Back to: The Guns on Mumbles Head collection >
Related Site: Anti-Aircraft & Rocket Battery, Ashleigh Road >
The task of the guns of the 623rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery was to defend against airborne attacks and to engage and destroy enemy aircraft
Now, Mumbles Local Nature Reserve
Mumbles Hill was the obvious location for Naval Coastal Defence guns and an Anti-Aircraft battery for the protection of Swansea and the Bristol Channel.
Anti-Aircraft Guns of Mumbles Head
Table of contents
More: Mumbles at War >
On the alarm being sounded the Royal Artillery gunners rush to take up action stations
at a typical gunsiteEdited by John Powell and Kate Jones
The summer of 1940
The port of Swansea served the heavy industrial area of South Wales and was the nearest of the large Bristol Channel docks to the Atlantic. Because of its importance Swansea had been included in the pre-war list of ports where fixed defences would be essential in the event of war, although there were none in place when war did break out. By the summer of 1940 the need for defence against both sea and air attacks had become critical. The defeat and occupation of France in June put Swansea in easy reach from air bases in Normandy and Brittany and there was also a very real fear of a German invasion during that summer or autumn.
Air Raids on Swansea begin
We now know that, around this time, high altitude reconnaissance photographs were taken by the Luftwaffe of Swansea and its surrounding area.
Air raids on the town started at the end of June 1940 but during that month a unit of heavy anti-aircraft guns based at Jersey Marine (between Swansea and Neath) was withdrawn to defend south-east England because of the shortage of guns. Contemporary records listing the disposition of anti-aircraft guns around Britain show that in July 1940 there were indeed none at Swansea.
As mentioned above, in July 1940 there were no heavy anti-aircraft guns at all defending the port and town of Swansea. But by 21 August there were sixteen and by 11 September this had increased to twenty-four.
Mumbles Hill resident, Hilary Mackenzie:
‘On warm summer days, my mother and I would walk across the hill, past the lush buttercup meadow of Mr. Boulanger’s large house, Somerset House, and down through the bracken to Bracelet Bay. It all came to an abrupt halt in the autumn of 1939, when war descended on our peaceful little corner. The far section of our lovely hill was requisitioned by the War Department for a large anti-aircraft station, our walk to Bracelet was shut off by barbed wire, and where the sheep grazed, nissen huts of tough soldiers appeared.
A Road Sign for a Royal Artillery unit at Mumbles Battery.
1940s Swansea Bay MuseumThis weather-worn Royal Artillery sign obviously directed traffic to Mumbles Battery. 262 Maintenance Battery Royal Artillery is noted in the Battery War Diary and we are researching their exact function.
The original sign is part of the display at 1940s Swansea Bay museum on Fabian Way, which has closed while searching for a new site for its extensive collection.
Gunsite Maps and Aerial Photos
The Defenses for Swansea situated on Mumbles Head
Mumbles Head Google Satellite Map today
The entrance to the site is situated at Thistleboon Drive, on Mumbles Hill. (Very limited parking).
This satellite map shows the easiest way to visit the site, remembering that Mumbles Hill House, (which was known as Somerset House during WW2} is on private land, now under development.
A simple Google Map with access to photos
Map under reconstruction
With the situation of the Second World War Remains, parking, seating and footpaths
The simple map reveals the access points, some footpaths, gun emplacements, control bunker, viewpoint and the very limited car parking, (including disabled) which can be found on Thistleboon Drive, Mumbles and Bracelet Bay. Public Toilet facilities may be found at Bracelet Bay, adjacent to, but not inside Castellamare Cafe & Restaurant.
WW2 Aerial photos of The Guns of Mumbles Head >
Map of A A Batteries in the UK:
http://www.anti-aircraft.co.uk/HAA_gun_sites_map.html
Mumbles Hill Local Nature Reserve today
Surprisingly, many of the anti-aircraft gun emplacements still remain for walkers to view and explore and an on-going project has cleared the vegetation from several of the emplacements and bunkers, and helping to assist in their preservation. Some are still hidden by vegetation and attempts at clearance are made regularly, when any remains found are recorded.
The Battery was sited adjacent to Thistleboon Common and west of the 299th Coastal Defence Battery on Mumbles Hill. In all, there were several thousand serving personnel, including the Royal Sussex Regiment, ATS and 360 members of the Home Guard, working at different times on the headland during the Second World War.
Nowadays by contrast, Mumbles Hill is a largely-deserted peaceful haven, overgrown in places, but beautiful nonetheless, where one can escape for a while to just ‘stand and stare’ at the wonderful views, enjoy a picnic, read a favourite book or explore the gradually re-emerging wartime remains.
