Pillbox Study Group UK and Overseas Site listings
Pillbox Study Group UK and Overseas Site listings
Pillbox Study Group UK and Overseas Site listings
Pillbox Study Group UK and Overseas Site listings
Moray Scotland

Roseisle

by |Updated

Roseisle Beach Defences

Burghead, Scotland

The beach at Roseisle near Burghead were used by the Americans and Canadians for training exercises for the D Day landings.

Just off the coast at Findhorn are 8 amphibious tanks that sank during training exercises. What makes them particularly interesting is that they are Matildas and not the amphibious Sherman.

The coast here is under constant erosion due to its sandy composition. Fortunately, this area of coast line is under the control of the forestry commission and so is well protected.

This is the collapsed rear blast wall of one of the many still standing pillboxes. The rear entrance is very small and still shows the metal catches and hinges for the door.
View from one of the side slits down the beach. Clearly visible are the many tank obstacles and remaining pillboxes.
View inside one of the pillboxes. You can see wooden batons fixed above each loophole, possibly as some form of weather proofing shutters etc.
Front and side view.
Pillbox and beach obstacles
At very low tide you can clearly see remains of wooden posts along the shore line that were part of the simulated beach obstacles used during the training exercises.
View down beach
Remains of broken pillbox showing the corrugated iron used in its formation.
Larger beach obstacle possibly used as part of a beach gateway.
Two large beach obstacles side by side possibly part of a beach gateway.
Two large beach obstacles side by side possibly part of a beach gateway.
Remains of the heavily rusted metal door catch at a pillbox entrance.
A clear view inside a pillbox showing the internal shelf. This is very deep and would have meant the occupiers would have been huddled together in the centre. They may very well have placed sand bags on the shelves to give then something to lean on.

By Gary & Ness Smith

Photo Update From S. Takahashi 2010

You may also like

East Lothian Defences

The first one is at the side of the A198 between Port Seton and Aberlady and is very overgrown. There are two […]

5 Spigot Mortar bases in North Ayshire

30/9/2025 SPIGOT MORTAR EMPLACEMENT: e71981 (Extant) SPIGOT MORTAR EMPLACEMENT: e71980 (Extant) SPIGOT MORTAR EMPLACEMENT: e71979 (Extant) SPIGOT MORTAR EMPLACEMENT: e71978 (Extant) SPIGOT […]