Machine Gun Loophole. circa 1996
Photograph courtesy Sue Burden who says: "I took these photos myself. My uncle lives near Banbury, and the drive to visit him involved going through Deddington. In the 90s, I took part in the "Defence of Britain" Project where people were encouraged to record as many World War 2 anti invasion defences as possible. I sent them a lot of records, including one of this loophole."
Located on the LH wall on the 'S' bend by Castle End heading for Clifton. In fact it would have been a loophole for a Lewis Gun as <a href="http://gallery.deddingtonhistory.uk/index.php/WW2/Home-Guard/HGsmall-group_bren">this photo</a> shows.
n the words of George Harris who was a schoolboy in the war "The loopholes were certainly a good thought on someone's part, especially that they were strategically placed in strong stone walls.
As schoolboys, during the dark days of the second world war, we marched along with the Home Guard, with our pointed sticks as rifles. The photographs portray the serious and determined faces of the men involved who gave up their time every day after their days work in their respective jobs. Some of the younger members , as with Bill Cowley, joining the regular Military forces.
I remember so well, how quickly the normally quiet and peaceful countryside was alive with activity. The appearance of the heavy concrete "pillboxes", some of which still remain (Ed: road to Somerton by the canal bridge)The filling of thousands of sandbags, the digging of trenches, the conversion of vehicles as troop transport - Cpl Jones butchers van of Dads Army not too far from reality!
Located on the LH wall on the 'S' bend by Castle End heading for Clifton. In fact it would have been a loophole for a Lewis Gun as <a href="http://gallery.deddingtonhistory.uk/index.php/WW2/Home-Guard/HGsmall-group_bren">this photo</a> shows.
n the words of George Harris who was a schoolboy in the war "The loopholes were certainly a good thought on someone's part, especially that they were strategically placed in strong stone walls.
As schoolboys, during the dark days of the second world war, we marched along with the Home Guard, with our pointed sticks as rifles. The photographs portray the serious and determined faces of the men involved who gave up their time every day after their days work in their respective jobs. Some of the younger members , as with Bill Cowley, joining the regular Military forces.
I remember so well, how quickly the normally quiet and peaceful countryside was alive with activity. The appearance of the heavy concrete "pillboxes", some of which still remain (Ed: road to Somerton by the canal bridge)The filling of thousands of sandbags, the digging of trenches, the conversion of vehicles as troop transport - Cpl Jones butchers van of Dads Army not too far from reality!