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Summary

Braunton Camp, part of the Second World War US Assault Training Centre in North Devon. The camp is visible on aerial photographs of 1945 onwards, elements of the complex surviving to be visible on aerial photographs of 1968. Much of the camp site is now covered by Saunton Park residential estate.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS43NE/250

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ARMY CAMP (World War II - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)
• BARRACKS (World War II - 1943 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Unknown, 1944, Roads and Training Aids: U.S. Assault Training Center (Un-published). SDV339604.

Braunton Camp is shown as a hached area to the west of Braunton on the US Army plans of the Assault Training Center.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/891, NMR RAF/106G/UK/891 4073-4074 08-OCT-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349055.

The camp and associated roads and tracks are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1501, RAF/106G/UK/1501 3007-3009 13-MAY-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV337198.

The camp is vlearly visible, including areas of former temporary tented camps.

Royal Air Force, 1949, RAF/541/402, NMR RAF/541/402 3036-3037 18-NOV-1949 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349942.

Camp structures remain visible and trucks are visible on site.

Royal Air Force, 1953, RAF/58/1136 (F22), NMR RAF/58/1136 (F22) 0130-0131 09-JUN-1953 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349944.

Most camp structures remain visible but possible training structures have been removed.

Royal Air Force, 1954, RAF/82/1031 (F22), NMR RAF/82/1031 (F22) 0016-0017 29-SEP-1954 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349945.

Structures to the western end of the camp have been removed.

Ordnance Survey, 1963, SS43NE (Cartographic). SDV336850.

The northwestern area of the barracks is shown as 'Quantock' on the 1963 map.

Royal Air Force, 1964, RAF 543/2821 F64, NMR RAF/543/2821 (F64) 0217-0218 27-APR-1964 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349946.

Nissen or Quonset hut bases remain visible.

Ordnance Survey, 1968, OS/68274, NMR RAF/543/2821 (F64) 0217-0218 27-APR-1964 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349947.

Some foundation bases are visible, but only two structures survive.

Ordnance Survey, 1989, OS/89115, NMR OS/89115 346-347 04-MAY-1989 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349086.

No camp remains can be seen.

Bass, R. T., 1992, Spirits of the Sand, 63 (Monograph). SDV339609.

Horner, B., 1994, Untitled Source (Personal Comment). SDV339725.

Military camp visible on 1946 aerial photograph. Groups of Nissen huts etc spread out amongst lanes and former strip fields to the west of Braunton. Some of these structures are still marked on the 1963 map. Presumably associated with the Braunton/Saunton Sands World war II US Assault Training Centre. Two parrallel rows of Nissen huts are visible on the 1946 aerial photograph along the north side of Fairlinch Lane.

Bass, R. T., 1996, Guide to the US Assault Training Centre North Devon, 11,13,46-7 (Un-published). SDV325695.

On 7/8/1943 Companies C, E and F of the US 398th Engineer General Service regiment arrived at Braunton to construct the Assault Training Centre. 505 nissen (or quonset) huts were erected for quarters, dispensaries, showers, ablutions and mess halls, to accommodate 4250 men. There were also tented camps. The 146th Engineer Combat Battalion took over maintenance of the Assault Training Centre after 27/10/1943 and 'A' Company was stationed at Braunton Camp where the huts were still unfinished as the 398th were still at work building the camp. On 13/10/1943 350 of the 505 huts had been completed. Roads were largely completed by early December. Some of the original concrete roads still survive as part of the Saunton Park residential estate.

Bass, R. T., 2005, Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition, 104-5 (Monograph). SDV325697.

Braunton Camp was constructed for the troops at the World War II US Assault Training Centre in North Devon. The camp included huts, roads and a sewage system.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S., 2011 - 2012, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV349018.

The Second World War U.S. Army camp is visible as a range of structures and earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards. The camp is largely composed of Nissen or Quonset huts, commonly arranged in rows or pairs along the perimeters of fields, and accessed by either hardened, probably concrete roads, or narrow tracks or footpaths. The layout is most clearly visible on RAF vertical aerial photographs of 1945 and 1946. Larger structures or groups of structures, possibly communal messing or ablutions blocks, are visible at circa SS47473737, SS47683728, SS47893715, SS47623711 and SS47623700. Playing fields are visible at circa SS 475372 and SS 477370. A possible reservoir, perhaps associated with the on site sewage systems is visible at circa SS 477373. Evidence of temporary tented camps remain visible on aerial photographs of May 1946 at SS477370 and SS477368, the parched bases possibly indicating a variety of square and circular, Bell tent like tents had been pitched. Two circular, presumably hardened bases circa four metres in diameter are visible at circa SS47413737, possibly hard standing for water tanks. These are located within the same complex as what appear to be communal, possibly messing and ablutions blocks. Circa 30 metres to the south of these structures is visible a grid pattern marked onto the ground surface, comprising sixteen cells 15 by 8 metres in size. The eastern edge of the field containing this grid, and the eastern edge of the grid pattern itself, appears to have been worn away, possible by use as a parade or drill ground.
Removal of camp structures had begun by 1949, but the presence of lorrys or trucks at circa SS475369 indicate some activity continued on site at this time. By June 1953 most of the camp remained visible, but a range of structures and earthworks previously arrayed along the western edge of a field at circa SS 473371, had been removed. These structures and earthworks were possibly a training area, each structure or pit crossed by possible slit trenches or ruts, possibly worn by training activity. By September 1954 the structures at the western edge of the camp had begun to be removed, and by April 1964 only the hard standing bases of most former Nissen or Quonset huts were visible. By August 1968 the only upstanding major structures were two long Nissen or Quonset huts at circa SS474373. By May 1989, No identifiable camp remains were visible.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325695	Un-published: Bass, R. T.. 1996. Guide to the US Assault Training Centre North Devon. Manuscript. 11,13,46-7.
SDV325697	Monograph: Bass, R. T.. 2005. Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition. Spirits of the Sand. A5 Paperback. 104-5.
SDV336850	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1963. SS43NE. Ordnance Survey 6 inch map. Map (Paper).
SDV337198	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1501. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1501 3007-3009 13-MAY-1946.
SDV339604	Un-published: Unknown. 1944. Roads and Training Aids: U.S. Assault Training Center. U.S. Plans from R.T.Bass. Mixed Archive Material + Digital.
SDV339609	Monograph: Bass, R. T.. 1992. Spirits of the Sand. Spirits of the Sand. Unknown. 63.
SDV339725	Personal Comment: Horner, B.. 1994.
SDV349018	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S.. 2011 - 2012. North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. ACD383/2/1. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV349055	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/UK/891. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/UK/891 4073-4074 08-OCT-1945.
SDV349086	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1989. OS/89115. Ordnance Survey Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR OS/89115 346-347 04-MAY-1989.
SDV349942	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1949. RAF/541/402. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/541/402 3036-3037 18-NOV-1949.
SDV349944	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1953. RAF/58/1136 (F22). Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/58/1136 (F22) 0130-0131 09-JUN-1953.
SDV349945	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1954. RAF/82/1031 (F22). Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/82/1031 (F22) 0016-0017 29-SEP-1954.
SDV349946	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1964. RAF 543/2821 F64. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/543/2821 (F64) 0217-0218 27-APR-1964.
SDV349947	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1968. OS/68274. Ordnance Survey Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/543/2821 (F64) 0217-0218 27-APR-1964.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project

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