Burray, Klondyke, Mossbank
Anti Aircraft Battery (20th Century)
Site Name Burray, Klondyke, Mossbank
Classification Anti Aircraft Battery (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) B1; Burray Battery
Canmore ID 105311
Site Number ND49NE 20
NGR ND 45694 96761
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/105311
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish South Ronaldsay
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
ND49NE 20.00 45694 96761
ND49NE 20.01 ND 45661 96620 Radar site
ND49NE 20.02 Centred ND 45782 96657 Military Camp
ND49NE 20.03 c.ND 4567 9675 Decoy site
An anti-aircraft battery and associated camp has been recorded from aerial photographs (Fairey Survey Ltd, 7343 44 455-6, 467-8 flown 1975), in a heather grown area to the SW of Mossbank farm.
Information from RCAHMS (DE) July 1996
A brick and concrete World War II heavy anti-aircraft battery is situated in rough ground about 200m SW of Mossbank farmsteading.
Consisting of an arc of four gun-emplacements, a mobile radar platform and several concrete hut bases the battery is substantially complete. The command and control centre (c. ND 4569 9675) has been severely eroded and only the lower course of the breeze block walls can be seen along with a few small corrugated iron air-raid shelters.
The gun-emplacements are surrounded by brick built ready-use ammunition lockers and crew shelters all with concrete roofs.
Designated B1 by the War Office it has been documented as being armed in 1942 with four 3.7-inch static guns and with a GL Mk II radar set, and part of 59 Brigade.
Visited by RCAHMS (DE, GS), May 1996
Oblique aerial views taken in 2008 (RCAHMSAP 2008) have identified what is probably the remains of an arc of four, possibly five, dummy gun emplacements immediately SW of the genuine ones. They are visible as circular areas of greener vegetation forming a mirror image to the concrete emplacements on the ground.
Information from RCAHMS (DE), February 2009
