WWII Wiltshire - Ringwood Stop Line, Avon Valley, Downton (34)

Introduction

The photograph on this page of WWII Wiltshire - Ringwood Stop Line, Avon Valley, Downton (34) by Mike Searle as part of the Geograph project.

The Geograph project started in 2005 with the aim of publishing, organising and preserving representative images for every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man.

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WWII Wiltshire - Ringwood Stop Line, Avon Valley, Downton (34)

Image: © Mike Searle Taken: 20 Jan 2017

- Section Post: DoB ID: e35575 Just over the border into Wiltshire in a private garden is a very rare beast indeed, an 8 - 10 man infantry section post, so called as it could hold a section - the name for the smallest number of a tactical group of infantry. This is the sole survivor of the wartime defences that were present at Downton and its all important river crossing to the east. Downton was considered an obstacle to any expected attack from the south on the route north along the current A338 road. The section post would have been built primarily in anticipation of a flanking attack from the west by German armour, particularly as the open downland in front was considered to have been the most favourable to the enemy for this sort of manoeuvre. Google Earth View:- https://goo.gl/maps/fyA9nT4iN1m The section post was built in 1940, and is a large elongated chevron shaped structure consisting of a brick-lined trench with above ground elevations of brick and concrete, capped with a flat concrete roof. The elevations have 10 splayed loopholes covering the main arc of fire to the northwest and west, and a single splayed loophole at one end facing north with a 90 degree arc of fire. The loopholes are excessively large, and it's possible sandbags were placed in front on the outside in order to reduce their size, and also at the south wall given that it is thin, and without a firing point. This vulnerable southern flank of the section post was probably protected by troops in the gardens and woods behind. The west elevation (the front) is angled in two directions, consequently each face of five loopholes together would have provided arcs of fire of approximately 170 degrees. The section post is listed as Grade II by Historic England. Image

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Image Location

coordinates on a map icon
Latitude
50.988963
Longitude
-1.759311