Fen Pill Boxes

    One common sight while cycling around the fens is that of the many World War II pillboxes, these solid fortifications were built as concrete and brick dug-in guard posts to help protect against any German invasion, normally equipped with loopholes through which to fire weapons. About 28,000 pillboxes were built in England in 1940 and they say around 6,500 still survive today.

   We have several local to us and over the last couple of years I have been lucky enough to explore inside a few. The feeling you get when you enter these quiet concrete tombs is strange to describe, your mind goes back to those armed soldiers who sat inside most days taking shifts, many of them "Home Guard" members dreading the thought of being attacked by invading German forces.
   Next time you're passing a military pillbox just remember those who were willing to defend our country from inside these tiny bunkers, sitting for hours both night and day hoping each time that their shift would pass without problems.