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  1. #1
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    Default Rainham Marshes Firing Ranges

    At the side of the Thames Estuary, not much left now, turned into an RSPB reserve, history below.

    In 1906 the War Department created the Purfleet Rifle ranges and in 1915 those at the Rainham end of the site. On Aveley Marsh three Stop Butts were created (part of one still stands) with a Mantlet bank in front of each. This broken linear feature still divides Aveley and Wennington Marshes. The hundred yard shooting ridges can still be seen across the marsh and in the scrub the Cordite store and one of eight anti-aircraft ammunition magazines still stands testament to the military history of the marshes. It was an important air defence location during both wars and a Zeppelin was reputed to have been shot down from the Anti-submarine blockhouse in March 1916 while decoy beacon fires were lit on Wennington during WWII air raids.

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    Rainham Marshes by dervish99, on Flickr
    2

    Rainham Marshes by dervish99, on Flickr
    3

    Rainham Marshes by dervish99, on Flickr
    4

    Rainham Marshes by dervish99, on Flickr
    5

    Rainham Marshes by dervish99, on Flickr
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    I think the targets were put up above this long shelter.

    Rainham Marshes by dervish99, on Flickr
    7

    Rainham Marshes by dervish99, on Flickr
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    Tankman (18-05-2011)

  3. #2
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    Default Re: Rainham Marshes Firing Ranges

    Quote Originally Posted by 4737carlin View Post
    Love this, suprised no one else has commented, looks great!! Military history and a RSPB reserve as well, any rare birds there?
    Cheers Carlin, sorry wouldnt know a rare bird if it shat on me 8-) got dragged there by some freinds as a way of entertaining the kids, the chance for a bit of an explore urbex style was a nice suprise.
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  4. #3
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    Default Re: Rainham Marshes Firing Ranges

    Hi. This brings back some memories. I went there one Sunday in every month with the Army Cadets back in the mid Eighties.
    They had two types of butts. The automatic one and the ones in your post. Roughly where the grass starts was the target holder which you had to lift up or down. We was also given a big black arrow on a long poll. We used these to point where the round had hit, as the shooter could not see if they hit the target.
    I tell you, the first time I was there I shit me pants as you had a bunch of live rounds buzzing over a bunch of 15yr olds heads.
    Many thanks for agreat post

  5. #4
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    Default Re: Rainham Marshes Firing Ranges

    Great stuff
    Love your first shot
    “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”

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    Default Re: Rainham Marshes Firing Ranges

    Quote Originally Posted by fortman View Post
    Hi. This brings back some memories. I went there one Sunday in every month with the Army Cadets back in the mid Eighties.
    They had two types of butts. The automatic one and the ones in your post. Roughly where the grass starts was the target holder which you had to lift up or down. We was also given a big black arrow on a long poll. We used these to point where the round had hit, as the shooter could not see if they hit the target.
    I tell you, the first time I was there I shit me pants as you had a bunch of live rounds buzzing over a bunch of 15yr olds heads.
    Many thanks for agreat post

    Cheers Fortman, nice to get some living history on an explore
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    fortman (19-05-2011)

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    Default Re: Rainham Marshes Firing Ranges

    Ooooh I like this


    flickr my bean

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