This superterranean fortification is situated next to the farm (Roeselarestraat 7), the driveway and chapel located at its right. It is a similar construction as 'Kazerne 2 Hertog Albrecht'. However, in this case, there was no passage for a narrow-gaunge railway.
This construction probably also has been used as aid station and also to accomodate personnel. At present only one of the original five chambers still remains.
The front side has a thickness of 140 cm. (4.6 feet)
The roof, on its smallest place i.e. above the upperside of the corrugated iron, still has a thickness of 115cm. (3.7 feet). On the backside the thickness is merely 24 cm.(9.4 inches)
In the summer of 1961 most of the structure was dismantled. Another similar 6 chamber bunker in the neighbourhood also was broken down in the early 1960's.
A few hundred meters to the North (in the direction of St. Julian), South of the 'Prinsenhof', there was another pillbox 'Kazerne 1 Graf Haeseler'. This one, measuring 40m.(43 yards) of length and 6m. (6.5 yards)width was even larger than 'Kazerne 2'.
History:
The farm and the surrounding area, including the structures mentioned above, were captured by the British on July 31st 1917. Unfortunately the British couldn't hold the position and it would take 3 more weeks before they could finally capture and secure it. The 2nd Line/5th Lancashire Fusiliers Batallion suffered the enormous loss of 500 of their 593 men.
The Bunker (photos above):
- Photos above: Notice the thickness of the roof (above the entrance)
- Photo below: on the left the remains of the doorway to the last but one chamber.
The structure was dismantled right to that specific point.
Also, mark the (round)eyehole to the right of what was the doorway.
In 1938 Mr. & Mrs Watson visited the 'Westhoek' taking photos of as many as possible bunkers. They also came to St. Julian and to Pondfarm. As you can see in the photo above, the bunker at full lenght was about 25m. (27.3 yards. In the center there's a part that was damagad by shelling. When being blown up the surrounding buildings also suffered damage(cracks)from the explosion and so the dismantling was stopped.
Only one part of the bunker is remained standing because of this crack in one of the buildings, see photograph above.
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION : detached (single), on a plain, not built-in
ORIENTATION : front side at 232 ° (approximately S-W)
EXTERNAL VIEW :
Back: 1 doorway (actually) width: about 90 cm (35.4 inches)
1 eyhole at the right of the doorway
Front: completely tight
Left: torn down at about the 1960's
Right: roof slanted
Roof: flat, chamferred at the side afgeknotte zijkant
(45 ° over 70 cm = 27.5 inches) / slightly slanting down to the
back / covered with earth and grass
MATERIALS
Concrete: formwork (exterior) / sheets of corrugated iron (interior)
Iron: round, girth .?.
Pebble: gravel and grith
INTERIOR :
Inner Walls: /
Chambers : one left (out of 5)
Passages : /
LEVEL : partly subterranean
OUTER DIMENSIONS:
Front: Length: 710 cm (7.76 yards) Heighth : 190 cm (74.8 inches)
Back: Length: 710 cm (7.76 yards) Heighth :
Left: Length: Heighth :
Right : Length: 480 cm (5.25 yards) Heighth :
THICKNESS :
Roof: minimal 115 cm (3.7 feet)(above the corrugated iron sheets)
Front: 140 cm (55.12 inches)
Back: 24 cm (!) (9.45 inches)
Sides: 180 cm (7.86 inches) at the base
DAMAGE : The largest part of the bunker has been dismantled (blown up) in the early 1960's. The right chamber is the only one remaining and is hardly damaged.
REMARKS:
Remains of a German shelter (first-aid station, (field) hospital or probably command bunker too.) Originally the bunker was a much larger structure.
At a very short distance, at the far sde of the driveway to the farm, there was another, even larger, WW-1 bunker In the early 1960's it was dismantled as well.
REMARKS : Stijn Butaye, Robert en Tim Missinne
DATE : May 3d 1999
(English translation Frank Mahieu; if errors are found, please let us know, thanks)
