WWII Improvised battery in Apleichau - a possible location (A) with a platform of unknown origin [1939- ]

Submitted by tngan on Sun, 10/26/2008 - 03:56
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Some other articles had mentioned the Aberdeen Battery had been an improvised one with two 4 inch guns.  Earlier before I went up the hill trying to look for traces of the remains of these, but I don't know what I've found has anything to do with them:

These photos showed a terrace of sort.  Don't know it has anything to do with the former Aberdeen Battery.  I was unprepared for climbing up to this one so it would have to wait till next time.

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The book 'The Guns & Gunners of Hong Kong' gives the grid reference for Aberdeen Battery as 059624, and has the description:

This was one of the improvised batteries which were to be put into position in the event of war. It was established in 1941 with 2 x 4-inch naval guns and manned by the Third Battery HKVDC as part of the Western Fire Command. On 11 December the enemy attempted to land on the island of Lamma in captured junks upon which the Battery opened fire. The battery was destroyed by its personnel on 24 December just before the surrender. Some remains still exist on the spur near the site of the old power station.

The book was written in 1990-1991, around the time work started on South Horizons, so maybe things have changed since then. Still, there's a good chance the spur he mentions is the hillside you climbed.

MrB

I made up my mind to climb onto the platform earlier.  There is actually a low wall before reaching the platform:

If you take a closer look, you should be able to see the concrete looks old.

Here's the platform, looking back a little bit up the slope:

Here I am, standing on top of the platform:

The photo below is a flawed composite photo.  Even if it is flawed, if you are facing the same direction back then, you should be looking at a bay.  South Horizons and the former Power Plant were partially being built in reclaimed land.  Magazine Island should be right behind the left most tower as shown.

So this platform is likely part of the lower battery after all.

T

Hi there,

If you have the book 'Hong Kong in Old Times, A Collection of Aerial Photos Taken in 1964' (ISBN962-567-185-4), the locations of the battery is clearly visible on page 38.  You might need a magnifier to spot it, however.

I think one could also make out the approximate location of the bunker close to Apleichau Estate.  However locating Pillboxes 10 & 11 would be sort of difficult.  Maybe with the original blown up aerial and a photo specialist, yes.  But to us layman it would be very difficult.

Best Regards,

T

I happen to live in South Horizons and was up at this site just the other day. A couple of things I noticed, Firstly it does look very much like the building style of other bunkers/PB's ect from that period. However I couldn’t find any marking on the floor where the guns would have been anchored to, maybe they are there but I didn’t see them, I would expect to see some sort of fixture/fastenings, unless the guns were freestanding and just rested on the top?The other thing that I was thinking, the flattened area is located looking straight back into South Horizons- (South West). This would only give the guns only about 90 Degree firing arch (Due South – due West), Had they been located just 100m further up the road, they would have been facing South and given the guns nearly 180 Degrees and overlooking all of Lamma. It would make sense to me to put them there, unless they used the hill behind, as some sort of cover…. But what do I know?I am keen on having a look at the old aerial photo to see if it gives up any clues.

Hi there,

From the online reference that I gather the battery was just an improvised one with two small guns.  I believe they have two gun positions.  One around the existing location of the service reservoir, and one elsewhere, maybe the platform I mentioned.

Also if you could get hold of the old ariel photo (or the book) taken even before the former power plant was completed, you should be able to see the site of South Horizons was reclaimed.  That platform did had at least 120 degree coverage of the bay below.

Oh, one other thing, according to the old ariel photo, the path leading to the battery was slightly up the slope toward the east.  However since the develoment of the public and private estates and the football playground, many of these traces might have already been destroyed.

My 2 cents,

T

Dear Mr B,

Thanks for the information.  I read the Chinese version and it contains a bit more information.  I think the visit would include other places other than the one in Apleichau.  The Chinese version of the introduction also mentioned Colinson Battery, Cape D'aguilar and there would be a walk, which totals to approximately 3 hours.  But it did not mention the exact route.

Thanks for the heads up.

Best Regards,

T