StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Mayvillage is creeping into the sand dunes like a lot of villages and towns in this part of France.
What was here before September 1944 I have no idea yet. I need to research
a lot more. There may at some time have been a batterie of guns and the fire control post, quite a way back from the beach.
So why, as some good friends of mine would say "Thats a very good question".
It may have been that far away, not to cover the sea approaches, but to cover the sand dunes after a landing had been secured and it could direct fire onto an invading force.
This of course was never going to happen, the Allies had no intention of landing here. Or anywhere north and south of here. They new that the area was well defended on the coast and
that reserves were close at hand. One Infantry camp was situated up on the hills at Beauregard Farm.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Mayvillage, we parked by the tennis courts.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
MKB plan
Alte Battr Stellung.
Old Batterie Position.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
This is my plan of the area from an IGNF air photo of 1961.
I think the Vf Peilstand has subsided and gradually turned.It used to sit looking West.
Behind two Wellblech shelters for crew quarters.
Vf.:
V - (Verstärkt)
f. - (feldmäßig (er)
Elevation.
How it would have looked inside.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Vf Peilstand
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Vf Peilstand
The rear window and the door to get inside.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Vf Peilstand
Think of the International Space Station, that is how it felt inside. Very disorientating.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Vf Peilstand
Seeing the tiles of the threshold of the door, I am presuming that the whole floor was tiled, in nice grey tiles. Somebody in the past has been in and pinched the lot.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Vf Peilstand
The viewing slit.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Vf Peilstand
The viewing slit leveled off.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Vf Peilstand
A niche in the wall, I have no idea what this was for. There were no wire connections there at all.
This area would have been a plotting room, with a large table and maps/plans laid out.
Telephones.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Vf Peilstand
The Boyz.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Vf Peilstand
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
For some reason, I thought I could see another bunker on the far sand dune, but I don't think I did.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Wellblech shelter
The footpath crosses between two sand dunes and the Wellblech adds as a foundation for the bridge.
Elevation showing how much metal and how much concrete was used.
Steel sheeting from a Wellblech.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Wellblech shelter
Looking inside with what look like two windows in the back wall.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Unknown structure
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
Bits and pieces lying around
There were piles of concrete in the south side of the pathway.
IGNF 1969 showing a spoil heap dumped in the valley.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
IGNF 1956 shows possibly three more items that may have been there?
The Peilstand in 1956, so it must have moved on the sand quite early on.
StP Alte Bttr Stellung, Mayvillage
© 2013 Richard Drew