Monument record 86/1/28 - WWII Gun Emplacement

{1} Mounting for small gun (machine gun or lewis gun) located at west end of store depots SE bastion.

{2} Building number 93.

{3} All possibly bar the NE bastion of the storehouse enclosure "continued to have a limited defensive use until the end of the Second World War." … "The final modification to the bastions was the installation in World War Two of mountings for anti-aircraft machine guns. These concrete bases were placed in both corners of the south-east, north-west and south-east (sic - SW?) bastion walkways. … A holdfast is formed on each concrete base from a circular depression containing three bolts. The size of this holdfast is too small (49cm diameter) for the mounting of any weapon but a Bren or Lewis gun (both stored at Weedon in large numbers). As the parapet wall and various surrounding buildings limit the field of fire the only available use is against attacking aircraft, a threat only encountered in the Second World War."
"The only other modification to a bastion that can be attributed to the Second World War is the provision of a concrete lined loophole … for a machine gun … in the west parapet wall of the south-east bastion. … a position intended either for last ditch defence or use by guards."

<1> CADMAN G.E., 1996, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN49710.

<2> Cadman G., 2014, 20th Century Military Archaeology in Northamptonshire: Logs 1, 2 & 3, p.28 (checked) (Report). SNN104868.

<3> MENUGE A.; WILLIAMS A., 1999, Royal Ordnance Depot, Weedon Bec, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN63064.

Record last edited

Nov 3 2014 5:19PM