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Female members of Mogadishu neighbourhood watch teams look on as physical instructors from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) police contingent demonstrate during a training programme designed to teach basic and practical self-defense skills to women, 11 September 2013. 20 trainees drawn from camps for the internally displaced in Banadir and Middle Shabelle region were taught personal defence skills and given advice on what to do in case of an attack. In addition to empowering women to protect themselves, AMISOM is also working to build the capacity of the Somali security services and police to enhance security in Somalia. AU-UN IST PHOTO / STUART PRICE.
Israeli soldiers of the Golani brigade take part in an exercise near the border with Syria on May 6, 2013 at the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Syria has accused Israel of launching a series of airstrikes on targets near the Lebanon/Syria border, including an arms shipment and the Jamraya research centre, that was thought to produce chemical weapons.
I've never noticed this near to White Mill Bridge. I think it's a WW2 defence?
Near Wimborne 13.03.2016
A female soldier from the 'Karakal' Battalion in action during training near the Israeli-Egyptian border on December 14, 2010 near Azoz, Israel. The Karakal is a mixed-sex battalion formed in 2004, with men and women serving together in this combat unit, based in the Negev desert on the borders with Egypt and Jordan.
A concrete box constructed with a rectangular hole through it so a long steel beam could be passed through to form a road barrier. Located outside of Sheerness, Kent. Part of the anti-invasion defences on the Isle of Sheppey dating from WWII. Seen in March 2022.
Students on the Standard NCO Course on exercise in Fort Davis County Cork
Students from the 3rd All Arms Standard NCO course conducting a FIBUA (Fighting in Built up Areas) exercise in Fort Davis, April 2013. During the exercise the students were tested using an Engineer Assault Bridge to gain entry and a Artillery 105mm Gun to break strong points. There are thirty nine students on the course representing the Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineer, Ordnance, CIS and Air Corp.
Defence Munitions (DM) Kineton is a Ministry of Defence property located close to the village of Kineton, Warwickshire, England. Developed from 1941 onwards between Kineton and the neighbouring village of Temple Herdewyke, it is approximately 10 miles (16 km) from both Banbury and Leamington Spa. Developed as a Central Ammunition Depot, it also served during World War II as a transit camp, with Polish and Czechoslovakian troops stationed there.
DM Kineton extends to several hundred acres and is divided in two parts by the B4086. It is linked to the main Network Rail system by a branchline consisting of part of the former mainline of the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway, from Fenny Compton. The building of the M40 motorway cut the line for a time, but after the bridge was built the line was rebuilt in its entirety with deep ballast and fully welded joints.
The depot also stores spare railway carriages and trains on behalf of the various UK Train Operating companies. The site also houses the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search School (DEMSS) Kineton, comprises the Munitions Wing and IEDD Wing delivering munitions management training and Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) training respectively and there is an extensive military family base at Kineton, called Kineton HIVE.
This and surrounding areas comprise the largest ammunition dump in western Europe.
IDF's Mostly Female Combat Unit Attend Training Day in Azuz
Israeli Soldiers from the Karakal Batallion on the Shooting range on July 6, 2016 in Nitzana, Israel.
The first mixed-sex Karakal combat battalion was formed in 2004 and is based in the Negev desert on the border with Egypt and Jordan.
Israeli Soldiers from the Caracal Battalion during their basic training – 2012
The Caracal Battalion is an infantry combat battalion of the Israel Defense Forces, composed of both male and female soldiers, of both Jewish and Arab descent.[It is named after the Caracal, a small cat whose sexes appear the same. As of 2009, approximately 70% of the battalion was female.It is part of the 512th "Sagi" Brigade of Israel's Southern territorial command.
Prior to Caracal's formation in 2000, women had been prevented from serving in direct combat positions with the IDF. The unit has since been tasked with patrolling the Israeli-Egyptian border. It took part in Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005.
The unit badge, adopted in 2009, incorporates the Sagi Brigade badge, with the addition of the Caracal cat.
New recruits in the Caracal Battalion, are issued the Israeli-made Tavor assault rifle. Battalion members partake in a four-month basic training period that includes physical training at the Givati Brigade training base.
Soldiers specialize in various weapons including machine guns, advanced weaponry, grenades, and mortars.
All female soldiers who join the battalion are required to sign up for a third year of military service, the same as their male counterparts. The men are drawn from Nahal garinim, or have volunteered.
