SECOND WORLD WAR SEA DEFENCES
FELIX ROWE EXAMINES THE ROLE OF THE MAUNSELL FORTS THAT PROTECTED BRITISH SHIPPING FROM GERMAN-LAID MINES DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, AND PROFILES THE UNSUNG CIVIL ENGINEER WHO MASTERMINDED THEM.
A contemporary image of Sealand fort. (ALL IMAGES VIA AUTHOR UNLESS NOTED)
Red Sands Fort. (RUSS GARRETT)
Venturing out of the Thames Estuary and into the North Sea, a cluster of colossal, ghostly figures appear through the mist, guarding the water like gigantic robots. These huge, rusting 20th century sea forts are the brainchild of Guy Anson Maunsell, an under acknowledged civilian who made a huge contribution to the UK’s defences, especially during the Second World War.
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