Site of Second World War ‘Diver’ Site No. N50, South of Middle Wick, Southminster (EHER 21320)

Now destroyed. Site of a Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) Battery in the Diver Box at Middle Wick. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns on 13th August 1944. On 3rd March 1945 it was equipped with Predictor AA No.10 Mark I and Radar AA No.3 Mark V, and manned by 134 (Mixed) Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment. It formed part of the 37 Heavy Anti Aircraft Artillery Brigade deployment.

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. N50, on the Dengie at Military Grid Reference M459168, is recorded on 28 August 1944 as being equipped with eight 3.7 inch MK IIc guns. No manning is given. <1> An aerial photograph taken in May 1946 shows the area South of Middle Wick very clearly. The soil marks of four gun emplacements can be seen in a line to the West of a track. Between these and the farm buildings more marks, possibly the former sites of huts, can be made out. <2> Aerial photographs from 1960 shows the area to be totally clear. <3> <4> NRHE data transfer: no new information. NRHE summary description: Site of a Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) Battery in the Diver Box at Middle Wick. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns on 13th August 1944. On 3rd March 1945 it was equipped with Predictor AA No.10 Mark I and Radar AA No.3 Mark V, and manned by 134 (Mixed) Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment. It formed part of the 37 Heavy Anti Aircraft Artillery Brigade deployment. <1> Note: The NRHE places this record in the field to the East, at TR 01500 98500, but the location cannot be verified. Note: This record may be duplicated by EHER 81212 and its content should be considered alongside this record.