Golani Soldiers Training
Soldiers from the Golani Brigade train in northern Israel
Photos by: Staff Sergeant Alexi Rosenfeld, IDF Spokesperson's Unit
I made a brief visit to the sea defences on Southsea beach, Portsmouth, Hampshire last Sunday evening to capture the sunset but have only just managed to find the time to process my images.
It was low tide and very windy but some nice colour in clouds so worth the visit!
15 second exposure using B+W 6 stop ND filter + Lee 0.6 ND Grad filter over the sky.
Thanks for any comments you may wish to leave.
Family headstone in Earlham Cemetery.
In
loving memory of
GORDON AMOND
who died Febry. 13th 1893
Aged 65 years
Also
ELIZABETH
his beloved wife
who died Decr. 2nd 1878
aged 49 years.
Peace, perfect peace.
Also of
GODWIN GORDON AMOND
eldest son of the above
of the R.D.C.
who died in the General Military Hospital,
Edmonton
September ?? 1917
Aged??
Private AMOND, GODWIN
Service Number:…………. 26303
Died:………………………30/09/1917
Aged:…………………….. 61
Unit:………………………56th Coy. Royal Defence Corps
Son of the late Gordon and Elizabeth Amond, of Norwich.
Buried at NORWICH CEMETERY, NORFOLK
Cemetery/memorial reference: 23. 284.
Source: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2803029/amond,-godwin/
Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Private Godwin Amond “Died” on the 30th September 1917 whilst serving on the Home Front with the Royal Defence Corps. He was formerly 24138 “Norwich” Regiment. No place of birth or residence is shown for him. He enlisted at Norwich.
(“Died” in SDGW terms means anything other than Killed in Action or Died of Wounds (received in action)).
There is no obvious Medal Index Card for this soldier.
Some of his Service Records appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Other Ranks Army Service Records were stored.
Godwin, then aged 49 years and 4 months was already serving with the 1st Norfolk R Ga Volunteers when the Territorial Force was created in 1908 and he transferred across to the 2nd East Anglian Brigade. He completed a new attestation form, signing up for one year, although due to damage to the form the date, other than being in 1908, is impossible to make out the full date.
He gave his birthplace as King Street in the Parish of St Peter, Norwich. (To the best of my knowledge at least four parishes claimed a part of King Street at that time). His address was 1 Wattons(?) Court, King Street. He was a single man.
Of his physical description the only part I can make out that wasn’t fire damaged was that he was 5 feet 8 inches (tall).
There is an entry in the prior service section. I can’t make out the unit but the dates look to be 20.3.76 to 28.2.83 and then 7.2.0? to 31.3.08.
He attended his units Annual Training at Shoeburyness on the 24.7.08.
There are some earlier attestation forms in the service records but due to fire damage they are difficult to make out and date. There is one when he was 42 years old and another that could be from 1906 or 1908 which shows him serving in the 2nd Position(?) Battery, 1st N.A. Volunteer Corps at Great Yarmouth.
No obvious Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man.
1856/57 – birth………………………
The birth of a Godwin Amond was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Norwich District in the Norwich District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1857.
At this point enforcement of registration with the civil authorities was very hit and miss – non-registrations and late registrations were supposed to be prosecuted and fined but seldom were – it would take a major over-haul in 1872 to bring the UK anywhere near 100% compliance. Many births took place at home without any qualified medical attendance so it was also impossible to verify dates of birth. It cannot therefore be assumed that that Godwin was actually born in the period when he was registered.
I could not find an online baptism for him.
1861 Census of England and Wales
The 4 year old “Gordon” Amond, born Norwich, was recorded living at Bussey’s Yard, Ber Street, Norwich. This was the household of his parents Gordon, (aged 32, a Cordwainer, born Norwich), and Elizabeth, (aged 30, a Shoe binder, Norwich). As well as their son “Gordon” the couple also have a 1 year old daughter, Mary A, born Norwich. Also living with them is Elizabeths’ mother, the 70 year old widow Louisa Yallop, a Washerwoman born Rushall, Norfolk.
1871 Census of England and Wales
The 14 year old “Gordon” Amond, a Book, (or Boot) seller, born Norwich, was recorded living with his grandmother at a dwelling in Murrells Yard, King Street, Norwich. She was the 79 year old widow Mary Amond, born Bergh Apton, Norfolk. Mary has two unmarried children of her own living with her, the 56 year old Mary, a “Lumpertease”(?), born Norwich and the 41 year old Edward, a Shoemaker, born Norwich.
