Site of Second World War ‘Diver’ Site No. N45, Hall Road, Dengie (EHER 21323)

Now destroyed. The site of a Second World War diver battery, deployed initially at TL989015 and later redeployed at TL991007 in August 1944. However, it is not clear if the location of the initial deployment is incorrectly recorded.

November 2008. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey. A report, compiled in 1996 from wartime documentation, lists the ‘Diver’ anti-aircraft gun sites in East Essex in summer/autumn 1944. Site No. N45 is listed twice. On 13 August it is recorded at Military Grid Reference M435198 and two weeks later, on 28 August, at M436190. The latter entry states that it had eight 3.7 inch Mk IIc guns but no manning is given. <1> The first MGR places the site on the South side of Hall Road, opposite Dengie Manor. The second places it in fields half a mile further South. This second position, the first was clearly incorrect, is confirmed by a wartime resident who visited the site. The site was three fields South of the church. Accommodation was in tents, and the battery included both men and women. <2> An aerial photograph taken in May 1946 shows no sign of gun positions or camp but, at a junction of fields at approximately TL 9912 0066, what appears to be a Nissen hut can be seen. This is on a clear track which leads South from Asheldham Road. <3> <4> <5> NRHE summary description 1478298: Site of a Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) Battery in the Diver Box south of Dengie Manor. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns on 13th August 1944. It was redeployed to TL991007 on 28th August 1944. <6> NRHE summary description 1478299: Site of a Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) Battery in the Diver Box at Dengie Marshes. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns when it was redeployed here from TL989015 on 28th August 1944. <6>