The extended camp gradually
became a major supply point for the
Royal Air Force with Headquarters in
Stocken Hall at the southern end of
the woods. On 19th November 1942
the site was fortunate to survive a near
miss when a 158 Squadron Halifax
bomber crashed in flames close by.
Men from 100 MU rescued all of the
aircrew from the burning bomber.
Famous boxer Freddie Mills served at
RAF South Witham, where he helped
supervise the loading and unloading
operation at the railway station. Whilst
based here he fought for and won the
British Championship against fellow
RAF comrade and reigning champion
Len Harvey, in near record time. He
was later posted elsewhere.
Throughout World War II the site
evolved and more specialised storage
facilities were added. This included
Glimpses of the site’s previous role
are visible as you walk through the
forest. Close to the car park at the
northern end, the base of entrance
guard hut is still located alongside
the South Witham to Castle Bytham
road. The northern car park covers the
location of one of the ‘Iris’ huts and
foundations can be seen around this
area.
If you walk through the woods to
special storage huts for weapons like
the Barnes Wallis designed Tallboy
bomb, responsible for sinking the
Tirpitz. The bases of storage huts can
be seen alongside the intersection of
the roadways.
Munition storage continued at South
Witham until 1956 when the site was
returned to forestry.
A Tallboy bomb being loaded onto a Lancaster
the southern boundary of the site,
you can look across to Stocken Hall,
which has now been divided into
private residences. Also along the
southern boundary of the woods you
can find more than a dozen bases of
the ‘Handcraft’ huts some with steps
still in situ, which were used to store
incendiary devices. A round walking
trip to this area from the car park
takes about 45 minutes.
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