His parents Gordon, (42, Shoe maker) and Elizabeth, (39) were now living at 1 Watson Court, Kings Street, Norwich, along with three of their children,
Emeline………….aged 11……….born Norwich
Edward…………..aged 9………...born Norwich
Henry……………aged 2…………born Norwich
2nd December 1878 – death of mother Elizabeth……
Information from headstone.
1881 Census of England and Wales
The 24 year old Godwin Amond*, a Solicitors Clerk from Norwich, was recorded living at Murrells Yard, King Street. This was the household of his uncle, Edward Amond, who was single, aged 50 and a Waiter, born Norwich. Other members of the household were Edwards’ mother, the 88 year old widow Mary Amond, born Saxlingham, Norfolk and Edwards’ unmarried sisters Eliza, (38, Shoe Finisher, born Norwich) and Mary Ann, (aged 65, born Norwich).
(*the Genealogy source I use for basic census look-ups has transcribed all of them with the surname “Almond”.)
His 59 year old widower father Gordon Amond was still living at Watson’s Yard, King Street, Norwich. He was working as a Shoemaker. Living with him are his unmarried children Elizabeth, (22, Shop Woman), Edward, (19, Shoe Maker), Henry, (12) and Alice, (7) – all born Norwich.
1887 Norfolk Electoral Register………
A Godwin Amond appears on this edition of the electoral register as a Citizen of Norwich and entitled to vote in Parliamentary Elections. He qualifies on the grounds of being a householder of a Public-House at 23 Bishopgate Street, Norwich. This appears to be the only time he turned up on the electoral register.
Source: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2C9H-MQ9
1891 Census of England and Wales
The census taker for this one has recorded Gordon, a 34 year old unmarried Solicitors’ Clerk, as living at Watsons Court, King Street, Norwich, but he has shown the family surname as “Ammond. Head of the household was his widower father Gordon, a 63 year old shoemaker.Also in the household are Godwins’ sisters Mary Ann, (31, Machinist) and Alice, (29, Tailoress).
13th February 1893 – death of father Gordon…
Information from headstone.
1901 Census of England and Wales
The 45 year old Godwin Amond, an unmarried Solicitors Clerk born Norwich, was recorded as the head of the household at No.1 Watson Court, King Street, Norwich. Living with him are his unmarried sisters Mary Ann, (aged 41, a Tailoress, born Norwich) and Alice, (aged 27, a Boot Machinist, born Norwich).
1911 Census of England and Wales
The three of them were still living at 1 Watsons Court. King Street, Norwich, but sister Mary Ann, (52, Tailoress), was now recorded as the head of the household. Sister Alice, (37) works as a Boot & Shoe Sewing Machinist, while Godwin, (55) is working as a Hotel Waiter.
His unit………………………………………
The Royal Defence Corps of 1916-1918
Formation
The Royal Defence Corps was introduced by a Royal Warrant of 17 March 1916 and promulgated by Army Order 115 of 19 March 1916.
The Warrant deemed the RDC to be Corps for the purposes of the Army Act and that the rates of pay should be those for the infantry of the line as laid down in the pay warrant of 1 December 1914.
The RDC was defined in further detail in Army Council Instruction (ACI) 841 of 19 April 1916. It had been created “To carry out duties connected with the local defence of the United Kingdom, including those hitherto performed by the Supernumerary Territorial Force Companies, as well as those allotted to the Observer Companies now in process of formation“.
The Supernumerary Territorial Force Companies had previously been known as Protection Companies of the National Reserve.
Transfer of officers and men who were already serving
In the case of the “other ranks” serving in the Supernumerary Territorial Force Companies on Territorial attestations, it would (because of the terms of their engagement) be necessary to obtain their consent to transfer to the RDC. Any men who were unwilling to transfer would, for the present time, be attached to the RDC.
Men serving in the existing Observer Companies were generally of the regular army. They would be transferred to the RDC from their existing regiments.
The RDC would consist of two types of unit:
1.Protection Companies. They would take over the duties of the Supernumerary Territorial Force Companies and would come into existence on 29 April 1916. While it was expected that the number of such units would vary across the army’s geographical command areas, company numbers were issued in blocks of 50.
Protection Companies 51-100 would be for Eastern Command.
2.Observer Companies. They would be numbered consecutively in their own sequence, starting from 1.
