In 1942 the government initiated an extensive programme of Emergency Defence Works (EDW). It was deemed likely that any attack from the Japanese would involve tanks. Therefore a large part of the EDW focus was on the manufacture of anti-tank ‘obstacles’ which would be used to defend the country’s ports, arterial roads and railway lines. Drawing on British experience, the EDW had ‘obstacles’ of many different designs manufactured locally and readied for use. In many instances a combination of ‘obstacles’ were laid out in sequence, with the objective of slowing enemy tank advancement. Tactically, once the movement of a vehicle had been impeded, armed men stationed in nearby pillboxes (machine-gun posts), could open fire on the vehicle and its occupants.
Authorities feared the Japanese might land at Timaru and stream north. Across New Zealand, around 1200 road blocks were made, with those to be used in the Timaru area made at the Birches camp at Surrey Hills near Anama.
After the threat of invasion passed in the mid 1940s the EDW structures proved both an inconvenience and a danger. For these reasons a programme was implemented
to either destroy or remove them.
At this pull off at Ealing there is an interesting information panel erected beside a large concrete road block cylinder. The blocks were eight foot long and five foot in diameter, each stamped, when made.
The cache is a small bison tube with log book. Bring your own pen.