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Summary

A concrete wall and two rows of foxhole firing positions are visible as a structure and earthworks on Braunton Burrows on aerial photographs from 1945 onwards. The wall and pits comprised a bazooka training Rocket Range within the Second World War U.S. Assault Training Centre.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and structural remains of World War II military training features for D-Day Landings on Braunton Burrows
• Listed Building (II) 1463748: Second World War Practice Rocket Wall, Braunton Burrows

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS43SW/8/1
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FIRING RANGE (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Rocket range recorded on original US army plans.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/LA/102, NMR RAF/106G/LA/102 5018-5019 17-JAN-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349060.

The wall and firing position earthworks are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1501, 4003 (Aerial Photograph). SDV337198.

Other details: HER 3/30.

Royal Air Force, 1952, RAF/540/949, NMR RAF/540/949 5022-5023 24-NOV-1952 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349761.

The wall remains clearly visible but the firing position earthworks are becoming overgrown.

Royal Air Force, 1956, RAF/540/1768, NMR RAF/540/1768 0014-0015 03-JAN-1956 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349763.

The wall remains clearly visible but the firing position earthworks are no longer visible.

Griffith, F. M., 1984, DAP/DW, DAP DW1 (Aerial Photograph). SDV81712.

The wall remains clearly visible.

Nature Conservancy Council, 1989, Braunton Burrows Habitat Map (Cartographic). SDV339613.

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

The Rocket Range was for bazooka training.

Horner, B., 1995, Untitled Source (Site Visit). SDV339651.

Concrete wall in open area amongst dunes. Marked on habitat map. Also recorded on 1946 aerial photograph.

Bass, R. T., 1996, Guide to the US Assault Training Centre North Devon, 30-1 (Un-published). SDV325695.

The rocket launcher was a new weapon to most infantrymen and was a key element in the assault section's tactics. The Assault Training Centre introduced the weapon to the rocket teams, demonstrated its potential and coached proficiency in marksmanship on the rocket range.

Next Perspectives, 2001, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4434 22-MAY-2001 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349376.

The wall remains clearly visible.

Bass, R. T., 2005, Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition, 52-66, 61 (Monograph). SDV325697.

Large concrete and steel remains of the Rocket Wall were located in 2005. The range was within the World War II US Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows. Variations in vegetation colour in the floor of Butts Slack indicate the location of foxholes and trenches used as firing positions.

Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J., 2007, The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report, No. 895 (Report - Assessment). SDV339712.

Passmore, A. + Knight, S., 2009, Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Updated Spreadsheet of Archaeological Sites (Un-published). SDV344664.

Visited 2009. Rocket range wall for bazooka training. Long reinforced concrete wall 1.8 metres thick by 2.3 metres high. Rear (west) face is smooth (wooden shuttering) with regularly spaced bolt holes. Front face is badly damaged due to use as target and has numerous small pockmarks. On the ground to the east is a thin section of plating from a military vehicle, formerly used as a target, containing several small pockmarks from ordinance. The ground to the east is flat, presumably representing the range. This site was also recorded from an inspection of a Lidar survey.
Good condition, but largely obscured by vegetation. Some military vehicle training nearby.

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

A concrete wall and two rows of foxhole firing positions comprised a bazooka training Rocket Range within the Second World War U.S. Assault Training Centre. The wall is circa 30 metres long and orientated roughly north-west to south-east. A rectilinear earthwork mound circa 17 metres beyond the north-western end of the wall might also bepart of the range. Two rows of foxholes, earthwork pits between 1.5 and 4 metres across, shielded on their western side by upcast spoil, are visible circa 50 and 75 metres from the wall, and are probably the bazooka firing positions. The wall is visible on aerial photographs from 1945 onwards, but the firing position earthworks became overgrown by 1952 and were no longer visible by 1956

Historic England, 2019, Second World War Practice Rocket Wall, Braunton Burrows, Braunton, (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV363298.

Historic Englandd have taken into account all the representations made, and completed our assessment of the building. Having considered the recommendation, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has decided to add Second World War practice rocket wall to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. The building is now listed at Grade II.

The practice rocket, or ‘Bazooka’, wall at Braunton Burrows, Devon was built in 1943 for American troops to practice for the D-Day landings. The structures are being assessed now to coincide with the 75th anniversary of D-Day on 6 June 2019.

The concrete practice rocket wall is located within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Braunton Burrows is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.

Braunton Burrows is regularly used for recreational activities and the South West Coast Path and Tarka Trail run through the sand dunes. Military training continues to take place around the Burrows on a less-often basis; in the past this has resulted in some damage to the structure

Historic England, 2019, World War Two Training Structures, North Devon Coast. (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV362791.

Historic England has received an application to add The Rocket Wall to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.

The practice rocket, or ‘Bazooka’, wall at Braunton Burrows, Devon was built in 1943 for American troops to practice for the D-Day landings. The structures are being assessed now to coincide with the 75th anniversary of D-Day on 6 June 2019.

The concrete practice rocket wall is located within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Braunton Burrows is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.

Braunton Burrows is regularly used for recreational activities and the South West Coast Path and Tarka Trail run through the sand dunes. Military training continues to take place around the Burrows on a less-often basis; in the past this has resulted in some damage to the structure.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325695	Un-published: Bass, R. T.. 1996. Guide to the US Assault Training Centre North Devon. Manuscript. 30-1.
SDV325697	Monograph: Bass, R. T.. 2005. Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition. Spirits of the Sand. A5 Paperback. 52-66, 61.
SDV337198	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1501. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 4003.
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.
SDV339613	Cartographic: Nature Conservancy Council. 1989. Braunton Burrows Habitat Map. Photocopy + Digital.
SDV339651	Site Visit: Horner, B.. 1995.
SDV339712	Report - Assessment: Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J.. 2007. The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report. Exeter Archaeology Report. 06.22 (rev.1). A4 Stapled + Digital. No. 895.
SDV344664	Un-published: Passmore, A. + Knight, S.. 2009. Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Updated Spreadsheet of Archaeological Sites. Exeter Archaeology Report. Digital.
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
SDV349060	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/LA/102. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/LA/102 5018-5019 17-JAN-1945.
SDV349376	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2001. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4434 22-MAY-2001.
SDV349761	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1952. RAF/540/949. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/540/949 5022-5023 24-NOV-1952.
SDV349763	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1956. RAF/540/1768. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/540/1768 0014-0015 03-JAN-1956.
SDV362791	List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest: Historic England. 2019. World War Two Training Structures, North Devon Coast.. Application Received to Add Building to List. Digital.
SDV363298	List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest: Historic England. 2019. Second World War Practice Rocket Wall, Braunton Burrows, Braunton,. Additions and Amendments to Checklist.
SDV81712	Aerial Photograph: Griffith, F. M.. 1984. DAP/DW. Devon Aerial Photograph. DAP DW1.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4737 - Stewardship Scheme Archaeological Survey, Braunton Burrows
• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project

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