In April 1918 some 27,000 men were serving in the RDC. Of these, 14,000 were employed at prisoner of war camps.
www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-roya...
On the day…………………
The Army Register of Soldiers Effects records that Private 26303 Godwin Amond, 56th Company. Royal Defence Corps, died at the Military Hospital, Edmonton on the 30th September 1917, although cause is not shown. The balance of his pay went in April 1918 to his sisters Mary and Alice. After the war was over and a gratuity was paid to those who served, this was sent in December 1919 to his sister Mary.
The death of a Godwin Amond, aged 62, was recorded in the Edmonton District of Middlesex in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1917.
The edition of the Eastern Daily Press dated Wednesday 3rd October 19178 included the following simple announcement in the Births, Marriages and Deaths column.
AMOND-September 30, at the General Military Hospital, Edmonton, Godwin (Gordon), of the Royal Defence Corps, Watson’s Court, King Street, Norwich, aged 61.
It’s probably a complete co-incidence but the Germans had launched a number of air-raids on London, starting with the night of the 30th September. Contemporary newspapers like the Eastern Daily Press were reporting bombs (and casualties) in Essex, North East London, South East London and Kent. However if he was caught in an air raid then you’d expect him to have been treated in a hospital closer to those areas.
Israeli soldiers of the Golani brigade take part in an exercise near the border with Syria on May 6, 2013 at the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Syria has accused Israel of launching a series of airstrikes on targets near the Lebanon/Syria border, including an arms shipment and the Jamraya research centre, that was thought to produce chemical weapons.
Israeli soldiers of the Golani brigade take part in an exercise near the border with Syria on May 6, 2013 at the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Syria has accused Israel of launching a series of airstrikes on targets near the Lebanon/Syria border, including an arms shipment and the Jamraya research centre, that was thought to produce chemical weapons.
Students on the Standard NCO Course on exercise in Fort Davis County Cork
Students from the 3rd All Arms Standard NCO course conducting a FIBUA (Fighting in Built up Areas) exercise in Fort Davis, April 2013. During the exercise the students were tested using an Engineer Assault Bridge to gain entry and a Artillery 105mm Gun to break strong points. There are thirty nine students on the course representing the Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineer, Ordnance, CIS and Air Corp.
Israeli Soldiers from the Caracal Battalion during their basic training – 2012
The Caracal Battalion is an infantry combat battalion of the Israel Defense Forces, composed of both male and female soldiers, of both Jewish and Arab descent.[It is named after the Caracal, a small cat whose sexes appear the same. As of 2009, approximately 70% of the battalion was female.It is part of the 512th "Sagi" Brigade of Israel's Southern territorial command.
Prior to Caracal's formation in 2000, women had been prevented from serving in direct combat positions with the IDF. The unit has since been tasked with patrolling the Israeli-Egyptian border. It took part in Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005.
The unit badge, adopted in 2009, incorporates the Sagi Brigade badge, with the addition of the Caracal cat.
New recruits in the Caracal Battalion, are issued the Israeli-made Tavor assault rifle. Battalion members partake in a four-month basic training period that includes physical training at the Givati Brigade training base.
Soldiers specialize in various weapons including machine guns, advanced weaponry, grenades, and mortars.
All female soldiers who join the battalion are required to sign up for a third year of military service, the same as their male counterparts. The men are drawn from Nahal garinim, or have volunteered.
Israel - Yahalom Unit Exercise
Special unit of the Corps of Engineers, Yahalom, held a demonstration exercise at the urban warfare facility – 4th March 2012
Yahalom unit is the most elite unit of the Engineering Corps and one of the IDF's elite units. This is the professional body that provides a solution for operational purposes in sabotage, bomb disposal, dealing with the threat of tunnels and the like.
Photos: Ftian Ibrahim - IDF Spokesman Unit
The Secretary of State for Defence The Right Honourable Dr Liam Fox MP is greeted as he disembarks a helicopter at the start of his visit to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan in January 2011.
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Photographer: Sgt Corrine Buxton RAF
Image 45152183.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
Students on the Standard NCO Course on exercise in Fort Davis County Cork
Students from the 3rd All Arms Standard NCO course conducting a FIBUA (Fighting in Built up Areas) exercise in Fort Davis, April 2013. During the exercise the students were tested using an Engineer Assault Bridge to gain entry and a Artillery 105mm Gun to break strong points. There are thirty nine students on the course representing the Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineer, Ordnance, CIS and Air Corp.