The Four 'Round' AA Emplacements from 1940
Emplacement Number Two
view towards Swansea. This gunsite is on a public footpath and is always available to view.
The cable trenches lead from the control bunker to the guns and here they were added into the concrete hardstanding of the gun after construction.
The shell storage area, where the fuses might be set.
The passage was revealed behind the shell racks.
The passage behind the shell racks may have been a place for personel to stand, while they 'fused' the shells. This would be before an automatic shell fuse machine was installed as part of the weapon in the later square gunsite. The later the shell is fused, then the more accurate the fire, as the shell fuse can be set to expload at the last recorded height of the target.
Another view of the cable trench which led to the gun from control bunker in the background.
The emplacements are designed so the C/O can see each of the four guns from his position at the Control bunker.
Emplacement Number Three
In January 2010, work at Mumbles Hill Nature Reserve revealed anti-aircraft emplacement number three (counting from the left while standing at the control bunker). It was found to be of the same design and construction as the two emplacements cleared in previous years.
More at: Uncovering and recording the Anti-Aircraft emplacements
A puzzle is revealed in the centre of emplacement number three
Puzzle: In the normal position for the ‘hard-standing,' which held the 3.7 inch anti-aircraft gun at the centre of emplacement number three shown here, [the third from the left] a jumble of concrete segments was revealed, the nature of which is still unknown. A brick-lined cable trench was partially exposed which connected the gun position to the Control Bunker.
Photos of Emplacement Number One will be added here soon, Number Four is on private land.
An Air Raid Warden Reports
During Swansea’s single heaviest air raid on 17 January 1941, Laurie Latchford wrote in his diary: ‘The gunfire was very heavy. Newton seemed to cower under a turmoil of throbbing aeroplane engine, gunfire and shell bursts … The big guns of Mumbles Head [Hill] were firing continuously and another big gun somewhere inland jerked the windows along the road every time it fired.’
When firing simultaneously, the four guns at Mumbles Hill Battery could discharge twenty-four rounds in twenty-four seconds; and cause considerable noise and vibration.
The Royal Artillery Gunners
In February 1941, the local Air Defence Command lay with 5th Anti Aircraft Division, with 6 Light Brigade covering the approximate area from Carmarthen to Bridgend, under command of Brigadier R C Reynold OBE MC. He deployed 79th HAA Regiment in and around Swansea, with a responsibility to provide a maximum wall of fire to defend the City from Air attacks. Guns from 246, 247 and 248 HAA Batteries were deployed in the Swansea area, with 2 guns from 246 Battery at Mumbles.
Before 1943, the Royal Artillery Gunners at the Control Bunker, manned the telephone, predictor, rangefinder, in addion to manning the four 3.7-inch guns, on mobile mountings. In 1942, a shortage of manpower brought great changes.
Their numbers were reduced to 49 X Gunners, 4 X Gun Position Assistants, as well as 2 X Subalterns, 4 X Sergeants, 3 X Engine Attendants, 2 X Batmen and a Medical Orderly.
The Gunners are Joined by the ATS Girls
By early 1942 the training regiments were turning out a regular stream of Mixed HAA batteries, which AA Command formed into regiments to take the place of the all-male units being sent to overseas theatres of war. One such new unit was
623rd (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery.
In December 1942 - 186 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment R.A. (TA) was formed in Llanelli, Carmarthen and the following batteries were regimented with it: 622 (Mixed) and 623 (Mixed) were formed in January 1943. (In May 1943, 643 (M) 669 (M) and 680 (M) batteries were added to the Regiment).
Each of these gun batteries has two sites, each of four 3.7 inch guns. Ref: H AA Reg. Royal Artillery
623rd (M) Heavy AA Battery comprised,; 76 gunners and other ranks, 33 Home Guard and 86 women of the ATS. The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War. The Royal Artillary men crewed the guns and the women of the ATS handled all other aspects of control, including prediction, range finding, communication and all other roles, other than actually firing the guns.
On Mumbles Hill, around eighty-six ATS women served in the battery (including 23 Fire Control Operators, 50 'Instrument Numbers' clerks, orderlies, drivers, storekeepers. and 9 cooks in addition to several NCOs & officers). ,
Founded in 1938, the ATS was a voluntary unit until mid 1941 when full military status (and discipline) was introduced [they then had to salute all senior officers]. For the first time the ATS were employed in mixed batteries (and in the Gun Laying Team) thus freeing some 28,000 soldiers for other duties.
[The Official Secrets Act, has a bearing here).
