NHER 27528 (Monument record) - Sites of World War Two defences

August 2005. Norfolk NMP.
Extensive World War Two military training activity and anti invasion defences are visible at Great Yarmouth racecourse on contemporary aerial photographs (S1) to (S14). These are centred on TG 5275 1016 and lie adjacent to a large area of World War Two anti invasion defences and a coastal gun battery (NHER 27517, 32675).

The earliest aerial photographs showing this area date to August 1940 (S1), Although these only show the eastern part of the site, some military activity was taking place by that date. A hexagonal pillbox, probably a type 22 was located at TG 52775 10305. Adjacent to this structure were several slit trenches surrounded by wide areas of disturbed ground. Other areas of disturbed ground are visible within the southern part of the race course circuit, but these could not be clearly mapped as either slit trenches or weapons pits. A spigot mortar emplacement was located adjacent to the railway line at TG 5285 1017. By February 1941 additional slit trenches were present at TG 52670 10230 and TG 52700 09950.

The western part of the site is first visible on aerial photographs dating to March 1944 (S3). Further possible weapons pits and slit trenches were present within the area of the racecourse between TG 5280 1045 and TG 5280 1005 although the detail of these is not clear on the photographs of this date. Two buildings of possible military use had been constructed at the southern edge of the site at TG 5285 0990. A circular domed concrete structure with a 13.5m diameter was present at the site by 2nd March 1944 (S3 ). This was located at TG 5268 0996 and was a dome trainer used to teach anti aircraft gunnery. During late March and early April 1944 the dome trainer was surrounded by small areas of disturbed soil (S4) to (S5). A rectangular pitched roofed building was being constructed around it on 13th May (S6) and by 28th May 1944 (S7) this had been completed, effectively camouflaging the trainer as an ordinary building.

Aerial photographs from 26th March 1944 show an increase in activity at the site (S4). Approximately a hundred military vehicles were parked alongside Fremantle Road immediately to the west of the site many with square tents pitched adjacent to them. It is likely that they formed part of the build up of troops prior to the allied invasion of mainland Europe on 6th June better known as Operation Overlord or D-Day. At least 23 circular tents, each with a roughly 5m diameter, were present inside the racecourse around TG 5263 0996 and TG 5265 1018. Additional trucks were parked at the racecourse stables at TG 5266 0990 on 8th April 1944 (S5). New zigzag plan slit trenches had been dug at the site by that date. These were located around the dome trainer and on the racecourse at TG 5279 0996 and probably represent training activity. A large number of military vehicles were still present at the site on 13th and 28th May, 4th July and 5th August (S8) and (S9). The positions of the vehicles and tents changed over the five months that they were visible and it is possible that they were several different groups that had arrived and departed during that time. The fact that there were still a large number of vehicles present two months after the invasion suggests that they were a number separate groups that had assembled at the racecourse prior to travelling to the continent in batches. The majority of the vehicles and tents had left the site by 11th September 1944 (S10). Military vehicles were also present at the North Denes Middle School on Jellicoe Road (see NHER 27561) in March 1944 and at two locations in Caister-on-Sea in July 1944 (NHER 27510, 27511) suggesting that these were also assembly points.

Several earthworks present at the site were apparently used as part of a training course for tanks or other vehicles. Two of these mounds were present by August 1940 and it is possible that they had a pre-war origin, perhaps as part of the golf course that occupied the site (S1). One of these at TG 52855 10285 comprised of a square outer bank with a hollowed centre. This earthwork had been traversed by vehicles in both directions. The second of the earthworks, at TG 52875 10290, had ramps at both ends linked by a narrow centre section. A third earthwork, consisting of a low mound with raised banks on both sides, was located at TG 5273 1043. This obstacle was constructed between February 1941 and March 1944 (S2-3). Low-level aerial photographs dating to August 1945 show vehicle tracks between and over these earthworks, confirming that they were used as part of a training course (S11). A similar earthwork structure was located to the west of Caister Road (NHER 27521). A wreck of a tank, without a gun or turret hatch, is visible on these aerial photographs at TG 5282 1030. It is possible that this had been used as a target or for some other training role (S11).

A number of craters were present at the site. These were most probably due to enemy air raids although some could be the result of military training activity. A line of six craters extended between TG 5279 1033 and TG 5285 1036 with another crater present on either side of this line. A single crater was located on the edge of the racecourse at TG 5287 1010. None of these craters were visible on aerial photographs dating to February 1941 but they were all present by March 1944 (S2-3). There are several recorded air raids during which bombs were dropped on or near the racecourse (S15). Ten bombs were dropped by a Dornier 17Z on 6th March 1941, with some falling on allotments near Jellicoe Road. A large number of incendiary bombs were dropped on the northern part of the town and racecourse on 4th April 1941 and a total of 12 high explosive bombs were dropped across the racecourse and Caister Road area in the early hours of the morning of 17th June 1941. Additional craters are recorded to the west (NHER 27522), east (NHER 32675) and northeast of the site (NHER 27517).

Relatively little clearance took place at the site between September 1945 and July 1946 (S12) and (S13). However by April 1952 the dome trainer building had been demolished and most of the craters and military earthworks had been levelled (S14).
J. Albone (NMP), 10 August 2005