- Joined
- Aug 1, 2006
- Messages
- 747
- Reaction score
- 2,578
what a day we have over the last weekend, me and Cockney boy planed a trip to Gloucestershire to try and take in as much WW2 and cold war sites as poss.
As usual I packed the old 4X4 up with maps, DSLR stuff, coffee and 1 packet of cookies, well you've got to eat something, also to give Cockney boy a break I took the standard Groove Armada CD out of the player and replaced it with Black Ice by AC/DC.
All was set apart from the fact that I forgot to pack a spoon for my coffee. so off we went..
The first site to get a visit was the former RAF Windrush (Cockney boy says we are looking for a sign that says Windrush camp, I said we passed that way back, time for a 4X4 U turn right there and then on the A40, Job done).
RAF Windrush was a flying training unit part of 23 Grp.
The control tower has been restored
Next to the control tower is a pill box with a Anti aircraft placement in the middle some people think it might be the battle HQ.
Inside the pillbox
In the woods is the generator room
and next to this is a prefab stanton shelter
After a bit more of a look round it was time to head off to Stoke orchard, once we made it through the worst sign posted town in the world (Cheltenham).
The first thing we wanted to see was the V shape sea gull trench as neither of us had seen one up close.
This is only a 2 segment seagull trench not the full 4 segment W shape. The enterance ways are filled in but a slide and a drop and you get in through the firing slots.
Next, right down the road about 300 meters is Stoke Orchard ROC post it had been burnt out but a few things still remain inside.
At this point I said to Cockney boy that although I had been sitting on top of the enterance shaft having a crafty smoke lots of people driving by had looked but no one had stopped, Cockney boy said that it might just be the camo jacket and the hard hat, makes me look like a terrorist. I went back down to take a few more pictures and when I came back out guess what some one had stopped and was in full chat mode with Cockney boy, the guy say so you going to have a look at the Battle HQ............
WHAT BATTLE HQ......
That one just over there..
so after a walk back over the railway bridge we came across this, Oh joy my first proper battle HQ.
The land owner has dug out the enterance way so you can get in, there is some water on the floor but not much.
Inside, looking at the escape ladder and then inside the top cupola.
Next to the place of many chimneys, I'll leave this out for now as it's not part of the WW2, cold war theme.
So back in the car and off to find a few more ROC posts, I just love driving round and round small lanes looking for ROC post.So off we set trying to find the Northleach post.
Hit the breaks, Reverse back up the road, Cockney boy is starting to panic whats going on.???
Over there in that field.
What
Over there
Where
Over there
How the hell did you see that wile you were driving says Cockney boy, I'v got bunker shaped eyeballs.
So a 10 minit treck across a field and we came upon Northleach ROC post.
The post is also burnt out but there are still bits and bobs in there, like the 20+ road signes I just love what you find in these places. So once back on the surface Cockney boy say the light is going and I only like taking pictures in good light.
So what bunkers are dark anyway and you take lots of pics inside. OK says Cockney boy lets go find one more. We had a map and the directions for the next one at poulton near Fairford. This post is next to the road it has parking and a new metal gate. And it's in very good nick.
There is a large pile of old photo paper still in the post from the survey meter
The post details are still on the wall.
Well after a cup of coffee and a quick cookie for dinner, it was time to head home, a good day indeed.
Sorry for the long post and well done if you made it this far.
Thanks for looking
Newage & Cockney boy
As usual I packed the old 4X4 up with maps, DSLR stuff, coffee and 1 packet of cookies, well you've got to eat something, also to give Cockney boy a break I took the standard Groove Armada CD out of the player and replaced it with Black Ice by AC/DC.
All was set apart from the fact that I forgot to pack a spoon for my coffee. so off we went..
The first site to get a visit was the former RAF Windrush (Cockney boy says we are looking for a sign that says Windrush camp, I said we passed that way back, time for a 4X4 U turn right there and then on the A40, Job done).
RAF Windrush was a flying training unit part of 23 Grp.
The control tower has been restored
Next to the control tower is a pill box with a Anti aircraft placement in the middle some people think it might be the battle HQ.
Inside the pillbox
In the woods is the generator room
and next to this is a prefab stanton shelter
After a bit more of a look round it was time to head off to Stoke orchard, once we made it through the worst sign posted town in the world (Cheltenham).
The first thing we wanted to see was the V shape sea gull trench as neither of us had seen one up close.
This is only a 2 segment seagull trench not the full 4 segment W shape. The enterance ways are filled in but a slide and a drop and you get in through the firing slots.
Next, right down the road about 300 meters is Stoke Orchard ROC post it had been burnt out but a few things still remain inside.
At this point I said to Cockney boy that although I had been sitting on top of the enterance shaft having a crafty smoke lots of people driving by had looked but no one had stopped, Cockney boy said that it might just be the camo jacket and the hard hat, makes me look like a terrorist. I went back down to take a few more pictures and when I came back out guess what some one had stopped and was in full chat mode with Cockney boy, the guy say so you going to have a look at the Battle HQ............
WHAT BATTLE HQ......
That one just over there..
so after a walk back over the railway bridge we came across this, Oh joy my first proper battle HQ.
The land owner has dug out the enterance way so you can get in, there is some water on the floor but not much.
Inside, looking at the escape ladder and then inside the top cupola.
Next to the place of many chimneys, I'll leave this out for now as it's not part of the WW2, cold war theme.
So back in the car and off to find a few more ROC posts, I just love driving round and round small lanes looking for ROC post.So off we set trying to find the Northleach post.
Hit the breaks, Reverse back up the road, Cockney boy is starting to panic whats going on.???
Over there in that field.
What
Over there
Where
Over there
How the hell did you see that wile you were driving says Cockney boy, I'v got bunker shaped eyeballs.
So a 10 minit treck across a field and we came upon Northleach ROC post.
The post is also burnt out but there are still bits and bobs in there, like the 20+ road signes I just love what you find in these places. So once back on the surface Cockney boy say the light is going and I only like taking pictures in good light.
So what bunkers are dark anyway and you take lots of pics inside. OK says Cockney boy lets go find one more. We had a map and the directions for the next one at poulton near Fairford. This post is next to the road it has parking and a new metal gate. And it's in very good nick.
There is a large pile of old photo paper still in the post from the survey meter
The post details are still on the wall.
Well after a cup of coffee and a quick cookie for dinner, it was time to head home, a good day indeed.
Sorry for the long post and well done if you made it this far.
Thanks for looking
Newage & Cockney boy