WW1 and WW2 Defences - Suffolk and beyond

I spent an interesting day mapping the WW 1 training trenches on the outskirts of Ipswich. They appear to represent opposing trench lines; the line that has survived the best consists of a front line and support line linked by communication trenches. On the other line, the front line survives but the rest of the system has mostly been infilled, as it runs through the nearby golf curse. The outline of part of the system can still be seen on the green! Above: GPS plot of trenches  and shell holes near Ipswich. Some shell holes may have been missed due to thick bramble and gorse scrub in places.  Above: The continuation of the trench system can still be seen on the nearby golf green The front and support lines consist of short  fire bays with traverses. The purpose of traverses was to give protection against enfilade fire and to localize the effect of a bomb or shell bursting in the trench. This gives the trench line the familiar crenelated pattern seen in ...

I have visited these defences a few time, all that now remains of the defences of RAF Martlesham Heath, but learning that the site is included in the plans for thousands of new homes at Martlesham, I decided to record the remains in a bit more detail as it is hard to see them being preserved if the Planning Permission goes ahead, which is likely.  The following posts includes the recording on this visit plus some images from previous visits. The site includes a Type 22 pillbox, Type 23 pillbox, remains of a building with a loopholed wall and remains of weapon-pits / slit trenches. It was once possible to see the pillboxes as you drove past on the A12 but a bank now screens the field from the road; not sure if this is to do with the planned houses or screening the nearby quarry.  Anyway, one building has been destroyed with building a bank in the field. Above: The area today, soon to be part of a housing estate? Type 22 pillbox: A very good and clean example. ...