Monument record 7443/0/1 - Kelmarsh WWII Searchlight Battery

{1} Documentary ref to one 150cm, S/L. No information of current survival if any?
Information taken from 425 Searchlight Battery 58th Searchlight Regiment War Diary (PRO ref: WO166/3270). NGRs converted from wartime grid references. Northants sites are part of a group of 24 for the 425 S/L Battery, others being in Warwickshire and Leicestershire.

{2} Documentary reference to Searchlight battery. Appendix of War Diary details location of every S/L in their area (north of Grantham to the east coast) due to a change in the system of numbering in 1942. Prefixes of old numbers make it possible to cross reference them to location statements. Kelmarsh S/L at MGR 73/170993 had the old number WT.115B (ie 425 Bty, 58 S/L Regt.); new number 306C. [Interpreted location is at SP71547962.]

{3} Inspection of aerial photographs indicates possible earthwork survival c.200-250m south-south-west of the documented location. Field inspection from edge of field confirmed that ridge and furrow earthworks present, but was unable to verify whether any searchlight earthworks survive. Closer inspection required. The new ngr is SP71457940.

{5} Reorganisation of TRP areas: Site 25534 Kelmarsh becomes Site 25533.

<1> Armishaw A., 2000, Letter, (checked) (Letter). SNN101924.

<2> Armishaw A., 2001, Letter Re War Diary of 32 AA Bde. 1942, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN101927.

<3> Cadman, G., 2003, Searchlight, Kelmarsh, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN103401.

<4> 1941, 425 Searchlight Battery, 58th Searchlight Regiment: Organisation of Battery Area, 1941 (PRO ref: WO166/3270), (checked) (Document). SNN108917.

<5> Appendix A: Reorganisation of Seachlight Battery Area, (checked) (Document). SNN108918.

<6> 425 Searchlight Battery Plans of Searchlight Clusters and Control and Plotting Posts, (checked) (Document). SNN108919.

Record last edited

Jun 26 2013 12:51PM