Princess Anne's Battery

Early history

Princess Anne's Battery is in Gibraltar, the British Overseas Territory at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. The artillery battery is located on Willis's Plateau at the northern end of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, below the Great Siege Tunnels and above Princess Caroline's Battery. It overlooks Spain, Gibraltar International Airport, and the Bay of Gibraltar. The site was initially known as the 3rd Willis's Battery. It was renamed after Anne, Princess Royal (1709 – 1759), the eldest daughter of King George II, also known as Princess Anne of Orange following her marriage to William IV, Prince of Orange. The battery's position off Willis's Road near Princess Caroline's Battery is thought to be responsible for it frequently being mistaken for that battery. It is also sometimes referred to as St. Anne's Battery,

The battery was built in 1732, with the guns mounted at that time consisting of five 12 pounders. In 1771, it was reported that Princess Anne's Battery had five cannons directed toward the isthmus, and another four to address "the rear of the enemy approaches." It was in use at the time of the Great Siege of Gibraltar, and an explosion of the magazine at Princess Anne's Battery on 11 June 1782 took the lives of fourteen men. The following August, the flank of the battery was rebuilt. The four guns are partially surrounded by concrete rings which contain ammunition lockers. Three of the emplacements feature concrete bunkers with partially sunken magazines and engine rooms off to the side, while the fourth's magazine and engine room are completely subterranean.

Recent history

Princess Anne's Battery was staffed and operational into the early 1980s. Since then, the guns have been decommissioned and have sustained the effects of weather and vandalism. The 2007 restoration was performed by the 101 Battalion of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (Volunteers) during exercise Marble Tor 6.

In 2008, retired Major David Seed received a special commendation during the presentation of Heritage Awards by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust. His award acknowledged the role he played in arranging the annual Marble Tor exercises that involved refurbishment of heritage sites, including not only Princess Anne's Battery, but also Flat Bastion Magazine, Parson's Lodge Battery, Witham's Cemetery, and the 100 ton gun. In May 2011, the Gibraltar Heritage Trust sponsored the 22nd annual painting contest. Princess Anne's Battery and Princess Caroline's Battery were the themes of the competition, whose winners were awarded prizes by the Governor of Gibraltar, Sir Adrian Johns. Princess Anne's Battery is listed with the Gibraltar Heritage Trust, and represents the world's only complete battery of 5.25 inch anti-aircraft guns.

Gallery

File:Princess Anne's Battery.png|Princess Anne's Battery, Upper Rock Nature Reserve File:Princess Anne's Gun No. 3.png|Gun No. 3 at Princess Anne's Battery in Gibraltar, partially sunken magazine File:Plaque Queen Anne's Battery 2006.png|Plaque on Gun No. 3 at Princess Anne's Battery for 2006 Restoration File:Plaque Princess Anne's Battery 2007.png|Plaque on Gun No. 3 at Princess Anne's Battery for 2007 Restoration File:Princess Anne's Gun No. 1 davit.png|Gun No. 1 at Princess Anne's Battery with a davit for lowering ammunition

References

References

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8. Hyamson, Albert Montefiore. (1951). "A Dictionary of Universal Biography of All Ages and of All Peoples". Taylor & Francis.
9. Baker-Smith, Veronica P. M.. (1995). "A Life of Anne of Hanover, Princess Royal". Brill.
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15. Connolly, Thomas William John. (1857). "History of the Royal Sappers and Miners: from the formation of the Corps in March 1772, to the date when its designation was changed to that of Royal Engineers, in October 1856, Volume 1". Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts.
16. Hume, David. (1813). "The History of England from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution of 1688". Evans.
17. "Princess Anne's Battery No.2 Gun (B)". DiscoverGibraltar.com (Click Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Princess Anne's Battery, B 360 view at No.2 Gun).
18. "Princess Anne's Battery No.4 Gun (E)". DiscoverGibraltar.com (Click Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Princess Anne's Battery, E 360 view at No.4 Gun).
19. "Princess Anne's Battery No.3 Gun Interior (D)". DiscoverGibraltar.com (Click Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Princess Anne's Battery, D No.3 Gun plus interior photos).
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21. (19 May 2011). "Gib Heritage Trust Painting Winners Bring 'Batteries' Into Focus". [[Gibraltar Chronicle]].