One of the other ATS girls said, ‘Looking back, in fact despite all Army rules and Kings Regulations etc. we were cosseted, we came next to officers in importance and I think the chaps thought the world of us.
From 1941 all unmarried women between 20 and 30 years old were called up to join one of the auxiliary services. These were the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS), the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and the Women’s Transport Service. Later this conscription was extended to some married women.
They were not intended to serve in the front line of battle – but for much of the war the front line was indistinguishable from the home front, especially with regard to Anti Aircraft gunnery.
731 women died serving in these Auxiliary units during the war. #
A hill-top resident, Michael Llewellyn remembers:
‘The ATS appeared on the camp at the Mumbles Hill sometime after 1941. They were accommodated in newly built Nissen Huts in the lower field in which Thistleboon Drive is now situated and were inclined to clip small boys over the ear if discovered in the vicinity of their huts. The sight of enormous khaki bloomers swaying in the wind on clothes lines held a compulsive attraction for young lads. ‘
When the ATS ladies arrived at the battery they occupied the wooden barrack huts and the Royal Artillery gunners had to move out to tented accommodation, in a nearby field, to the south east, before another camp could be built.
Secret Map of the Gower Defence Scheme - Mumbles sub sector
This map reveals where the Home Guard defence points and weapons and the arcs of fire of their weapons, as well as where they would patrol at night. Later additions by the editor are in red
Two new guns in 1944, RAF aerial 7 July 1946
1) Four obsolete 'round' emplacements 2) Two new 'square' emplacements 3) Officers Mess, now private 4) Control Bunker 5) Barracks 6) Sergeants Mess 7) Sergeants Barracks
Michael Llewellyn said:
Michael Llewellyn, who lived in the house on the lower left, revealed ‘I was eight years old, and although there was much barbed wire surrounding the camp (and the Barracks), access for small lads like me was extremely easy. We used to wander into the camp with some freedom, as long as we did not adopt too high a profile and avoided officers. The soldiers were always kind to us, and we used to Blanco kit in return for cap badges, uniform buttons and the like. There was plenty of kit to clean and it was something of a chore —We became quite expert.
At one stage, the battery was commanded by Colonel ‘Chalky’ White, (Michael Llewellyn also noted that in the field, where the cricket club now play contained a searchlight battery.
AA Control Bunker or Command Post
The ATS women worked the manually-controlled predictors tracking the target, taking inputs from optical or radar rangefinders and calculating firing data for the guns, including allowance for wind and temperature.
The Mumbles Defence Plan had a total establishment of around 700, it included 200 Home Guard tasked with local defence on the hill, The Tutt and the Lighthouse Island, In addition 152 HG assisted in manning a variety of weapons at these batteries. This included 33 HG which crewed one AA gun, working one night every eight days.
Control bunker or Command Post, today
The Control bunker (or Control Post) with its offices, plotting room and telephone room, still stands at the centre of the gun emplacements, designed so that the CO could see each gun when he looked out. In the plotting room, women worked round a map of the area. It also ‘housed’ a height-finder and a manually controlled predictor outside. Other ruins still visible today, include curved sections of brick walls, bolts in the ground, ducts and the remains of several brick structures.
The ATS Girls at the Predictor
The ATS team on the predictor send the firing data to the two gun layers on each of the four guns
The Predictor Girls at nearby Ashleigh Road.
The ten ATS girls assembled here, served at the nearby battery at Ashleigh Road and were described in a caption as, 'The Radar Girls, stationed at Mumbles Road, between 1943 and 1944'.
The full team of a dozen girls are also shown at work in the photo further above and served at the 'Control Bunker' (names vary). Around six girls would have worked on the predictor, there were always two on the phone lines to command and another two worked on the radar set. The information they processed was passed to the guns, for the enemy to be targeted.
The predictor was fed information concerning hostile aircraft from optical or radar rangefinders, to able a prediction to be made concerning the targets future movements. The predictor then calculated firing data and transferred this aiming data to the guns. The Gun Layer's task was to keep pointers representing the actual gun alignment and required gun alignment together. Usually there were two layers, horizontal and vertical planes and one of the two dials on the gun used by one of these is shown in the photo lower right and in the collage above..
A film on uTube shows the gun being fired
L/Cpl Elizabeth Morris W/153579
Predictor Operator (No. 1)568 H.A.A. (M-Mixed) BatteryThis typical ATS girl, was a Predictor Operator from 1942 to 1945 and all five foot odd of her, helped to win the war!
