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Waterways at war


1 September 2009 saw the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War 2. What many visitors to our canals and rivers don’t know, is that these peaceful winding waterways played a crucial role in the planned defence of the UK.

If the expected German invasion had occurred, then many of our canals would have had a strategic role to play in containing the German forces – delaying their progress long enough for British mobile forces to initiate a counter attack.

Read on to discover which canal was literally the last line of defence for southern Britain, what 'asparagus beds' were used for and other fascinating facts about waterways at war.

The Bridgwater & Taunton Canal
The Bridgwater & Tauton Canal was part of a major South West Britain defence line and was fortified with pillboxes, trenches and tank traps. Survivals include a pillbox and trench defence system near North Petherton and a mined bridge with detonation chambers visible to this day.

The Kennet & Avon Canal
The K&A was a vital part of Britain’s GHQ Line blue (other defence lines were coded red and green) and was literally the last line of defence in Southern Britain. It was manned by the Home Guard and fortified with a large number of pillboxes of different types, tank traps, anti-tank ditches and ‘anti-tank islands’ - basically fortified areas like Pewsey Wharf which still has remains of pillboxes, anti-tank obstacles and gun platforms and trenches.

The Oxford Canal
The Oxford Canal was part of Southern Command’s Oxford and Grand Union Canal Defence Line and like other stop lines, was given pillboxes (unusually, pre-fabricated pillboxes – see image). It also has remains of ‘asparagus beds’ (basically vertical steel rail tank traps) and at Clifton there is a still-standing Home Guard shelter. Banbury Lock was bombed by the Luftwaffe and rebuilt during the war.

The Grand Union Canal
A mid air collison between a Lancaster bomber and a Halifax over the Grand Union Canal at Yelvertoft scattered wreckage along the canal – parts of which are still being found. A Fairey Battle (light bomber) made a forced landing on Naseby Reservoir and the crew were rescued by rowing boat. There is an ‘anti-tank hairpin’ at Stockers Lock.

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal
The Leeds & Liverpool Canal was Western Command’s Stop Line No 14 and wartime survivals include dragon’s teeth near Parbold Aqueduct, a machine gun post at the A59 Rufford Road Bridge, and defensive buildings (with infilled loopholes) at Burscough Bridge and the Farmers Arms pub on the canal bank.

The Shropshire Union Canal
There is a pillbox at Market Drayton elevated on a huge concrete plinth; also some vertical rail anti-tank mountings.

Knipton Reservoir (by the Grantham Canal)
A fully laden Lancaster Bomber crashed here in 1943/44 and the crew was all killed. It is alleged that at low water the fuselage is sometimes visible.

The Lancaster Canal
There is a field gun emplacement at Garstang.

Last updated: 07/10/2009