The latest event organised by Wellington Local History & Museum Society saw Andrew Powell-Thomas give an illustrated talk based on his book, The West Country’s Last Line of Defence – the Taunton Stop Line.
The context for the Stop Line was that during the Second World War, by May/June 1940, there was a genuine threat to the UK following the German occupation of the Netherlands, Belgium and northern France. The inspiration was the French Maginot Line – although the Germans went round that through the Low Countries.
The series of static fortified stop lines in the UK was masterminded by General Sir Edmund Ironside, Commander-in-Chief Home Forces, as part of a series of measures to bolster the defence of the country.
Andrew’s talk included illustrations of various remains of the Taunton Stop Line, including associated pill boxes, anti-tank obstacles, machine gun emplacements and charge chambers cut into bridges ready for demolition.
The next society event will be on Thursday, October 27th, at 7.30 pm in Wellington Prep School Hall when the subject of the talk by Mike Crewe will be ‘Jack the Ripper’ – members £3, non-members £4.