Eastern Command Line - Northern Extension: Part 1

Visiting family in Yorkshire again, I took the opportunity to stop off at a few pillboxes on the way. These are some of the pillboxes on the northern extension of the Eastern Command Line, which leaves G.H.Q Line East at Littleport to run up the Great Ouse towards Downham Market where it then runs west along Pophams Eau. I only had time to visit a fraction of the defences remaining in this area, so further visits required in the future (although as most are in Norfolk must admit not high on the agenda!).

The first pillbox I cam across was a bullet proof Type 24 along the A1123 which was presumably part of the outlying Cambridge defences / GHQ Line as it ran north of Cambridge along the River Cam.

Next up was a Type 28a pillbox for the 2 pounder anti-tank gun on the northern extension of the Eastern Command Line. It is located at Brandon Creek, just to the south of Southery. Note the screw pickets on the roof and the remains of a black finish on the roof to hide the shine form the concrete. I have no idea what the metal rods protruding from the inside of the embrasure where for.

Just a little further north up the road was this Shell proof Type 24.

Part 2 of this thread will look at some of the pillboxes on the northern extension of the Command Line in the Nordelph area.

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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 ...

WW1 and WW2 Defences - Suffolk and beyond

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