Greenock

[liverpool annie]

Can anybody tell me about Fort Matilda in Greenock ?

I would be very interested in old photos of it ... if possible ! I'm trying to find out what it was like just before WW1 - some of my soldiers were there !

I thought it was an Army base ... but it looks like it is a town ....... !

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2736070840096190055nEsGgO

I'd appreciate any help you can give me

Thanking you in advance !

Annie 

[weemary]

Hi Annie

I live not too far away from there -  i think there was  somehting there years ago, well before my time.

Check the below link  -  it has some history on Fort Matilda

http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/FortMatildaGreenock

[liverpool annie]

Thanks weemary !

I wonder if you know if there are any old photos anywhere ? .... is there  a history society there that may be able to help do you think ?

I'm looking for a history if possible !

Annie 

[RJ_Paton]

There is some information about the "Fort" at http://www.palmerstonforts.org.uk/pdf/matil.pdf

[liverpool annie]

Gosh Falkyrn ... it must have been small .... "Barrack Accom 2 officers 22 men" 

I thought it was a big place !!

Now I have to go back to square one ...... where was my man then ?? I have to do my creative thinking and come back 

Thank you for the information though !

Annie 

[johnboy]

The RHF were at Fort Matilda just after WW1:
http://www.army.mod.uk/rhf/regimental_history/yrs_1914_1939.htm
Royal Engineers were there during WW1:
http://www.1914-1918.net/re_fortress.htm

The original Gun Battery went some time before the war &  excavated material from the nearby railway tunnel was used as landfill to the west of the old coastal gun emplacement , forming a level area which became the playing fields of Battery Park.

In 1907 the Admiralty compulsory purchased part of this land and constructed the Clyde Torpedo Factory, which opened in 1910, with 700 workers transferred from the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. The site carried out design and testing of torpedoes which were trialed in Loch Long. During the Second World War site switched entirely to manufacturing torpedoes. The original gun battery site was occupied by the Navy Buildings, the main offices, just to the east of the torpedo factory buildings.

In WW2 Battery Park was used for seaplanes.

[liverpool annie]

Thank you johnboy .... I heard my man was with the "kilties " .... but didn't know which regiment !

That's great ..... thank you again !

Annie 

[johnboy]

If your man was serving just before WW1, it is highly likely he served during the war.
Have you check the medal rolls?  That would give a Regiment.

[liverpool annie]

Hi Johnboy !

He was a Chaplain ....... !! not attached to a regiment per se !

He was ...... Cavalry Field Ambulance ...... but he was there at Fort Matilda for 2 months before he was sent to France and I wondered if maybe he was training there - as I assume Chaplains had to have 'some'  Army training too ! 

Annie