Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A Second World War light anti-aircraft (Diver) battery was previously recorded from documentary sources as having been deployed nearby in 1944. Vertical aerial photographs of January 1941 show an open-topped square structure, which appears to have been removed by the time of oblique aerial photographs of May 1941. It may be that this structure was a precursor to the later Diver battery. This feature has been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the South East RCZAS NMP project.

Monument Types

• LIGHT ANTI AIRCRAFT (DIVER) BATTERY (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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Site of a Second World War light anti aircraft (Diver) battery at Dungeness. This was armed with 20mm guns, and was manned by 2891 B Wing RAF Regiment when deployed on 2nd August 1944. It was redeployed to TR088167 on 23rd August 1944. It formed part of the Rye Section of 57 Anti Aircraft Brigade Light Anti Aircraft Artillery (1).

A Second World War light anti-aircraft (Diver) battery was previously recorded from documentary sources as having been deployed nearby in 1944. Vertical aerial photographs of January 1941 show an open-topped square structure, which appears to have been removed by the time of oblique aerial photographs of May 1941. It may be that this structure was a precursor to the later Diver battery. This feature has been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the South East RCZAS NMP project.

The open-topped square structure visible on vertical aerial photographs of January 1941 is centred at TR 0844 1662, and measures approximately three metres across. There appears to be an opening in the rear (inland) wall. In January 1941 there was no anti-invasion scaffolding present, but by May 1941 the square open-topped possible anti-aircraft battery or coastal battery had been removed, and continuous beach scaffolding had been installed straight through its former site (Monument Number 1533475).

It is possible that the structure recorded here was an earlier coastal battery or anti-aircraft battery predating the Diver battery noted from documentary sources. Alternatively, it may have been a non-military pre-war structure which was removed when the area was fortified against invasion (2-3).

<1> Dobinson, C., Operation Diver : England's Defence Against the Flying Bomb, June 1944-March 1945, pp 211 (Monograph). SWX23707.

<2> RAF, 1941, NMR RAF/26K/BR242 D32-3 10-JAN-1941 (Photograph). SWX23864.

<3> RAF, 1941, NMR TR0816/5 RAF/GHQ/156 0646 27-MAY-1941 (Photograph). SWX23627.

Sources and further reading

Related records