Site of Second World War ‘Diver’ Site No. N32, North of Old Montsale, Southminster (EHER 14978)

Now destroyed. The site of a Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) Battery in the Diver Box in Southminster. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns, and manned by 193 battery of 82 Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment on 24th November 1944, and was equipped with BTL Predictor, GL Mark II, and SCR584 Radars. It formed part of 37 Anti Aircraft Artillery Brigade.

1995. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: desktop research. WWII gun emplacements and associated buildings. <1> AA guns (probably dating to around 1944 and for use against V1s) Army Camp. <2> <3> November 2008. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: desktop research and site visit. A report, compiled in 1996 from wartime documentation, lists the ‘Diver’ anti-aircraft gun sites in East Essex in summer/autumn 1944. Site No. N32, on the Dengie at Military Grid Reference M452165, is recorded, on 24 November 1944, as being equipped with eight 3.7 inch Mk IIc guns, manned by 82 Anti Aircraft Regiment, 193 Battery. It was equipped with BTL Predictor, GL Mark II, and SCR584 Radars. It formed part of 37 Anti Aircraft Artillery Brigade. <4> An aerial photograph taken in May 1946 shows the area, North of Old Montsale, very clearly. There are more than 50 huts, mainly Nissen, in two separate areas. To the East of these, the soil marks of eight guns can be seen in two rows of four. <5> In 1960, nine of the huts still survived but, when visited in 2008, the field was totally clear. <3> <6> NRHE data transfer: no new information. NRHE summary description: Site of a Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) Battery in the Diver Box in Southminster. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns, and manned by 193 battery of 82 Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment on 24th November 1944, and was equipped with BTL Predictor, GL Mark II, and SCR584 Radars. It formed part of 37 Anti Aircraft Artillery Brigade. <4>