Kintbury to Hungerford-The Kennet And Avon Canal Nov 2010

There were seven standard designs by FW3, often modified during construction under the direction of the area commands. Occasionally, a 'one-off' type was designed to the War Office standard by the Command and Corps Chief Engineers.

The FW3 pillbox design concept was to provide a simple 'fieldwork standard' that could be constructed very quickly. Most designs consisted of or incorporated some of the following features:
- Minimum of Bullet/Splinter Proof protection
- No attempt was made to provide living accommodation
- Some designs were enhanced to Shell Proof standard
- Simple Blast Walls to protect open entrances
- External flat side walls with rectangular or polygonal shape.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28): S0008829

The Wilderness, N of Kennet and Avon Canal, Kintbury. Type 28 anti-tank gun emplacement situated on North bank of canal, with field of fire SE across canal. Wood-shuttered construction with 1 large embrasure and 1 medium embrasure. Slot in base behind main embrasure (interior). The entrance way now has railings fitted. Sandwiched between canal and tributary of River Kennet where it passes over small weir. Mainly hidden from view by trees and bushes, and heavily overgrown with ivy. A rusty metal gate survives in the doorway, wedged open. East facing embrasure is covered with corrugated zinc sheet. Interior walls covered in graffiti.

Remnants of the bridge support leading over the small tributary to the rail bridge.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0008831

The Wilderness, N of Kennet and Avon Canal and S of railway line, Kintbury. Type 28a anti-tank gun emplacement. Wood-shuttered interior and exterior. 1 large embrasure and 2 medium embrasures, one forward, one S side. Pillbox looks E towards Shepherds Bridge with side embrasure looking S across canal. Central slot behind main embrasure (interior) with slots in wall either side of embrasure. Wood-shuttered dividing wall.

The gun base fixing points to prevent recoil. Note the rear slot in the foreground and the slots in the sides of the main embrasure.

 Ordnance QF 2-pounder. A mock up of what the gun would look like in position.

The Ordnance QF 2-pounder (or simply "2 pounder gun") was a 40 mm (1.575 in) British Anti-Tank and vehicle-mounted gun, employed in the Second world War. It was actively used in the Battle of France.and during the North Africa Campaign.
From mid-1942, the 2-pdr was increasingly displaced to infantry anti-tank platoons, to Home Guard units in Great Britain, and to the Far East, where it was still effective against the smaller and more lightly armored Japanese tanks. It was finally removed from service entirely in December 1945. As a vehicle weapon it remained in use throughout the war. Although most tanks equipped with it were withdrawn or upgraded to the 6-pdr, it remained in use with armoured cars.

Caliber : 40mm Country : Great Britain Roll : Light Anti-Tank Gun Date : July 1936 Manufacturer : Vickers Armstrong Number Produced : 7000+ Crew : 3 Length : 3.44 meters Width : 1.4 meters Height : 1.5 meters Weight : 838 kilograms Weight (Deployed): 800 kilograms Elevation : +15° / -13° Traverse : 360° Rate of Fire : 15 - 20 rounds per minute

ANTI TANK VERTICAL RAIL

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008834 

Kintbury and sat on the right hand side of the canal bank.  Type 22 pillbox situated on N side of canal, with field of fire South across canal towards Irish Hill Copse. Wood-shuttered exterior. Internally untidy but otherwise in good condition. Faces Irish Hill Copse. Shell-proof.

ANTI TANK VERTICAL RAIL

Dreweats Lock Bridge - Sockets

Kennet and Avon Canal, Kintbury.  Evident from the grass patches seen in regular rows across the bridge.

The clean side of the bridge.  The strategy would be to entrap the bridge using the rails and block the bridge with damaged enemy armour.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0008835

East of Dreweats Bridge, N of Kennet and Avon Canal, Kintbury. Type 28a pillbox, situated on the North bank of the canal with field of fire West towards Dreweats Bridge and South across canal. Wood-shuttered with rendering on roof cracking.

Field of fire towards Dreweats Bridge.

ANTI TANK CYLINDER: S0015488

East of Copse Lock near N bank of Kennet and Avon Canal, Speen.  Dumped cylinders.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008837

Copse Lock, North of Kennet and Avon Canal and River Kennet, Speen. Type 22 pillbox, shell-proof. This pillbox would have defended the East side of the railway bridge that has since been demolished. Now surrounded by trees and partly overgrown with ivy. One tree grows against the entrance, its roots flush with the pillbox foundations. Well off the beaten track. Internally good. Situated on the edge of woodland, with field of fire across flood plain to River Kennet and canal at Copse Lock. Wood-shuttered exterior. 

Indeed.

Into Hungerford itself.

Note the date 1919 below.  This was the officially recognised end of the war when Armistice was signed. The ceasefire occurred as we know on 11/11/18.

The Armistice was prolonged three times before peace was finally ratified.
First Armistice (11 November 1918 – 13 December 1918)
First prolongation of the armistice (13 December 1918 – 16 January 1919)
Second prolongation of the armistice (16 January 1919 – 16 February 1919)
Third prolongation of the armistice (16 February 1919 – 10 January 1920)

Peace was ratified at 4:15 pm on 10 January 1920.

Stepping out of Hungerford and heading off along the canal.  The old rail line fencing.

ANTI TANK VERTICAL RAIL: S0008801

Main line railway, near Hungerford 

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0006475

Adjacent to railway line, and 150 feet from A4 road, East of Froxfield.  Shell-proof. Heavy frost damage to the brick shuttering.

The interior looks to have been set on fire at some point.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008799

South of railway bridge, North East of Picketfield Lock, Kennet and Avon Canal, Hungerford. Type 22 pillbox, shell-proof. Only just visible from tow-path on the South bank of canal. Hidden in trees on inaccessible land designated 'DEEP MUD KEEP OUT'.  Never one to worry about such matters - i persisted.

The day was a variety of weather conditions and as a result of this it was both a wet and hot /muddy day cycling those tow-paths.  I ended up covered in the obligatory mud and the commuters going home after a days work were casting me strange looks when sat on the train.  Despite the covering of mud i had a thoroughly enjoyable day out on the canal. At least i had the train seat to myself on the way home! Another gap in the Kennet completed.

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