields would need to be cleared) and the available resources to do this were now available if the Air Ministry were willing to accept the risks.

Above: The tank blocks which were in the location of the proposed new shingle extraction area and minefields to be cleared. Note remains of barbed wire screw pickets in bottom photo.

On Aug 12th the Air Ministry stated that in view of the circumstances they would not be proceeding with the scheme.

While I think these tracks are military and if so probably constructed for shingle extraction, it should be remembered the military were present from the start of the war. The Regional Commissioner ordered the evacuation of Shingle Street on Jun 22nd 1940 - necessary as the beach had been mined, ditches widened to form anti-tank ditches and the bridge at the Dumb-Boy sluice mined to be blown in the event of invasion. If invasion occurred in the area the village would soon be completely isolated. A combined high explosive / chemical bomb was dropped during a test on Mar 23rd 1943 and on at least one occasion trails with Duplex Drive tanks  (nicknamed the Donald Duck tank)  were carried out by 79th Armoured Division.

Above: Duplex Drive Valentine tank. Although the DD tanks that took place on D Day were Shermans, they were originally fitted to Valentines and 79th Armoured Division training  would almost certainly have been carried out with a Valentine.

South of the tank blocks I came across a series of linear depressions in three lines - are these remaining evidence of the minefields in the area? (perhaps mines that had exploded for some reason and not replaced). Reminds me of the similar series of depressions at Minsmere Dunes.

Above: The lines of linear depressions clearly show up from the air. Bottom image shows GPS plot.

Anti-invasion role of Fighter Command, Bomber Command and Coastal Command now on website.www.pillboxes-suffolk.webeden.co.uk