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Forth Defences, Middle, Inchcolm, 4-inch Battery
Coastal Battery (First World War)
Site Name Forth Defences, Middle, Inchcolm, 4-inch Battery
Classification Coastal Battery (First World War)
Alternative Name(s) Forth Defences; Firth Of Forth; World War 1
Canmore ID 84240
Site Number NT18SE 22.03
NGR NT 19200 82570
NGR Description Centred on NT 19200 82570
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/84240
- Council Fife
- Parish Aberdour (Dunfermline)
- Former Region Fife
- Former District Dunfermline
- Former County Fife
In 1916, when the defences of Inchcolm were strengthened, a battery of four Mk V 4-inch Quick Firing guns was built just in front of four earlier emplacements for 12-pdrs, which had been built in 1915 [NT18SE 22.10] (The National Archives WO78/5181). The guns were new. In 1916 the guns were in two pairs - Groups “L” and “M”. It is reported in the Fort Record Book (The National Archives WO 192/108) that the Second World War twin-6pdr gun was placed on one of these emplacements, but the location of the likely emplacement (NT18NE 22.03) does not coincide with the 4-inch gun battery.
Information from HS/RCAHMS World War One Audit Project (GJB) 16 August 2013.
NT18SE 22.03 19147 82677
The exact site of this battery remains unknown, however the Public Records Office have details of the armaments: four 4-inch quick firing Mk. V guns were mounted and all installed during 1917. They were removed in October 1931.
J Guy 1994; NMRS MS 810/3; PRO WO/192/254
There is a gun-emplacement facing NE, situated at the top of cliffs opposite the small rock annotated 'Swallow Craig'.
The emplacement is depicted on the current OS 1:2500 scale digital map and is also visible on a RAF WW II oblique aerial photograph (S309, 6964, flown 2 October 1941). It is not known for certain whether this is the 4-inch battery noted above, but in the absence of any other recorded gun position, it makes it most likely.
Infromation from RCAHMS (DE), March 2005
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.
