Contributor: R R

Badminston Farm Searchlight Site

WWII searchlights formed part of a system of aircraft detection linking locator devices, searchlights, and antiaircraft (AA) guns. The locators sent electronic information to the lights and guns, which in turn tracked the target. Once a locator had “locked on” to an enemy aerial target, the concept was for both lights and guns to be trained on the target so it could be nearly simultaneously illuminated and then destroyed. For this to system to work successfully it required a whole network of searchlights and AA batteries across the country. The New Forest was well covered by searchlights and AA batteries, due to the open ground available and the proximity to large urban areas that were on the front line of the conflict for many years between the fall of France and the build-up to D-Day. Even after D-Day both played an important role in defending against V1 flying rockets.

Many of these sites can still be seen as echoes in the New Forest landscape, but just as many have been removed and leave no trace. Work in the war diaries has led us to be able to accurately map their locations and density across the New Forest.
War diaries will often record little more than codes, locations, daily activity, movements and interactions with other units whilst others can be much more descriptive, with daily reports on operations, intelligence summaries and other material. The diaries do not usually contain information about particular people: they are unit diaries, not personal diaries. Many maps and plans were included in the original diaries but some confidential material was removed before the files were made available. This accounts for the absence of some appendices referred to in many of the diaries. You can explore the war diaries through the National Archives.

The War Diary references for this site follow below:

Ref. TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 14/12/1939
Site: Badminston Farm
Military grid ref.: U903225
Unit: 342 Coy, 35 AA Regt (deployed this date as attached to 48 S/L Bn, R.E.)

Ref. TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 15/2/1940
Site: Badminston <526/62>
Unit: 394 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E. (new deployment following relief of 342 Coy by 454 Coy)

Ref. TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 28/4/1940
Site: 526/62
Military grid ref.: U903225
Generator: Lister
Projector: Mk.VI 90
Sound Locator: Mk.III
Unit: 455 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E. (takes over from 394 Coy on this date)

equipped with W/T

Ref. TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 12/5/1940
Unit: 394 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E., returns from practice camp and relieves 455 Coy.

Ref. TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 25/5/1940
Site: Badminston Farm, 526 Area
Military grid ref.: U904226
Unit: 394 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E.

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 31/5/1940
Site: Badminston Farm, 526/43
Military grid ref.: U904226

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 25/6/1940
Site: Badminston Farm, 526/43
Military grid ref.: U904226

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 1/8/1940
Site: Badminston Farm, 526/43
Military grid ref.: U904226

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 29/9/1940 (same situation on 31/10/1940)
Site: Badminston Farm, 526/43
Military grid ref.: U904226

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 17/12/1940
Site: Badminston Farm, TG01/43
Military grid ref.: U904226

Search Light Location estimated from Military grid ref.

Bramshaw Searchlight Site

WWII searchlights formed part of a system of aircraft detection linking locator devices, searchlights, and antiaircraft (AA) guns. The locators sent electronic information to the lights and guns, which in turn tracked the target. Once a locator had "locked on" to an enemy aerial target, the concept was for both lights and guns to be trained on the target so it could be nearly simultaneously illuminated and then destroyed. For this to system to work successfully it required a whole network of searchlights and AA batteries across the country. The New Forest was well covered by searchlights and AA batteries, due to the open ground available and the proximity to large urban areas that were on the front line of the conflict for many years between the fall of France and the build-up to D-Day. Even after D-Day both played an important role in defending against V1 flying rockets.

Many of these sites can still be seen as echoes in the New Forest landscape, but just as many have been removed and leave no trace. Work in the war diaries has led us to be able to accurately map their locations and density across the New Forest.
War diaries will often record little more than codes, locations, daily activity, movements and interactions with other units whilst others can be much more descriptive, with daily reports on operations, intelligence summaries and other material. The diaries do not usually contain information about particular people: they are unit diaries, not personal diaries. Many maps and plans were included in the original diaries but some confidential material was removed before the files were made available. This accounts for the absence of some appendices referred to in many of the diaries. You can explore the war diaries through the National Archives.

The War Diary references for this site follow below:

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 25/5/1940
Site: Bramshaw, 524 Area
Military grid ref.: U705344
Unit: 393 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E.

