Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Bickley Battery, F2 Gun, circa 1960
Photograph of F2 gun position in long term maintenance. Barrel has been withdrawn from cradle. Also show is the overhead cover installed in 1941 to follow the gun as it traversed. The Bickley Observation Post is visible in the background.
The coast artillery assets of Fortress Fremantle were placed on high alert when war was declared in September 1939. With the entry of Japan into the war, Fortress Fremantle became an heavily defended location due to its status as a convoy port and submarine base. There was also a perceived threat of invasion are attack from the sea. As the theatre of operations moved to New Guinea and the South West Pacific, readiness was decreased and manning priorities changed. By the end of the war, Bickley Battery was in combat storage with only a small maintenance garrison. Technology and changing defence posture saw the Coast Artillery removed from the Order of battle in 1963. Coast artillery guns and associated structures were sold for scrap. The cost of moving salvage from Rottnest Island led to the retention of the Oliver Hill Battery guns. The Bickley battery 6 inch guns were cut up and buried in situ. Components have since been recovered for display.
Details
Details
When the guns were scrapped, the valuable non-ferrous fittings were removed but the steel components buried on the Island. After recovery, one of the Rottnest barrels was placed on display at Kingstown Barracks and the second eventually was emplaced at the Leighton Battery Heritage site. Other 6 inch MK XI barrels may be found in Australia at: Port Wakefield proof range north of Adelaide; Lower George’s Heights, Sydney Harbour; East Point Military Museum, Darwin; and the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Nowra.
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island, Bickley Battery, Recovering barrel, 1980
- Australia, HMAS Brisbane, 6 inch Mk XI Guns
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Bickley Battery. Views of and from interior of Command Post.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Bickley Battery. Views of and from interior of Command Post.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Bickley Battery. Views of and from interior of Command Post.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Bickley Battery. Views of and from interior of Command Post.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Bickley Battery. Views of and from interior of Command Post.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Kingstown Barracks. Main entry gates.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Portion of obstacle course.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Government House.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island, Signal Ridge / Wadjemup. JEFFREY, SKIPPINGS, Naval Signal Station.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island, Signal Ridge / Wadjemup. Naval Signal Station.