ATS girls turned out with battle dress over pyjamas
The range of AA Mark II was 60,000 yards and there had been earlier warning from Command HQ. Generators were switched on. Alarm bells rang on the site and in the officers’ mess, and the noise was deafening. ATS girls turned out with battle dress over pyjamas and curlers under tin hats, to man the radar, predictors and other instruments at the Command Post. The gunners manned the artillery. The ATS officers were on duty as from that moment: probably one of them would be acting as Gun Position Officer and had to be in the Command Post immediately to watch for the radar to get on target and the selected bomber to come within firing range.
The Gun Position Officer would actually shout “Fire” on the telephone to the guns and that was about as near to active aggressive action that any woman got during the war.
Generally, I positioned myself in the receiver cabin with the three ATS operators. Sometimes I went to the Command Post, where I could watch the large squared screen and could see the target approaching. The atmosphere was electric. After the plane had either passed on, was fired on or retreated, the radar receiver swung round to the Search position and the whole process started again. Meanwhile, shrapnel was coming down and the revolting smell of cordite was all-pervasive.
Extract from Marjorie Inkster’s memories of FANY Service during WWII.
http://www.fany.org.uk/history/ww2/ww2_page_11.html
My life in the ATS on an Ack Ack Battery >
The memories of Muriel Schroter, who served in the ATS as 'Private Muriel Hawkins 205907', at SWANSEA SIX (N6) Ashleigh Road and later SWANSEA FIVE (N5 )Mumbles Hill.
Muriel Schroter, who served in the ATS, as 'Private Muriel Hawkins 205907', from 1942, noted: 'When we arrived at the camp the men were moved out of the wooden huts and they lived in tents for several months, while Nissan huts were built opposite'.'
Muriel Schroter, (Private Hawkins 205907) The Telephonist, reported, ‘We once helped a Polish Airman who while flying over the Bristol Chanel, lost his direction and using the new Canadian radar we were able to guide him home to his base at Fairwood Airfield. He visited the AA Battery the following day to thank us for our help. At Mumbles Hill it was all practice and I saw little or no German airplane activity. We travelled elsewhere [to Llanelli or Jersey Marine], to actually fire a gun. One day we had a misfire, and everyone ran away from the gun in case it exploded.
The Duke of Gloucester, Prince Henry, standing with members of No 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron RAF during a visit to Fairwood Common, Glamorganshire.
Record of Comendation, presented to 'Rocky' Rochminski, who is pictured here and is pictured with the Duke of Gloucester.
Facebook page - 307 Squadron Project
The 307 Squadron Project is a British-Polish organisation established to promote and research the role of the Polish 307 Squadron, known as the '' Lwow Eagle Owls" had the honour of meeting and interviewing former 307 Squadron pilot Stanislaw Rochmiński (‘Rocky’) in the company of his daughter Barbara, in July 2016.
'Rocky' viewing the type of Mosquito which he flew from Fairwood. He was a pre-war Polish Air force flying instructor and in September 1939 flew the last aircraft out of Warsaw, starting his take off from within a hangar.
AA No. 3 Mark 1 - GL Mk. III(C), the Canadian-designed version
Radar Console Screen from No. 3
A Canadian made Gun Laying Mark III Radar arrived at the Mumbles Battery which showed everything up to 32,000ft. This would have been operated by a team of ATS girls, assisted by two technicians, to handle any problems. It was reported that due to the Secret nature of their work, the Radar team were kept apart from other members of the Battery.
By this time, (1943) the ATS supplied three quarters of the personnel and three quarters of all of AA Command battery's were mixed.
Radar, Gun Laying, Mark I, or GL Mk. I for short, The first GL set was an elementary design developed from 1935 onward. Based on Chain Home, GL used separate transmitters and receivers located in wooden cabins mounted on gun carriages, each with its own antennas that had to be rotated to point at the target. The antenna produced a signal that was semi-directional and was only capable of providing accurate slant range information; target bearing accuracy was approximately 20 degrees, and it could not provide target elevation information (Wikipedia)
Typical Vehicles for each site
2 x Trailer 2 ton, 15 KVA Generator
1 x Trailer 5 ton, Radar No. 1 Receiver
1 x Trailer 5 ton, Radar No. 1 Transmitter
1 x Trailer 5 ton, No. 3 Mk III (C) Receiver/Transmitter
The Two 'Square' Emplacements, early 1944
By early 1944, the mobile guns in the 'round' emplacements had been removed and two guns in 'square' emplacements had been installed nearby.
The Cliff path to the eastern viewpont leads to the triple information boards at the Coastal Gun Battery, which held two 6 inch guns.