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2262 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 31/5/1940
Site: Bramshaw, 524/45
Military grid ref.: U705344

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2262 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 25/6/1940
Site: Bramshaw, 524/45
Military grid ref.: U705344

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2262 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 1/8/1940
Site: Bramshaw, 524/45
Military grid ref.: U705344

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2262 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 29/9/1940 (same situation on 31/10/1940)
Site: Bramshaw, 524/45
Military grid ref.: U705344

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2262 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 17/12/1940
Site: Bramshaw, TG06/45
Military grid ref.: U705344

Location estimated from Military grid ref.  This site appears to have been later relocated, see Brook Searchlight Site.

Bratley Searchlight Site

WWII searchlights formed part of a system of aircraft detection linking locator devices, searchlights, and antiaircraft (AA) guns. The locators sent electronic information to the lights and guns, which in turn tracked the target. Once a locator had "locked on" to an enemy aerial target, the concept was for both lights and guns to be trained on the target so it could be nearly simultaneously illuminated and then destroyed. For this to system to work successfully it required a whole network of searchlights and AA batteries across the country. The New Forest was well covered by searchlights and AA batteries, due to the open ground available and the proximity to large urban areas that were on the front line of the conflict for many years between the fall of France and the build-up to D-Day. Even after D-Day both played an important role in defending against V1 flying rockets.

Many of these sites can still be seen as echoes in the New Forest landscape, but just as many have been removed and leave no trace. Work in the war diaries has led us to be able to accurately map their locations and density across the New Forest.
War diaries will often record little more than codes, locations, daily activity, movements and interactions with other units whilst others can be much more descriptive, with daily reports on operations, intelligence summaries and other material. The diaries do not usually contain information about particular people: they are unit diaries, not personal diaries. Many maps and plans were included in the original diaries but some confidential material was removed before the files were made available. This accounts for the absence of some appendices referred to in many of the diaries. You can explore the war diaries through the National Archives.

The War Diary references for this site follow below:

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2318 – War Diary of 64 AA Bde, July-Dec 1941.
Date: 18 & 28 Nov 1941
Site: MPB/19 (previously MP03/4C)
Miltary grid ref.: U656300

Search Light location estimated from Military grid ref.  This appears to give the accomodation site.

Bridge Farm Searchlight Site

WWII searchlights formed part of a system of aircraft detection linking locator devices, searchlights, and antiaircraft (AA) guns. The locators sent electronic information to the lights and guns, which in turn tracked the target. Once a locator had "locked on" to an enemy aerial target, the concept was for both lights and guns to be trained on the target so it could be nearly simultaneously illuminated and then destroyed. For this to system to work successfully it required a whole network of searchlights and AA batteries across the country. The New Forest was well covered by searchlights and AA batteries, due to the open ground available and the proximity to large urban areas that were on the front line of the conflict for many years between the fall of France and the build-up to D-Day. Even after D-Day both played an important role in defending against V1 flying rockets.

Many of these sites can still be seen as echoes in the New Forest landscape, but just as many have been removed and leave no trace. Work in the war diaries has led us to be able to accurately map their locations and density across the New Forest.
War diaries will often record little more than codes, locations, daily activity, movements and interactions with other units whilst others can be much more descriptive, with daily reports on operations, intelligence summaries and other material. The diaries do not usually contain information about particular people: they are unit diaries, not personal diaries. Many maps and plans were included in the original diaries but some confidential material was removed before the files were made available. This accounts for the absence of some appendices referred to in many of the diaries. You can explore the war diaries through the National Archives.

The War Diary references for this site follow below:

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 28/4/1940
Site: 526/25
Military grid ref.: U741231
Generator: Thornycroft
Projector: Mk.I 120cm
Sound Locator: Mk.III
Unit 455 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E. (takes over from 394 Coy on this date)

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 12/5/1940
Unit: 394 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E., returns from practice camp and relieves 455 Coy.

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 25/5/1940
Site: Bridge Farm, 526 Area
Military grid ref.: U740232
Unit: 394 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E.

