I have learned of a boom which was strung across Belfast Lough to prevent the enemy u-boats from gaining access. There was also an “Examination Vessel” manned by the Royal Navy in the centre of the lough between Bangor and Whitehead. I have attached photographs of the W.D. Marker near Grey Point Fort on the County Down coastline. I can make out that it says “No 1 To H.W.M. In Line With B.S. 1 & 2” Can anyone tell me what this means of have you any information about this?
Hi, offhand, HWM = High Water Mark BS = Boundary Stone? - any nearby? Octagonal block: I can't quite get the scale but it reminds me of a 29mm Spigot Mortar (Blacker Bombard) pedestal - provisional recommended dimensions (1941) 3'5" wide and about the same high with 15° shoulders. Pro: Smaller-scale defence to complement big guns above Con: As the WO also specified concrete-reinforcement rods running through holes in the foot-long pivot pin's bottom end, why didn't whoever apparently nicked it need to do more damage? Rgds, Steve
The block is about 3 feet in diameter. The small concrete wall type structure going down towards the beach has some direct connection to whatever this is. Thanks for the assistance.
The block is probably coincidental to the rib & marker I just found OS' Abbreviations page to confirm my acronym decoding Re "B.S. 1 & 2", I suggest you look at the OSNI map: Go to North Down BC's LocalView Search for and select 17 Sheridan Drive [BT19 1LB] Select the 'On The Map' tab and the 'hand' icon above the map Drag the map down to see your marker stone site near the 'U' of "Und" Note the line running directly inland from your marker position into #17's NE garden wall and continuing marked "CF" (= croft). That's where you'll probably find the two BSs cited by the cube. (NB: BSs are typically carved on opposite sides to identify the territories they divide - e.g. "HB" on the Helen's Bay side?) Since the marker is only supposed to be aligned with the first 2 BSs, the boundary presumably turns at the 2nd - suggesting the 2nd is where the 3 walls meet at the first southern corner of the small wood (looks too dense to wander in to check ).[*]My guess, given the faded paint flash on the rib's tip, apparent reference to 2 free-standing BSs behind it and assuming no trees or garden wall to mask those BSs back then, is that they added up to a rather low-key set of navigational markers* reserved for eyes knowing them to be there. And then there's that concrete obelisk just short of the western searchlight bunker - part of another set or a red herring to distract the enemy? * or ? (Left - mile indicator posts giving vessels a lateral fix along the coast / Right: lead marks marking a safe channel in toward the coast) I suspect Left!
