I wonder if you might assist with my research? I am investigating a former searchlight position and listening post in my village of Daws Heath in the county of Essex in the borough of Castle Point.
The site is almost adjacent to an arterial road (A127) which takes one straight into the East End of London. Later on in WW2 as the German Bomber and fighter crews sought to avoid the heavily defended Thames Estuary and Thames Mouth they began to come slightly more in land before heading up to bomb the East End. I am attempting to identify the purpose of the large concrete block that stands at the entrance/exit point of what would have been the troop hut/listening post.
You will note the steps around the base. Do you think it could have been a generator mounting position? I am further confused by the fact I was always led to believe the searchlight was a fixed position lamp (therefore not on tracks). If this was the case where would it have been mounted and how? Clearly if this was also a listening post basically manned full-time they would require power not only for the lamp but also for the wireless set? I presume further there may have been another location where an aerial was mounted?
The site is almost adjacent to an arterial road (A127) which takes one straight into the East End of London. Later on in WW2 as the German Bomber and fighter crews sought to avoid the heavily defended Thames Estuary and Thames Mouth they began to come slightly more in land before heading up to bomb the East End. I am attempting to identify the purpose of the large concrete block that stands at the entrance/exit point of what would have been the troop hut/listening post.
You will note the steps around the base. Do you think it could have been a generator mounting position? I am further confused by the fact I was always led to believe the searchlight was a fixed position lamp (therefore not on tracks). If this was the case where would it have been mounted and how? Clearly if this was also a listening post basically manned full-time they would require power not only for the lamp but also for the wireless set? I presume further there may have been another location where an aerial was mounted?
I have established contact with and interviewed a local man whose father actually worked there. He confirms the existence of the position and advises it was manned by Home Guard Officers almost continually both for listening and searching. Any help you can give would be very well received, particularly any photographic impressions of what the site may have looked like with its accompanying searchlight. It has been made clear it was a large static light, not truck mounted.
Please reply directly to Richard Burgess at richard751burgess@btinternet.com
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