Field Visit

Date April 1979

Event ID 614206

Category Recording

Type Field Visit

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/614206

In World War I there was some kind of defence at Rerwick - Hamilton-Baillie identified two concrete platforms with gun mounting ring for guns larger than 12-pdr, probably W.W.I 4-inch, without parapets. [R1]

In World War II there were 6-inch guns taken from HMS Iron Duke. Rerwick, unlike many Orkney batteries, possesed no 12-pdr QF guns. There were Bren guns covering the beaches and others for AA cover. The String was defended by an electrically controlled minefield. Rerwick was the HQ commanding other forts at Carness, on Shapinsay, and at Wasswick in Rendall. The HQ was adjacent to the battery (presumably nearer to Rerwick farm). [R2]

Operation Order of June 1940 mentions two batteries of 4.7-inch British coast defence guns, these being concrete gun pits with associated magazine and crew shelter. In 1941 two 6-inch naval Mk VII guns were added; these were bolted to a ring in a flat concrete floor, reproducing original shipboard mountings (presumably on W.W.I like cruisers). Concrete magazines and crew accommodation with self-defence loopholes behind. When these were installed the original 4.7-inch seemed to have been moved to Castle battery on Shapinsay. There were also two positions, of concrete with semi-circular open front originally closed by steel shutters, for searchlights, presumably either 3 deg Concentrated Moveable or 16 deg dispersed moveable. Hamilton-Baillie also notes 3 emplacements of the type with 3 vertical slits, presumably mounting fixed dispersed lights. There is also a control tower for the electrically-detonated mines in the String. See index card for photos.

A very extensive and well-preserved series of batteries and associated buildings. Military structures once occupied the whole area eastward from Rerwick farm, the batteries are mostly on the point of Rerwick Head and S from it. The Orkney structure Plan lists this along with Ness Battery, Stromness, for retention with view to preservation as an historical monument. Orkney Structure Plan 1975 amended 1978 appendix B paragraph 7=1,

Information from Orkney SMR (RGL) Apr 79.