Site of First and Second World War coastal battery, Deadman's Battery, Deadman's Point (EHER 7216)

Coast defence battery installed at Dead Man's Point, Canvey Island during World War I. Placed in 'care and preservation' status in 1918 it was re-activated in 1938 and was manned until 1945. It was dismantled after the end of the war.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: This battery was installed in World War I to protect the north bank of the Thames and as part of a general improvement to the defences of the East Coast. Two 6" breach loaders on barbette carriages were installed, with a central magazine and the 'usual offices'. In 1918 it was put into 'care and preservation' status. It remained so until 1938 when it was re-opened, being manned until 1945. Soon after the end of World War II it was dismantled and only the emplacements are left, overgrown and derelict. <1> Aerial photographs taken in 1946 and 1960 show two large gun casemates, some 40 yards apart, on the bank at Deadman's Point overlooking the estuary of the River Thames. In the fields behind the battery approximately 35 huts and structures can be seen. The map reference is that between the two casemates. <2> <3> Fortifications of East Anglia states When the Second World War broke out there were only seventeen guns protecting the whole Thames Estuary; five 9.2 inch, six 6 inch, four 12 pounders and two 3 pounders, of which only two of the 6 inch were on the Essex bank at Canvey Island. <4> Coastal battery. Some ancillary buildings still stand at the gun site. A series of buildings and bases representing the shared camp with Scars Elbow Battery are visible immediately to the rear of the battery within a large camp site [information from 1981 aerial photographs]. Canvey Island. <5> Canvey Battery (also known as Deadman's Battery) was located at TQ 790 820. It was built from 1938 and mounted with close defence weapons. It was manned by 517 Coast Regiment until it was reduced to care and maintenance in 1943. Two coastal artillery searchlights were located at TQ 7923 8214 and TQ 7903 8206 and two gun emplacements were located at TQ 7909 8207 and TQ 7912 8208. <6> Partial remains of the battery survive. Aerial photography from 1981 shows 2-4 ancillary buildings standing at the gun site. A series of buildings and building bases that were the camp shared with Scars Elbow Battery are visible to the rear of the battery within a large camp site. <7> 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. <8> April 1997. Survey. This battery was apparently manned by 175 Thames and Medway Heavy Battery R.A. Coast. Many of the huts and other structures still survive in the grounds at Thorney Bay Beach Camp and the concrete rafts of some of the others can be seen in the grass. The following is a breakdown of the known structures, their NGR and survivals: 1. Hut, brick-built c. 82' long, TQ7920 8221, Extant. 2. Officers' Mess, brick-built about 50' long, TQ7915 8218, Extant. 3. Billet, asbestos sheeting about 140' long, TQ7915 8222, Extant. 4. Billet, asbestos sheeting with brick wall about 140' long, TQ7910 822, Extant. 5. Ammunition Store, concrete about 20'x13', TQ7902 8218, Extant. 6. Air Raid Shelter Concrete, underground about 33'x8', TQ7906 8219, Extant, entrance at each end. 7. Air Raid Shelter Concrete, underground about 33'x8', TQ7909 8216, Extant, entrance at each end. 8. Air Raid Shelter Concrete, underground about 33'x8', TQ7914 8216, Extant, entrance at each end. 9. Air Raid Shelter Concrete, underground about 33'x8', TQ7917 8216, Extant, entrance at each end. 10. Pillbox, type FW3/23, rectangular with an A/A well, TQ7909 8226, Extant, about 20' x 12'. 11. Water reservoir, concrete, circular dished, 26' diameter, TQ7913 8218, Extant. 12. Pump House, concrete about 13'x13', TQ7912 8224, Extant. 13. Water reservoir, former site, TQ7906 8214, Demolished. 14. Engine Room, TQ7903 8210, Demolished. 15. Decontamination Block, TQ7909 8212, Demolished. 16. Control Tower, TQ7911 8211, Demolished. 17. NAAFI, TQ7912 8213, Demolished. 18. Stores, TQ7917 8216, Demolished. 19. Sergeant-Major's Bungalow, TQ7918 8216, Demolished. 20. Guardhouse, TQ7921 8217, Demolished. 21. Pillbox, type FW3/23 (1946 A/P), TQ7898 8205, Demolished. 22. Coastal Searchlight (1946 A/P), TQ7902 8205, Demolished. 23. Coastal Searchlight (1946 A/P), TQ7923 8214, Demolished. 24. 6" gun casemate, reported as still extant beneath the sea wall and grass embankment. At this point the embankment is substantially wider than elsewhere, TQ7909 8207, Demolished. An aerial photograph taken by the RAF in 1940 shows a number of other unidentifiable structures. A plan of the site is filed in the SMR records. None of the extant structures were entered at the time of the site visit and their internal condition is unknown. <9> <10> 22 photos of the site. <11> May 2005. Survey. Virtually all of the buildings recorded in 1997 have now been demolished and cleared away. Only “5. Ammunition Store” at TQ 7902 8218 and “12. Pump House” at TQ 7912 8224 remain. There is also a small, concrete building extant. This was referred to in 1997 as the “Cross-Thames Cable Box”. Seven photos taken of site. <12>