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View Full Version : Archived: Anti tank Island - Axminster – Apr/June 2011



Munchh
30-10-2011, 01:59 PM
History and info


“A World War 2 anti-invasion stop line, facing west, built between July and November 1940.
The stop line runs for approximately 50 miles from the mouth of River Brue to the mouth of the River Axe in Devon (with some infrastructure in Dorset). Some rear positions were prepared to the E of line. It connected to the ‘GHQ Line Green’ running East along River Brue.

The line followed the River Parrett to Bridgwater where it joined the Bridgwater to Taunton Canal. From Creech St Michael it followed the old Chard Canal until SW of Ilton where it joined the Great Western Railway. The line left the GWR to the north of Chard Junction from where it followed the Southern Railway and River Axe running south into Devon.

The planned infrastructure (most of which was built) included 233 pillboxes, 61 medium machine gun emplacements, 21 anti-tank gun emplacements, 83 road blocks, 22 railway blocks and 46 demolitions.

The anti-tank obstacle consisted of about 24 miles of waterways, 7 miles of improved water obstacles, 11 miles of anti-tank ditches and 8 miles of artificial obstacles (eg cubes).

From autumn 1940, twelve locations were prepared for all-round defence as ‘anti-tank islands’ of which 9 were in Somerset - Bridgwater, Durston, Creech St Michael, Wrantage and Crimson Hill, Ilton, Ilminster, Chard, Forton and Perry Street.”

The defences in this report are from the Axminster ATI in Devon. The headings contain the original 1940 serial numbers for each PB along with its type and GPS fixed location. DOB numbers are also given for reference where available.
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I’m still just mad enough to tackle pillboxes ‘out of season’ so to speak. I went back to re visit some defences that I looked at in April. What were easy paths then are jungles now. I’m used to this and actually got to more than I initially expected. I was thwarted on occasion but still managed to return home with 130 photos.

It’s only when you view an ATI as a whole that you can fully appreciate it. The perimeter of this ATI forms a complete enclosure and incorporates the Taunton stopline on its western side.

These are the defences I’ve plotted so far from the original engineers plans. There may be others to be included later and obviously, as the documentation is 70 years old, not all sites are extant.


GE map shots legend

Orange – AT ditches
Yellow – Scarping
White – AT posts
Blue – Barbed wire
Brown – AT Cubes
Magenta – possible firing lines

Overview north and south

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/GEmapshotnorth-1.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/GEmapshotsouth-1.jpg

Lower west side

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/GEmapshotlowerwestside-1.jpg

S 47 – Type 24 - 50°46'36.80"N, 3° 0'28.70"W

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1749.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1748.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1746.jpg

S 46 – Type 26 - 50°46'39.19"N, 3° 0'23.32"W

It’s given as removed on the DOB database but it’s definitely there. And yes, the painted ‘window’ over the embrasure is the original attempt at camouflage. (source: David Hunt)

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1783.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1780.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1774.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1772.jpg

AT Posts – 217 yards running from 50°46'38.01"N, 3° 0'27.64"W to 50°46'32.13"N, 3° 0'30.90"W

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1757.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1753.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1745.jpg

S AT 601 – S0001319, Gun emplacement, 6 pounder - 50°46'43.20"N, 3° 0'30.00"W

With roadblock S RD B 60 to the right at 50°46'44.81"N, 3° 0'30.33"W

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1787.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1738.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1735.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1734.jpg


From a document dated 28th October 1940;

“Subject: Taunton line, A/T Islands

To: C.E. 8th Corps, Home Forces

From: S.F.E Taunton Line


Reference the meeting held by C.E. Southern Command at Axminster on the 22nd instant. It appears that the purpose of the so-called anti tank islands is not to provide an all round defence, but to block the main roads leading east against a rush attack by A.F.V.s and to throw them off the roads and thus break the impetus of the attack.
From a study of the problem it would appear that the above purpose would be most easily, and incidentally cheaply achieved, by making more use than has apparently been hitherto contemplated of the Taunton Stopline.
The Taunton Stopline provides a continuous obstacle from north to south. If therefore, all the major crossings of this obstacle were adequately defended, the enemy A.F.V’s would be thrown off the main roads and would have to spend valuable time in seeking crossings elsewhere.
It is recommended for consideration therefore, that a reconnaissance of these crossings be made with a view to determining;-

a) What additional obstacles if any on the actual crossings are necessary.
b) What additional pillboxes are necessary adequately to cover these obstacles.

6. It is not anticipated that much new constructional work would be involved if the above policy were to be adopted.

Major Hall, Royal Engineers, S.F.E. Taunton Line.”

South west corner

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/GEmapshotSWcorner-4.jpg


S AT 602 – 6 pounder gun emplacement, base only, approx 50°46'30.24"N, 3° 0'31.13"W

The view to the dismantled branch line bridge from the placemark

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1801-1.jpg

SV 7 – S0001266 -Vickers MMG - 50°46'29.19"N, 3° 0'32.82"W

Not accessible by virtue of being inside the wire of the sewage plant

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1789-1.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1790-1.jpg

The displaced blast wall?

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1791-1.jpg

S 48 – S00001268 - Type 26 - 50°46'28.70"N, 3° 0'34.34"W

Another one with the embrasure above the blocked entrance but protected with a low wall

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1793-1.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1792-1.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1795-1.jpg

AT cubes - 50°46'28.11"N, 3° 0'35.80"W

Just two by the looks, in good nick



http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1799-1.jpg

Couldn’t get near enough to these next two pillboxes as there were crops in the field and no clear path through. Will get a closer look later in the year though. Main thing is they’re still there.

SV 8 – S0001255 - Vickers MMG - 50°46'23.00"N, 3° 0'32.83"W

S 51a – S0001244 - poss Type 24 - 50°46'22.11"N, 3° 0'33.84"W

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab132/Munch099/Taunton Stop line/Axminster ATI/100_1797-1.jpg

​I’ll stop here for now and will post the remainder of this ATI in a subsequent report. Thanks for looking in.