Lippitts Hill facts for kids
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Lippitts Hill is a small hill found in High Beach, which is part of Epping Forest in Essex, England. This hill has a really interesting past, playing important roles in defending and policing the city of London over many years.
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Lippitts Hill During the World Wars
Lippitts Hill was very important during both the First and Second World Wars. It was used as a place for big guns to protect the area.
World War I Defences
During the First World War, Lippitts Hill had a special spot where guns were placed. These guns helped to defend against enemy attacks.
Protecting the Skies in World War II
In the Second World War, Lippitts Hill became an important anti-aircraft site. This means it had guns that shot at enemy planes in the sky.
- In 1941, soldiers from the United States set up their own anti-aircraft guns here.
- They also built an underground control room and strong block houses to help them.
The Prisoner of War Camp
After the American soldiers left in 1944, the British set up a prisoner of war camp at Lippitts Hill. This camp held soldiers captured during the war.
- You can still find reminders of the Second World War here today.
- There's a special memorial that remembers the American soldiers who served at the site.
- There's also a cool concrete sculpture of a man. A German prisoner of war named Rudi Webber made it.
- A group called the Peace Pledge Union, which believed in peace and not fighting, sometimes invited prisoners of war to their homes for Christmas Day.
Lippitts Hill After the Wars
After the wars ended, Lippitts Hill continued to be used for important public services.
Civil Defence and Police Use
The camp at Lippitts Hill was used for "civil defence" after the war. This means it helped protect regular people in case of emergencies. Later, the police started using the site.
- The Metropolitan Police, which is London's main police force, used Lippitts Hill for firearms training.
- It was actually the very first place where the Metropolitan Police held a firearms training course.
- Now, a new training centre is open in Gravesend.
Police Air Support
Lippitts Hill was also home to the police helicopters!
- The Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit was based here for many years.
- Later, the National Police Air Service used it too.
- Around late 2019, their operations moved to North Weald Airfield.
