The Camp Today.

Today, walkers on Woodbury Common will inevitably come across many remnants of bricks and concrete, with much of the World War Two foundations buried in the undergrowth, giving the impression of undertaking an archaeological survey of a long lost ancient civilisation. Three out of the four solidly-built decontamination buildings still survive – one of which is almost completely covered by ivy and growth. The brick-built firing-points and butts, of the several rifle ranges on the common, can still be seen.

The grid reference number for the location of the Dalditch Camp remains have been added to all of the below photos. By clicking on the grid reference number at the bottom of the photo, you will be directed to gridreferencefinder.com, where a ‘pin’ will mark the exact or very near location onto the modern landscape.

Nissen Huts.

Nissen huts were erected for accommodation, mainly in blocks of four, housing twelve men in each hut. They were constructed of a wood-surround, with a corrugated roof and interchangeable windows – depending on their ‘life purpose’. Each hut had a coke-stove installed, as the main source of heating. Oil lamps were used, preceding electric lights. When the building of Dalditch Camp was complete, a total of 378 Nissen huts were erected.

SY 04294 84524 – Wheathill – 2/7/2016.

SY 04206 84643 – Wheathill – 27/12/2014.

SY 04352 85060 – Hayes – 29/12/2014.

Mess Halls.

There were twelve mess-hall complexes in Dalditch camp. They were made up of either two or three buildings. One building would be the Officer and Sergeant’s mess, and the other building(s) were for the recruits and lower ranks.

Almost all of what survives of most mess halls on the common, are the stairs which lead to a separate galley. One mess hall in the Wheathill area of the camp has two sets of stairs. One set for each of the two parallel galleys/ a kitchen area, which come together into a longer singular galley.

Officers Mess hall stairs at Wheathill – 15/9/2017 – SY 04279 84749.

Officers Mess hall stairs at Wheathill – 15/9/2017 – SY 04279 84749.

Another set of Mess hall stairs at Wheathill – 2/2/2017 – SY 04253 84796.

Concrete floor of mess hall (With previous stairs in background) – 2/2/2017 – SY 04253 84796.

Rifle Ranges.

There were several different firing ranges in Dalditch Camp. There were three ranges – shooting at a distance of 25 yards (23 Metres), and one range to a longer-distance of 300 yards (274 Metres). These ranges would have been used by the recruits or cadets, to practice their marksmanship skills.

30 yard range butts wall – 26/1/2017 – SY 04616 84525.

Back of 30 yard range butts wall – 8/12/2016 – SY 04616 84525.

Firing point at 30 yard range – 5/12/2016 – SY 04597 84512.

25 yard range in the Wheathill area of the camp – 29/12/2014 – SY 04165 84937.

25 yard practice range(?) at the Four Firs area – 25/1/2015 – SY 04170 85382.

The 300 yard firing-point at Four Firs – 31/12/2014 – SY 03920 85665.

The 300 yard range butts – 3/1/2015 – SY 04033 85911.

The 300 yard range butts – 3/1/2015 – SY 04033 85911.

Small target storage room, at the 300 yard range butts – 19/7/2016 – SY 04056 85906.

Small target storage room, at the 300 yard range butts – 19/7/2016 – SY 04056 85906.

500 yard firing point. This sits further back from the 300 yard firing point, and the shooters fire over over the top of the shorter distance – 9/8/2017 – SY 03857 85444.

Small ammunition storage building at Tuckers – 16/7/2016 – SY 04560 84798.

Small ammunition storage building at Hayes – 2/7/2016 – SY 04595 84432.

Bombing Decoys.

Many measures were taken to divert German bombers away from Exeter Airport (Then called RAF Exeter, and was built in 1937). A mock airstrip was built on the common in 1941, with electric lighting along its runway. It proved successful, as it is recorded that the Luftwaffe bombed this site on the night of the 26^th April 1942, when German bombers unloaded their remaining bombs when returning back from a raid at Bath.

Decoy Generator and Operations Control building, with blast-wall – 2/1/2015 – SY 04469 87675.

Decoy Generator and Operations Control building entrance – 7/10/2016 – SY 04469 87675.

Decoy Generator and Operations Control building inside – 2/1/2015 – SY 04469 87675.

Second Decoy Generator Control building on Aylesbeare common – 8/2/2017 – SY 05044 90216.

Second Decoy Generator Control building on Aylesbeare common – 8/2/2017 – SY 05044 90216.

Still Standing Structures.

After the war, almost all of Dalditch Camp had been demolished – but there are some buildings and features in the camp area that are still standing.

The decontamination building at ‘Triangle’ area – 30/12/2014 – SY 03904 84919.

The decontamination building at ‘Tuckers’ area – 29/12/2014 – SY 04171 85055.

The decontamination building at ‘Hayes’ area – 29/12/2014 – SY 04191 84868.

The climbing wall – 14/6/2016 – SY 02412 85008.

The stairs into a vehicle maintenance inspection pit. – 8/3/2018 – SY 04679 84281.

Walled drain structure, just a matter of yards from the vehicle inspection pit. – 24/2/2018 – SY 04679 84281.

A small water management area, near to 300 yard firing range at Frying Pans.

A small concrete dam, near to 300 yard firing range at Frying Pans. Possibly used for drainage of the rifle range. – 20/3/2018 – SY 03778 85725.

Near to small dam, a brick plinth with cast iron topper. Use unknown. Near to 300 yard firing range at Frying Pans – 20/3/2018 – SY 03769 85742.

9 inch pipe dated 1938 – 20/3/2018 – SY 03769 85742.

20/3/2018 – SY 03786 85752.

Possible water tank. Poking the mound below the U-bend pipe with a stick made an audible ‘clang’ – 20/3/2018 – SY 03786 85752.