Monument record MBC44760 - A Second World War roadside ammunition dump, Gawcott to Preston Bissett road.

Summary

A Second World War roadside ammunition dump is visible on historic aerial photographs and was mapped as part of the North Buckinghamshire Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18304).

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Map

Type and Period (3)

  • AMMUNITION DUMP (20th Century - 1900 AD to 1999 AD)
  • ARMAMENT DEPOT (20th Century - 1900 AD to 1999 AD)
  • MILITARY BUILDING (20th Century - 1900 AD to 1999 AD)

Description

A Second World War roadside ammunition dump is visible on historic aerial photographs and was mapped as part of the North Buckinghamshire Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18304). Located on the Gawcott to Preston Bissett road and centred at SP 65880 30854, the ammunition storage area comprises 12 rectangular buildings, each about 5 x 3 metres and laid out with 5 long sides parallel with the road and 7 with long sides perpendicular to the road on the east facing side. These portable corrugated iron shelters, or hutments, were usually camouflaged and covered stacks of artillery or small arms ammunition. Roadside storage not only made the ammunition easily accessible but dispersed the risk of a large loss of munitions in one event as a result of a German air raid. The munitions storage hutments are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1946 and 1947, but all have been demolished by 1961 (1-6).

Sources (6)

  • <1>SBC26004 Digital archive: Center of Military History United States Army Department Washington. 1991. Mayo, L. 1991. United States Army in World War II: The Technical Services: The Ordnance Department: On Beachhead and Battlefront. Chapter 6: the Base in the British Isles (Pages 97-98).
  • <2>SBC26005 Digital archive: British Pathe. 2023. British Pathé. 1946. 1,500 Miles of Bombs Along Our Roads Aka Ammunition Dumps or Arms Dump.
  • <3>SBC26001 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2023. RAF-106G-UK-1380 RS 4024 09-APR-1946.
  • <4>SBC26006 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2023. RAF-106G-UK-1380 RP 3025 09-APR-1946.
  • <5>SBC26002 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2023. RAF-CPE-UK-2008 RS 4017 16-APR-1947.
  • <6>SBC26003 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2023. RAF-58-4646 F44 0217 28-AUG-1961.

Location

Grid reference SP 6588 3085 (point)
Civil Parish TINGEWICK, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Event - Survey: Aerial investigation and mapping project (Ref: 7768) (EBC18304)

Record last edited

Jan 12 2024 6:33PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the Heritage Portal maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.