From there, the track takes you to Bracelet Bay car park. The public toilets are adjacent to
The Lighthouse - Bar, Lounge and Brasserie
Known previously as
Castellamare Restaurant
Signs were added at 'Square' holdfast Number One, constructed in early 1944
These guns had improved results using gun laying radar, new designs of fuses, auto fuze setter and other improvements, which eventually resulted in around 80% of shells hitting their target. This compared with a 1 percent hit rate in 1939.
'Square' holdfast Number One and shell rack holders, Revealing more of the cable trench which led to the gun, from the Control Bunker.
This Shell Carrier was one of several sizes made Swansea during the war.
The carrier held two Quick Fire 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft shells. A fixed ammunition round, consisting of high explosive projectile, time fuze, brass cartridge and primer.
'Square' holdfast Number Two is revealed in 2005. Prior to the war, used to graze sheep and therefore had no trees to obstruct the view.
A commanding view over snow clad Swansea Bay was revealed in Feb 2010, as 'Square' holdfast Number Two, was cleared of weeds.
Mumbles Hill Home Guard gun crew, in 1944
Mumbles Hill Home Guard gun crew: Other names in addition to Mr. Morris -
Ken Evans: Static AA Gun, 1944 to 1945, training began at Ashleigh Road then Mumbles Hill;
Gordon Reynish: Joined HG in 1940. Others I served with on the 3.7" gun, which went from manual to automatic -were John Furlong, draftsman by day; Tom Green electric fridge man; Harry Jones, Butcher’s, Uplands; Bill Doherty, Butcher;
Fred Dance: Static gun;
The NAAFI and Cinema
Michael continued: 'When the NAAFI hut (at first an ordinary Nissen hut, but later quite a smart building) showed films or had entertainments there were usually a gang of local kids sitting at the front. As well as concerts other camps also had dancing, table tennis, and darts in the canteen as well as various sporting events outdoors.
The servicemen and women, were able to spend some of their off duty time and buy essential items at the NAAFI, and maybe watch film shows and other entertainment there. The village, with two cinemas, numerous pubs and several dance halls was nearby, for those with permission to be off camp. Joyce Stott remembered that at her camp Housey-Housey (Bingo) was played sometimes. Tea and buns could be bought and our ration of chocolate and cigarettes were served – at a price of course – 1s.0d. for 20 cigs I think- perhaps 1s.6d. for the better ones and perhaps a few extras like razor blades and writing paper.
At Mumbles Hill, Kay Sandals' remembered that her mother, Gwyneth Jepson, from Cleveland Avenue, Limeslade, ran the NAAFI on the hill and remembered that ‘she used to bake things at home for the men, because the food was not very good’.
One day, she had to sack the cook for not wearing any knickers!’ How this was discovered we shall never know.
Miss Margaret Eileen Stevens, served at this NAAFI, (also at the NAAFI at Margam Park). Her son, John Williams, recalled that 'whenever we walked along the front close to the The George, she remembered that the steps alongside the right of the George were the steps she used to climb up to the NAAFI'. Indeed, this was confirmed, when John Powell, the editor of this website, took me to the site of the NAAFI and showed me a map which recorded the only footpath she could have used, as alternative ways onto the hill, which we use today were then out of bounds.
Her son also recalled, 'My Mother did talk of the Americans at Margam Park, but also mentioned a small group of Norwegian Troop and was not sure if these were on special missions etc.'
Church Services were celebrated
Rev. Wilkinson, Vicar of All Saints'
Anne Ardouin, daughter of the Vicar of All Saints Church recalls her father’s wartime duties. ‘Every Sunday morning, between church services, he would celebrate Holy Eucharist at the army camp of Thistleboon on the Mumbles Hill, wearing a purple armband, emblazoned with O.C.F. (Officiating Chaplain to the Forces) on top of his clerical robes. If we were especially lucky, he would let us accompany him and later, in the Officers’ Mess, we would enjoy breakfast of bacon and eggs, which were so heavily rationed at home,’ although Muriel Schroter (née Hawkins) of the ATS, stationed on the hill, commented that she and her colleagues ‘always had bread and jam.’
Anne Ardouin
Decommissioning: used by homeless families
After the end of the war, guns and other equipment were removed from both batteries. (The examination battery on the lighthouse island had already been disbanded.) Mumbles Head was finally decommissioned in 1957 and the six-inch gun battery bunkers and gun emplacements were either removed or covered over.
Today, only markers and information boards indicate what was once there. The searchlight emplacements and the engine house on the lighthouse island still exist and remains of the concrete causeway going out to the island can be seen at low tide. Nissen huts at both Bracelet Bay and Mumbles Hill were used for a while as temporary accommodation for homeless families, (see below).
