Site of Second World War ‘Diver’ Site No. N27A, north-west of Churchend, Foulness (EHER 20819)

Now destroyed. The site of a Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) battery in the Diver Box at Churchend. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch guns equipped with BTL Predictor, GL Mark II and SCR584 Radars on 24th November 1944, when it was manned by 627 Battery of 184 (Mixed) Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment.

December 2003. World War Two Defences in Rochford survey: site visit and desktop research. Contemporary records show this location as a WWII ‘Diver’ site, No. N27A. Equipment and manning is recorded in November 1944 (<1>): Date Guns Radar Regt Bty 24 Nov 1944 8 x 3.7 Mk IIc GLII; SCR 584 184 (M) 627 Aerial photographs taken in May 1946 show the layout of the site very clearly. The guns, on their 'pile' platforms, stood in two rows of four in a field to the east of the road which leads west from Churchend. Although by this time the platforms had been taken away, the soil marks are very clear. The accommodation, or domestic, site was 200 yards to the west, on the other side of the road. This comprised 40/50 huts, mainly ‘Nissen-type’. <1> <2> Nothing now survives of the ‘Diver’ site and the areas on both sides of the road have been returned to agriculture. <3> Note: This record may be a duplicate for EHER 82449, or the two sites may have worked closely in tandem. NRHE summary description, 1478257: Site of Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) battery in the Diver Box at Churchend. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch guns equipped with BTL Predictor, GL Mark II and SCR584 Radars on 24th November 1944, when it was manned by 627 Battery of 184 (Mixed) Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment. <1> NRHE summary description, 1478256: Site of Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) battery at Churchend. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch guns and on 26th July 1944, when it was manned by 110 Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment. <1>