South Ronaldsay, Herston Hill

ND49SW 28.00 4152 9160

ND49SW 28.01 ND 41509 91469 Radar site

ND49SW 28.02 Centred ND 4169 9161 Military camp

ND49SW 28.03 c.ND 4175 9163 Decoy site

An anti-aircraft battery with the footiings of the associated camp, on Herston Hill has been recorded from aerial photographs (Visible on Fairey Surveys Ltd, 7343 44 431-2, 439-440, flown 1975).

Information from RCAHMS (DE) July 1996

This anti-aircraft battery is situated some 500m NW of Midtown farm near the summit of Herston Hill. The battery consists of four gun-emplacements built of breeze blocks with the command position to the N. The command post has been demolished and opened out to reveal a few metal stanchions, the remains of a small crew shelter and some internal wall divisions at the S end.

There is an additional holdfast to the SW at ND 4150 9152 and W of this, beyond a fence line the gunnery laying direction radar platform (GL mat) (ND 4151 9147), minus its ramp, with the military track running E to the battery. Surrounding the radar platform are some 6-8 posts still upstanding, with several of the concrete bases for further posts scattered around the area.

At ND 4158 9144 is a light anti-aircraft position, with an earthen bank surrounding a flat circular area.

Immediately E of the battery on the E side of the track that leads from the farm, where it ends at a gate, is a zig-zag slit trench possibly for emergency use in the event of air raids. To the S and SE of this is the accommodation camp with the hut bases clearly visible in long grass and heather, the ablutions block base is identified by the line of waste pipe holes in a concrete platform with pieces of toilet pushed into the holes. The concrete base of the water pumping system still stands, the farmer at Midtown farm stated that the camp used sea water for much of the supply to the ablutions blocks.

A circular six slot pillbox once stood near where the track enters the field to the SE, this has been removed and now lies on its side next to a barn at the farm (ND 4197 9143).

Visited by RCAHMS (DE) 20 August 1996

ND 412 918 Amorphous mound with corrugated iron protruding, probably WWII remains.

Sponsors: Historic Scotland, Orkney Archaeological Trust.

G Wilson and H Moore 1997

The heavy anti-aircraft battery is visible on a RAF vertical air photograph (LEU/UK 12, 7041, flown 9 May 1949) , which show an arc of gun-emplacements.

The battery was according to War Office documents, armed in 1942 with fourstatic 3.7-inch guns and provided with a GL Mk II radar set. Manning was by 59 Brigade (Public Record Office WO 166/7270).

Information from RCAHMS (DE), February 2005