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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Dunbartonshire => Topic started by: g forgeron on Saturday 16 April 16 17:19 BST (UK)
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According to the Secret Scotland web site there was a battery of four 3.7 guns, radar installation & accommodation located at the junction of Farm Road & Hillend. Does anyone have any photographs and or knowledge of this site ?
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Which county or town please?
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There's a little more information here:
https://canmore.org.uk/search/site?SIMPLE_KEYWORD=119883
Imber
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The village is Duntocher, the county then was Dunbartonshire, now West Dunbartonshire
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OK Imber, visited the site, seems indeed to have existed, but no one locally seems to know about it.
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They may have consisted of mobile artillery and a mobile radar trailer.
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The description has "gun emplacements & accommodation" so they would not have been mobile, not with accommodation. Also what would have been the point of a mobile battery when no one knew when the planes would appear ?. How could they get there in time to prevent the attack occuring?
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It depends on how mobile is mobile. The CANMORE records indicates the site used 3.7inch AA guns. These came basically in two forms, one on a wheeled trailer from which it could be fired and one that was less mobile. Seems likely that the latter were used at Duntocher. But they were secured to a permanent platform or similar from which they could be released and their bases quickly fitted with wheels, so allowing the guns to be redeployed as required. I have read that the guns defending Clydebank ran out of ammunition during the 1941 Clydebank blitz - that might have included Duntocher. You can see substantial AA site remains at Mugdock. Might be worth enquiring further here:
http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/libraries/archives-family-history/clydebank-heritage-centre/
Imber
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They may have had searchlight units and Radar units in support of the guns.
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Hello g forgeron,
Posts on the following website are from 2008 but might be worth a look:
www.hiddenglasgow.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7511&start=45
Scroll down until you find a Series of West Dunbartonshire Heritage Books/Booklets. One is titled, "Duntocher, Hardgate & Faifley - Heritage Trail". The books are available both from Clydebank Library & OnLine.
I hope the books are still available, but if not, the library itself might be worth contacting/visiting, because, according to the website, Clydebank Library also holds, "oodles of photograpic albums".
Good luck with your search.
Regards, Dod.
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They may have had searchlight units and Radar units in support of the guns.
If you look at the CANMORE link I provided you will see that it mentions a radar unit there.
Imber
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There was also a AA Rocket Battery not too far away. This also had a radar unit:
https://canmore.org.uk/site/238451/duntocher-faifley-z-battery
Imber
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Thanks to all who have replied, however what I'm trying to obtain is information,and or photographs,from someone who has actual first or second hand knowledge of the sites.
I have used the "Canmore" site and taken what information they have.