Site of a Second Wold War ‘Diver’ Site No. N31, South of East Wick, Burnham-on-Crouch (EHER 14977)

Now destroyed. Aerial photographs from 1945 show gun emplacements and associated buildings at this site, and it is suggested that a WWI army camp may predate the guns. The Defence of Britain survey confirmed a 'Diver' anti-aircraft gun site, equipped with eight 3.7 inch Mk llc guns.

May 1945. Aerial photograph. A poor quality aerial photograph taken in May 1945 shows about 40 huts in the field immediately South of the road. They are mostly Nissen-type. To the East of them, the soil marks of eight guns, in two rows of four, can be seen. <1> June 1960. Aerial photograph. An aerial photograph taken in June 1960 shows that all signs of the ‘Diver’ site had disappeared by that date, leaving a single pillbox (EHER 10000) in the same field. <2> 1995. Aerial photograph interpretation. WWII gun emplacements and associated buildings. <3> AA guns (date to about 1944, defence against V1's = Diver Site <4>) and army camp. <5> 1996. Defence of Britain 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. N31, South of East Wick at Military Grid Reference M 444147, is recorded, on 24 November 1944, as being equipped with eight 3.7 inch Mk IIc guns, manned by 82 Regiment 193 Battery. <6> November 2008. In 2008, while the pillbox still survives, there is nothing to show the former presence of the ‘Diver’ site. <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-west of East Wick Farm. It was armed with eight 3.7-inch Mark IIc guns, and manned by 193 battery of 82 Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment on 24th November 1944, and was equipped with BTL Predictor, GL Mark II, and SCR584 Radars. It formed part of 37 Anti Aircraft Artillery Brigade. <6>