Ablutions block, view of concrete base from West.

Description Ablutions block, view of concrete base from West.

Catalogue Number SC 673079

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of C 73242 CN

Scope and Content Remains of World War II ablutions block, Rerwick Head Battery, Mainland, Orkney Islands In both World Wars coast batteries were built to protect the channels into Scapa Flow, the greatest concentrations of firepower being at the main north-western and southern entrances to the Flow. In World War II there were also seven coast batteries on the east coast of Orkney Mainland protecting the approaches to Kirkwall Bay, which served as an examination anchorage where foreign shipping was impounded and searched for contraband. These batteries formed the Kirkwall Fire Command centred on Rerwick Head Battery, which also included a shore station for a controlled minefield in Shapinsay Sound. This shows, in the foreground, the concrete base of the camp ablutions block. The toilet cubicles were set in series on the raised platform, flanked by urinals, with washing facilities at the nearer end, all of which drained to an underground septic or settling tank. Similar sanitation facilities were provided at all World War II military camps throughout Orkney to cope with the advent of several thousands of military and civilian personnel. The turf mound in the background covers the semi-subterranean battery magazine and behind that can be seen the gun houses and crew shelters of the two six-inch gun emplacements. At the heart of the Orkney archipelago, Scapa Flow was the main fleet anchorage for the Royal Navy during both World Wars. Its vital importance led to the creation of one of the most concentrated defence networks in Britain. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/673079

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap