Holm Battery
Coastal Battery (Second World War), Coastal Battery (First World War)
Site Name Holm Battery
Classification Coastal Battery (Second World War), Coastal Battery (First World War)
Alternative Name(s) World War I; World War Ii; Bowan; Breckan Battery; Clett Battery
Canmore ID 2365
Site Number HY40SE 12
NGR HY 49404 01705
NGR Description Centred HY 49404 01705
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/2365
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Holm
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
The final decision to make Scapa Flow the main base for the Grand Fleet in the event of war (over the Invergordon dockyard in the Firth of Cromarty) was made only on the eve of war. As a consequence, in August 1914, the anchorage was undefended. It was only in mid-1915 that the anchorage was secured by guns, anti-submarine booms and blockships. In the end there were 13 batteries around the approaches to Scapa Flow.
The battery at Holm was the only one protecting the eastern approaches to Scapa Flow, which was blocked in 1914-15 by deliberately sunken ships. Early in the First World War four 12-pdr Quick Firing guns, intended to tackle smaller, fast-moving enemy vessels, were put on temporary mountings here. By early 1916 these had been replaced by three 4-inch QF guns of Amercian origin, with three powerful searchlights, to allow the guns to engage targets at night.
The battery was not re-armed in the Second World War until after the sinking of the Royal Oak had shown the inadequacy of the blocking of the channels.
The battery survives in good condition.
Information from HS/RCAHMS World War One Audit Project (GJB) 24 September 2013.
HY40SE 12.00 centred 49404 01705
HY40SE 12.01 HY 49404 01705 Gun-emplacement;
Observation Post (WW II)
HY40SE 12.02 HY 49429 01703 and HY 49454 01705 Gun-emplacements (WW II)
HY40SE 12.03 HY 49421 01705 and HY 49439 01792 Gun-emplacements (WW I)
HY40SE 12.04 HY 49306 01687, HY 49292 01686 and HY 49269 01695 Searchlight battery
HY40SE 12.05 HY 49420 01737 and HY 49464 01727 Magazine; Observation Post
HY40SE 12.06 centred HY 49294 01712 Military camp; Engine house
HY 4940 0170) This battery consisted of, during World War One, 4-inch guns emplacements. By World War Two there was 12 and 6 pounder emplacements with magazines, engine rooms and searchlights. It was placed on a care and maintainance basis in 1943.
J Guy 1993; NMRS MS 810/2; WO/192/109 PRO.
A World War Two coast battery which overlies the First World War emplacements. The earlier phase can still be seen immediately to the E of the observation tower and between the two later emplacements to the E of the main battery. The later main battery emplacement is unusual in that stone has been used at the rear. The magazines were connected to the batteries by underground passages which have now been filled in but are still traceable in the area to the rear of the observation tower.
Visited by RCAHMS (DE) May 1996.
First and Second World War coast batteries occupy two fields overlooking Holm Sound to the S of East Breckan farmsteading.
The WW I coast battery consists of two concrete open emplacements, one between the WW II 6-pounder and 12-pounder emplacements, the second between the two WW II 12-pounder emplacements.
The elements of the WW II battery are: a large twin 6-pounder emplacement with observation tower. Built of concrete, brick and stone, the tower is on two levels. Immediately to the E are two smaller brick and concrete 12-pounder emplacements, both retaining their canopies. To the rear of the two smaller emplacements is the battery observation post for the 12-pounder guns, which has been built over the WW I magazine.
To the W of the large 6-pounder emplacement and immediately above the shoreline are four searchlight platforms with an engine house to the N. Several concrete hut bases can also be traced, evidence for the site of the accommodation camp.
The remains of other elements of the military installation survive in the immediate area surrounding the gun-emplacements.
All the elements of this battery are visible on RAF vertical air photographs (106G/Scot/UK137, 3015-3016, flown 3 July 1946) including the accommodation camp. Later coverage in 1949 (LEU/UK 4, 5130-5131, flown 21 June 1949) shows that many of the buildings apart from those seen today, had been removed.
In 1941 the battery was designated by the War Office as 138 and manned by 533 Regiment (PRO WO 199/2627) and by 1943 had been placed on a Care and Maintence basis.
Visited by RCAHMS (DE, GS, SW) August 1999
Field Visit (June 1979)
The site of batteries guarding the Kirk Sound approach to Scapa Flow, in both World Wars I and II. In World War I there were three 12-pdr barbette emplacements. In World War II there was from 1940 an improvised 12-pdr position and searchlight, two more substantial 12-pdr batteries and a twin 6-pdr battery added 1941-2, together with more lights. After 1943 when the Churchill Causeways were an effective barrier, the Holm Battery was run down. [R1]
The 6-pdr battery with its twin-level control position is especially prominent, although its openings have been blocked for agricultural use. There is also a generator house. On the point of the promontory called Tower of Clett is an unidentified, circular concrete base.
Information from Orkney SMR (RGL) June 79.
Project (March 2013 - September 2013)
A project to characterise the quantity and quality of the Scottish resource of known surviving remains of the First World War. Carried out in partnership between Historic Scotland and RCAHMS.
