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. Thank you, John.
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 scans 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)
The full strength of the Lancing Carriage Works Bofors Crew, 18th Sussex Home Guard. Note the 'SX' designation on the battle dress shoulders, marking them as Sussex defenders.
Photo 2: Preparing for Action (IMG_4094)
A view of the Bofors 40mm gun being prepared. The man seated on the left is the 'Layer' (responsible for elevation and traverse). Behind them are the sawtooth-roofed 'Sheds.'
Photo 3: The Loaders (IMG_4095)
Precision under pressure. Here we see 'Dixy' Dean and his colleague manually feeding four-round clips into the auto-loader. A trained crew could fire 120 rounds per minute.
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). |
The transition from craftsman to gunner had to be seamless. In the event of a 'Red' warning, these men had exactly three minutes to move from their benches to the gun platform. The 'SX' on their shoulders wasn't just a badge; it was a promise that the Works would defend itself.
Historian’s Note: The Bofors was famously "loud and violent." For the men of the Carriage Works, who were used to riveting hammers, the roar of the Bofors would have been a natural—if deafening—extension of their lives.
"To the people of Lancing, it was known as the 'Pom-Pom.' It was a heavy, rhythmic thumping that you felt in your chest more than you heard in your ears."
The Lancing Carriage Works: The Wartime A to Z
A — Airframe Components (The Horsa Glider)
Lancing was a vital "Satellite" factory. The craftsmen here used their expertise in timber carriage-building to produce massive wooden sub-assemblies.
- The Floor Sections: Lancing specialised in reinforced wooden floors for Jeeps and Anti-Tank guns.
- The Tail Units: Produced as separate components, finished in Lancing before final assembly.
B — Bofors 40mm Anti-Aircraft Guns
Lancing was the primary hospital for these guns. Work involved stripping the Hydraulic Recoil system and calibrating the Auto-Loader.
D — Doping (The "Pear Drop" Shop)
Shop 4 was a sensory assault. Linen fabric was stretched over frames and "Doped" with lacquer. The smell was notoriously sweet (like pear drops) and highly flammable.
P — Pontoons (The Bailey Bridge)
The works produced hundreds of Bailey Bridge Pontoons—watertight wooden "boxes" designed to support the weight of a Churchill tank crossing a river.
The Master List: Production Summary
| Project | Material | Skill-Set Required | Final Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horsa Glider | Spruce & Plywood | Precision Joinery & Doping | D-Day Air Assaults |
| Bofors Gun | Steel & Hydraulics | Heavy Fitting & Calibration | Anti-Aircraft Defence |
| Bailey Bridge | Timber & Steel | Waterproofing & Carpentry | River crossings in Europe |
Coming Soon: The Watch on the Cliffs
In our next chapter, follow the crew to the heights of Ovingdean. Newly discovered photos show the men manning positions on the cliffs overlooking the English Channel.
Series Links: Lancing Village Memories
- Part 1: The Guardians of the Works
- Part 1b: The Philip Fry Collection
- Part 2: The Silent Partners
- Part 2b: The Secret of the "Hush Hush" Shop
- Part 3: Mr Warr & the Fire Brigade
- Part 4: The Bofors Crew (You are here)
- Part 4b: The Shingle Skeletons
- Part 5: The Lancing Squad – Precision on the Front Line
- Part 6.The day the FW-190s Came to Lancing
- Part 7. The Invisible Colony
- Part 8 : The Final Reveal – The Skeletons in the Garden
- Part 9: From the 'Running Man' to the 'Rocket Dance'
- Part 10: Denis Edwards
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