See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

A possible dummy pillbox and two possible barbed wire obstructions are visible as structures on aerial photographs of 1946 . They are likely to be components of Training Aid 40, as depicted on a U.S. Army plan of the Second World War Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows. The structures are not visible on later aerial photographs but might correspond with rubble recorded in the field.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and structural remains of World War II military training features for D-Day Landings on Braunton Burrows

Other References/Statuses

• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FIRING RANGE (World War II - 1943 AD to 1944 AD (Between))
• PILLBOX (ASSAULT TRAINING) (World War II - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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

Training Aid numbers 39, 40 and 41 shown on US army plan in a line to the east of the shore of Saunton Green beach. Training Aid number 11 is shown to the east of Training Aid number 41.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1501, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1501 3003-3004 13-MAY-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349927.

A small rectangular structure and two ephemeral linear structurs are visible.

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

Bass, R. T., 2005, Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition, 67-88, 75 (Monograph). SDV325697.

Remnants of Training Aid Numbers 11, 40 and 41 in Area 'D' at the World War II US Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows. Training Aid No 11 was located at SS4496536560 and consisted of steel reinforcing bars, concrete rubble was found at Training Aid Nos 41 at SS4465036407. Training Aid No 40 was used for mortar instruction and sighting on open targets but no features remain. Training Aid No 39 was not located.

Miller, D., 2006, World War Two Features Annotated onto Braunton Burrows Habitat Map (Cartographic). SDV339606.

'Rubble' is marked on the Nature Conservancy Council map to the northeast of Training Aid 39 at SS44803694 and to the northeast of Training Aid 40 at SS44843674. A 'Pillbox' is marked to the northeast of Training Aid 11 at SS44903660. No features are shown at Training Aid 41.

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

Training Aid 40 was used for mortar instruction and sighting on open targets but no features were recorded during Bass' fieldwork. however the Nature Conservancy Council map records 'rubble to the northeast at SS44843674. Training Aid No 39 was not located by Bass but again 'Rubble' is marked on the Nature Conservancy Council map to the northeast at SS44803694.
Visited 2009. Training Aid 40. Nothing visible at NGR 4481436710 or 44843671. This area lies within large flat slack with some low mounds, and vegetation from low grass and moss to dense scrub.

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

A small rectangular structure circa 6 metres by 4 metres in size is visible on aerial photographs of May 1946. The structure is likely to be a mock-up German pillbox and part of Training Aid 40, as depicted on a U.S. Army plan of the Second World War Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows. Two ephemeral parallel curvilinear structures, 30 and 50 metres north-east of the structure and up to 100 metres in length, may be barbed wire obstructions. A cluster of craters to the north east and over the linear features may have been created during training exercises that included live firing. The structures are not readily identifiable on later available aerial photographs and were probably demolished or obscured by shifting sand dunes following the war.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325697	Monograph: Bass, R. T.. 2005. Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition. Spirits of the Sand. A5 Paperback. 67-88, 75.
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.
SDV339606	Cartographic: Miller, D.. 2006. World War Two Features Annotated onto Braunton Burrows Habitat Map. Nature Conservancy Council. Photocopy.
SDV339613	Cartographic: Nature Conservancy Council. 1989. Braunton Burrows Habitat Map. Photocopy + Digital.
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
SDV349927	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1501. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/UK/1501 3003-3004 13-MAY-1946. [Mapped feature: #101351 ]

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

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.