Spigot Mortar Emplacement
Location/Address
Spigot Mortar Emplacement, Ruckles Field, Approx 70M West Of Station Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire
Type
Landmark, art work or way finder
Assets whose form and function are readily visible, but which are not Buildings. This category includes signage and works of art such as murals and statues.
Description
World War II concrete Spigot Mortar emplacement
Statement of Significance
Age
Likely to be dating from 1941-42Architectural and Artistic Interest
Emplacement for a 29mm spigot mortar. Circular pit finished with concrete floor and walls. The pit has openings for two square ammunition lockers to the south side, which are set back into the wall of the pit. In the centre of the pit is the large circular concrete thimble, which has a curved top capped by a circular iron plate in the centre. This holds the steel pin or pivot. Thsi design would appear to be a vation of the Directorate of Fortifications and works plan, adjusted according to its context and the topography of the site.Historic Interest
Following the evacuation of the British Expedition Force from Dunkirk in 1940, Britain's defences were strengthened against the threat of a German invasion. Diverse types of defensive structures were built in large numbers across the whole country. One particular weakness identified was a grave shortage of anti-tank guns as the majority of them had been left behind in France. A relatively cheap and portable solution to this problem was designed by Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Blacker of the Territorial Army. Unlike conventional mortars, a spigot mortar does not possess a barrel, rather a steel rod, or spigot, is fixed to a base, with the projectile itself housing the propellant charge in its tail. When the mortar is fired, the projectile is pushed down onto the spigot, which explodes the charge and fires the round. The 29mm spigot mortar, or Blacker Bombard, was based on this premise, but with an inclined, swivel-mounted spigot and trigger firing mechanism. It was also fitted with a portable mounting consisting of four folding legs. Amersham does not appear to be have formed part of the General Headquarters (GHQ) anti-tank line or any other stop line, nor was the town a nodal point or designated strong point. The River Misbourne seems to be key to understanding the context of this emplacement acting as a natural barrier which was complemented by the mortar emplacement. It is possible that this was an ambush position.Images and Documents
Date Listed
n/a
Last Updated
20 Mar 2023