Defending the beaches

An echo of war among the sand dunes behind Newburgh beach. This brick and concrete pillbox was built in 1941 to help hinder any landing by the German forces. These days it is normally largely buried in the sand but the recent gales have exposed it again. The pillbox is unusual in that it faces inland rather than, as is usual, towards the beach and out to sea from whence the Germans would arrive. The reason for this is that it was designed to protect a coastal gun battery and to oppose an attack from the rear by any German troops who had managed to land and to infiltrate behind the beach.

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