 world war II pillbox, somerton, oxfordshire February 20, 2007 In 1940, as German forces massed in Europe, 18,000 of these pillboxes were constructed across the British Isles to resist Hitler's 'Operation Sealion', the planned German Invasion of England. This 'Type 22', just outside the pretty village of Somerton, was built next to the Oxford canal, a strategic point which would be defended at all costs. I believe that Churchill's idea was that as the Nazis chugged along England's waterways at 4mph on their barges, small children would come to the banks and throw stones at the them. Then, when the barge drew alonside the pillbox, old men (or Dad's Army as they were affectionately called) would come out from it's murky interior and poke sharp sticks at the Germans until they could stand being poked no more. 'We shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills.' I had cheese on toast for lunch and pancakes for dinner. Two savoury. One sweet. Holga CGFN + Ilford HP5+ © James Arnold 2007 Comment (11) | Permalink |
