Defences Collection

Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 1671
The Dutch fort at Jaffna at the northern extremity of the island. The solid defences indicate that the Europeans expect to be attacked at any moment

Restaurant de la Reserve, Nice, France. Date: circa 1910s

Natal Native Contingent (NCC) armed with assegais
Photograph of members of the Natal Native Contingent (NCC) armed with assegais (short spears) and shields, 1879 (c). The NNC was formed in 1878 to bolster the defences of the British colony of Natal

Winston Churchil visiting gun sites, England, 1944
Winston Churchill visiting anti flying bomb defences in June 1944. Seen here at a gun battery in southern England. The caption on the back of the photograph reads, " The Prime Minister today

Singapore, bastion in the East, by G. H. Davis
Britains great bastion in the East: Singapore, stubborn obstacle to Japans ambitious projects in Southern Asia during the Second World War

First English Civil War: Siege of Lathom House, 1644
Royalist stronghold Lathom House in Lancashire defies Parlimentarian pressure and raises the royal standard. The ensuing siege lasted three months, but was eventually lifted

RAF Bombers over Berlin; Second World War, 1943
Illustration showing Royal Air Force bombers heading towards their target of Berlin during the Spring of 1943. This drawing shows several types of German anti-aircraft defences which were new to

Ischia, Italy - Castello Aragonese, the Castle of Alfonso I of Aragon Date: circa 1905

American Troops landing on D-Day; Second World War, 1944
Photograph showing American troops storming one of the Normandy beaches on D-Day, 6 June 1944. This image shows the first tanks charging through the water to the shore

HAWKER HURRICANE 1
Though lacking the glamour of the Spitfire, the plainer Hurricane is more widely used, downing more German aircraft than the rest of the defences combined

The Town and Castle of Deal, Kent, 1640 (engraving)
XJF104361 The Town and Castle of Deal, Kent, 1640 (engraving) by Hollar, Wenceslaus (1607-77); Private Collection; Czech, out of copyright

Winston Churchill Visiting Coastal Defences near Dover

Durham Castle from Wear
Durham Castle (now part of Durham Univerity) with the fantastic Norman Cathedral in the background. Framwellgate Bridge is in the foreground Date: 1950s

Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
The Dutch fort at Batticaloa, on the east coast of the island. The solid defences are evidence that the Europeans expect to be attacked at any moment

American soldiers from Company E, 358th Infantry, 90th Division, move through the concrete Dragons Teeth of Siegfried line near Habscheid, Germany, as they move up to the front. 12th February 1945

Ex paratrooper Donald Cook, 38 year old aircraft inspector and secretary of the St. Pancras United Tenants Association, talks to his 36 year old wife Edith through a barricade of barbed wire

Doonagore Castle, Co Clare, Ireland, 16Th Century Tower House Overlooking The Atlantic Ocean

Uhlans at Liege
A detachment of German Uhlans charging a fort at Liege, Belgium, only to encounter the barbed wire defences constructed by order of General Liman, commander of the Belgian troops in Liege

Martello Tower, Corsica Date: 1809

Siege of Paris - Aerial
THE SIEGE OF PARIS An aerial view from the south, showing the French defences surrounding the city, including several outlying forts

The Golden Tower, Seville, Spain, from Spanish Pictures by Reverend Samuel Manning
KW268382 The Golden Tower, Seville, Spain, from Spanish Pictures by Reverend Samuel Manning, published in 1870 (engraving) by English School

Churchill and family visits anti-flying bomb defences, 1944
Mr. Winston Churchill and his youngest daughter Mary Churchill see anti-flying bomb defences. Mrs. Churchill is also present on this six hour tour of gun sites in Southern England

Geotextile tubes (geotubes) used as coastal cliff erosion defence on shingle beach, Dunwich, Suffolk, England, july

Excavator building sea defences, Dunoon, Firth of Clyde, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, august

United Arts Volunteer Rifles, 1916
United Arts Volunteer Rifles constructing defences at Woldingham during World War I in 1916

Sebastopol, Crimean War
Interior of the Malakoff Tower, the most important of the Russian defences, taken by the French on 8 September

A women on the South West Coast Path near Hartland Point Devon UK
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Excavator and truck on beach, repairing sea defences with boulders, Happisburgh, Norfolk, England, august

Map of Fortifications of the City of Barcelona, 1706, 18th century (engraving)
6266320 Map of Fortifications of the City of Barcelona, 1706, 18th century (engraving); (add.info.: The true and exact Plan of all the Old and New Fortifications of the City of Barcelona)

17th century View of the city of Nancy, France showing the walled city
5304740 17th century View of the city of Nancy, France showing the walled city.; (add.info.: 17th century View of the city of Nancy, France showing the walled city.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

17th century plan of the French City of Avignon
5304989 17th century plan of the French City of Avignon; (add.info.: 17th century plan of the French City of Avignon); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Chincha Islands War 1864-1866 between Spain and her former South American colonies
528578 Chincha Islands War 1864-1866 between Spain and her former South American colonies. Bombardment of Callao, 2 May 1866, Print 1868.; (add.info.: Lima, Peru)

French Religious Wars 1562-1598. Siege of Chartres
535863 French Religious Wars 1562-1598. Siege of Chartres.; (add.info.: French Religious Wars 1562-1598. Siege of Chartres)