Postwar, a friend of Ronald Studden named Christtancock lived in one of the Nissan huts at Bracelet Bay and noted that in the early 1950s they had prior warnings, which arrived in the post twice a year, 'we were warned that the guns on the hill would fire twice a year for testing, usually January and July and as a security measure we should tape up our windows.'
By 30 August 1944 the number of heavy anti-aircraft guns around Swansea had been halved and by 3 January 1945 all had been removed. On Mumbles Hill, the anti-aircraft gun emplacements fell into ruin and became hidden beneath vegetation.
Another young resident of Mumbles Hill was Mike Hurst, who is pictured outside one of the army huts which, after the war. was home to some of thosewho had been bombed-out during the Swansea blitz
David Passmore with a cat, outside his hut at Mumbles Hill Camp postwar, with his cousins Dave and Alan Brewer.
Air Defence of Swansea 1939-1945 Monument
Air-Raid Memorial
A 3.7-inch heavy anti-aircraft gun, similar to the earlier guns on Mumbles Hill, is now sited at Quay Parade, Swansea, adjacent to one of the bridges over the river Tawe in Swansea.
This memorial to those who died in the raids, was erected in 1995 by the Swansea branch of the Royal Artillery Association, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and honours the memory of the 387 civilian and military personnel who died in air raids on Swansea.
This type of gun was developed in Britain in the 1930s and helped to defend Britain from aerial attack throughout the Second World War. This example was made in Canada by General Electric, to a design patented in England. It was bought from an arms collector in Ruthin, Denbighshire, and towed to Swansea by a Territorial Army unit. A time capsule was placed in the barrel.
Cast copies of 3.7-inch shells are mounted on each corner of the brick-faced plinth. Plaques on the plinth represent services which helped during the air raids including the Home Guard, fire brigade, British Red Cross, St John’s Ambulance, Salvation Army and Women’s Voluntary Service.
Acknowledgements
Swansea branch of the Royal Artillery Association and West Glamorgan Archive
A simple Google Map with access to photos
With the situation of the Second World War Remains, parking, seating and footpaths
The simple map reveals the access points, some footpaths, gun emplacements, control bunker, viewpoint and the very limited car parking, (including disabled) which can be found on Thistleboon Drive, Mumbles and Bracelet Bay. Public Toilet facilities may be found at Bracelet Bay, adjacent to, but not inside Castellamare Cafe & Restaurant. (Check opening hours due to change of owners)
In 2005 work began on clearing and maintaining the gunsites on Mumbles Hill Local Nature Reserve and much of the work took place near Thistleboon Drive 'car-park'. Now one of the four circular anti-aircraft gun emplacements and the control bunker and the two 'square' hardstandings are exposed.
At the centre of the latest emplacement to be examined, in 2010 (later, this was again been allowed to return to the wild) in the normal place for the ‘hard-standing’ which held the 3.7-inch anti-aircraft gun there is a heap of large sections of concrete, the purpose of which is still not understood. The fourth gun emplacement is on private land and so has not been excavated.
The remains of the two square (1944) anti-aircraft gun emplacements and the site of the Coastal Gun Battery lie further to the east. Interpretation boards at both of the Second World War battery sites on Mumbles Hill contain photographs, maps and details of the history and weapons available for the defence of Swansea.
(Acknowledgements: City and County of Swansea; The National Archives; West Glamorgan Archives; Mumbles Development Trust; Oystermouth Historical Association; John & Carol Powell; Gareth Ellis; Kate Elliott- Jones.)
Contact the Website Editor Part of this article was published in The Swansea History Journal
Guided walks onto the hill have been held held as a part of the- The Gower Walking Festival >
Mumbles Hill Local Nature Reserve,
Contact: Sean Hathaway 01792 635749 or 07974 760980.
Nature Conservation Team > Environment Department, City and County of Swansea, The Guildhall, Swansea SA1 4PH
This City & County of Swansea project is under the supervision of Glamorgan Gwent Archaeology Trust Ltd., with assistance from Mumbles Development Trust and Oystermouth Historical Association.
