Ref Number: 00415
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This 6-inch coastal battery at Bouldnor, near Yarmouth built in 1937/38 with searchlights and built to cover the Examination Anchorage area west of Yarmouth.
Ref Number: 00415
The battery was ultimately constructed in 1938, armed with two 6-inch BL Mark VII guns, with a battery observation station to the west of the guns and an engine room for the cannons powered by three Crossley oil engines on the right. To the north were two searchlights positioned close to the coastline, each with magazines buried below ground and a concrete crew shelter built between.
Garrison huts were built to accommodate more soldiers between 1939 and 1940, and a rough concrete mantel over the cannons was created prevent straffing in 1940. The Mark VII cannons were re-lined in 1941, and an issue with the searchlights slipping in the blue slipper was observed and temporarily rectified, but they were sliding into the water. The battery was decommissioned in 1942, but a 40mm Bofors AA gun was installed in 1944.
By 1945, the Bofors guns had been removed, and by 1947, all of the weapons and searchlights had been removed. In 1951, the battery was reactivated with a 6-inch Mk VII redeployed from Cliff End Battery and outfitted with an eastern end search and three new Lister diesel motors. The battery was thereafter subjected to many periods of gun practise by coastal defence forces before being decommissioned in 1956 and all guns taken for scrap.
The main battery may still be viewed from the track/road today, but inside views are walled off, and the total area is still built up as a Naval Adventure Training centre, but is now in private ownership.
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