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 31/5/1940
Site: Bridge Farm, 526/15
Military grid ref.: U740232

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 25/6/1940
Site: Bridge Farm, 526/15
Military grid ref.: U740232

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 1/8/1940
Site: Bridge Farm, 526/15
Military grid ref.: U740232

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 29/9/1940 (same situation on 31/10/1940)
Site: Bridge Farm, 526/15
Military grid ref.: U740232

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 17/12/1940
Site: Bridge Farm, TG01/15
Military grid ref.: U740232

Search light location estimated from the military grid ref.  It also shows and is marked on the 1940 Luftwaffe APs.

Brinken Wood Searchlight Site

WWII searchlights formed part of a system of aircraft detection linking locator devices, searchlights, and antiaircraft (AA) guns. The locators sent electronic information to the lights and guns, which in turn tracked the target. Once a locator had "locked on" to an enemy aerial target, the concept was for both lights and guns to be trained on the target so it could be nearly simultaneously illuminated and then destroyed. For this to system to work successfully it required a whole network of searchlights and AA batteries across the country. The New Forest was well covered by searchlights and AA batteries, due to the open ground available and the proximity to large urban areas that were on the front line of the conflict for many years between the fall of France and the build-up to D-Day. Even after D-Day both played an important role in defending against V1 flying rockets.

Many of these sites can still be seen as echoes in the New Forest landscape, but just as many have been removed and leave no trace. Work in the war diaries has led us to be able to accurately map their locations and density across the New Forest.
War diaries will often record little more than codes, locations, daily activity, movements and interactions with other units whilst others can be much more descriptive, with daily reports on operations, intelligence summaries and other material. The diaries do not usually contain information about particular people: they are unit diaries, not personal diaries. Many maps and plans were included in the original diaries but some confidential material was removed before the files were made available. This accounts for the absence of some appendices referred to in many of the diaries. You can explore the war diaries through the National Archives.

The War Diary references for this site follow below:

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 28/4/1940
Site: 526/26
Military grid ref.: U706268
Generator: Lister
Projector: Mk.VI 90cm
Sound Locator: Mk.III
Unit: 455 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E. (takes over from 394 Coy on this date) search light

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 12/5/1940
Unit: 394 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E., returns from practice camp and relieves 455 Coy.

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 25/5/1940
Site: Brinken Wood, 526 Area
Military grid ref.: U707269
Unit: 394 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E.

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2262 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 31/5/1940
Site: Brinken Wood, 526/16
Military grid ref.: U707269

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2262 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
This site is not listed on returns for 25/6/1940 or 1/8/1940.

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2262 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 29/9/1940 (Same situation on 31/10/1940)
Site: Brinken Wood, 526/1-
Military grid ref.: U707269

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2262 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 31/5/1940
Site: Brinken Wood, TG01/16
Military grid ref.: U707269

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2290 – War Diary of 47 AA Bde, 1941.
Date: 13/9/1941
Site: Brinken Wood, TG01/1-
Military grid ref.: U707269
Unit: 392 Btty, 48 S/L Regt, R.A.

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2290 – War Diary of 47 AA Bde, 1941.
Date: 1/10/1941
Site: Brinken Wood, TG01/21
Military grid ref.: U707269

equipped as a homing site

Brook Searchlight Site

WWII searchlights formed part of a system of aircraft detection linking locator devices, searchlights, and antiaircraft (AA) guns. The locators sent electronic information to the lights and guns, which in turn tracked the target. Once a locator had "locked on" to an enemy aerial target, the concept was for both lights and guns to be trained on the target so it could be nearly simultaneously illuminated and then destroyed. For this to system to work successfully it required a whole network of searchlights and AA batteries across the country. The New Forest was well covered by searchlights and AA batteries, due to the open ground available and the proximity to large urban areas that were on the front line of the conflict for many years between the fall of France and the build-up to D-Day. Even after D-Day both played an important role in defending against V1 flying rockets.

