Tank traps in Rhyl
Last updated: 06 October 2008
Q: George Owen, Rhyl: "Does anyone remember the tank traps that were at Splash Point, Rhyl, during WW2? They were big tapered concrete blocks. Anyone got a photo of them? I remember seeing them when walking there with my Dad but don't know anyone else who remembers them."
your comments
Rob, Meliden
If you to to Talacre beach there is a pill box just visible on the beach not too far from the light house.
Thu Jan 3 14:42:44 2008
Sue P
Researching a school from Liverpool for blind children who went to Splash Point many times 1939 to 1941. Anyone remember?
Tue Aug 7 10:10:51 2007
Elvet Pierce of Lixwm
Susan, the cross-shaped iron traps used on the French coast are called Hedgehogs.
Wed Apr 25 08:29:35 2007
Susan Read from Montreal, Canada
I'm interested in knowing the various names for the large X-shaped metal obstacles that were placed along the beaches of Normandy during WWII, designed to damage the underside of landing craft. I have an interested Grade 9 English class. Can anyone help? Thank you.
Mon Oct 30 09:58:09 2006
JOHN D FROM RHYL
REF MESSAGE FROM GLYN JONES THAILAND, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE TANK TRAPS AT SPLASH POINT BUT I DO REMEMBER THE "PILLBOX" ON HORTON`S NOSE, THE JUT OF SANDY BEACH IN KINMEL BAY, THIS IS WHERE THEY USED TO PARK THE VA3 HOVERCRAFT. I ALSO REMEMBER THE LITTLE TRACKED BRENGUN CARRIERS USED TO TOW THE LARGE WOODEN BOARDING JETTIES FOR THE PLEASURE STEAMERS THAT USED TO GIVE PLEASURE TRIPS FROM RHYL BEACH WHEN THE TIDE WAS IN.
Mon May 22 10:38:58 2006
Graham Hughes
These tank traps were in place right along this part of the coast. I remember them going past Kimnel Bay up to Golden Sands holiday camp at Sandy Cove when I used to holiday there as a child.
Wed Apr 5 11:42:39 2006
Glyn Jones, Moo Baan Makawan, Thailand
I remember seeing those big concrete things but can't remember where, though I certainly saw them in Rhyl. They were, in fact, quite common on beaches in many places.
In addition, do you remember the constructions called pill-boxes? These were supposed to be redoubts for machine gunners should an invasion have taken place. I remember there was one on the jut of sand on the other side of the Voryd river where we used to play sometimes.
Another hangover from the war were the bren gun carriers which were used by the pleasure boat people. They had those mobile jetty things which they used to push out and pull in with the tide and they used surplus bren-gun carriers - quite terrifying for a young lad, especially if one ran straight over a sandcastle you'd been building!
I also, vaguely, remember my father taking me to Kinmel Bay (near to the L bridge) to go for a ride on a 'Duck', an amphibious vehicle which was also a hangover from WWII.
Thu Mar 30 09:22:05 2006
