Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A Second World War Diver rocket projector battery previously noted from documentary sources is visible on aerial photographs of 1942 as structures at the southern end of St Marys Bay. These features were mapped from aerial photographs as part of the South East RCZAS NMP project.

Monument Types

• BLAST SHELTER (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• DIVER BATTERY (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• ROCKET PROJECTOR BATTERY (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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Site of a Second World War Diver rocket projector battery at St Marys Bay. This was manned by 147 Rocket Anti Aircraft battery on 23rd August 1944. No armament details are known (1).

The rocket project battery is centred at TR 0897 2690, and extends across an area measuring approximately 34m SSW to NNE and 12m WNW to ESE. In 1942 this was an open area, but the site of the battery now straddles the boundary of the properties named The Springs and Mallards.

The battery consisted of three small rectangular structures measuring approximately 2x3m arranged in a row facing the sea. Just to the north-east there is a further small rectangular structure adjacent to an L-shaped bank, which may have served as an air raid shelter or ammunition store.

By the time of the vertical aerial photograph of 1946, all the structures of the battery appear to have been removed. (2-3)

<1> Dobinson, C., Operation Diver : England's Defence Against the Flying Bomb, June 1944-March 1945, pp 224 (Monograph). SWX23707.

<2> RAF, 1942, NMR RAF/AC81 174-5 26-AUG-1942 (Photograph). SWX23894.

<3> RAF, 1946, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1439 3024-5 30-APR-1946 (Photograph). SWX23809.

Sources and further reading

Related records