Military Archaeology - Page 19

The_Historian · #**451** (**permalink**) November 14th, 2006, 12:51 AM

...A better view of the divide.

Entrance to the bunker which would have been the Regional Seat of Government had war broken out. Built in the early '90s, the lower levels are now flooded. I got the aerial shots from the roof!

One set of the camp latrines, completely unchanged from wartime!

The next two shots are of the British Sergeant's Messes, originally outside the wire. My old man has photos of these he took at TA camps here in the '50s.

Another general layout shot.

The camp's future is uncertain. People in the nearby village have set up a committee to buy it, turning part into a museum and part into industrial units. Timeshare housing will be built on another part.
The camp has already seen much demolition; the huts which saw the murder of the POW in 1944 were demolished in the '70s to make way for a rifle range.

Martin Bull · #**452** (**permalink**) November 14th, 2006, 06:28 AM

Great photos, Gordon ! You've excelled yourself this time....

Most interesting to see original Nissen huts laid out like that and in such remarkable condition ; as my recent photos have shown, any left in Southern England are vanishing fast.

TA152 · #**453** (**permalink**) November 14th, 2006, 10:23 PM

Very good pictures Gordon. [img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img]
I was curious what the "fat" parts of the stove pipes in picture four were for ?

T. A. Gardner · #**454** (**permalink**) November 14th, 2006, 10:50 PM

I would venture that the "fat" part of the stacks on the roof are ventilation fans of the vanaxial type. Note on the photo with three that there is a curved looking wire leading to them. This is likely the power connection (distinct from the guy wires which are straight and attached higher up).

pillboxesuk · #**455** (**permalink**) November 15th, 2006, 09:41 AM

Great pictures Gordon.

Reminds me of that movie The Mackenzie Break.....
Some more pics here

Were there any escapes from here?

The_Historian · #**456** (**permalink**) November 16th, 2006, 10:18 AM

Cheers folks.
The Mackenzie Break was on tv last weekend Ian, funnily enough! Can't remember if there were any escapes from here, but I'll check.

Martin Bull · #**457** (**permalink**) December 15th, 2006, 08:52 PM

Another piece of Battle of Britain heritage about to be erased in the name of 'progress'....

http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/hangar/...t/northolt.htm

Any UK residents here, please click on the link and sign the petition. It probably won't make any difference, but we should at least try .

The_Historian · #**458** (**permalink**) December 16th, 2006, 02:49 PM

Duly done Martin. Just getting the boys together now.....

You might be interested in a new book coming out next year btw- Twentieth Century Defences in London and the Home Counties by Dr Mike Osborne, published by Concrete Publications. Some of PillboxesUK's pics will apear in it, so Ian will probably have more details on actual publication date.
Just picked up Dr Osborne's Always Ready; the Drill Halls of Britain's volunteer Forces by Caliver Books which covers Army, Navy & RAF halls built from 1860 onwards. It includes a gazetteer, building plans, hundreds of photos, list of architects.....It must be close to the last word on the subject.

Martin Bull · #**459** (**permalink**) December 16th, 2006, 04:13 PM

Well done, Gordon - the more the merrier !

I shall watch out for that book - 'Concrete Publications' ; I love it ! My wife is forever commenting on my hobby of 'photographing bits of concrete'.... [img]graemlins/no.gif[/img]

The_Historian · #**460** (**permalink**) December 16th, 2006, 04:56 PM

Well, you know the saying about a prophet never being recognised in his own country!

pillboxesuk · #**461** (**permalink**) December 16th, 2006, 09:17 PM

Martin,

Thanks for the info on Northolt, just sent it to the Pillboxesuk mailing list, so should get a few more petitioners...

I was in France in November tracing my Gt Uncles demise at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, however did find some WW2 archaeology.

I believe this is a .50 Browning Machine Gun case. The local farmer told me of a US fighter that crashed in his fields after running out of fuel.

Anyone further interested in my trip can Click here

Martin Bull · #**462** (**permalink**) December 17th, 2006, 08:21 AM

That is certainly a .50 Browning.

Excellent photos of the Cambrai trip, Ian - made me want to get my boots on.....

pillboxesuk · #**463** (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2007, 03:44 PM

A World War Two pillbox in a Roadwater garden has been restored to its former glory, disguised to look like a garden building.

More here

Pillbox gets a makeover

Kai-Petri · #**464** (**permalink**) January 10th, 2007, 08:41 AM

The official ceremony dedicating the uncovering of a First World War tank took place at Flesquieres on the afternoon of Friday 20th November 1998, the 81st anniversary of the Battle of Cambrai.

http://www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/tank.htm

Located just on the outskirts of Flesquieres village, it is a Mark IV Female. The guns were not in situ and the tank had taken a direct hit below the driver's compartment. Interior damage was minimal, and both sponsons intact. The rear of the tank was in particular good condition with the crew door still partly open. Even the exhaust was still there!

The_Historian · #**465** (**permalink**) January 10th, 2007, 05:49 PM

Nice link Kai, and well done Paul too!

Stefan · #**466** (**permalink**) January 10th, 2007, 06:22 PM

Cultybraggan looks like alot of the other camps that are still in use, would be interesting to find out what these places once did...

The_Historian · #**467** (**permalink**) January 31st, 2007, 02:09 PM

Found these sites-
Abandoned Past
(check the links page)

Derelict London

Roy's Geocities page

The_Historian · #**468** (**permalink**) February 7th, 2007, 12:49 AM

This has finally seen daylight-

http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/arch...ycamp_eh_2006/

Ignore the title-it covers the whole of the UK.
All we need now is the printed version for the bookshelf!

Martin Bull · #**469** (**permalink**) February 15th, 2007, 07:50 AM

Well, inevitably, despite a petition to 10 Downing Street, officialdom has reached a decision about the historic buildings at RAF Northolt.

Tear 'em all down.