Second World War N Series (Naval) Bombing Decoy (EHER 20310)

A Second World War bombing decoy located at Kirby le Soken. It was built as part of the 'N-series' of naval decoys to deflect enemy bombing from the port at Harwich. The site functioned as both a 'Permanent Starfish' and 'QL' decoy. The 'Permanent Starfish' decoy operated by lighting a series of controlled fires during an air raid to replicate a military or urban area targeted by bombs. The 'QL' decoy featured a grid of muted lights set out around tanks of water, to resemble the glow of lights reflecting off water found at a port during a blackout. The site is referenced as being in use during 1941 and 1942, but could have continued being in use throughout the war. The site comprised a night shelter, which housed the power generator and Operations Room, and an oil tank, which would have fuelled the decoy fires. A further bombing decoy site for Harwich was located at Walton on Naze.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Site scheduled July 2001. The monument includes a World War Two bombing decoy situated on an area of agricultural land and salt marsh south of Kirby Creek and west of the Wade. The monument is in two separate areas of protection, the first encompassing the night shelter from which the decoy would have been operated, the second enclosing the oil tank which would have fuelled the decoy fires. The night shelter is sited next to the sea wall some distance away from the decoy area. The shelter is a brick and concrete bunker, covered with earth. Internally, it is divided into 3 rooms: the Operations Room; the Engine Room; and a small toilet room. Approximately 30 metres west of the shelter is a rectangular concrete building which was originally a tank for the oil needed to keep the decoy fires burning for long periods. Contemporary records indicate that it was replaced by a steel tank when it was found to be porous. The site was operational in August 1941 and is last recorded to have been in use in March 1942, but could have continued being in use throughout the war. <1> September 1999: Documented in contemporary records "HA2 Kirby-le-Soken" was a World War Two N Series (Naval) decoy controlled from Harwich. This class of decoy was designed specifically for the protection of naval installations. In this case, inferred from the code lettering, and its geographical location, Harwich dockyard itself. Dobinson, 1996, records that the site was an SF/QL site a site which not only attempted to replicate the night-time lights of the dockyard (QL) but also provided the large fires expected from a successful raid (SF or Starfish). Both the complex lighting arrays and the electrical ignition for the fires were controlled from an earth-covered shelter which housed the generator and switchgear. This would have been located some distance away from the decoy area. <2><3> Site visit by F. Nash September 1999 as part of the Second World War bombing decoy site: The contemporary Military Grid Reference of the site, 98/669420, is on open agricultural land immediately south of Kirby Creek. An aerial photograph taken in July 1946 shows a large area, bounded by the sea wall and drainage ditches, of indecipherable soil marks and straight lines. This would almost certainly have been the remains of the decoy fires and the fire break ditches between displays. This area is now open farmland. <4> 350 yards to the west, the night shelter still survives. It is located just a few yards from the sea wall and is a brick and concrete, 33 foot long bunker. Covered by earth to protect it from stray bombs, it is accessed via a side entrance which has sloping walls. Inside, it is in remarkably good condition. To the east is the Operations Room (12 x 10 feet) with its escape hatch and steel ladder at the far end. The concrete stove base and flue outlet are in the NE comer. Four ceramic outlet pipes, thought to be the channelling for the electric cabling, are on the South wall. The Engine Room (11 feet x 11 feet 6 inches) still retains its generator mounting base and three steel exhaust pipes on the wall. The small toilet room is just inside the entrance. Fifty yards to the west of the Night Shelter, at TM 2185 2390 is a rectangular, concrete building with a pitched asbestos roof. It measures 32 feet 4 inches x 12 feet 4inches x 11 feet high, up to the level of the eaves. This was, originally, a fuel tank intended to hold the great volume of inflammable liquid required to keep the Starfish display burning for long periods. Low down on the north wall is an oil outlet terminal. It is reported that the tank was found to be porous and was subsequently replaced by a steel tank. In recent years, part of the South wall has been demolished to allow a pair of corrugated iron doors to be mounted and the oil tank is now used for storage. 14 photos of site. <5> More photos. <6> Report ref <7> Site Assessment: The night shelter of this decoy is in particularly good condition and the oil tank is thought to be unique in the county. Together they provide a valuable record of decoy architecture and all efforts should be made to ensure their protection. <7> Further naval bombing decoys for Harwich were located at Spinnels Farm (TM 162 298), Walton on Naze (TM 262 247), Brightlingsea (TM 091 144) and East Mersea (TM 052 157). <1> Additional reference <8>.