Oystermouth Historical Association (OHA) Publications
Many leaflets are available to order including:- Mumbles at War, 623 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery and Mumbles at War, Coastal Defences 299th Battery,
Self-Guided Walk: Swansea Ramblers >
https://ra39-45.co.uk/
Various sections include the Heavy Anti-Aircraft units & information concerning their organisation
MIXED HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY
2 sites each of 4 guns
HQ Personnel
Major
2 x Captains
Battery Sergeant Major
Battery Quartermaster Sergeant
Clerk & Bombardier Pay Clerk
2 x Driver Mechanics
Equipment Repairer
3 x Gun Fitters (1 may be Artificer RA)
Vehicle Mechanic
4 x Batmen/Drivers & Driver
3 x Motorcyclists
4 x General Dutymen (1 trained in water duties)
HQ ATS Personnel
Junior Commander
Company Sergeant Major
4 x Operator Fire Control (spare)
2 x Cooks (spare)
4 x Clerks & 2 x Pay Clerks
2 x Officers Mess Cooks & Sergeant Cook
3 x Cooks & Hairdresser
6 x Instrument Numbers (spare)
Telephonist (spare)
General Dutywoman (spare)
3 x Mess Orderlies & 2 x Storewomen
3 x Telephonist
AA Gun Site Personnel
2 x Subalterns
4 x Sergeants
3 x Engine Attendants
2 x Batmen
49 x Gun Numbers
4 x Gun Position Officer’s Assistants
2 x Kitchen Porters
Medical Officers Orderly
ATS Personnel
2 x Subalterns
Sergeant
2 x Officers Mess Cooks
2 x Sergeants Mess Cooks
Corporal Cook & 3 x Cooks
Sergeant Fire Control Operator
Lance Sergeant Fire Control Operator
2 x Corporals Fire Control Operator
23 x Fire Control Operators
2 x Assistant Cooks
50 x Instrument Numbers
Vehicles
2 x Bicycles
3 x Motorcycles
2 x Car Light Utility 4×2
2 x Truck, 15cwt GS
Lorry 3 ton 4×2 GS
2 x Tractors, Medium 4×4
Anti-Aircraft Transporter Trailer
Trailer, Water 1 ton
4 x Trailer 2 ton, 15 KVA Generator
2 x Trailer 5 ton, Radar No. 1 Receiver
2 x Trailer 5 ton, Radar No. 1 Transmitter
2 x Trailer 5 ton, No. 3 Mk 2 Receiver/Transmitter
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
Description
WWII Anti-Aircraft Battery adjacent to Thistleboon Common, Mumbles. The 623rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery comprised of a Control bunker with underground command post, offices and plotting room, and four 3.7" AA guns in round, brick-walled emplacement, to the north. The round emplacements were replaced in 1944 with two square ones, located to the east.
NPRN416841 - Map ReferenceSS68NW - Grid ReferenceSS6224087600 - Unitary (Local) AuthoritySwansea - Old CountyGlamorgan - CommunityMumbles
Type Of Site ANTI AIRCRAFT BATTERY - PeriodPost Medieval
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS -
More: Anti-Aircraft & Rocket Battery Ashleigh Road, Swansea >
Note - Z battery was installed between Mumbles and Swansea,
This was in the area of what is now the City Council playing fields at Ashleigh Road, Swansea University Playing Fields as well as the Football Golf Course at Ashleigh Road.
http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/Z-Battery
-this link takes you away from this site--
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Z Battery was a short range anti-aicraft weapon which launched 3-inch diameter rockets, used in ground-based single and multiple launchers for the air defence of the United Kingdom in World War II.
From Welsh GovernmentThe articles on this website have been reproduced for reference under the 'fair dealing' terms offered by the BBC in association with their WW2 People's War project, and provide detailed recollections of the Z-Battery, or rocket battery.
Anti-aircraft warfare
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aircraft_warfare
Extract
During World War II, the use of rocket-powered missiles for shooting down aircraft began. Research was conducted mostly by the US, Britain and Germany. The first step was unguided missile systems like the British 2 inch RP, which was fired in large numbers from Z batteries.
Modern map of A A Batteries:
Archive Notes
Some areas were issued with ex-naval guns on static mountings, which were 4.5-inch calibre, but nevertheless fired a 3.7-inch shell, a new barrel having been installed to allow this. Early trials were made using 3.7 inch sleeve in the 4.5 inch barrel, but were found to be unsatisfactory.
The larger, heavier gun fired shells faster and higher than the earlier designs, as it allowed more cordite to be used, and when combined with an anto-fuse setter, they gave the gun an effective ceiling of around 35,000 feet.
The Proximity Fuse was not used at Mumbles Hill.
Proximity Fuse: (or Fuze) is a fuse that detonates an explosive device automatically when the distance to the target becomes smaller than a predetermined value. Proximity fuzes are designed for targets such as planes, missiles, ships at sea, and ground forces. They provide a more sophisticated trigger mechanism than the common contact fuze or timed fuze. It is estimated that it increases the lethality by 5 to 10 times, compared to these other fuzes. More: Proximity Fuze on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proximity_fuze
This top-secret invention was hugely important in the latter stages of the war. It was used against Japanese Kamikaze attacks in the Pacific, in radar-controlled anti-aircraft batteries that neutralised the German V-1 attacks on Britain, and in artillery shells fired against German infantry at the Battle of the Bulge, which changed the tactics of land warfare.
