Remains of WWII defences built to repel Nazi invasion reappear on Northumberland beach

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Eerie remains of WWII defences reappear on Northumberland beach more than 80 years after they were built to repel a Nazi invasion

  • Remains unearthed on Blyth Beach, Northumberland after heavy rain and storms
  • Photographer Keith Armstrong captured the eerie sight while walking his dog 
  • The sea defences were installed along the east coast of the country after the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 when fear of German invasion was at its height 

By Katie Feehan For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Eerie remains of World War Two anti-tank defences have reappeared on a Northumberland beach 80 years after they were build to repel a possible Nazi invasion.

Low tides and heavy storms in the north east shifted tonnes of sand to unearth the ghostly military hardware and rusted shells on Blyth Beach in Northumberland.

Back in 1940, anti-tank sea defences were installed on coastlines across Britain to protect against a potential Nazi invasion.

The scene on Blyth Beach in Northumberland last week, where the eerie remains of World War Two anti-tank defences have reappeared more than 80 years after they were installed there

Blyth Beach was considered potential target for invasion and anti tank devices were installed

Blyth Beach was considered potential target for invasion and anti tank devices were installed

Anti-tank devices were installed along the east coast to prevent a potential German invasion

Anti-tank devices were installed along the east coast to prevent a potential German invasion

Although the defences were never needed, they remain in place and were buried in the sand

Although the defences were never needed, they remain in place and were buried in the sand

British anti-invasion preparations of the Second World War 

After the defeat of British forces in Dunkirk in 1940, the army needed to recover and respond to the threat of invasion known as Operation Sea Lion.

As a result 1.5 million men were recruited into the Home Guard.

Coastal fortifications were rapidly constructed along the country’s coasts, especially in southern England, transforming its beaches into ready-made battle grounds in preparation for any potential German invasion.

In all, a total of 153 Emergency Coastal Batteries were constructed in 1940 in addition to the existing coastal artillery installations, to protect ports and likely landing places.

Beaches were marked with metal posts and barbed wire that would also serve to mark out anti-personnel and anti-tank minefields.

Some beaches were strengthened further with anti-tank cubes – large blocks of concrete – and most were also overlooked by pillboxes of various types.

Luckily, the steel defences were never needed with most being left to rust in the sand.

Amateur photographer Keith Armstrong, 50, captured the scenes while taking his dog for a walk on Blyth Beach last week.

He said: ‘The floods have uncovered the World War Two beach defences.

‘You can see the low wire entanglement which mines would have been strung to.

‘It was pretty strange to see these defences poking up through the sand again after so much time.’

Keith’s pictures also reveal old military tyres and rusted traps which have become embedded in the sand.

The defence measures were backed up by nearby Blyth Battery which was constructed in response to the December 2014 German bombardment of Hartlepool but brought back in to use during the Second World War.

The battery was re-excavated in February 1940 and was manned by 110 soldiers and five officers and armed with two gun emplacements fitted with two six-inch BL MK.7 guns.

This was typical of the approach to reinforcing the country’s coast in anticipation of a German invasion known as Operation Sea Lion.

In all, a total of 153 Emergency Coastal Batteries were constructed in 1940 in addition to the existing coastal artillery installations, to protect ports and likely landing places.

Beaches on the east and southern coast of England were reinforced with anti-tank devices, barbed wire and minefields while some were overlooked by batteries or pillboxes of various forms.

In 2017, a pillbox was unearthed in Embleton Bay, further north in Northumberland, after similar bouts of heavy rain.

Of the 28,000 pillboxes which were built along Britain’s coast, only around 6,500 are believed to have survived. 

Piers, ideal for landing troops, and situated in large numbers along the south coast of England, were disassembled, blocked or otherwise destroyed. 

Rusted parts of traps are not embedded in the sand

Rusted parts of traps are not embedded in the sand

Amateur photographer Keith Armstrong discovered the rusted traps while walking his dog

As well as the anti-tank devices, Mr Armstrong also found old tyres embedded in the sand

As well as the anti-tank devices, Mr Armstrong also found old tyres embedded in the sand

The traps, several feet high, were set in 1940 when the country feared that Britain might be invaded after the evacuation of Dunkirk.

Blyth Beach was considered the first coastal point north of the Tyne river where an invasion was possible and so defences were set up on the beach as well as other beaches all the way up to Berwick-upon-Tweed. 

They were part of a long coastal line of barricades to prevent enemy tanks from moving inland if they successfully reached the shores.