Verne Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery

Two of the four circular 1941 gun emplacements of the Verne HAA Battery.

Verne Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery is a World War II anti-aircraft battery, also known as an ack-ack battery, on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. The battery is situated on the north-east side of the island, south of the Verne Citadel and Verne High Angle Battery. Today the battery remains private property, owned by Fancy's Family Farm. Although a number of similar batteries were built around the same time on Portland, this particular battery is the only surviving one of its type on the island.

History

An example of a 3.7 inch AA Gun, seen at the Nothe Fort in Weymouth.

With the outbreak of World War II, Portland was a natural target for German aircraft, due to the importance of island's naval base. Throughout the war the island saw a large number of raids and bombings. In total Portland saw 48 air attacks, in which 532 bombs were dropped. Forty houses were demolished by enemy action, 304 were seriously damaged, and 37 civilians killed in the war. 532 bombs were dropped on the island in 48 air attacks.^[1] In response to the threat a number of heavy anti-aircraft (HAA) batteries were built on the island. The only surviving battery following the end of war is located on open ground directly to the south of New Ground. The site chosen was situated close to the Victorian Verne High Angle Battery, which itself has become a tourist attraction.^[2]

One of two mobile square emplacements at the battery.

The battery's standard command bunker.

The HAA Battery had a wide arc of fire over Portland's harbour, Weymouth Bay, and southwards towards enemy-occupied France, from where the main threat came. The Verne HAA site was one of 30 heavy anti-aircraft gun sites within the county of Dorset at any one time. Like many of Portland's pillboxes and HAA batteries, the Verne site was most likely constructed by local quarrymen. This was at a time when quarries across Portland were closing due to the drying up of orders following the outbreak of war.^[3] The Verne Battery was labelled "Battery B" amongst Portland's HAA sites.^[4] The initial fit for the site was of four 3.7 inch guns,^[5] replacing a battery of obsolescent 3-inch guns sited on the glacis of the Verne Citadel. As such four identical circular patterned emplacements were built of concrete, and are of 1941 design. In addition two mobile square type emplacements were also added, including a standard command post. The final fitting of the battery consisted of six 3.7-inch guns, and throughout the war the site was manned by personnel of AA Command. It was manned by 336 Battery of the 104th Royal Artillery Regiment in 1941, and by 418 Battery of the 140th Royal Artillery Regiment in 1942.^[6]

The associated Gun Operations Room (GOR) was situated at Red Barracks in Weymouth. The barracks' initial use in the Second World War was from 1939 to 1941 as the Gun Operations Room controlling the anti-aircraft gun sites for the whole of the county of Dorset. However, in 1941 the county's AA defence co-ordination was then divided between two GORs, one at Nottington House, Weymouth, and the other at South Lytchett Manor, near Poole. The Verne HAA Battery had its operations moved to Nottington House. (the house now demolished). As the war progressed, the battery was updated with state-of-the-art electronic predictors and radar control, including a GL Mark II radar.^[7]

Following the allied victory in the war, many of the HAA batteries were demolished. However the hidden HAA site at the Verne was put into use as stables. During the latter half of the 20th century, and as far up to the 1990s, the site was occupied by Newground Stables. Some emplacements would be used for such tasks as feeding the resident horses. Around 2013 the nearby community farm and tourist attraction Fancy's Family Farm became tenants of the site. To date the concrete works of the battery still remain in a good, complete condition. However due to the battery's use as a stable ground, much farm waste and scrap has been left on site, although plans to remove much of this have been discussed. These gun pits feature ready-use ammunition lockers, while additionally some of the old perimeter fence posts remain standing. The original concrete access steps from near the Verne High Angle Battery still remain. The command post has had a lean-to structure built on to it. The site has no traces of its GL radar.^[8]

Other Portland LAA/HAA batteries

An original "Steel Helmets" tag on the wall of one of the emplacement's sheltered storage units

Aside from the Verne HAA Battery, a number of now-demolished batteries of similar types once existed over the island. With the Verne HAA site labelled as "B Battery", there were also batteries nearby designated "A", "C" and "D".

Although not within Portland's boundaries, Portland's HAA "A Battery" and "D Battery" were located nearby. "A Battery" was situated at Blackhead, in the parish of Osmington, Weymouth. It was armed with four 3.7-inch static guns, and was retained as an Off-Site Nucleus Force Battery in 1946.^[9] The "D Battery" was located close to the village of Chickerell in Weymouth, overlooking the Fleet Lagoon and Chesil Beach. Although its type of armament is unknown, the battery was manned by 430 Battery of the 140th Royal Artillery Regiment in 1942, the same regiment as the Verne site during the same year. A few sections of this battery remain, including a circular emplacement and three mobile square types.^[10]

One emplacement's original gun-mounting bolts

In Southwell, Portland's southern-most village, two heavy anti-aircraft batteries were built. The first, labelled Portland's HAA "C Battery", was south of the village, within a field on the outskirts. It was armed with two 3.7-inch guns in 1941, when it was manned by the 104th Royal Artillery Regiment, and with four 3.7-inch static guns with GL radar in 1942, when it was manned by 329 battery of the same regiment. The 104th regiment were the original ones in command at the Verne site in 1941.^[11] The other was located where Reap Lane is now built. It was armed with four 3.7-inch static guns with GL mark II radar in 1942, when it was manned by 418 Battery of the 140th Royal Artillery Regiment - again the same regiment as that of the Verne site in 1942. It was retained as an Off-Site Nucleus Force Battery in 1946.^[12]

At Portland Bill, along the cliff-edge, between the Lobster Pot restaurant and Red Crane, were three Second World War light anti-aircraft gun emplacements.^[13][14][15] Further along, past the Old Lower Lighthouse and around Cave Hole area, was a World War II emergency coast defence battery on the cliff-edge. Although not a purpose built HAA site, the battery was constructed in 1940-41 and consisted of three 6-inch guns. It was manned by the Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation (Royal Marines). The structure has since been demolished.^[16]

Alongside Portland Beach Road, the causeway linking Portland to the mainland, where the Osprey Quay development now exists, was once a light anti-aircraft battery.^[17] Further north, heading towards the mainland, was another light anti-aircraft battery on Chesil Beach.^[18]

The Verne Citadel itself resumed a similar role as to World War I, as a heavy anti-aircraft battery during World War II, and it mounted four 3.7-inch HAA guns. Within the 'D' section of the now-derelict East Weare Battery, located overlooking Portland Harbour on the east side of the citadel, a World War II coastal artillery battery was also constructed during 1940-41, and formed part of the Dorset Coast defences and the Isle of Portland defences. A field visit in 1996 found it extant but much altered. The East Weare Battery itself was used for coastal defence during the war, as was the now-residential Blacknor Fort, which is situated on the west side clifftops of Portland.^[19]

Other batteries were located across the mainland, including one within Nothe Gardens – a HAA battery armed with four 3.7-inch guns in 1942. It was later demolished, and today the site is a car park.^[20] Another HAA battery in Wyke Regis, close to Camp Road, hosted four 3.7-inch static gun emplacements, sunk into the ground. In 1941 it had been manned by 329 Battery of the 104th Royal Artillery Regiment. A housing estate covered most of the site by 2003.^[21] The early 20th century Upton Fort, at Osmington, was also manned by 134 Battery of 522 Coast Regiment during the war.^[22]

References

Coordinates: 50°33′24″N 2°26′04″W / 50.5566°N 2.4344°W / 50.5566; -2.4344