Monument record FEX 231 - World War II practices trenches and pillboxes.

World War II practice trenches and pillboxes are visible as earthworks and structures on aerial photographs taken from 1944 onwards, in an area of land between Carr Road and Landguard Road, centred on TM 28963288, at the northern end of Landguard Common, Felixstowe. The area is bounded by lengths of barbed wire obstruction to the north, east and west and by the perimeter fence of Landguard Fort to the south. To the south of the area a practice trench is visible, centred on TM 28943280. It covers an overall distance of 80m and follows a "crenellated" pattern. It was constructed sometime before 18th April 1944. To the north of this trench over forty short slit trenches are visible. These were constructed sometime between April and July 1944 and measure on average 6m in length. To the north of the barbed wire two other trenches are visible, which were also constructed between April and July 1944. These are located at TM 29033298 and TM 29053300 and follow a zigzag pattern. Two pillboxes are also located at the edge of the area of slit trenches, a hexagonal one at TM 29013286 and a square one at TM 28953293. The possible foundations of a rectangular structure or building measuring 14m by 6m are also visible at TM 28983284. (S1) (S2) (S3) The "crenellated" trench is probably a World War II feature as it appears to be fairly recent. The appearance of the slit trenches between April and July 1944 may be related to the influx of troops who embarked from Landguard for the second wave of D-Day landings in June 1944. The trenches may have been dug for practice purposes or to keep the troops occupied prior to embarkation. (S4)