Eighty years ago, in 1940/41 more than 30 anti- invasion concrete structures were built around the Kyle of Sutherland and the Dornoch firth. These were in the form of pillboxes, road blocks and gun emplacements.
After the evacuation of Dunkirk in May 1940, a German invasion of Britain was expected daily. German troops overran Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France in six weeks starting in May 1940. France signed an. . .
I am most interested to read about the many pillboxes in the local area.
In the early autumn of 1940 with my mother and brother, I was evacuated from the Tees-side area to stay with my aunt Ruby and uncle Abner Anderson at South Bonar.
On coming downstairs, one morning, I noticed that the porch was in disarray. What had happened?
During the night, soldiers had been guarding the bridge from the pillbox in the garden.
This pillbox is not shown on the above map. It was situated in the garden at the side of the house between the storehouse & the house, itself. It was quite well hidden under the big trees and had a direct view of the bridge. As I recall, the bridge could be blown up from the pillbox.
Aged nine at the time, I have no recollection of being at all surprised or worried about the event. I’d heard nothing during the night. Had the adults been up all night? They didn’t say.
Was this merely a military exercise or was invasion thought to be imminent?
“Our” pillbox was removed after the war.
Katharine Broome.