Fountainhead @DEF EXPO GOA 2016
It is Asia's largest defence exhibition till date and attended by 1000 arm vendors around the world.
The Panhard AML final range shoot that took place 29 - 30 Apr 2013 in the Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow. The pictures show the AML 90 firing its main armament
These photos are of the last shoot of the Panhard AML 90 Armoured Vehicle and were taken on 30 April 2013 in the Glen of Imaal by Airman Jason Byrne.
Panhard armoured vehicles were first introduced into service with the Defence Forces in 1964 and soon after, AML 60s were deployed on overseas service to Cyprus (UNFICYP). Over a period of almost fifty years, the Panhard armoured fleet has seen extensive service both at home and abroad including firing in action in the Battle of At Tiri in Lebanon in 1980, as a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) to injured civilians during the Grapes of Wrath offensive in Lebanon in 1996 and were used in an armoured reconnaissance role during violence in Monrovia, Liberia when intensive rioting began in 2004.
Following an upgrade programme in the 1990s which included dieselisation and re-turreting, the operational life of the vehicles was extended. However the Panhard fleet of AML 90s and 20s has now reached the end of its operational life.
All Panhard AML 90 and AML 20 vehicles currently in service with the Defence Forces became non-operational on the 1st of May 2013 and have been withdrawn from service.
Estonian Defence Force Soldiers from the Scoutspataljon during a Vehicle and foot patrol in Gao, Mali.
Photos: maat Maria Tõkke
Estonian Defence Force Soldiers live-fire training while serving in Mali with BKN-10 as part of the French led Operation Barkhane.
Photos: n-ltn Liis Vaksmann
(Buy exclusive historic East Yorkshire prints from East Riding Photos
http://picturearchivesorg/eastridingphotos)
This image was taken during 'Exercise Exodus', a simulated evacuation exercise carried out by Hull Civil Defence Authority on 28th May 1961, when the Cold War was at its height.
It was designed as practice for how to evacuate the city of Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, in the event of a catastrophic incident and involved volunteers, as well as civil defence and emergency personnel, being 'evacuated' via a bus convoy and across the River Humber on the old ferries.
(Why not try searching our East Riding of Yorkshire Map for more historic images?
www.flickr.com/photos/erarchives/map )
(Copyright) We're happy for you to share this digital image within the spirit of Creative Commons.
Please cite 'East Riding Archives ' when reusing.
Certain restrictions on high quality reproductions and commercial use of the original physical version apply. If unsure please email archives.service@eastriding.gov.uk
Students on the Standard NCO Course on exercise in Fort Davis County Cork
Students from the 3rd All Arms Standard NCO course conducting a FIBUA (Fighting in Built up Areas) exercise in Fort Davis, April 2013. During the exercise the students were tested using an Engineer Assault Bridge to gain entry and a Artillery 105mm Gun to break strong points. There are thirty nine students on the course representing the Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineer, Ordnance, CIS and Air Corp.
30 June 2011: Defence Counsel Mr. Sa Sovan consults his client Khieu Samphan during the last day of the initial hearing.
Estonian Defence Force Soldiers from the Scoutspataljon during a Vehicle and foot patrol in Gao, Mali.
Photos: maat Maria Tõkke
Estonian Defence Force Soldiers from the Scoutspataljon during a Vehicle and foot patrol in Gao, Mali.
Photos: maat Maria Tõkke
Estonian Defence Force Soldiers from the Scoutspataljon during a Vehicle and foot patrol in Gao, Mali.
