A pillbox from World War II has recently been uncovered on a sandy beach in East Runton, Norfolk due to winter storms. The structure was previously buried almost up to its roof after a cliff collapsed. However, the stormy seas have jet-washed the pillbox and removed the sand that had previously obscured the view of its interior. The recent exposure of the pillbox is not only fascinating but also a testament to the essential role it played in protecting the UK’s beaches during the war.
Niels Thomas, of the National Coastwatch Institution Cromer, explains that “normally the sand is much higher, you can just about peer inside and the sand is almost up to the roof.” He cautions people not to enter the pillbox for safety reasons, especially when the tide is incoming. The essential part that pillboxes, small defensive forts, played in the defences of the coastline during that period made them necessary in an integrated invasion defence system. They were built in various designs such as round, square, or hexagonal, often resembling containers used to store pills, which gave rise to their name. Approximately 28,000 pillboxes were built in 1940 & 1941 to protect the United Kingdom’s beaches from invasion.
East Runton’s pillbox was perched atop a cliff that collapsed years ago due to coastal erosion. The structures were built to resist grenade and artillery attacks, mainly to block the progress of German armoured columns. Light can now be seen through its firing embrasures, designed for use by defenders to fire through. The volunteers of the National Coastwatch Institution Cromer, acting as the “eyes and ears of HM Coastguard,” identified the revealed interior of the pillbox. If the volunteers see an incident that puts people, animals, or vessels at risk, they contact the HM Coastguard, and the entire institution is funded by public donations.
People are fascinated by the recently exposed pillbox, but it’s a vital reminder of the role played by brave defenders of the coastline during World War II and the history of the conflict and defence mechanisms during that time
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More