Second World War defence line, 'Back Line', Latchingdon (EHER 20631)

A defence line constructed in 1941, named the ‘Back Line’, for it would act as an internal defence line in conjunction with the Eastern Command Line, the GHQ Line and the Outer London Defence Ring. The Back Line ran parallel to the coast from Norfolk, terminating at the River Crouch and was intended to 'escape the bombardment from the air and sea for the initial landing, but far enough forward to deny any enemy forces which have landed, sufficient elbow room from which to launch further attacks.' It comprises a 'continuous belt of wire, and wherever possible, anti-tank obstacle or ditch', and was supported by road barriers and pillboxes.

November 2002-January 2003. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: site visit and desktop research By the end of 1940, most of the work on Essex’s inland defence lines had been completed and hundreds of pillboxes and miles of anti-tank ditches stood ready on the Eastern Command Line, the GHQ Line and the Outer London Defence Ring. However, in early 1941 work began on a wholly new defence line, the ‘Back Line’. <1> Unlike the other defence lines, which generally ran from SE to NW, this was to parallel the coast, crossing each of the established lines in turn 'sited far enough in, rear of the coast, to escape the bombardment from the air and sea for the initial landing, but far enough forward to deny any enemy forces which have landed, sufficient elbow room from which to launch further attacks. This system will be completed to provide defended localities covered by a continuous belt of wire, and wherever possible, anti-tank obstacle or ditch … Concrete should only be used for the most important defence works, the intervening works consisting of field defences, which can be replaced with concrete as it becomes available.' <2> Dobinson provides a plan of the defence lines of Eastern Command and the general course of the ‘Back Line’ can be seen. It paralleled the coast, 5/10 miles inland, through Norfolk, Suffolk and much of Essex, terminating at the River Crouch. <3> In January 2003, survey work in the District of Maldon enabled the southern part of the ‘Back Line’ from the River Blackwater to the River Crouch to be precisely determined. This was achieved through analysis of aerial photographs from the 1940s. These show the spoil marks left by the anti-tank ditch after it had been filled in, running field by field, from Mundon Creek on the Blackwater to Bridgemarsh Creek on the Crouch, a distance of around four miles. <4> - <7> Surviving wartime records detail the road barriers where the ditch ‘crossed’ Steeple Road, Burnham Road, Rectory Lane and Lower Burnham Road (EHER 10646, EHER 20639, EHER 20637 and EHER 20632). In accordance with the wartime implementation plans, there were few concrete pillboxes defending the line – only two (EHER 20638 and EHER 20642) have been recorded immediately overlooking the ditch with another some distance away (EHER 20640). On the ground, nothing of the wartime anti-tank ditch now survives although its path can be made out in places where pre-war drainage ditches were dredged out and subsequently re-formed. None of the road barriers now remain; only the pillboxes at Arley Grange and Latchingdon village survive as physical monuments to this section of the line (see EHER 20638 and EHER 20640). Although the section of the ‘Back Line’ between the River Blackwater and the River Crouch has been positively identified, its course north of the Blackwater has proved to be more elusive. It appears likely that it ran from the river bank NE of Osea Island to Abberton Reservoir, as a defence line (EHER 20550) has been recorded from the NE end of the reservoir to the defences around Colchester. This Abberton/Colchester section is now thought to have been the continuation of the Back Line northwards. <8>