A modern site at South Foreland
by John A. Guy of the Kent Defence Research Group
Compared with most archaeological sites, this is a very modern one situated at St. Margaret's-at-Cliffe. It is the site of South Foreland Battery. This Battery, built in 1941, consisted of four 9.2-inch long-range guns and played an important part in closing the Dover Straits to enemy shipping during World War Two. The Battery was part of the 540 Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery, formed in September 1940. This Regiment was made up of the four 9.2-inch guns, the only ones of their type mounted in Britain, Wanstone Battery, two 15-inch guns, and Fan Bay Battery, three 6-inch guns. No other Batteries in the Country can boast the list of actions that these Batteries had, and they were unique insofar as they played an offensive role where most other Batteries were defensive.
You may say this all happened not very long ago, but there is very little left to see of South Foreland Battery as most of it has been demolished and buried. It is a shame that in this age we are so keen to destroy these historical sites. If people had done this in the past, perhaps we would not have so many castles, forts, and other historical buildings that we have left today, even the common little pillbox is slowly disappearing. The Kent Defence Research Group has been trying to save just one small part of South Foreland Battery as a memorial to the long-range guns and hopes to be able to put a plaque there to commemorate the long-range guns and the men who served in them during World War Two. With the help of the Kent County Council, the magazines to guns number 2 and 3 are to be preserved; this is the only structure of any significance that survives today. The Batteries were finally declared obsolete in 1956 when Coast Artillery was disbanded and Britain's last big guns were cut up for scrap.
The entrance to Nos. 2 and 3 Magazines of the South Foreland Battery taken in February, 1982.
The guns at South Foreland Battery fired 2,248 rounds, Wanstone Battery fired 1,243 rounds, and Fan Bay Battery 73 rounds in 50 engagements against enemy shipping and convoys, 6 engagements against hostile Batteries on the French coast, and they sank 28 or 29 ships of varying types and sizes and damaged many more.
The No. 2, 9.2 inch, Gun of the South Foreland Battery, part of the 540 Coast Regiment of the Royal Artillery, has just been fired. This photograph was taken on the 27th of September 1944, in action against the enemy.
This is some of the work done by the Kent Defence Research Group, which is a subject branch of the Kent Archaeological Society. The K.D.R.G. was formed in 1973. The aims of the Group are to research the history of all the defenses built in Kent up to 1945, to fully record all surviving fortifications, to bring to public notice the extent and variety of our defensive heritage, and to press the authorities for the preservation of selected defenses of importance and interest, and to carry out excavations and restoration work in appropriate cases. Also, the Group aims to publish the results of research and excavations undertaken and to provide a friendly and informal forum for the exchange of information and ideas. The Group now produces its own Newsletter called "Ravelin". Field trips to defensive sites are also organized for members during each year.
