Site of Second World War heavy anti aircraft gun / 'Diver' site No. N28, Ridgemarsh Farm, Foulness (EHER 20120)

Now destroyed. The site of a Second World War heavy anti-aircraft battery 'N28' at Ridgemarsh Farm. It was armed with four 3.7-inch guns and GL Mark II radar in 1942, when it was manned by 263 Battery of the 84th Royal Artillery Regiment. It was used as a Diver Battery of the diver Box from 26th July 1944, when it was manned 464 Battery of 167 (Mixed) Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment. On 24th November 1944 these were replaced by 464 Battery of 142 (Mixed) Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment, and it was equipped with BTL Predictor, GL Mark II, and SCR584 radars.

October 1998. World War Two heavy anti aircraft gun sites survey: site visit and desktop research. NGRs: Gun emplacements, TR 0210 9434; accommodation site, TR 0189 9432. Documented in contemporary records as 'N28 Ridgemarsh Farm', a WWII Heavy Anti-Aircraft gun site at Military Grid Reference M465126. Equipment and manning at the site is documented at various dates (<1>): Date Guns Radar Regt Bty 20 May 1942 4 x 3.7" (m) GL Mk IA 84 263 22 Jun 1942 4 x 3.7" (m) GL Mk I An aerial photograph taken in May 1946 shows four emplacements in a straight line facing south-east. They appear to be circular, or octagonal, with internal ammunition recesses although these are, unusually, open-topped. Immediately behind are the parch marks of four more emplacements - probably a 'Diver' site. 200/300 yards to the west are 40/50 huts. <2> An aerial photograph taken in February 1953 shows around ten of the huts remaining and the original emplacements to have been demolished and replaced by four more, in a semi-circle facing east. These are octagonal with east and west entrances and no internal recesses or other features. However, at that time they must have been in the process of being constructed as a 1980 aerial photograph shows them with internal ammunition recesses and an external integral shelter. <3> <4> The site of the emplacements is now clear and the area has been returned to agriculture. <6> November 2003. Update. The site is now confirmed to have been incorporated into the anti-flying bomb ‘Diver’ defences with equipment and manning as follows (<5>): Date Guns Radar Regt Bty 26 July 1944 8 x 3.7" Mk IIc - 110 24 Nov 1944 8 x 3.7" Mk IIc GL II; SCR 584 82 228 <6> A single Nissen hut survives at the site, see EHER 82421. According to Google Earth aerial imagery, it was extant in the present location in from at least 1999, which is presumably its original location. <7> NRHE data transfer: 1995-2002. Defence of Britain survey. ANTI AIRCRAFT BATTERY. SRF Ridgemarsh Farm HAA Recorder- A. Beanse. <8> <9>