Monument record 2876 - Anti Aircraft Battery at Eastham

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Summary

Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery first documented in February 1940. The last reference was in October 1942. In 1942 it had no guns or radar, a common occurrence due to the shortage of metals and soldiers during the war. It was run by the Home Guard in October 1942. Anti aircraft batteries are sites where guns are placed with the purpose of shooting down enemy aircraft. They could contain large calibre guns such as modified artillery cannons (Heavy anti aircraft sites), or small calibre guns such as machine guns (Light anti-aircraft sites), or a combination of both. These sites often survive as earthworks and in some cases the concrete structure of the heavy sites are well preserved.

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Full Description

Listed in War Office List of HAA Gun positions: Mersey Gun Defened Area Western; North West District, Appendix QA, p25 (1). Mersey number X H37 battery. Earliest reference - February 1940, latest referance - 19 October 1942. In June 1942 it was unarmed and had no radar. It was run by the Home Guard in October 1942 (2). This is listed with a Mersyside Grid reference in (2) and the 1946 RAF Aerial photography also shows an Anti-Aircraft Battery at the Mersey Grid Reference but not the Cheshire one. It seems likely that they are the same site, and therefore it would not be in Cheshire.


<1> 1994, Merseyside SMR, 357802 (Book). SCH2189.

<2> C S Dobinson, 1996, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. Volume I.3 Anti-Aircraft artillery, 1914-46 (Report). SCH4454.

<2> C S Dobinson, 1996, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. Volume III Bombing decoys of WWII : England's passive air defences, 1939-45 (Report). SCH8257.

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> Book: 1994. Merseyside SMR. 357802.
  • <2> Report: C S Dobinson. 1996. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. Volume I.3 Anti-Aircraft artillery, 1914-46.
  • <2> Report: C S Dobinson. 1996. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. Volume III Bombing decoys of WWII : England's passive air defences, 1939-45.

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Location

Grid reference SJ 358 788 (point) 8 Figure Ref
Map sheet SJ37NE
Civil Parish ELLESMERE PORT NON-PARISH AREA, ELLESMERE PORT AND NESTON, CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER
Historic Township/Parish/County EASTHAM, EASTHAM, CHESHIRE

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Record last edited

Aug 1 2003 10:55AM