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08 - Leighton Battery Mosman Park

The End of Leighton Battery

6 November 1946 – To complete Leighton Battery, the following was listed:

  • Shell Stores (Bulk)

  • BOP (Counter Bombardment)

  • BOP (Close Defence) to be completed

  • Sound proofing of the plotting room

  • 1 CASL needs to be completed and now needs modifying for a larger searchlight and 2 new CASLs to be constructed

  • 1 CASL Engine Room needs to be completed and 2 new ones constructed

  • Fire service installation

  • Miscellaneous including roads, fences and levelling

  • Contingencies (NAA: PP280/1, M1943/44/160).

19 - Leighton Battery Mosman Park

19 August 1947 – The Department of Army intend to complete the Leighton Battery and have requested the preparation of an estimate the cover the cost of the work required (NAA: B6591, D8063).

25 November 1947 – The guns are proofed  (The Coast Defences of Western Australia).

22 January 1948 – It appears that £24,000 was made available to complete Leighton Battery, although the memo forming the communications is rather brief (NAA: PP280/1, M1943/44/160).

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12 March 1948 – Approval is yet to be granted for funds to complete the installations of the 5.25 inch batteries at either Leighton or South Beach. Currently there are shortages in building material and manpower, hence why careful consideration is being given as to whether or not the completion of the projects in its entirety is warranted at the present time. Western Command makes a request to forward a plan for consideration, which these defences would be completed in the following stages:

  • Stage A – To put Leighton into satisfactory order for training purposes

  • Stage B – To safeguard assets already at South Beach and to complete an ammunition storage building

  • Stage C – To bring Leighton and South Beach batteries into battle readiness (NAA: B6591, D8063).

 

08 September 1948 – Work required to complete Stage A at Leighton Battery for a cost of £4,000:

  • Construction of Battery Observation Post (Close Defences)

  • New concrete bedplate for No.6 CASL engine room

  • Construction of two CASL engine rooms

  • Modify one CASL emplacements

This estimate covers the cost of construction and not that of equipment, wiring, water supply etc (NAA: B6591, D8063).

 

05 August 1949 – The estimated cost of structural work on the Battery Observation Post’s Counter Bombardment is quoted at £1,250, bringing the total cost of Leighton Battery’s Stage A to £5,250 (NAA: B6591, D8063).

22 - Leighton Battery Mosman Park

January 1950 – Leighton Battery provides training for Eastern Command troops of 1 Fixed Defence Brigade for a period of six months, involving 12 NCO students (The Coast Defences of Western Australia).

 

1951 – The battery is reactivated as 25 Medium Coast/AA Battery, reporting to HQ 27 Coast Regiment (The Coast Defences of Western Australia) as a Citizen Military Force Unit. When the National Service Scheme got under way, it receives some of the National Service personnel after they complete their basic training (The Coast Defences of Western Australia).

 

31 March 1954 – Two soldiers are badly burnt after being trapped by flames in a tunnel under a gun turret. Whilst cleaning part of the mechanism of one of the big aircraft guns, they’re in the tunnel under the gun turret which contains a large fan protected by a grill to draw out fumes from inside, when a gun is fired. Due to the darkness, the two soldiers are using a light attached to a wandering lead. The globe in the lead breaks igniting oil and cleaning fluid that’s being used. The flames cut them off from the manhole and they are forced to crawl on their hands and knees to the far end, where they are trapped by the grille. The men are pulled to safety when two Lieutenants above smash open the grille and drag them out, with one of the soldiers on fire. Two civilian firefighting units arrive on the scene (Soldiers trapped in blazing tunnel).

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