Rainham Marshes in The First World War Documentary
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- Опубліковано 1 січ 2015
- The Rainham/Purfleet area has been in use by man since the days of the so -called ‘Cavemen’. You can see some of the petrified tree trunks still remaining today from a 6,000 year-old Neolithic forest, opposite the very northern end of Wennington Marsh, in the Thames foreshore. However, much of Rainham came to use in the last few centuries by the Ministry of Defence on Aveley Marsh; we investigated what archaeological remains of this are left with guests Luke Baker and Michael Clark.
Read the article and see our photographs here:
beyondthepoint.co.uk/historic-...
Hi lads. Interesting video. I was in the Air Cadets in my teens 50 years ago, and we used to fire 303 rifles at those ranges. Just to point out though, that the butts weren't used to fire from, although I can see why you might think that, as they look like trenches. No, it's where the targets were. They were above the butts in the form of bulls eyes on wooden frames. Where you were in the dug outs was where people would shelter from incoming bullets and then mark where the bullet had struck the target above, using a long stick with a paddle pointer on the end of it. The shooter some 300 yds away would then be able to know where their shot had gone so they could adjust their aim.
I remember as a lad back in the early 60s walking down Ferry lane while they were firing, when they weren't it was our play ground much to the local constabulary's annoyance.
@@wilko330 I can imagine. Nothing better than a moving target! I hope you looked out for the red flag flying.
Me too, I was in 276 Sqdn 1966-69 and would spend every Sunday down there that I could. At 3:50 in the butts, you see the wooden box on the wall that held the field telephone so that the firing point I/C could communicate with I/C in the Butts ? I so remember all the "Message 7, target 5" and so on. And "Message 10, all targets" meaning it was OUR turn to go back and shoot. I loved being out in all kinds of weather over there.
@@davew4998 Not that proud of it, but once, as our detail of ATC cadets were all firing, a small herd of sheep had escaped from somewhere, and ran right across the top of the butts right in front of the targets ? Needless to say, as young teenagers, many opened up on the "moving sheep targets", with the RAF Regt Sergeant yelling expletives at us to "****in well STOP FIRING !"
@@GilbertdeClare0704 Excellent!
Great video guys!
Butts are the end where the bullets are fired at. There were maned positions in the butts on long ranges so that personnel could point to the point where the bullet fit, so the firer could see and adjust aim if required. I did this a few times and it was an interesting experience hearing the rounds pass overhead.
Cheers, yep we got it a bit wrong but thankfully know better now. It’s surprising how loud the crack of a bullet is
The area in centre screen at 1:17 were billets to house German and Italian POW's, so nothing to do with the storage of munitions. ... That was all stored in magazines within the Garrison confines and protected by a high perimeter brick wall. ... I think the wooden numbers were added much later than 1915 ?
loved it
Great!