Monument record WLN 043 - World War Two Anti-Aircraft ‘Diver’ Battery and an associated military camp

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Summary

The site of a World War Two Anti-Aircraft ‘Diver’ Battery and an associated military camp is visible on aerial photographs on the eastern edge of Dunwich Common. The camp consisting of an arrangement of Nissen-type huts around a trackway. The huts were still present in June 1945, but much of the site, including the gun emplacements have been removed or partially dismantled by October 1945.

Location

Grid reference Centred TM 45785 68067 (466m by 207m)
Map sheet TM46NE
Civil Parish WESTLETON, SUFFOLK COASTAL, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

A WWII military camp, on the eastern edge of Dunwich Common consisting of a cluster of Nissen-type huts with trackways to the east and west connecting the camp to a number of gun emplacements.
Site of a Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) battery in the Diver Strip at Westleton Walks. It was armed with four 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns equipped with Predictor BTL, and Radar AA No.3 Mark V when it was deployed here on 24th November 1944, and was manned by 369 Battery of 117 Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment. It formed part of 40 Heavy Anti Aircraft Brigade deployment (S1).

January 2015. Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Beauty National Mapping Programme.
Mapping of this World War Two ‘Diver Strip’ Anti-Aircraft Battery and associated camp, which is visible on aerial photographs (S3-S4), has been undertaken. A Diver Strip site at this general location is indicated in (S5) and in the EHA records – which states it was armed with four 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns equipped with Predictor BTL, and Radar AA No.3 Mark V when it was deployed here on 24th November 1944, and was manned by 369 Battery of 117 Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment (S2). It formed part of 40 Heavy Anti Aircraft Brigade deployment. The nissen huts are still present in June 1945 (S3), but much of the site, including the gun emplacements have been removed or partially dismantled by October 1945 (S4). See WLN 073 for military training activity in the vicinity.
S. Horlock (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 02nd January 2015.

Sources/Archives (5)

  • <S1> Unpublished document: Historic landscape survey - Farm environment plan, Historic environment statement. Fletcher W (SCCAS) 2006.
  • <S2> Index: English Heritage. Pastscape. http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1478635.
  • <S3> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/106G/UK/929 RS 4167-4168 16-OCT-1945 (EHA Original Print).
  • <S4> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/106G/UK/1557 RS 4225-4226 07-JUN-1946 (EHA Original Print).
  • <S5> Bibliographic reference: Liddiard, R. and Sims, D.. 2014. A Guide to Second World War Archaeology in Suffolk. Guide 2: Walberswick to Aldeburgh.. 2 vols.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Jul 10 2015 11:09AM

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