Craters

 

The forest in pocked with craters from the second world war, dozens of them. Some from deliberate Luftwaffe attacks, or dumping their munitions before the return trip across the channel; others were self inflicted in pursuit of victory. Near Godshill in the north of the forest is the site of a World War Two test range, the Ashley Range. They tested all sorts up here, both defensive and offensive; from air raid shelters and aircraft pens to Tall Boy and Grand Slam, the earthquake bombs whose craters are still visible adjacent to the mock submarine pen atop Hampton Ridge. They even tested 'Highball' a version of the Bouncing Bomb here. If you're into World War Two sites, it's a place worth exploring.

Old track

 

An old winding forestry track through Anderwood enclosure, and it is quite old, showing on maps from the mid 1800's; the depression to the side of the track is a hundred years younger, a Second World War bomb crater, a gift from the luftwaffe. Danke.

Bombe

You'd be surprised at how many World War Two bomb craters there are littering the forest, for the most part (beyond Ashley Ranges) dropped by the German Luftwaffe; whether dropped in anger on purpose/target or dumped before returning home for safety is often less certain.

Avon Water crater

When they restored this section of Avon Water between Holmsley station and Wootton Bridge, the new course of the stream cut through what I believe to be a Second World War bomb crater (it exhibits all the characteristics and is adjacent to the old railway line, which would've been a wartime target). The restoration has brought the old bomb crater to life. The crater used to be seasonally wet, though for the most part quite the dank lifeless hole, now it's part of a rich and verdant developing wetland/carr woodland environment.  You'd be surprised at how many World War Two bomb craters pock the forest, not all of them the result of the enemy either.

Thoughtful destruction

As I walked past a group of World War 2 bomb craters in Anderwood enclosure this morning, I thought about the men flying the bomber. I wondered if they gone out of their way to drop their load well away from habitation out here in the woods. It would have been far safer for them to lose their bombs as soon as possible. So they must have purposely waited to be beyond conurbation. Which is cool. And, why hadn't they dropped their load on target, were they purposely trying not to kill people. You read stories of soldiers who've gone through a war without killing anyone. Or....was there a target out here in the woods? I don't think so, not that there wasn't plenty of military activity in the forest during the war, but I think these represent a bomber dropping their load before turning for home rather than an attack. There are a few groups of craters in the forest (beyond those of the Ashley Ranges), and they're invariably in groups of two or four, and none appear to fit an attack.  I sometimes think I really do over think too much.

Holes

All over the forest you'll spot holes like these, differing sizes, though displaying similar features, notably the irregular bank like lip which surrounds them. These are Second World War bomb craters. They reckon over 2700 bombs were dropped in the New Forest through the war years. There were plenty of targets for the Luftwaffe too. Throughout the war the area saw intense military activity, the nature of which changed as the war progressed; initial defence soon turned to training, then to preparation for invasion, and constantly seeing action, were the forest airfields.  For some of the craters the target's clear, others though were ephemeral targets, maybe mobile targets, whilst I reckon a few (at least) were never targeted, rather jettisoned before turning for home.  These craters are in woodland at Pignal Hill, and there are several potential targets locally including, the Balmer Lawn Hotel which was a divisional headquarters, the main rail line and Beaulieu Airfield.  I wonder how long it'll take for these monuments to World War 2 to disappear, well not disappear, as they'll remain in the archaeological record, but not to be visible any more.  It's over 70 years, and still these craters are pronounced features.