Methil, Fife - XDO Post

Hi there,

FIRST TIME EXPLORE ALERT!!!

I have been intrigued / interested by this website since I visited Crail Aerodrome recently, and have got the itch to explore now too!!!

Checking on the Canmore website http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/ I discovered that there is a WW2 relic nearby, so off I popped tonight armed with camera. Here is what I discovered...

A WW2 concrete built Extended Defence Officers Post (XDO post)

The XDO post has been buried with only the top visible above ground and trees have been planted round it with the intention of concealing the structure.

The XDO post was the control position for a submarine mine field which was laid in the approaches to Methil Docks.

I damn near walked by the thing, it blended in so well with the surroundings!









Not too much to see above ground, and no apparent access to the inner sections, but it's only a first attempt at this sort of thing!

Found several of these bricks lying next to the command post, don't know if they are relevant to it or not but they were kinda cool in a bricky sort of way!!!





From the Southhook Fireclay Co, near Kilmarnock I believe! Not quite sure about the "DANGER" though...maybe a resident expert can enlighten?

Hope you enjoy the pics...Here's to many more!

Gaz

The bricks, I think, mark undreground cables...

There's a whole thread dedicated to the passion of brick collecting.

Nice find though. I've never seen one of these before. The post. Obviously. I've seen plenty of bricks.

Nice find. I believe there's another one of these on the golf course at Crail, and there's a WW1 version on the clifftop at Carlingnose, North Queensferry, next to the gunsite.

And a couple more near Southampton. Interesting things these. Nice first post

Thanks for the praise guys, have earmarked a couple of pillboxes to visit now too, over the next week or 2, will post if I can find them.

I wonder what these underground posts are like inside? Think it'd be worthwhile revisiting with my camera on a timer, tied to a stick!! To push through the top of the post??? Might work...

Can't believe that I drive by this one every day pretty much, and it is literally 5m from the road!

Gaz

Interesting place for a first explore

gazzaon said:

I wonder what these underground posts are like inside?

Click to expand...

Looking at the DoB database, there's a couple of Battle Headquarters up towards Perth which look like they're probably in reasonable condition. A visit to one of them would give you a better idea. It's unlikely that you'll find much other than a big bare underground bunker, but I love seeing them anyway. I take it there's no sign of an entry into this one? No odd angled brick walls in the surrounding undergrowth or anything?

nice find gazzaon, like hypo says I think the entrance would be slightly away in the trees. might be worth going back and having a poke about abit and see what you find

Excellent find and first post, Gazzaon. Not too many of these about, so really it's good to see one.

Follow-Up

Hi again...

Had a quick shufti back at the site earlier while passing, without camera. There is a steep drop about 15-20m away from the visible section, and there is some debris and what looks like concrete paving slabs standing on end, at least that's what they look like.

The way they are positioned COULD be the remains of an entrance way.

I didn't feel safe going down the slope alone without any ropes to haul myself back up with, though, although it's not too big a drop to be particularly dangerous, I'm more concerned with getting stuck!

I plan to return very soon for a further investigation now that I have found this. Will post some more pics as & when I get 'em.

Cheers again for your kind comments!

Gaz

Sorry for diggin up an old topic but if you look into the holes on the sides down the bottom and to the left same as if you were going up the sea road there's a small entrance and what looks like a door i remmber it as a kid pity there's no other way in.