TQ 97 SW 1216 - The site of Second World War searchlight battery no. HC04 N at Shellness Point

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument record TQ 97 SW 1216 - The site of Second World War searchlight battery no. HC04 N at Shellness Point

Summary

The site of Second World War searchlight battery no. HC04 N at Shellness Point . It was manned by 322 Searchlight Battery under the command of 28 Searchlight Regiment. The battery was operational by 14th October 1941. Large-scale re-organisation of the searchlight layout in Kent required the withdrawal of 313 SL Bty from the area and the taking over of its sites by 322 SL Bty together with the introduction of three batteries (314, 468 and 508). Sites occupied by these three batteries were renumbered.Searchlight sites typically comprised a small ring-ditch to provide the crew with shelter during an air raid, a predictor emplacement for calculating the height and range of targets, a light anti-aircraft machine gun pit, a generator and hutted accommodation for the crew.

Location

Grid reference	TR 0539 6789 (point)
Map sheet	TR06NE
County	KENT
District	SWALE, KENT
Civil Parish	LEYSDOWN, SWALE, KENT

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Type and Period (1)

SEARCHLIGHT BATTERY (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full Description

The site of a Second World War searchlight battery, this was known as searchlight battery no. HC04 N located at Shellness Point at TR 054679. It was manned by 322 Searchlight Battery. It was operational by 14-OCT-1941. (1)

Searchlight sites typically comprised a small ring-ditch to provide the crew with shelter during an air raid, a predictor emplacement for calculating the height and range of targets, a light anti-aircraft machine gun pit, a generator and hutted accommodation for the crew. During the Second World War searchlights were manned by the Royal Artillery and were under the control of the Army's Anti-Aircraft Command. (2)

It is possible this is the same site as TR 06 NE 30.

<1> Dobinson, C, 2000, CBA Twentieth Century Fortifications in England Supporting paper AA/1 Searchlight Sites in WWII A sample List (Bibliographic reference). SKE15230.

<2> Lowry (ed), 1995, 20th century defences in Britain : an introductory guide, No. 12 p 63 (Bibliographic reference). SKE56150.

Sources/Archives (2)

<1> SKE15230 Bibliographic reference: Dobinson, C. 2000. CBA Twentieth Century Fortifications in England Supporting paper AA/1 Searchlight Sites in WWII A sample List.
<2> SKE56150 Bibliographic reference: Lowry (ed). 1995. 20th century defences in Britain : an introductory guide. No. 12 p 63.