St Helens Church. Pillbox

In preparation for and during World War II, the island went into full defensive mode because of its strategic location. If the Germans were planning an invasion, it seemed probable that they would want to seize it as soon as possible to establish a safe beachhead from which to start their lightning-fast blitzkrieg campaign.

The War Office anticipated this possibility, so it developed a number of defence systems and made preparations at key locations to slow down any advance forces in the event of an evasion. The placement of strategically placed pillboxes was one such tactic used on the Island.

Located on the former church’s south wall to the south-west, this little pillbox may be seen in St Helens Church yard. There is just one little opening facing the ocean, leading some to speculate that it was created as a foxhole for troops guarding the port entrance.

The filed of view covers the entrance to the Harbour out across the beach to St Helens Fort.

Each pillbox had its own style of construction, and details of which can been had by clicking on the link in the tabs Links and Sources .

• http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/

• https://www.iwhistory.org.uk/HER/0805pillboxes.htm#MIW2795