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Summary

A small square structure and possible barbed wire obstructions visible on aerial photographs of 1946 are probably part of Training Aid 11, as depicted on a U.S. Army plan of the Second World War Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows. They are not visible on later aerial photographs but might correspond with earthworks and steel bars 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

• PILLBOX (ASSAULT TRAINING) (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.

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 circa 4 metres square is visible. Map object based on this source.

Bass, R. T., 1992, Spirits of the Sand, 67-88 (Monograph). SDV339609.

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.

Site (pillbox) previously recorded on HER as part of Monument 74059. No sign of structural remains in this vicinity. Immediately north of NGR is a circa 10 metre x 10 metre raised earthwork, possibly representing pillbox depicted on NCC map. To south, however, there is a series of small east-west dune ridges which could also account for the north and south sides of the earthwork. Area under grass, moss and Marram grass. Other details: Site 23.

Unknown, 2010, Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Shapefiles of Archaeological Sites (Un-published). SDV344665.

Map object based on this Source.

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 4 metres square is visible on aerial photographs of May 1946. The structure is probably the site of Training Aid 11, 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 60 metres east-south-east of the structure, may be barbed wire obstructions. The structures are not readily identifiable on any later aerial photographs available to the survey and were probably demolished or obscured by shifting sand dunes in the years following the war. Steel reinforcing bars observed by Bass (1992) and an earthwork mound recorded by Passmore (2009) suggest that remains survive.

Sources / Further Reading

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. 67-88.
SDV344664	Un-published: Passmore, A. + Knight, S.. 2009. Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Updated Spreadsheet of Archaeological Sites. Exeter Archaeology Report. Digital.
SDV344665	Un-published: Unknown. 2010. Farm Environment Plan (FEP), Shapefiles 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.

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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