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The Schoenmakerskop Forward Observation Post represents one of the historical Second World War buildings still remaining along the Algoa Bay Coastline.
See more here: http://mype.co.za/new/schoenmakerskop-fortress-observation-post-pes-unique-world-war-ii-buildings/134900/2020/06/
The advent of the Second World War (1939-45) saw South Africa, as a member of the commonwealth, supporting England in her fight against Nazi Germany. The blockade of the Suez Canal saw enemy and friendly ships and submarines rounding the Southernmost tip of Africa on their journey to the East to fight or bring supplies.
Algoa Bay at the time had no seaward defences other than Fort Frederick built between 1799 and 1800 which guarded the original landing place of the 1820 British Settlers.
The first step towards defending Algoa Bay and the Harbour was with the establishment of a Battery Observation Post (BOP) at Humewood, south-east of the harbour. This provided temporary emplacements for the two 6-inch Mark XIX guns.
In addition to the BOP, advance warning of the approach of shipping and aircraft to the harbour was given by three Fortress Observation Posts (FOPs) which were built at Amsterdamhoek, Seahill – in the Cape Recife Reserve – and Skoenmakerskop. The FOPs were planned towards the end of 1939 and completed during 1940. Each FOP is double-storeyed with a flat roof reached by a steel ladder, with loopholed free-form parapets rising above the roof, and each was protected by a barbed wire fence or entanglement.
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Quick Eastern Cape/Port Elizabeth Fact: The Campanile (bell tower) in the city was built in 1923 to commemorate the arrival of the 1820 Settlers and offers a great viewpoint over the city.
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