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This was a bit of a bonus explore on the path down from the Peak after my Dragon Lodge visit. I’d lost my return railway ticket for the Peak railway so opted to walk down instead. Imagine my joy when I happened across this fine bit of British-built military concrete. Here’s the history bit.
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:
img1483 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.
Here’s the pictures.
img1477 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1479 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Here’s one of the gun-emplacements itself:
img1482 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1480 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1481 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1484 by HughieDW, on Flickr
One of the brick-built out-buildings:
img1489 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1490 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1491 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Further down the hill there are a number of magazines:
img1493 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1496 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Including this one in the undergrowth:
img1497 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Thanks for looking!
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:
img1483 by HughieDW, on FlickrDuring 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.
Here’s the pictures.
img1477 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1479 by HughieDW, on FlickrHere’s one of the gun-emplacements itself:
img1482 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1480 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1481 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1484 by HughieDW, on FlickrOne of the brick-built out-buildings:
img1489 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1490 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1491 by HughieDW, on FlickrFurther down the hill there are a number of magazines:
img1493 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1496 by HughieDW, on FlickrIncluding this one in the undergrowth:
img1497 by HughieDW, on FlickrThanks for looking!
