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Summary

A small square structure surrounded by a barbed wire entanglement is visible on aerial photographs of 1945. The structure is probably the site of Training Aid 19, as depicted on a U.S. Army plan of Braunton Burrows Second World War training area.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and structural remains of World War II military training features for D-Day Landings on Braunton Burrows and nineteenth century reclaimed field system on Braunton Marsh NW of Horsey Island

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS43SE/264/6
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MILITARY TRAINING SITE (World War II - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• 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 aids 19-21 recorded on U.S. Army plans.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/LA/102, NMR RAF/106G/LA/102 5007-8 17-JAN-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349060.

Training Aid 19 is clearly visible as a structure.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/LA/133, NMR RAF/106G/LA/133 5023 15-FEB-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349062.

Training Aid 19 is clearly visible as a structure.

Bass, R. T., 1992, Spirits of the Sand, 95-96 (Monograph). SDV339609.

Bass, R. T., 1996, Guide to the US Assault Training Centre North Devon, 27 (Un-published). SDV325695.

Three separate clusters of pillbox ruins stretch for 350 yards from north to south, parallel to the coastline and between the beach dunes and Ugly Lump Slack in the north, past Doughnut Slack almost to Old Met Slack in the south.

Bass, R. T., 2005, Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition, 37 (Monograph). SDV325697.

Range 19 is described as being used to teach and practice breaching barbed wire entanglements.

Bass, R. T., 2005, Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition, Page 39. (Monograph). SDV325697.

Range 19 is described as being used to teach and practice breaching barbed wire entanglements.

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

'Concrete Faces' and a 'Mound' are annotated onto the Braunton Burrows Habitat Map.

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

Visited 2009. At SS45013342 there are two large mounds, both too large to represent a single pillbox and probably natural dunes. One appears more isolated but is surrounded by vehicle tracks giving this appearance. There are smaller low mounds to the east. There is no debris visible in this area. (See also Monument 77528)

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

A small structure circa 3.5 metres square is visible on aerial photographs of Braunton Burrows taken in January and February 1945. The structure was partly enclosed by an irregulary laid out fence or barbed wire obstruction; it appears to have been unenclosed on its north-eastern edge. This was one of three such structures in close proximity, and was probably the site of training aid 19, as depicted on a U.S. Army plan of Braunton Burrows Second World War training area. Range 19 is described as being used to teach and practice breaching barbed wire entanglements. The structure is not readily identifiable on later aerial photographs and might have been demolished or obscured by shifting dunes immediately after the war.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325695	Un-published: Bass, R. T.. 1996. Guide to the US Assault Training Centre North Devon. Manuscript. 27.
SDV325697	Monograph: Bass, R. T.. 2005. Spirits of the Sand: Field Edition. Spirits of the Sand. A5 Paperback. 37.
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.
SDV339609	Monograph: Bass, R. T.. 1992. Spirits of the Sand. Spirits of the Sand. Unknown. 95-96.
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 5007-8 17-JAN-1945. [Mapped feature: #61956 ]
SDV349062	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/LA/133. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/LA/133 5023 15-FEB-1945.

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 (Ref: ACD383/2/1)

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