RAF Newton Pillboxes Pt 2 South Side (pic heavy)

Starting from the nearest to the A46 and going east to west there are 4 remaining pillboxes of the same type but different from the ones on the northern edge

First up a heavily overgrown PILLBOX (VARIANT): S0008635 couldnt get in this one


S0008635 (1) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008635 (2) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008635 (7) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008635 (10) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008635 (11) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008635 (9) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008635 (13) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008635 (15) by codseeker, on Flickr

Next along PILLBOX (VARIANT): S0008634 not in a good state and I didnt notice the cartridge cases til I looked at the pics


S0008634 by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (4) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (3) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (5) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (2) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (6) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (1) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (7) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (10) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (9) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (8) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (12) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (13) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0008634 (11a) by codseeker, on Flickr

Next along PILLBOX (VARIANT): S0000682


S0000682 by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (1) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (2) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (4) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (5) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (6) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (8) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (9) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (11) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (12) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (13) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (14) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (15) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (16) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (17) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000682 (18) by codseeker, on Flickr

Last one PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0000679 no way into this one


S0000679 (1) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000679 (2) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000679 (3) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000679 (4) by codseeker, on Flickr


S0000679 (5) by codseeker, on Flickr

And a couple of odd bits to finish


Shelter (1) by codseeker, on Flickr


Shelter (2) by codseeker, on Flickr


Dsc02382 by codseeker, on Flickr


Dsc02383 by codseeker, on Flickr

Thx for looking

cracking stuff as usual mate

Brilliant even better than the last ones, serious subsidence on them as well but loving the barbed wire.

Still trying to work out how I didnt see the cartridge cases in the embrasure til I looked at the pics.Tempted to go back again now

I've been wanting to see some of these octagonal Air ministry jobs. Looks like they were built without adequate foundations judging by the subsidence on them. There are more of the same over at Tollerton (hint hint). Both pintle and Turnbull mounts in these by the looks of them.

Cracking set of pillboxes and the barbed wire is a real bonus. Cheers Rich...good stuff.

cptpies said:

I've been wanting to see some of these octagonal Air ministry jobs. Looks like they were built without adequate foundations judging by the subsidence on them. There are more of the same over at Tollerton (hint hint). Both pintle and Turnbull mounts in these by the looks of them.

Click to expand...

Looks that way capn. My thoughts, for what they're worth;

The Turnbull may have been retrofitted. If it was, the signs that the embrasure was reworked after construction would stand out. It's also probable that the embrasures on PB's constructed closer to the date the Turnbull was introduced were built to suit them. The mount being fitted at a later date with the pintle in place initially as a stopgap measure?

I don't believe the two were intended to be used in turns during a battle although I can imagine that if the type of attack was known in advance, the most appropriate weapon and mount could be selected and prepared ahead of time. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this issue, I realise that you may know better.

The Turnbull was best suited to firing on fixed lines but could be unlocked and rigged (see pics) to allow free movement, whether by happenstance or design though I'm not sure. It was possible to operate the mount shown in the pics below. I was able to freely move the cradle up and down and although traverse was seized it would have been available. I'm not saying that they did this, just that they could.





You can also see how restricted the gunners view of the field of fire was. My understanding is that once the effectiveness of the weapon on a fixed line ceased, the position would have been simply abandoned and the fighting carried on outside. I'm not sure how long it would take to dismount the weapon for use outside the PB but quicker with a Bren than a Vickers I think.




Well done Rich, very interesting site.

Those cartridges look like 7.62x51mm NATO rosecrimp blanks, although i admit i cant be sure from the photo.

Now obviously any live ball ammo should have been policed up when the site was left (very serious breach of regs otherwise), but im intruiged as to why some blank would be knocking about there. I guess there must have been dry training by the pillbox gunners.

Any idea if the area was used for that kind f training?

wirelessmast said:

Those cartridges look like 7.62x51mm NATO rosecrimp blanks, although i admit i cant be sure from the photo.

Now obviously any live ball ammo should have been policed up when the site was left (very serious breach of regs otherwise), but im intruiged as to why some blank would be knocking about there. I guess there must have been dry training by the pillbox gunners.

Any idea if the area was used for that kind f training?

Click to expand...

bit blurred but does this help ?


cases by codseeker, on Flickr

Definately used blank. Rose crimped so most likely the product of Royal Ordnance. Cant be sure of calibre/type, but i would be surprised if they turned out to be anything other than bog standard 7.62.

Theyve been there a good while judging by the corrosion. But only the details off the headstamp would allow me to date them accurately.

wirelessmast said:

Definately used blank. Rose crimped so most likely the product of Royal Ordnance. Cant be sure of calibre/type, but i would be surprised if they turned out to be anything other than bog standard 7.62.

Theyve been there a good while judging by the corrosion. But only the details off the headstamp would allow me to date them accurately.

Click to expand...

may go back on monday

RichCooper said:

may go back on monday

Click to expand...

If you do, take a ruler! measure across the head (thats the end opposite the crimp), from head to neck (thats to just before the crimped bit) and across the neck. From those i should be able to say at least the calibre and probably the type.

Look at the head and it should have markings stamped into it. If you can make a note of those that would be great.

Im going to hazard a guess though, that the headstamps say something like ' RG L13A1 85'