A pair of Vickers MMG pillboxes, Riddings Copse, Ewshot, Hampshire
(Photo Tim Denton October 2009)
Key Facts
- Rectangular square plan about 14ft x 14ft with chamfered corners on front face.
- Built to shellproof specification with 51” walls
- Large stepped embrasure to accommodate a single mmg.
- Doorway, normally on the left side (to line of fire), protected by a massive rectangular blast wall.
- Large concrete table inside on which to mount the weapon on its tripod.
- Air vent in rear wall.
- Up to 3 rifle/bren lmg loopholes on side and/or rear walls.
- Normally sited in pairs as a section of 2 guns.
- On steep forward slopes, emplacements were often dug in with overhead earth camouflage cover.
A fine example of a concrete shuttered emplacement on GHQ Line B in Surrey showing its large stepped main embrasure
- Build variations can be found with different positioning of secondary loopholes and air vent, length and thickness of blastwall and design of main gun table.
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- Main table for the Vickers MMG
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- Plan of standard Vickers MMG Pillbox Copyright Tim Denton 2007
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- An unsual brick shuttered main embrasure on this Vickers emplacement at Bridgefield, Farnham Surrey
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- The highest concentrations of the Vickers MMG emplacement can be found on the Taunton Stop line and GHQ Line A and B in both Hampshire and Surrey where at least 28 survive, mostly in pairs.