Ref: A. L. Short, Royal Leamington Spa, Warks.
Aditional Information
By John Smith
The Spanish Civil War of 1937 had highlighted the awesome potential of air weaponry to undermine a country's ability to defend itself against the destruction of its strategic infrastructure and its civilian population. To counter this situation, the British Government set up the 'Air Defence of Great Britain'. This Organisation unified Fighter Command and Anti Aircraft Commands, together with the Royal Observer Corps.
The country was divided into defence regions interlinked to a central command with communications established through the national telephone network. Radar stations were strategically established to track and notify the Air Defence Command about incoming enemy bombers and this was disseminated to regions.
A system of air raid warnings were introduced, with 'yellow' as a preliminary warning to bring Anti Aircraft Units, Civil Defence, Fire Fighting, Police and Hospital authorities to the ready. 'Red' alerted the civilian population of imminent attack by the sounding of air raid sirens. 'White' sounded the all clear.
During early 1941, night fighters lacked the technology to successfully intercept and destroy the attacking enemy bombers. Therefore the primary night time means of defence fell to the Anti Aircraft Units of the Royal Artillery whose principle weapon of defence was the 3.7 inch (94mm) QF Mobile Anti Aircraft Gun supported by Searchlights which enabled them to identify German bombers at night.
This equipment was developed in co-operation with Vickers Company and issued to the Royal Artillery in 1938. It was designed for both static and mobile use, mounted on four wheels and towed by a Scammell Tractor Unit. The Gun weighed nearly 10 tons, has a maximum ceiling of fire of 30,000 feet (6 miles), fires a shell weighing 281bs and is capable of elevating and traversing through 80 and 360 degrees respectively. The Gun mounted on the monument is identical to the 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Guns that were used during WW2, in the defence of Swansea during the Blitz.
In February 1941, the local Air Defence Command lay with 5th Anti Aircraft Division, with 6 Light Brigade covering the approximate area from Carmarthen to Bridgend, under command of Brigadier R C Reynold OBE MC. He deployed 79th HAA Regiment in and around Swansea with a responsibility to provide a maximum wall of fire to defend the City from Air attacks.
Guns from 246, 247 and 248 HAA Batteries were deployed in the Swansea area as follows:
246 Battery - 4 guns at Neath Abbey and 2 guns at Mumbles. ## Probably not correct
247 Battery - 4 guns at Morriston and 4 guns at the Jersey Marine.
248 Battery - 4 guns at Sketty. Ref: Anti-Aircraft & Rocket Battery, Ashleigh Road
To assist the guns, predictors and Sound Locating Units were in support to track the height and path of the attacking aircraft. Additionally, in support of the guns, were searchlights and several Light Anti Aircraft Detachments equipped with machine guns to combat low flying aircraft.
The 'Ack-Ack Gunners' as they were known, were formed from Territorials, Militiamen and regular soldiers, some who had returned from Dunkirk. They undertook their duties in all weathers and were at 'Action Stations' for long periods. Their main frustration was, in spite of their very hard work and best efforts, very few raiders were shot down. This was unfortunately due to the fact that the technology to do this was not then available. However the guns played an important role, by forcing the raiders to fly at higher altitudes to take avoiding action, all of which made it much more difficult for them to aim accurately at the target. This reduced the number of hits they made on the targets, which effectively reduced the damage sustained to life and property. It was also very important to boost civilian morale by providing the feeling that 'we were hitting back'.
Reference - Wikipedia
79th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
By the end of February 1941 the HAA guns in the Swansea GDA still only numbered 18 out of a planned establishment of 36. These were distributed to sites as follows:[61][62]
N1 Llansamlet – 4 x 3.7-inch (247 Bty)
N2 Neath – 4 x 3.7-inch (246 Bty)
N3 Jersey Marine – 4 x 3.7-inch (247 Bty)
N4 Ravenhill (under construction by 246 Bty)
N5 Mumbles – 4 x 3.7-inch (248 Bty)
These had been increased a month later to 36
Information Boards on the site of the Coastal Gun Battery
NEWS - November 2021 - MUSEUM IS LOOKING FOR A NEW SITE
1940s Swansea Bay museum on Fabian Way, has closed while searching for a new site for its extensive collection.