Site of Second World War anti motor torpedo boat battery at Scars Elbow Point (EHER 7165)

Now destroyed. Scars Elbow Battery was constructed as part of the Thames' coastal defence system. It was built during the Second World War as an anti-motor torpedo boat site. It was operational by Autumn 1940 and mounted two 6-pounder guns. It was supported by a line of searchlights that ran eastward towards Canvey Battery. The battery was reduced to care and maintenance in November 1943 and dismantled shortly after the war. This battery was part of the defences on this part of the Thames that included the St Mary's Bay to Canvey Boom and associated Defence Electric Light emplacements to illuminate this part of the estuary.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Sited on Scars Elbow Point, this battery was constructed in 1940 to guard against forays by torpedo boats. A twin 6-pounder gun turret was installed and "although hand-loaded, a mounting could deliver a stream of aimed fire at over 100 rounds a minute in the hands of a skilled detachment", a necessary requirement to cope with fast-moving boats. The battery never saw action and was dismantled soon after the war. "The emplacement is visible". <1> <2> "Coast Defences of England and Wales 1856-1956" states "a twin 6-pounder was installed here, together with five searchlights for illuminating the water. The twin-six consisted of two 6-pounder barrels with semi-automatic breach mechanisms mounted close together in a single turret". There were in fact, two turrets (or casemates) although it is not known if each held a twin 6 pounder, making four barrels in total. In the Appendix the battery is listed as being built in 1940 and abandoned in 1956. <2> Aerial photographs taken in 1946 and 1960 together with a 1:2500 map dated 1956 show two large gun casemates, some 40 yards apart, on the bank at Scars Elbow Point overlooking the estuary of the river Thames. In the fields immediately behind the battery approximately 30 huts and structures can be seen. The map reference is that between the two casemates. <3> - <5> Fortifications of East Anglia states "in the nineteen-thirties nine twin 6-pounders.. had been authorised, but none was in place at the outbreak of war. Two of these were emplaced at Scar's Elbow soon after war was declared; alongside the guns were five searchlights". <6> A total of six structures can be seen on the bank to the west, between and to the east of the casemates, although it cannot be determined which of these may be searchlights, pillboxes or observation posts. Nothing now remains of the Scars Elbow Battery itself. The sea wall has been rebuilt and there is no trace of casemates, searchlight emplacements, etc. However, behind the sea wall at least one building has survived. At TQ 7885 8201 there is a large concrete rectangular building with tall steel doors in its south-west end. This building, at the east end of the site, can be seen on the 1946 and 1960 aerial photographs. The structure is the same design as that extant at Deadman's Point Battery (EHER 7216) TQ 7901 8218 which was reportedly an ammunition store. <7> - <9> 2 x 6pdr. battery. Coastal battery. Two or three ancillary structures at gun site. Small amount of shared camp buildings [with Deadman's Battery: UORN 15146] and building bases also survive within the camp site immediately to the rear of Deadman's Battery east of this site [information from 1981 aerial photographs]. Scars Elbow Battery, Canvey Island. <10> Scars Elbow Battery located at TQ 787 819. The battery was built during the Second World War as an Anti-motor torpedo boat site. It was operational by Autumn 1940 and mounted two 6-pounder guns. The battery was reduced to care and maintenance in November 1943. <11> The partial remains of Scars Elbow Battery survive. Two to three ancillary buildings survive at the gun site. A number of camp buildings and building bases remain within the shared camp site to the rear of Canvey Battery. <12> This battery was part of the defences on this part of the Thames that included the St Mary's Bay to Canvey Boom (NMR 1534625) and associated Defence Electric Light emplacements to illuminate this part of the estuary. <13> See also: <14> - <18>