Part 4: The Lancing Bofors Crew: From the Shop Floor to the Front Line

Special Acknowledgement: We are greatly indebted to John Maple for his kindness in sharing these rare images from his family archive. Without his generosity and his keen eye for detail, this vital chapter of the Lancing Carriage Works story might have remained hidden in a desk drawer. Thank you, John, for helping us bring these men back into the light.
___________________________________________________________________________________

The Lancing Bofors Crew: From the Shop Floor to the Front Line

A Special Gallery featuring the newly discovered John Maple Collection.

We often think of the Home Guard as 'Dad’s Army,' but these newly surfaced, professionally scanned photos of the Lancing Carriage Works crew tell a different story. Here, we see the men of the 'Sheds' operating a Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft gun with the precision of the master craftsmen they were. From 'Dixy' Dean on the ammunition feed to the squad assembled outside the workshop doors, these images capture the moment Lancing's industrial heart became a fortress.

Photo 1: The Lancing Squad (IMG_4097)

Caption: The full strength of the Lancing Carriage Works Bofors Crew, officially part of the 18th Sussex (Brighton) Home Guard. Standing outside the workshop doors, the group shows the mirrored hierarchy of the Works—from the senior officers in the front row to the skilled tradesmen and 'lads' in the rear. Note the 'SX' designation on the battle dress shoulders, marking them as Sussex defenders.

 

Photo 2: Preparing for Action (IMG_4094)

Caption: A rare view of the Bofors 40mm gun being prepared for drill. The man seated on the left is the 'Layer' (responsible for elevation and traverse), while his comrade stands ready to assist with the sights. Behind them, the massive sawtooth-roofed 'Sheds' provide a stark reminder that these men would drop their tools and man these guns the moment the sirens sounded.

Photo 3: The Loaders (IMG_4095)

Caption: Precision under pressure. Here we see 'Dixy' Dean and his colleague at the top of the platform. Their role was the 'Loader'—manually feeding four-round clips into the auto-loader at the top of the gun. A well-trained crew like this could fire 120 rounds per minute. This role required immense strength and steady nerves, fitting for the men who spent their days handling heavy machinery in the Carriage Works.

Technical Profile: The Bofors 40mm L/60 Anti-Aircraft Gun

The "Lancing Shield"

Feature	Specification
Origin	Designed by Bofors (Sweden); British-built versions used at Lancing.
Role	Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) defense against low-flying Luftwaffe raiders.
Ammunition	2lb (0.9kg) High-Explosive (HE) shells.
Rate of Fire	120 rounds per minute (approx. 2 rounds per second).
Effective Range	Up to 1,500 yards (vertical) and 3,000 yards (horizontal).
Crew Requirement	Typically 4–6 men (Loader, Layer, Trainer, and Spotters).
Action	Fed by 4-round clips dropped into the top of the breech.

Historian’s Note: The Bofors was famously "loud and violent" in action. For the men of the Carriage Works, who were used to the constant rhythmic thumping of the riveting hammers and the hiss of steam, the roar of the Bofors would have been a natural—if deafening—extension of their daily lives.

Coming Soon: The Watch on the Cliffs

In our next chapter, we leave the workshop doors behind and follow the Lancing Works crew to the windswept heights of Ovingdean. Newly discovered photos show the men in full training, manning their positions on the cliffs overlooking the English Channel. From factory floor to the literal edge of Britain—stay tuned for the final part of the John Maple Collection.
___________________________________________________________________________________

The Lancing Works at War Series:

• Part 1: The Guardians of the Works: Firemen & Veterans

• Part 2: The Silent Partners: Women & Youth (1941–1945)

• Part 3: The Guardians of the Works: Mr Warr and the Lancing Railway Fire Brigade

• Part 4: The Bofors Crew: From Shop Floor to Front Line (You are here)

• Coming Soon: Training on the Cliffs: The Ovingdean Collection