Site of Second World War ‘Diver’ Site No. N36, SE of Hockley Farm (EHER 16039)

Now destroyed. A Second World War heavy anti aircraft 'Diver' Battery in the Diver Box at Bradwell Marshes, and its associated building complex. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns, and manned by 488 battery of 142 (Mixed) Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment on 24th November 1944, and was equipped with BTL Predictor, and SCR584 Radars. It formed part of 37 Anti Aircraft Artillery Brigade.

June 1995. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: desktop research. A WWII anti-aircraft battery, of the type known as a 'diver' site, and its associated building complex, visible on early vertical aerial photos. <1> <2> November 2008. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: desktop research and site visit. A report, compiled in 1996 from wartime documentation, lists the ‘Diver’ anti-aircraft gun sites in East Essex in summer/autumn 1944. Site No. N36, SE of Hockley Farm at Military Grid Reference M 464242, is recorded, on 24 November 1944, as being equipped with eight 3.7 inch Mk IIc guns, manned by 142 (M) Regiment 488 Battery. <3> An aerial photograph taken in June 1960 shows the site very clearly. It covered two fields, the Northern field still retaining around 13 Nissen huts at that time, and the Southern field with its looped access track to the guns still showing. The soil marks left by the gun platforms could still be faintly made out. <4> In 2008, nothing now remains. <5> 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 Bradwell Marshes. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns, and manned by 488 battery of 142 (Mixed) Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment on 24th November 1944, and was equipped with BTL Predictor, and SCR584 Radars. It formed part of 37 Anti Aircraft Artillery Brigade. <3>