Many of these sites can still be seen as echoes in the New Forest landscape, but just as many have been removed and leave no trace. Work in the war diaries has led us to be able to accurately map their locations and density across the New Forest.
War diaries will often record little more than codes, locations, daily activity, movements and interactions with other units whilst others can be much more descriptive, with daily reports on operations, intelligence summaries and other material. The diaries do not usually contain information about particular people: they are unit diaries, not personal diaries. Many maps and plans were included in the original diaries but some confidential material was removed before the files were made available. This accounts for the absence of some appendices referred to in many of the diaries. You can explore the war diaries through the National Archives.

The War Diary references for this site follow below:

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41 (unless stated).

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2290 – 47 AA Bde, 1941.
Date: 13/9/1941
Site: Brook, TG01/8
Military grid ref.: U701340
Unit: 392 Btty, 48 S/L Regt, R.A.

Date: 22/10/1941
Site: Brook, TG01/11
Military grid ref.: U701342
Generator: Thornyer
Projector: 120cm
Sound Locator: Mk.III
Unit: 438 Btty attached to 48 S/L Bn, R.E., under command of 392 Btty, to relieve 'A' Tp, 392 Btty, who are away for training.

Date: 19/11/1941
Unit: Tp of 392 Btty, 48 S/L Regt, R.A., return from Regimental Training School and relieve 438 Btty.

Search Light location estimated from Military grid ref.  Appears to have replaced Bramshaw Searchlight Site.

Bunkers Hill Searchlight Site

WWII searchlights formed part of a system of aircraft detection linking locator devices, searchlights, and antiaircraft (AA) guns. The locators sent electronic information to the lights and guns, which in turn tracked the target. Once a locator had "locked on" to an enemy aerial target, the concept was for both lights and guns to be trained on the target so it could be nearly simultaneously illuminated and then destroyed. For this to system to work successfully it required a whole network of searchlights and AA batteries across the country. The New Forest was well covered by searchlights and AA batteries, due to the open ground available and the proximity to large urban areas that were on the front line of the conflict for many years between the fall of France and the build-up to D-Day. Even after D-Day both played an important role in defending against V1 flying rockets.

Many of these sites can still be seen as echoes in the New Forest landscape, but just as many have been removed and leave no trace. Work in the war diaries has led us to be able to accurately map their locations and density across the New Forest.
War diaries will often record little more than codes, locations, daily activity, movements and interactions with other units whilst others can be much more descriptive, with daily reports on operations, intelligence summaries and other material. The diaries do not usually contain information about particular people: they are unit diaries, not personal diaries. Many maps and plans were included in the original diaries but some confidential material was removed before the files were made available. This accounts for the absence of some appendices referred to in many of the diaries. You can explore the war diaries through the National Archives.

The War Diary references for this site follow below:

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 15/2/1940
Site: Beaulieu <526/34; Bunkers Hill>
Unit: 394 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E. (new deployment following relief of 342 Coy by 454 Coy)

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date:28/4/1940
Site: 526/31
Military grid ref.: U816216
Generator: T.S.M.
Projector: Mk.VI 90cm
Sound Locator: Mk.III
Unit: 455 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E. (takes over from 394 Coy on this date)

equipped with W/T

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 12/5/1940
Unit: 394 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E., returns from practice camp and relieves 455 Coy.

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/3066 – War Diary of 48 S/L Bn, R.E., 1939-41.
Date: 25/5/1940
Site: Bunkers Hill, 526 Area
Military grid ref.: U812217
Unit: 394 Coy, 48 S/L Bn, R.E.

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 31/5/1940
Site: Bunkers Hill, 526/31
Military grid ref.: U812217

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 25/6/1940
Site: Bunkers Hill, 526/31
Military grid ref.: U812217

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 1/8/1940
Site: Bunkers Hill, 526/31
Military grid ref.: U812217

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Date: 29/9/1940 (same situation on 31/10/1940)
Site: Bunkers Hill, 526/31
Military grid ref.: U812217

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2267 – War Diary of 35 AA Bde, 1939-40.
Not listed in return for 17/12/1940.

Ref.: TNA:PRO WO 166/2290 – 47 AA Bde, 1941.
Date: 13/9/1941
Site: Bunkers Hill, TG01/84
Military grid ref.: U816216
Unit: 392 Btty, 48 S/L Regt, R.A.

searcb light location estimated using the military grid ref.
The site is near the HAA site of the same name.