AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF WORKINGTON COAST BATTERY

Taken by the RAF on 19th May 1948.

The aerial photograph from which the graphic was partly derived. The numbers on the picture correspond with the numbers on the graphic, and an explanation is given below the photo. Portrayal of the 'big picture' is an ongoing (but thoroughly enjoyable) task, and I have written down what I know about the battery from interviews with ex-HG Gunners, anecdotal evidence, and personal memories. Please excuse the 'if's, but's and maybe's'. I hope they will be eradicated some day.

Photograph courtesy of English Heritage (NMR) RAF Photography.

Aerial photograph of the Workington coast-battery, taken by the RAF in 1948.

  1. THE NORTH SEARCHLIGHT EMPLACEMENT. More than likely automatically steered from the Battery Observation Post (7). Little is remembered of it by the Battery Home-Guard who I interviewed, suggesting no involvement with the unit. Ex-Whitehaven 422nd coast-battery searchlight operator Harold Clifford pointed out that their remotely-controlled searchlight was operated by the Royal Artillery. Workington may have been similar.
  2. INLAND DEFENCE 'DUG-OUTS'. Although there were no pill-boxes at the Workington battery, preperations were made should the enemy attack the battery from inland. There were several 'dug-outs' for which the HG Gunners prepared to repel invaders with Bren-guns, Sten-guns and .303 rifles, as well as the 75mm French field-gun. The HG attached to the battery were expected to remain there and fight if invaded, as opposed to the remainder of the Workington HG battalions, who were to re-muster at their 'keep' at the west-end of town, the 'marsh' - to fight to the last....
  3. CONCRETE TERRACING SEA-DEFENCE. This strip of concrete terracing probably pre-dated the battery, being put there by the Ironworks company to prevent erosion of the slag-bank.
  4. CONCRETE SQUARE, PURPOSE UNKNOWN.
  5. BASES FOR 'ZAA' ANTI-AIRCRAFT ROCKETS. Anti-aircraft protection was catered for with the arrival of the 'Z'-batteries. Though never used in anger, many practice shoots took place, with them being compared to using a shotgun to bring down a bird; somewhat against the principles and elegance of precision battery-shooting!
  6. SMALL BUILDING. Definitely a building, as told by the shadow. 'ZAA' magazine or perhaps spares for the north searchlight (carbon rods, etc...)
  7. THE BATTERY OBSERVATION POST BASE. The BOP was an elevated structure, accessible by steps outside. It is evident from the photograph that there is no shadow, and the BOP must have been removed between the closure of the battery and the date of this photograph.
  8. No:2 GUN. Built on a rectangular concrete base periliously close to the edge of the slag-bank. The rear entrance to the gun-floor is covered by a blast-wall, or a small room.
  9. No:1 GUN. As No:2 Gun, but 31 yards to the south-west.
  10. CONCRETE SEA-DEFENCE WALL. Like (3), this wall pre-dates the battery, and it looks like it was used to shore up the slag-bank (which carried a railway-line) at its most vulnerable point. The wall is still extant, and upon closer inspection is found to have fitted through it a cast-iron drainage outlet and 'clack-valve', suggesting connection with pre-war industrial infrastructure.
  11. SLIT-TRENCH AIR-RAID SHELTER. I remember this as being a brick-lined trench, with steps down one end.
  12. SMALL BUILDING. Probably 'ZAA' magazine, like (6). A concrete slab is still in place where this building was sited, either the roof or base. It was present in 1985, as seen on the aerial photograph at the bottom of the graphic page, but it is difficult to tell if the building was still standing or not.
  13. SEARCHLIGHT ENGINE-HOUSE. Typical concrete-section arched profile engine-house, of the type found at Fort Walney and Whitehaven batteries. The southern end is protected by a blast-wall.
  14. THE ASSAULT-COURSE. The area in the cleft of the two slag-banks where the R.A and Home-Guard Gunners were 'put through the hoop', facing live ammunition and hauling the French 75mm field-gun around. Such training was considered necessary to counter the threat of invasion from the landward side of the battery.
  15. CONCRETE SQUARE, PURPOSE UNKNOWN.
  16. THE SOUTH SEARCHLIGHT EMPLACEMENT.
  17. THE NAAFI. Or rather, the site of the NAAFI. Most of the buildings on the battery camp were cleared away by the time this photograph was taken. See Margaret Leemans' tale on the 'anecdotes' page.
  18. BILLET BLOCKS. The 561st Regiment, Royal Artillery were billeted in these three huts, the sites of which can be seen here.
  19. THE BATTERY CAMP Consisting of the NAAFI, the R.A billets, quarters for the Marines, a minature range (where scaled-down coast-gunnery practice took place), the searchlight engine-house, the cook-house, stores, latrines and, perhaps, stables (as horses were ridden around the battery by the officers sometimes). There may have been a M/T building, as the battery had a waggon, used to carry the HG to shooting practise at Embleton quarry.
  20. THE XDO / MARINES' SIGNALLING POST. This is where the shore-to-ship signalling took place by Aldis-lamp, upon a telephoned instruction from the BOP. My sketch is slightly incorrect, as it shows the square turret on the roof to be aligned with the main structure, when in fact it was skewed by 45°.
  21. FUEL-TANK. This tank was still around when I used to 'ratch' about on the coast-battery (1960's / early 1970's.). It may have held the searchlight engine-house fuel supply; it may not have done. Research is ongoing.
  22. THE GUARD-HOUSE. Located at the only way onto and off the battery encampment, which was surrounded by double-barbed wire fences with mines sown between.

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