Photos: maat Maria Tõkke
At Pevensey Castle
Pevensey Castle: a Saxon Shore fort, Norman defences, a medieval enclosure castle, and later associated remains
The monument includes Anderita Saxon Shore fort, traces of later, Norman defences, an enclosure castle, a 16th century gun emplacement and World War II defences situated on a low spur of sand and clay which now lies around 2km north west of the present East Sussex coastline at Pevensey. During the Roman and medieval periods the spur formed a peninsula projecting into a tidal lagoon and marshland, but coastal deposition and land reclamation have gradually built up the ground around it so that it is now completely land-locked. The roughly oval, north east-south west aligned Roman fort is the earliest of the structures which make up the monument and has been dated to the first half of the fourth century AD. Covering almost 4ha, the fort survives in the form of substantial ruins and buried remains. It is enclosed by a massive defensive wall with a flint and sandstone rubble core faced by coursed greensand and ironstone blocks, interspersed with red tile bonding courses. The whole is up to 3.7m thick and survives to a height of up to 8.1m. The wall was originally topped by a wall walk and parapet. Part excavation in 1906-8 showed that the wall was constructed on footings of rammed chalk and flints underpinned by oak piles and held together by a framework of wooden beams. Investigation of the internal face indicated that this was stepped upwards from a wide base so as to provide extra strength and support. Despite these precautions, a landslip on the south eastern side of the fort has resulted in the destruction of a c.180m length of the perimeter walls and, although fragments of the fallen masonry do survive, most have been removed over the years. Smaller sections of wall have also collapsed along the north western and eastern stretches. The defensive strength provided by the perimeter wall was enhanced by irregularly-spaced, externally projecting semicircular bastions with diameters of around 5m. There were originally at least 15 of these, of which 10 survive today. The fort was entered from its south western, landward approach by way of the main gateway. In front of this a protective ditch 5.5m wide was dug, and, although this became infilled over the years, a 40m stretch located towards its south eastern end has been recut and exposed. The ditch would have been spanned originally by a wooden bridge, although this no longer survives. The main gateway takes the form of a rectangular gatehouse set back between two solid semicircular bastions 8m apart. The 2.7m wide, originally arched entrance is flanked by two oblong guardrooms and the whole gateway structure projects beyond the inner face of the perimeter wall into the fort and is thought to have been originally two or even three storeys high. On the eastern side of the fort is a more simply designed subsidiary gateway, originally a 3m wide archway entrance, giving access to part of the adjacent Roman harbour, now overlain by Pevensey village. The extant archway is a modern reconstruction of the Norman rebuilding of the original entrance. Traces of a wooden causeway which led from it into the fort have been found during partial excavation. Midway along the north western stretch of perimeter wall is a now ruined postern c.2m wide, approached by a curved passage set within the wall. Part excavation between 1906-1908 indicated that the internal buildings which housed the garrison of up to 1,000 men, along with their livestock and supplies, were constructed of timber infilled with wattle and daub. A c.1m sq timber-lined Roman well was found in the south western sector of the fort, at the bottom of which were the remains of the wooden bucket with rope still attached. The well was found to have been filled with rubbish in Roman times and the presence of the bones of cattle, sheep, red deer, wild boar, wild birds, domestic dogs and cats, along with sea shells, gives some indication of the diet and lifestyle of the fort's original inhabitants. Anderita is thought to have been abandoned by its garrison by the latter half of the 4th century AD, and although little is known of its subsequent history until the 11th century, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records a massacre of Britons by the invading Saxons at the fort in AD 491. The Bayeux Tapestry states that William the Conquerer landed at Pevensey in 1066, and the Norman army are believed to have made use of the Roman fort as one of their first armed camps. The defences at Pevensey and the surrounding land were granted to King William's half-brother Robert, Count of Mortain. The medieval defences then went through at least 300 years of development, culminating in the construction of a stone built enclosure castle within the largely intact walls of the earlier Roman fort. It is thought that the first Norman defences took the form of a wooden palisade surrounded by a bank and ditch, and a c.40m length of partially infilled ditch up to 9m wide which survives across the north eastern sector of the earlier fort may indicate their original extent. Limited excavations in 1993-94 showed that the ground surface in the south eastern sector of the fort, in the vicinity of the later stone-built keep, was artificially raised some time before 1200, suggesting that a motte may also have been constructed. The original Roman gateways were rebuilt and a new ditch dug in front of the south western gate. Most of the Norman defences and interior wooden buildings will now survive in buried form beneath the later medieval castle, although herringbone-pattern repairs to the Roman masonry, by then serving as the outer bailey of the medieval defences, also date from this time. Around 1100 the defences were strengthened and the accommodation improved by the addition of a masonry keep in the south eastern sector of the earlier fort. The subject of a complex