VICKERS EMPLACEMENT MAKEOVER, PILLBOX STUDY GROUP

VICKERS EMPLACEMENT MAKEOVER

CHRISTMAS 2007

TIM DENTON

Christmas 2007, Vickers Emplacement Makeover.

Armed with spades, broom and various other tools, myself and fellow PSG member Tim Burt both met on a misty December morning to make over an interesting pillbox.

The rare Vickers Machine box is situated in the northern part of Hampshire.

I had been given permission by the landowner to carry out a study on the Vickers Machine Gun emplacement earlier in the year, but had decided to leave until the winter months for the leaves to have fallen.

I had previously spent a few hours measuring and noting details down but now needed to remove its covering to complete the task.

Initially the box appeared to be fairly free of vegetation and looked an easy makeover to undertake, however this was not the case.

It took us both just over 6 hours of back braking shovelling, digging and scraping to remove 67 years worth of compacted leaf mould, ivy growth and rubbish to see the end result.

Because the pillbox is on private land and pretty much hidden from view it has survived in excellent condition.

Built for site, the box sits in a small copse and is well dug in to a sandy and clay bank.

The main embrasure faces west overlooking low set fields and woodlands.

The emplacement is entered by either steeping down a set of steps at the rear of the box, or from the front alongside the extended blast wall.

The interior is dry and clean and was given a sweep out.

The walls show original white paint in areas with other parts suffering from some modern graffiti.

The large concrete Vickers Gun table stands intact on its two square supporting legs.

Externally the pillbox is in superb condition with no deterioration on any of the brick shuttering.

The huge stepped embrasure is also in fine, and very clean condition.

The smaller side embrasure (which still has the remains of its flame proof flap attached) gives a view out to the south west.

Because of the possible arc of fire from this side loophole the forward edge of the blast wall is angled off.

The weapon shelf for this side loophole has the deep square hole cut into it to enable a Bren gun tripod to be positioned.

The rear of the defence boasts an additional loophole firing to the south east.

On the dug in side of the defence can be found a small staggered vent, this was to help with the removal of gases from the firing Vickers Gun.

Both the edge of the roofline and blast wall still have the thick metal hooks set into them, these would have once secured camouflage netting.

Nearby on the edge of the field are the remains of a further pillbox, I have met the man who demolished this box in the 1950s. Originally positioned in the adjacent field it may have been the other Vickers Box making up the pair.

ADDITION OF `STRINGS` FROM TIE POINTS ON PILLBOX TO

INVISTIGATE PILLBOX CAMOUFLAGE TECHNIQUE

TIM DENTON