O Oh and there are these things still along the coast. Cheers You can see that the 'reverse slope' of the seawall is a formidable obstacle too. Is that Tower 24? Interesting story on the now demolished Tower 22 near the Redoubt: " it was destroyed in 1956, in an era before Martellos were regarded as ancient monuments. Kent County Council ordered its destruction to make way for road widening, and, despite being in poor condition, proved so resistant to conventional demolition methods, that after several days of failure the Army was called in to use explosives. Even then, problems were experienced. After the smoke cleared from the explosion, it was found that the tower still stood. It took several explosions to finish Tower 22 off." Tower 22
Thanks. :redface: Looking at the Defence of Britain Project database Defence of Britain Project | The Council for British Archaeology and Dymchurch seems rather underpopulated by Pillboxes. Given the intent to stop the enemy on the beaches there seems rather few for such an important, and well defended beach. I wonder if the Pillboxes were not lined up, or rather clusted, atop the seawall and then postwar cleared away so well that nothing remained Some of the houses and shops that overlook the beach may have been fortified but they are not revealed by the database either. John. Theres two pill boxes the 'land' side of the miniature railway in a field opposite my parents house. I'll try and find the thread- I posted some pictures. My Dad swears there was a RAF airfield there during the war but there appears to be no mention of it on the net. Cheers Andy
You can see that the 'reverse slope' of the seawall is a formidable obstacle too. Is that Tower 24? Interesting story on the now demolished Tower 22 near the Redoubt: " it was destroyed in 1956, in an era before Martellos were regarded as ancient monuments. Kent County Council ordered its destruction to make way for road widening, and, despite being in poor condition, proved so resistant to conventional demolition methods, that after several days of failure the Army was called in to use explosives. Even then, problems were experienced. After the smoke cleared from the explosion, it was found that the tower still stood. It took several explosions to finish Tower 22 off." Tower 22 I'm not sure where this one is. Its not in Dymchurch. I think it may be further towards Folkstone after the Ranges at Hythe. As promised here's the link John: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/great-britain/16384-searching-info-littlestones-airfield-kent.html Cheers Andy
John. Theres two pill boxes the 'land' side of the miniature railway in a field opposite my parents house. I'll try and find the thread- I posted some pictures. My Dad swears there was a RAF airfield there during the war but there appears to be no mention of it on the net. Cheers Andy Have you played with the Defence of Britain database plug-in for Google Earth? ADS: ArchSearch: Please accept the terms and conditions Really superb.
Cheers John My IT expert has put it on my PC. Its a shame they don't show them all on the map or list them by counties or something. I gave up looking for stuff in Kent on the coast. It is good though Cheers Andy
Parts of the North East coast wee also considered possible landing sites. Recently found these on the web - photos of my home town, Redcar, which is on an 8 mile stretch of beach near the mouth of the river tees. Noel
My dad was posted along that stretch of coast in the summer of 1940 after call up with the South Staffs. The danger of invasion was seen as highly possible. He said the training was rushed and the equipment in short supply. It was more Dads Army than British Army. From the age of 14yrs he had worked on the railways but was still enlisted. I understand this got him a cushy job operating the narrow guage railway along that stretch of coast until he was tranferred to the Royal Engineers and another cushy billet. Heroism does not seem to run in our family. To clarify my post I am talking about the south coast , Dymchurch area. Perhaps after 1940 it was thought the threat of invasion was negligable and heavy concrete defences not required.
Thanks. :redface: Looking at the Defence of Britain Project database Defence of Britain Project | The Council for British Archaeology and Dymchurch seems rather underpopulated by Pillboxes. Given the intent to stop the enemy on the beaches there seems rather few for such an important, and well defended beach. I wonder if the Pillboxes were not lined up, or rather clusted, atop the seawall and then postwar cleared away so well that nothing remained Some of the houses and shops that overlook the beach may have been fortified but they are not revealed by the database either. As mentioned above, the plan was to flood the marshes and fortify the high ground north of the Royal Military Canal. Therefore, its not really worth building defences if you don't plan to use them.
