Forward Ammunition Depot 1942 - 1945
Bures Ordnance Ammunition Depot AAF526


Bomb Dispersal Site Map

This map gives some indication of the expanse of ammunition dispersal sites located in Bures Hamlet. This is not intended to be an accurate count as the size of map restricts the positions displayed. This map should be considered to be a `minimum` count of bomb sites.

  

 

Bures Dispersal Area Map


This map shows the extent of the Bures dispersal site. However,the site actually extended all the way to White Colne and out to Countess Cross.

Although not actually documented the USAAF did appear to use a one way system as indicated by the arrows on the above map. It would have been impossible for the large transporters to pass each other on these narrow winding country roads. The return journey would have taken the vehicles back to the main road for their onward journey to the Essex airfields.
Along the road towards Countess Cross, negro USAAF personnel were used for the road building, billeted under canvas. To this day the area is still known as Blacks Camp.
Inside Lamarsh Park (Panhandle Wood) the USAAF had four huts which were used for the storage of ammunition. Foundations to these buildings can still be seen today.

The White Colne Dispersal area was restricted to the main road (in red)between White Colne and Lower Jennies Farm. Northwards from this point was the main dispersal.
There is no evidence of side roads being used.

BURES DISPERSAL SITE

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Information taken from original USAAF Architect drawings

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The single number insert shows how many individual bomb dumps were at each site. There may have been as many as 50 -100 bombs at each store
Bomb dumps were usually 125 yards apart for obvious safety reasons. They were also placed at a minimum of 250 yards from any residential property.
The total number of open bomb dumps in the area, covered by the map exceeds 70.
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Bomb Dumps along the Colne Road.

Admin Block (AD)- this housed office and canteen facilities

Incendiary Bomb Store - this was located under cover of a wood at Butlers Farm

Huts - Clees Hall Wood contained something like 16 huts with it`s own road network. Only the foundations now remain and the roads degraded to overgrown tracks.
The huts were used as accommodation for the Air Force personnel. They were secure from enemy aircraft hidden by the tree camouflage.
This wood is private property.

The searchlight along the Earls Colne Road was remote from the anti-aircraft gun, which was located at Fordham Heath.
It was not unusual to see the light following an enemy aircraft, while tracer shells lit up the night sky coming up from Fordham.

Text courtesy of Eric Doe, Trevor Riches, Carl Imrie & Mr & Mrs Scanlan