Details

The monument includes the remains of a World War II Heavy Anti-aircraft
gunsite located 350m north east of Little Oakley Hall.
The gunsite, documented in wartime records as `H (Harwich) 5, Little Oakley',
became operational in 1942 to form part of an extensive deployment of
batteries across south Essex. It maintained four Heavy Anti-aircraft guns
arranged in a line from north west to south east (against the direction of
incoming enemy aircraft) and mounted in square emplacements set at 25m-30m
intervals. The emplacements (numbered 1 to 4 from north to south) were built
to a single pattern, measuring 13.5m across and protected by concrete walls
0.5m thick and 1.5m high. The two northern emplacements survive largely intact
and the southern emplacements both retain substantial sections of surrounding
walls. A concrete-covered shelter for the gun crews was built out from the
main wall of emplacement 1, and a similar structure is indicated by a concrete
floor alongside emplacement 3. Emplacement 4 contains four internal ammunition
recesses (covered chambers supported by short internal walls), and two
recesses survive in each of the two central emplacements. One recess in
emplacement 4 and another in emplacement 2 contain original wooden racking.
The racks have three tiers, with three substantial beams apiece to support the
weight of the anti-aircraft shells. Some of the beams in emplacement 2 are
still clad in a protective layer of canvas. The central holdfast for one gun
(a steel socket for the locating spigot on the gun's mounting plate) remains
visible, set into concrete in the floor of emplacement 2.
The gunsite's main ammunition supplies were stored in six ammunition huts
positioned near or between the emplacements. The location of these huts,
slightly to the north of emplacement 4, can still be identified and is
included in the scheduling. The surviving concrete floor of one of these huts
carries the impression of the corrugated sheeting originally used for the
superstructure. The gunsite originally included a command post, placed
centrally behind the emplacements (to the west), and a range of accommodation
buildings situated some 150m to the north east. These structures have been
demolished and are not therefore included in the scheduling.
Modern telegraph poles are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground
beneath them is included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Although of comparatively recent date, 20th century military sites are
increasingly seen as historic survivals representing a defining episode in the
history of warfare and of the century in general; as such they merit careful
record and, in some cases, preservation. One of the more significant
developments in the evolution of warfare during this period was the emergence
of strategic bombing in World War II, and this significance was reflected by
the resources invested in defence, both in terms of personnel and the sites on
which they served. During the war, the number of people in Anti-aircraft
Command reached a peak of 274,900 men, additional to the women soldiers of the
ATS who served on gunsites from summer 1941, and the Home Guard who manned
many sites later in the war. A national survey of England's Anti-aircraft
provision, based on archive sources, has produced a detailed record of how
many sites there were, where they were and what they looked like. It is also
now known from a survey of aerial photographs how many of these survive.
Anti-aircraft gunsites divide into three main types: those for heavy guns
(HAA), light guns (LAA) and batteries for firing primitive unguided rockets
(so called ZAA sites). In addition to gunsites, decoy targets were employed to
deceive enemy bombers, while fighter command played a complementary and
significant role. Following the end of World War II, 192 HAA sites were
selected for post-war use as the Nucleus Force, which was finally closed in
1955.
The HAA sites contained big guns with the function of engaging high flying
strategic bombers, hence their location around the south and east coasts, and
close to large cities and industrial and military targets. Of all the
gunsites, these were the most substantially built. There were three main
types: those for static guns (mostly 4.5 and 3.7 inch); those for 3.7 inch
mobile guns; and sites accommodating 5.25 inch weapons. These were all
distinct in fabric, though they could all occupy the same position at
different dates, or simultaneously by accretion. As well as the four or eight
gun emplacements, with their holdfast mountings for the guns, components will
generally include operational buildings such as a command post, radar
structures including the radar platform, on-site magazines for storing reserve
ammunition, gun stores and generating huts, usually one of the standard Nissen
hut designs. Domestic sites were also a feature of HAA gunsites, with huts,
ablutions blocks, offices, stores and amenities drawn from a common pool of
approved structures. Sites were often also provided with structures for their
close defence; pillboxes are the most common survivals, though earthwork
emplacements were also present. The layout of HAA gunsites was distinctive,
but changed over time, for example to accommodate the introduction of radar
from December 1940, women soldiers from summer 1941, and eight gun layouts
from late 1942.
Nearly 1,000 gunsites were built during World War II, and less than 200 of
these have some remains surviving. However, at only around 60 sites are these
remains thought sufficient to provide an understanding of their original form
and function. This includes 30 of the 192 examples which continued in use
until 1955. Surviving examples are therefore sufficiently rare to suggest that
all 60 well preserved examples are of national importance.

The Heavy Anti-aircraft gunsite 350m north east of Little Oakley Hall, is a
rare survival of its type in the country. The square design of the four
emplacements is unusual; although several have been documented for Essex, the
four at Little Oakley are believed to be the only surviving examples. The
survival of the wooden and canvas ammunition racking within the ammunition
recessess is extremely rare and one of only a handful remaining in the region.
H5 Little Oakley is one of only nine sites in existence (in any form) from an
original wartime deployment of about 40 HAA positions across Essex - a pattern
designed to combat German bombers en route to the capital, the Thames estuary
and other military targets in the south east of England. It provides a
valuable insight into the development of anti-aircraft measures in the region
and is a significant, visible reminder of the nature of home defence during
World War II.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Dobinson, C S, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Volume 1.3, (1996), 368-9
Nash, F, World War Two Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Sites in Essex, (1998), 25-6
Other
16 colour prints, Nash, F, Unreferenced, (1998)
RAF, 106G-UK 1492-3090, (1946)
Title: TM 2128
Source Date: 1956
Author:
Publisher:
Surveyor:
1:2500
Tyler, S, MPP Film, (1998)

Source: Historic England