On 'The Real Dads Army' last night on Chann 4 they showed a German Op Sea Lion map and a Big Blue arrow went across the beach from the sea where the first picture was taken, so I guess it would have been from a German point of view. Cheers Andy
As mentioned above, the plan was to flood the marshes and fortify the high ground north of the Royal Military Canal. Therefore, its not really worth building defences if you don't plan to use them. The Royal Military Canal was really a second line off defence for defence in depth. The main line of resistance, if you will, was along the coast, with many Nodal Points or Fortresses such as at Burmarsh, Ham Street and Appledore within the Canal. Initially I believe the defence of the RMC was split between 45th and 1st (London) Divisions though I don't know how, maybe a reserve battalion of the Brigade, although I don't see how that could have been spared from defence of the coast, or the reserve brigade which should have had a mobile counter-attack role. From about the 26th September until maybe November defence of the RMC was entrusted to 31st Infantry Brigade Group (2nd South Staffs., 2nd Ox. & Bucks., and 1st Royal Ulster Rifles) with 2 battalions 'up' on the Canal and one in reserve in the area High Halden - Bethersden.
In September 1940 Dymchurch was defended by the 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry of 45th Division with to the left 1st Battalion London Rifle Brigade (of 1st London Division) and to the right the 5th Somerset Light Infantry. No.6 Commando was also in the area with the specific task of protection of the coastal gun batteries and the super-heavy artillery. The SLI Veteran I recently met says he was on the railway , he was with 6 SLI (45th Div) & then posted to 2 SLI (4th Div) I think I said he was sent to 2 SLI just post-Dunkirk, it must have been later than that, must try & clarify that bit. see post #14 http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/italy/15725-2nd-bn-somserset-light-infantry.html
Owen, have you seen the Thread about SLI Killed in training on the beach? Did the chap you met mention it? Here you go mate: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searching-someone-military-genealogy/16449-private-percy-deverill-no5680979.html Andy
No mate he wouldn't know anything about it, he was in Italy patching up casualties in the Liri Valley battle. Wrong battalion, the one you mention is 4SLI
http://www.google.ca/images?q=tbn:A8YE8TDxUrFkdM::i1.trekearth.com/photos/86583/empty_beach_chair.jpg&h=94&w=141&usg=__bKdCo5Z0qnR7eixxOevrUDjb7fE= Of course, this typical example of a British beach obstacle clearly shows the diabolical nature of planned defense. Horrific infantry casualties were to be expected in any landing attempt.
I was on holiday down that way in 2005. We went to the Port Lympne Wild Animal Park up on the hills a few miles in-land. If there was Artillery OP up there & suffienct guns, the Germans would never get ashore. I did take a photo of the view but it's up in the loft. (I don't usually do what if's but this one is a sensible one.) EDIT: Found photo, taken before I got a digital camera. Looking towards Dymchurch. If British defended this high ground and had this view, the Germans would have a bit of trouble advancing inland. Did you notice the pill boxes and bunkers when you was there Owen? Only realised on my last trip a few months back when driving past with my Dad etc that the zoo used to be an airfield (of sorts) during WW2.
We went to the Port Lympne Wild Animal Park up on the hills a few miles in-land. If there was Artillery OP up there & suffienct guns, the Germans would never get ashore. I did take a photo of the view but it's up in the loft. (I don't usually do what if's but this one is a sensible one.) EDIT: Found photo, taken before I got a digital camera. Looking towards Dymchurch. If British defended this high ground and had this view, the Germans would have a bit of trouble advancing inland Drew, take a look HERE - Axis History Forum • View topic - Intended FJ role in Sealion Some VERY interesting pics of the area from the viewpoint of Lympne over the proposed landing area. And backwards UP at Lympne...
Some VERY interesting pics of the area from the viewpoint of Lympne over the proposed landing area. And backwards UP at Lympne... I know......It was me that took them
Yes, but did you see the use they were put to there? is what I meant I didn't put them on the thread here, because by that time the AHF thread was MUCH more advanced with a lot of other GoogleEarth input to the situation on the ground.
