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Pill Box Blues

from Fish House Blues by Daniel Shaw

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about

A ‘type 29' pillbox is sited on the north bank of Division Rhyne, by the bridge, and it formed part of Stop Line Green. These lines were designed in haste by General Ironside of the Home Guard to counter an expected invasion by sea.

Designed to stop Blitzkrieg insurgence at natural barriers such as drains and rivers, also stopping them at infrastructures such as vital bridges, railways and roads. There is a line that stretches possibly from Glastonbury to Highbridge, many boxes remaining visible (many were demolished) between Meare and Mark along the drain. These now form part of the history of the landscape and you can walk to two of them (negotiating labyrinthine rhynes) from the Fish house.

After the battle of Britain, Nazi high command did not attempt the Sealion invasion and the thousands of hastily erected concrete boxes (named ‘Pill’ like the cardboard ones given out in pharmacies that they resembled) were used differently or abandoned – the ‘stop line’ concept was adapted to a different strategy. Many were occupied by professional soldiers but the Home Guard was also part of the strategy. Many of ‘Dad’s Army only had wooden guns painted to look like the real thing from a distance whilst they waited for the supply of the several different weapons deployed on the line.
('Rhyne' is pronounced 'Reen')
Bb Lydian: Capo III, Drop D
(Descending bass line from D Shape/F.)

lyrics

Sat in a Box on the Somerset Levels
Staring out of the Concrete bevels
Taking turns with the wooden Gun
In the box in the rain; in the box in the sun.

The Rota moves on until
My turn now to unlock and fill
Ammunition tin with Horlick and Rum
Keeping me warm till my shift is done.

Moonlit night out on the drain
With Ramshorn snails swimming in the rain
The Rhine spawns mobs of gurgling toads
While Cows rub the concrete with their nose.

I sight the fish house dark and dim
Between a nail and the gunstock trim
There will be no tanks rolling in tonight:
Meare will be safe till the dawning light.

Ironside Sealion, GHQ Line
To Highbridge and the Taunton Stop Line
I'll rest my old bones in the pillbox Night
Till the boys come home from the fight

Boxes on Stop Line Green
Slowly sinking in the Rhyne
Steel and Concrete cracks with time
But we all took turns and held the line.

We place the Poppies around the cross
To remember the fallen, remember the lost
Steel and concrete cracks with time
But we took turns to hold the line.

credits

from Fish House Blues, released April 20, 2021

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Daniel Shaw Glastonbury, UK

Daniel Shaw based in Glastonbury & S.W.area.
Past work includes performances with the poet Laureate, Simon Armitage; & performances in Europe, Tennessee, Kolkatta and the Uk.
Daniel has also performed and recorded with the The Aardvarks, double bass & Bass with Mossflower, The Minor Works Unit, Mr Keep Calm & The Cancelled Cheques, The Blackdown Bluebirds andThe Duncan Batey Trio. ... more

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