Defences Collection

Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 1671
The Dutch fort at Jaffna at the northern extremity of the island. The solid defences indicate that the Europeans expect to be attacked at any moment

Restaurant de la Reserve, Nice, France. Date: circa 1910s

Natal Native Contingent (NCC) armed with assegais
Photograph of members of the Natal Native Contingent (NCC) armed with assegais (short spears) and shields, 1879 (c). The NNC was formed in 1878 to bolster the defences of the British colony of Natal

Winston Churchil visiting gun sites, England, 1944
Winston Churchill visiting anti flying bomb defences in June 1944. Seen here at a gun battery in southern England. The caption on the back of the photograph reads, " The Prime Minister today

Singapore, bastion in the East, by G. H. Davis
Britains great bastion in the East: Singapore, stubborn obstacle to Japans ambitious projects in Southern Asia during the Second World War

First English Civil War: Siege of Lathom House, 1644
Royalist stronghold Lathom House in Lancashire defies Parlimentarian pressure and raises the royal standard. The ensuing siege lasted three months, but was eventually lifted

RAF Bombers over Berlin; Second World War, 1943
Illustration showing Royal Air Force bombers heading towards their target of Berlin during the Spring of 1943. This drawing shows several types of German anti-aircraft defences which were new to

Ischia, Italy - Castello Aragonese, the Castle of Alfonso I of Aragon Date: circa 1905

American Troops landing on D-Day; Second World War, 1944
Photograph showing American troops storming one of the Normandy beaches on D-Day, 6 June 1944. This image shows the first tanks charging through the water to the shore

HAWKER HURRICANE 1
Though lacking the glamour of the Spitfire, the plainer Hurricane is more widely used, downing more German aircraft than the rest of the defences combined

Winston Churchill Visiting Coastal Defences near Dover

Durham Castle from Wear
Durham Castle (now part of Durham Univerity) with the fantastic Norman Cathedral in the background. Framwellgate Bridge is in the foreground Date: 1950s

Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
The Dutch fort at Batticaloa, on the east coast of the island. The solid defences are evidence that the Europeans expect to be attacked at any moment

Uhlans at Liege
A detachment of German Uhlans charging a fort at Liege, Belgium, only to encounter the barbed wire defences constructed by order of General Liman, commander of the Belgian troops in Liege

Martello Tower, Corsica Date: 1809

Siege of Paris - Aerial
THE SIEGE OF PARIS An aerial view from the south, showing the French defences surrounding the city, including several outlying forts

Churchill and family visits anti-flying bomb defences, 1944
Mr. Winston Churchill and his youngest daughter Mary Churchill see anti-flying bomb defences. Mrs. Churchill is also present on this six hour tour of gun sites in Southern England

United Arts Volunteer Rifles, 1916
United Arts Volunteer Rifles constructing defences at Woldingham during World War I in 1916

Sebastopol, Crimean War
Interior of the Malakoff Tower, the most important of the Russian defences, taken by the French on 8 September

Typical Norman Castle. Date: 11th century

Malta - Valletta - Custom House Date: circa 1910s

Mazagan (El Jadida), Morocco
The Harem of a Moorish Minister embarking at Mazagan. The Portuguese fortification of Mazagan, now part of the city of El Jadida, 90-km southwest of Casablanca

Sailing boat passing the Chateau D If - Marseille, France Date: circa 1910s

German pillbox at Builecourt during the First World War

Dubrovnik, Croatia - The Main Entrance Gate
Dubrovnik, Croatia - The Old Walled Town - The Main Entrance Gate to the City. Date: circa 1930s

St Mawes, Cornwall - The Castle - an artillery fort constructed by Henry VIII near Falmouth, Cornwall, between 1540 and 1542

Tsar Nicholas II and his two eldest daughters, Crimea
Russia - Tsar Nicholas II and his two eldest daughters at the Forts, Sevastopol, Crimea Date: circa 1909

Fortified medieval castle at Sedan, Ardennes, France
The Fortifications of the fortified medieval castle at Sedan, Ardennes, France - claimed to be the largest in Europe. Date: 1915

Middle Ages. Wood mantlet on wheels. Engraving by Serra
Middle Ages. Mantlet. Large shield or portable shelter used for stopping projectiles. Wood mantlet on wheels. Engraving by Serra. Museo Militar, 1883. Later colouration. Date: 2020

Lynmouth harbour side view with boats and bridge
Lynmouth is a small village in South Devon near Exmoor. It is a picturesque holiday spot as the image shows. In 1952 it suffered from severe flooding which led to the strengthing of the sea defences

Auxiliary Territorial Service using search lights at night to spot on coming aircraft. Date: 1943

City gateway, Rock of Gibraltar, c. 1880 s
City gateway, Rock of Gibraltar, c.1880 s

Joes Bridge on the Belgian-Dutch border
Operation Market Garden was a combined British & American land and air operation planned to break into and around the German defences & then on into Germany itself

Imaginary raft, Napoleonic invasion of England
Imaginary raft for a Napoleonic invasion of England which never happened. Date: circa 1804

De Soto Attacks the Alabama Fort
Hernando De Soto attacks a fortified town in Alabama in 1540. Various artillery fires towards the towns defences, as cavalry from various positions around the town ride forward. Date: 1540

The Ruins of the Principal Church at Paysandu 1865
The church at Paysandu was extremely damaged during the Siege of Paysandu during the Paraguayan War, which lasted over a month of Brazilian-Colorado troops blockading

The Capture of Tabasco 1847
The capture of Tabasco by U.S. naval forces under Commodore Perry. Two American paddle steamers and a small ship move up the river on their way to San Juan Bautista

Map of the Battle of Buena Vista
A map of the formations and placements of troops and defences of the Mexican and American forces at the battle of Buena Vista. Date: 1847

Drakes fleet at Santo Domingo
Detailed map of the Spanish defences position of Santo Domingo, and the corresponding English naval positions. Date: 1586

Putting up flood barricades, Bermondsey, London
Putting up sandbags as flood barricades in Rotherhithe Street, Bermondsey, London. 1928

Postcard booklet, seawall at Galveston, Texas, USA, with waves breaking near the Crystal Palace. Date: 1942

Normans attacking Hereward the Wakes refuge
Hereward the Wake, also known as Hereward the Outlaw or Hereward the Exile (1035-1072) - an Anglo-Saxon nobleman and a leader of local resistance to the Norman Conquest of England

German sentry WWII
German sentry on duty on the Channel coast in France during World War II Date: 1939-1945

Anti-tank obstacle, looking north from pillbox 766522 towards Halliun and Menin Church on the Western front during World War II. 2nd Northants, 17th Infantry Brigade Date: 21st January 1940

The Straits of Yenikale with the Bay and the town of Kerch from the old Fort of Yenikale Date: circa 1855

Wellingtons force attack the French at CIUDAD RODRIGO, a key fortress on the Portugal- Spain frontier; after fierce fighting, the defences are overcome Date: 15 January 1812

Murten (Morat), Switzerland - The Ramparts
Murten (Morat), Fribourg Canton, Switzerland - The Ramparts. circa 1910s

The Ramparts and the Harbour - Tangier, Morocco
The Ramparts and the Harbour - Tangier, a Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar. Date: 1903

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