fv1609 Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 What was the purpose of this object? When was it built? Where is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Practice use of blasting charges ie pole charges before Normandy landings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodge Deep Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 sea wall for brigelayers to practice on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted April 30, 2009 Author Share Posted April 30, 2009 Practice use of blasting charges ie pole charges before Normandy landings? Yes, well done! These were dummy fortifications on what I think was called Blue Beach 2. This was principally the embarkation point up stream of Crow Point for the practice landings on the seaward side up to Saunton & Woolacoombe. Some landing area fortifications at Saunton Sands. I bought a book, which I have now lost. But that explained the local history in some detail. I read that were plans to requisition villages near this coastline so that these front line troops gained experience in some in-land fighting as well. But it seems the villages were not requisition after all as it was realised that most of these troops were not going to survive to get very far inland. Rather sobering, that it was all realised at that stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 Thanks for putting those photos up Clive. It looks as if the sea will have removed most of the evidence before too long which is a shame as these are historically important as well as being a memorial to the troops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted May 1, 2009 Author Share Posted May 1, 2009 Thanks for putting those photos up Clive. It looks as if the sea will have removed most of the evidence before too long which is a shame as these are historically important as well as being a memorial to the troops. I went into the Braunton Museum hoping to see some archive pictures of how it all looked at the time or at least immediately afterwards. Although their were some interesting US training films disappointing that there were few archive photos. There a few & some sketch drawings done in 1947 in this book I bought: http://rtbassbooks.com/THIRD.html Says £15, I bought mine for £10 & it is advertised elsewhere for that. An interesting little read. Although NGRs are given for remains of structures, without a personal GPS I was unable to tie up what I saw with the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 A little off topic but a farmer friend of mine is called Braunton and the family all come from the village of the same name. His late father was a wonderful character, broad Devon accent and looked as if he might have been the model for John Bull.:-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted May 1, 2009 Author Share Posted May 1, 2009 A little off topic but a farmer friend of mine is called Braunton and the family all come from the village of the same name. His late father was a wonderful character, broad Devon accent and looked as if he might have been the model for John Bull.:-D I do cringe when I hear some actors doing a multipurpose "Westcountry accent" that doesn't fit in with any regions I've ever heard. Devon accents are rarely heard on the media. I remember an old Devon farmer telling me how he cooked toast: "When ees broon ees cooked, when ees black ees buggered" I spent the first 25 years of my life in Devon & can remember Slapton Sands in the 1950s with little vegetation, just charred trees. it wasn't until later years that stories of loses & corpses secretly buried & moved etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 Practice use of blasting charges ie pole charges before Normandy landings? How the hell did Degsy get that!!:???:???:??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 (edited) How the hell did Degsy get that!!:???:???:??? Sudden flash of inspiration:rofl: But when I saw Roop's reply I thought I'd made a boo boo and he was correct. Edited May 1, 2009 by Degsy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 I do cringe when I hear some actors doing a multipurpose "Westcountry accent" that doesn't fit in with any regions I've ever heard. Devon accents are rarely heard on the media. I remember an old Devon farmer telling me how he cooked toast: "When ees broon ees cooked, when ees black ees buggered" I spent the first 25 years of my life in Devon & can remember Slapton Sands in the 1950s with little vegetation, just charred trees. it wasn't until later years that stories of loses & corpses secretly buried & moved etc Yes 'ees buggered' seemed to crop up quite frequently when talking to Charlie always accompanied by a broad grin even when it was a minor disaster when we were trying to make something work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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