Summary

A battery of two elderly ex-naval 6-inch guns at Clacton.

Full description

1996: ' Fortifications of East Anglia' records that there was a battery of two elderly ex-naval 6-inch guns at Clacton and provides a diagram of the site layout. <1>

A low-level aerial photograph taken in July 1948 shows the gun site very clearly. The two casemates stand on the cliff top where a promontory juts out seaward. Behind them there are other large structures identified by Fortifications of East Anglia as shelter and magazines. On their W side are five anti-tank blocks and approx. 100 yards away on each side is a pillbox (SMR 10782 and SMR 10784). <2>

Two postcards franked in 1952 and 1950, show what appears to be the western-most casemate in the background and the Battery Observation Post standing on the cliff top at TM 1953 1574. <4>

An aerial photograph taken in 1960 shows the area clear with no sign of any fortifications. <3>

The cliff top is now grass with no indication of any remains.

2007: Contemporary records (Dobinson, C) list the site as being armed with two 6-inch (Naval) guns on 15 January 1941 and 27 September 1944. On five separate dates, from 29 October 1940 to 22 February 1945, it is shown to be manned by 548 Regiment 331 Battery.

<1> Kent, P, 1988, Fortifications of East Anglia, pp65 and 68 (DESC TEXT). SEX31443.

<2> RAF, 1948, 58-89-5229 (AP). SEX61256.

<3> RAF, 1960, Run 19-086 (AP). SEX61258.

<4> unknown, 1950, Holland-on-Sea (Photograph). SEX61259.

Monument Types

• COASTAL BATTERY (WWII, Second World War - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Associated Events

• WWII Coastal Defences - Fred Nash visits 1996-1997 (Ref: Nash ESSEX Dec 1996-Jan 1997)
• WWII Defences of Clacton - Fred Nash visits July 2007 (Ref: Nash TEN Jul 2007)

Sources and further reading

Related records

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