history of alteration, collapse and repair, the keep utilises part of the earlier, Roman perimeter wall and bastions. It takes the form of a rectangular block measuring c.16.8m by c.9m internally, reinforced by apsidal projections on all sides. Now surviving in ruined form up to first floor level, the keep originally took the form of a tall tower with an entrance on the first floor. A rectangular building measuring 7.6m by 6m was later constructed in the south eastern angle between the keep and the Roman wall. At around 1200 work began on the construction of a smaller, stone-built inner bailey in the south eastern sector of the earlier fort. An L-shaped ditch around 20m wide was dug to define the new enclosure, and this retains water in its northern arm. The material excavated from the ditch and from the destruction of the earlier bank was spread over much of the outer bailey to a depth of up to 1.5m. The ditch was recut during extensive renovations carried out during the early 20th century. The first structure to be built in this phase was the gatehouse to the south west which has an arched entrance between twin, semicircular external towers, now ruined. The basement chambers beneath each tower have ashlar-faced walls and barrel-vaulted ceilings, the southern chamber being entered by way of a newel staircase, the northern by a trapdoor. Both were used to house prisoners. Many subsequent alterations included the replacement, during the 15th century, of the wooden bridge over the outer ditch by a stone causeway. The originally embattled curtain wall enclosing the inner bailey was built within the ditch and inner berm around 1250. This survives almost to its full original height and is faced with coursed Greensand ashlar. Three semicircular external towers provided flanking cover from the narrow embrasures which pierce their walls. Each has a narrow staircase to a basement, a branch staircase off it into the ditch and a room and garderobe, or latrine, at ground floor level. Upper rooms were entered by way of the wall walk and were heated by fireplaces. The basement of the northernmost tower has two rib-vaulted bays, the keeled ribs resting on stiff-leaf corbels. The interior castle buildings continued to be built mainly of wood and these will survive in buried form, although the stone foundations of a chapel were exposed during partial excavation of the northern sector of the inner bailey. Around 20m south east of the chapel is a large stone-lined well at least 15.5m deep, and near this is a pile of medieval stone missile-balls, a selection of those recovered from the ditch. These were thrown from trebuchets during the four sieges of the castle. William, Count of Mortain forfeited Pevensey after an unsuccessful rebellion against Henry I in 1101 and the castle, which remained in the royal gift until the later Middle Ages, passed into the hands of the de Aquila family. The most famous siege took place in 1264-65 when the supporters of Henry III, fleeing from their defeat by the Barons at Lewes, took refuge in the castle. In 1372 the castle was given to John of Gaunt, and during his period of office was used to imprison James I, King of Scotland, who had been seized in 1406, and Joan, Queen of Navarre, accused of witchcraft by her stepson, Henry V. By 1300, the sea had gradually begun to recede from around the castle and its military importance declined as a result. Contemporary records show that the castle walls were constantly in need of expensive repair and by the end of the 14th century were not being properly maintained, although the roof leads were kept intact until the middle of the 15th century. By 1500 the castle had ceased to be inhabited and fell rapidly into decay. The threat of the Spanish Armada led to some renewed interest in the defensive value of the site, and a survey of 1587 records that the castle housed two demi-culverins, or heavy guns. These were sited on the contemporary, south east orientated, M-shaped earthen gun emplacement situated in the outer bailey around 90m north east of the main Roman gateway. This takes the form of a raised level platform c.20m long bounded on the seaward side by a slight bank c.0.4m high and around 3m wide. One of the cast iron guns, manufactured in the East Sussex Weald, is now housed within the inner bailey on a modern replica carriage. From the 17th century the castle passed through the hands of various private owners. Valued as a picturesque ruin during the 18th and 19th centuries, it features in many contemporary engravings and illustrations. In 1925 the Duke of Devonshire presented the monument to the state, and extensive repairs began with a view to opening the monument to the public. These were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, when the castle resumed its original military purpose of protecting the south coast. The castle was refortified in May 1940 as an observation and command post. It was continuously occupied by regular troops, including Canadian forces and the United States Army Air Corps, who used it as a radio direction centre, and by the Home Guard until 1944. The World War II defences include two pillboxes and three machine gun posts of concrete faced with rubble and flints, carefully concealed and camouflaged within the earlier Roman and medieval fabric. An internal tower was built just to the south of the Roman east gateway and a blockhouse housing anti-tank weapons was built in front of the main Roman gateway. The blockhouse no longer survives. Modifications carried out to the medieval mural towers included lining the interiors with brick and inserting wooden floors. In 1945 the monument was returned to peaceful use and is now in the guardianship of the Secretary of State and open to the public.
[Historic England]
A line of "tank traps" at Long Nanny near to the Little Tern colony. They have their own defenders in the form of the National Trust wardens, who do an amazing job of looking after these lovely birds.