Just before Christmas I took sgt pies out for a short walk along a stretch of the GHQ line continuing on from the section we did earlier this year. Nothing special about this lot but worth a look as they are all readily accessible with the minimum of barbed wire and hedges.
Smallfield GHQ line by cptpies, on Flickr
We started on the western side of the map above with a thin walled type 24 S0012410
S0012410_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
These thin walled ones all seem to be suffering badly from frostbite.
S0012410_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
Both inside and out.
S0012410_3 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0012410_4 by cptpies, on Flickr
This one is S0002563 a little north of the first one and inaccessible due to a ditch and hedge, another thin walled type 24.
S0002563_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
Over to the east of the M23 now with a thick walled type 24 doing its best to merge with the background, S9912411.
S0012411_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
Again this one is badly frost damaged but in pretty good nick inside with the usual Bren type embrasures for this area.
S0012411_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0012411_3 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0012411_4 by cptpies, on Flickr
A little further to the east is another thick walled 24 buried deeply in a thicket so I couldn't get a full picture. S0007613
S0007613_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
Frost damage to the embrasures again revealing the reinforcement.
S0007613_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
Next up is one of the Type 28 infantry variants typical of this area. S0002940
S0002940_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
As usual no blast wall allows a through and through shot.
S0002940_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
Bren embrasures in this one too. I'm speculating here, but I suspect that these were originally earmarked to be AT gun boxes but the lack of available weapons meant they were converted as they were being built.
S0002940_3 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002940_4 by cptpies, on Flickr
Just the other side of the track is the twin of the previous one, another possible indication of the original AT purpose as AT pillboxes are often placed in pairs. S0002941
S0002941_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002941_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
It's been used for burning rubbish.
S0002941_3 by cptpies, on Flickr
Next is another thick walled type 24, this is in a back garden so no access, again heavily frost damaged externally. S0002492
S0002492_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002492_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
Sitting right next to it was this. Fence post foundation or possible socket removed from the nearby roadblock? My money's on a socket.
socket by cptpies, on Flickr
Last up for this stretch is a type 28 infantry variant that is in a back garden and being used as a shed. S0012413
S0012413_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
On the way home we couldn't resist bagging a few more clustered close to the A23 and railway.
This is a thin walled type 24 right next to the road but very well hidden. S0002550
S0002550_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002550_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002550_3 by cptpies, on Flickr
This one is just to the north east of the last one and the sharp eyed amongst you will recognise it as my avatar. This is the first pillbox I visited when I started out on this daft hobby. S0002553
S0002553_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
This lonely fella is another thin walled 24 that covers both of the previous boxes and has a fantastic view down the hill and over the railway. S0002551
S0002551_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002551_4 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002551_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
Even stuck in the middle of a field nature is encroaching.
S0002551_3 by cptpies, on Flickr
Thanks for looking, more to come in the new year.
Smallfield GHQ line by cptpies, on Flickr
We started on the western side of the map above with a thin walled type 24 S0012410
S0012410_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
These thin walled ones all seem to be suffering badly from frostbite.
S0012410_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
Both inside and out.
S0012410_3 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0012410_4 by cptpies, on Flickr
This one is S0002563 a little north of the first one and inaccessible due to a ditch and hedge, another thin walled type 24.
S0002563_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
Over to the east of the M23 now with a thick walled type 24 doing its best to merge with the background, S9912411.
S0012411_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
Again this one is badly frost damaged but in pretty good nick inside with the usual Bren type embrasures for this area.
S0012411_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0012411_3 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0012411_4 by cptpies, on Flickr
A little further to the east is another thick walled 24 buried deeply in a thicket so I couldn't get a full picture. S0007613
S0007613_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
Frost damage to the embrasures again revealing the reinforcement.
S0007613_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
Next up is one of the Type 28 infantry variants typical of this area. S0002940
S0002940_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
As usual no blast wall allows a through and through shot.
S0002940_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
Bren embrasures in this one too. I'm speculating here, but I suspect that these were originally earmarked to be AT gun boxes but the lack of available weapons meant they were converted as they were being built.
S0002940_3 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002940_4 by cptpies, on Flickr
Just the other side of the track is the twin of the previous one, another possible indication of the original AT purpose as AT pillboxes are often placed in pairs. S0002941
S0002941_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002941_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
It's been used for burning rubbish.
S0002941_3 by cptpies, on Flickr
Next is another thick walled type 24, this is in a back garden so no access, again heavily frost damaged externally. S0002492
S0002492_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002492_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
Sitting right next to it was this. Fence post foundation or possible socket removed from the nearby roadblock? My money's on a socket.
socket by cptpies, on Flickr
Last up for this stretch is a type 28 infantry variant that is in a back garden and being used as a shed. S0012413
S0012413_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
On the way home we couldn't resist bagging a few more clustered close to the A23 and railway.
This is a thin walled type 24 right next to the road but very well hidden. S0002550
S0002550_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002550_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002550_3 by cptpies, on Flickr
This one is just to the north east of the last one and the sharp eyed amongst you will recognise it as my avatar. This is the first pillbox I visited when I started out on this daft hobby. S0002553
S0002553_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
This lonely fella is another thin walled 24 that covers both of the previous boxes and has a fantastic view down the hill and over the railway. S0002551
S0002551_1 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002551_4 by cptpies, on Flickr
S0002551_2 by cptpies, on Flickr
Even stuck in the middle of a field nature is encroaching.
S0002551_3 by cptpies, on Flickr
Thanks for looking, more to come in the new year.