View of Oude Schans (New Canal), Amsterdam, Holland, 1890-1900. The Montelbaanstoren, built in 1512
528659 View of Oude Schans (New Canal), Amsterdam, Holland, 1890-1900. The Montelbaanstoren, built in 1512, housed the city's military guard and is part of Amsterdam's old defences

Arrival of the Governor-General of India at the Lahore railway station, 1864. Creator: C. R
Arrival of the Governor-General of India at the Lahore railway station, 1864. Engraving of a photograph by Messrs. Raybon and West

Steel embrasure for the fortifications of Cronstadt, manufactured at Millwall, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Steel embrasure for the fortifications of Cronstadt, manufactured at Millwall, 1864. A '...three-gun wrought-iron shield...[made] by the Millwall Ironworks Company for the Russian

Sur le massif de Moronvilliers; Sur le Teton: blockhaus en ciment armé, 1917. Creator: Unknown
Sur le massif de Moronvilliers; Sur le Teton: blockhaus en ciment arme, 1917. First World War: on the Moronvilliers Hills; on the breast of the hill, blockhouse in reinforced cement

Sur le massif de Moronvilliers; L'entrée d'une ancienne sape allemande sur les pentes... 1917. Creator: Unknown
Sur le massif de Moronvilliers; L'entree d'une ancienne sape allemande sur les pentes Est du Cornillet, 1917. First World War

Un Zeppelin abattu a Revigny; La chute: le zeppelin tombe comme une torche surmontee d'une e'paisse Creator
Un Zeppelin abattu a Revigny; La chute: le zeppelin tombe comme une torche surmontee d'une e'paisse fumee noire, encadree de deux trajectoires d'obus, 1916

View of the Fortress of Saint-Michiel, near s-Hertogenbosch, 1672. Creator: Josua de Grave
View of the Fortress of Saint-Michiel, near s-Hertogenbosch, 1672. Attributed to Josua de Grave

Un relais d'ambulance modele; Le premier abri a gauche, portant l'inscription "Relais... c1916
Un relais d'ambulance modele; Le premier abri a gauche, portant l'inscription "Relais d'ambulance", sert de salle de malades; ensuite viennent la salle de pansements et le

Fort and Town of Alessandria, 1857. Creator: Unknown
Fort and Town of Alessandria, Sardinia, 1857. The plan which is now to be carried out consists of a bastioned body and four detached forts, one situated on the Bormida, a second on the Tanaro

La Nouvelle Europe; la guerre civile a Berlin; du 5 au 11 janvier 1919 a Berlin; reseau... 1919. Creator: Unknown
La Nouvelle Europe; la guerre civile a Berlin; du 5 au 11 janvier 1919 a Berlin; reseau de fils de fer barbeles et de chevaux de frise

"La Guerre a L'Allemande"; Place de la Concorde: les chevaux de Marly, 1918. Creator: Unknown
"La Guerre a L'Allemande"; Place de la Concorde: les chevaux de Marly, 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

"La Guerre a L'Allemande"; au Luxembourg: la fontaine Medicis, 1918. Creator: Unknown
"La Guerre a L'Allemande"; au Luxembourg: la fontaine Medicis, 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

"La Guerre a L'Allemande"; a l'Opera: le groupe de la Danse, de Carpeaux, 1918. Creator: Unknown
"La Guerre a L'Allemande"; a l'Opera: le groupe de la Danse, de Carpeaux, 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

"La Guerre a L'Allemande"; les portails de Notre-Dame proteges par des sacs de terre, 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" [L'Illustration, Paris

Amiens sous le feu; La Cathedrale d'Amiens sous le revetement qui protegeait les portails, 1918. Creator: Unknown
Amiens sous le feu; La Cathedrale d'Amiens sous le revetement qui protegeait les portails, 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

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"From Ancient Fortresses to Modern Battlegrounds: A Journey through Defences" Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 1671: Witness the impenetrable walls of Jaffna's ancient fortress, standing tall against invaders for centuries. Restaurant de la Reserve, Nice, France: Indulge in a culinary experience within the elegant walls of this historic building-turned-restaurant, once a bastion defending Nice's coastline. RAF Bombers over Berlin; Second World War, 1943: Explore the skies as brave pilots soar above enemy lines, their aircraft serving as both weapons and shields in defense of freedom. Natal Native Contingent (NCC) armed with assegais: Step into history and witness the fierce determination of South Africa's indigenous warriors defending their land with traditional weaponry during colonial times. Singapore, bastion in the East by G. H. Davis: Discover how Singapore transformed itself into an impregnable stronghold guarding strategic interests in Southeast Asia under British rule. Ischia, Italy - Castello Aragonese: Marvel at the medieval fortress perched atop Ischia Island's cliffs; its sturdy defenses have protected it from countless invasions throughout history. American Troops landing on D-Day; Second World War 1944: Commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of Allied forces storming Normandy beaches to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation – a pivotal moment that turned tides towards victory. First English Civil War: Siege of Lathom House 1644: Relive one of England's most intense sieges where loyalists held out against Parliamentarian forces for months within Lathom House's formidable fortifications. HAWKER HURRICANE I : Celebrate the iconic fighter plane that played a crucial role in Britain's aerial defense during World War II – symbolizing resilience and ingenuity against overwhelming odds.