Site of Second World War ‘Diver’ Site No. N42, North of Sandbeach (EHER 16040)

Now destroyed. A Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) Battery in the Diver Box South of Glebe Farm. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns on 28th August 1994, but this was reduced to two guns equipped with BTL Predictor, and SCR584 Radars on 24th November 1944.

June 1995. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: desktop research. A Second World War anti-aircraft battery, of the type known as a 'Diver' site, visible on vertical aerial photography. <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. N42, North of Sandbeach at Military Grid Reference M 470238, is recorded as being equipped with eight 3.7-inch MK IIc guns on 28 August 1944 and just two guns on 24 November 1944. No manning details are given. <3> An aerial photograph taken in January 1947 shows around 15 huts, mainly Nissen, in two N-S rows in a field on the East side of the track leading to Sandbeach. <4> In 1960, nine of these still survived but when visited in 2008, the site was completely clear. <5> <6> NRHE data transfer: no new information. NRHE summary description: Site of a Second World War heavy anti aircraft (Diver) Battery in the Diver Box South of Glebe Farm. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns on 28th August 1994, but this was reduced to two guns equipped with BTL Predictor, and SCR584 Radars on 24th November 1944. It formed part of 37 Anti Aircraft Artillery Brigade. <3> In 1944 this site was a ‘Diver’ anti-aircraft gun site (EHER 16040, Site No. N33, SW of Bridgewick Farm). An aerial photograph taken in May 1946 shows the site very clearly. There were around 40 Nissen huts in four rows, two in a crescent and two straight. These were situated at the north end of the ‘Diver’ site, in the survey area. Some 150 yards to the south were the guns, in two rows of four. No trace of these remains. See <7>.