Pinewood Battery, Hong Kong Island, July 2019

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HughieD

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1. The History
The battery’s construction started in 1901 and it was finished in 1905, consisting of two 6” guns for the defence of the harbour. It is located on a hill at 307m making it the highest of all Hong Kong’s coastal batteries. The guns were considered surplus and removed in 1913. In the early 1930’s the battery was converted to anti-aircraft defence and two 3” Mark I anti-aircraft guns were installed as emplacements to guard the western approach to the harbour.

This picture is of the one of the guns in the 1930's:

21392496678_4a0a00d042_b.jpgimg1483 by HughieDW, on Flickr

During World War II and the Battle of Hong Kong, the Battery came under repeated air raids. On 15th December 1941, the Japanese 23rd Army Air Group carried out extensive attacks on Hong Kong Island. Pinewood Battery was manned by the 17th AA Battery 5th Anti-Air Regiment Royal Artillery and was severely damaged with one death and one injury being sustained as one of the anti-aircraft guns was totally destroyed. The defending commander decided to abandon the battery, and all men were ordered to retreat on that day.

Today all the old battery buildings are now in a pretty ruinous condition and two of the old magazines were demolished in fairly recent times. However, the battery received Grade II conservation status in 2009 and is now in a state of “managed abandonment”.

2. The Explore
This was a bit of a bonus explore on the path down from the Peak after my failed revisit to the Dragon Lodge. Not a lot else to say to be honest. A pleasant and relaxed wander around this piece of WWII history.

3. The Pictures

The gun emplacements:

21589137211_c65ab5b894_b.jpgimg1477 by HughieDW, on Flickr

21393253619_66694b1e19_b.jpgimg1481 by HughieDW, on Flickr

20958815513_aee5559e62_b.jpgimg1490 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48608977702_8ee717b67c_b.jpgimg2248 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Surrounding buildings:

21588718651_0376a9dbc1_b.jpgimg1491 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48608465623_cb1e08c1ec_b.jpgimg2250 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48608473058_28e379ecbb_b.jpgimg2244 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48608980852_106b857c39_b.jpgimg2245 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The extensive magazines:

48608994952_1a10dc251e_b.jpgPinewood 06 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48608997292_b85e1083b8_b.jpgPinewood 02 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48608485243_78ee01a934_b.jpgPinewood 07 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48608983407_87d07b948c_b.jpgimg2242bw by HughieDW, on Flickr

48608487818_4281a8efcf_b.jpgPinewood 03 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48608970532_99716b4877_b.jpgimg2252 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48608488828_d139dfd3be_b.jpgPinewood 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr

20957003194_ee0ee9e901_b.jpgimg1497 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48608846446_ac2b05e3c5_b.jpgPinewood 04 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And one of the two magazines that got demo’ed:

48608845886_453f65d774_b.jpgPinewood 05 by HughieDW, on Flickr
 

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