'Devon’ Battery, Royal Marines

United Kingdom and Norway: March 1940 – February 1941

1st Coast Artillery Brigade, R.M.

Following a short period of basic training, the 1st Coast Artillery Brigade, R.M. Brigade formed six batteries between 28th and 30th March 1940, of which one was ‘Devon’ Battery:

- ‘Kent’ and ‘Devon’ Batteries with 3 X 6-inch guns each,
- ‘X’, ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ Batteries with 2 X 4-inch guns each,
- Anti-Motor Torpedo Boat (A.M.T.B.) Battery with 4 X 2-pounder pom-pom guns.

The first commanding officer of the Battery was Major E.C. Hoar, R.M.[1]

On 19th April 1940, a number of officers and men transferred for special service to the 3.7-inch Howitzer Battery which subsequently saw service under Captain G.W. Wilson at Namsos in Norway.  Most of the men came from ‘Devon’ Battery which was temporarily disbanded on 26th April 1940 but was soon reconstituted on 16th May 1940, following the return of the 3.7-inch Howitzer Battery from Norway.  The Battery went to South Shields on 20th May, arriving the next day.  By 24th May, all three guns were mounted.  Captain B. Baseby, D.S.C., the Battery second in command) left the Battery to form a new battery on 7th June 1940 – ‘Hants’ Battery, equipped with two 6-inch guns.[2]

During late November-early December 1940, the guns at South Shields were removed from their pits and during January 1941, the Battery received orders to prepare to move overseas.  On 4th January, Captain D. Johnston, R.M. assumed command of the Battery from Major Hoar who left to take command of the newly formed 2nd Coast Artillery Brigade, R.M.  The Battery left South Shields by train late on the evening of 4th February, being joined by ‘X’ Battery, and arrived at King George V Dock, Glasgow the next morning.  That day, the men embarked upon H.M.T. Bergensfjord, along with the Headquarters, 1st Coast Artillery Brigade, R.M.  The ship moved down the Clyde to Greenock before sailing with Convoy WS 6A from Oversay on 9th February.  The ship arrived at Durban where the men disembarked on 26th March before re-embarking on 1st April to sail for Egypt.[3]

Egypt: April 1941

1st Coast Artillery Brigade, R.M.

After arriving at Port Tewfik on 22nd April 1941, the Battery disembarked and moved to El Quassassin by train, arriving the next day.  However, the Battery went to El Tahag Camp on 26th April and began a period of infantry training.  Major Johnston went with a small party to Port Said on 1st May and embarked on the S.S. Canterbury in preparation for transfer to Crete with the main reconnaissance party.  However, the party returned two days later. 

No.1 Company, Royal Marines Striking Force

R.M. Striking Force

On the evening of 27th May, the Battery was organised into No.1 Company, Royal Marines Striking Force and the next day moved to Abu Sueir aerodrome.  The Force was formed to provide ground protection to the airfield from attack by airborne troops.[4] 

[The war diary for the period June 1941 -  March 1942 is missing.]

By the middle of June 1941, the 1st Coast Artillery Brigade Headquarters had moved to Abu Sueir.  Under command were ‘Kent’, ‘Devon’, ‘Z’ and A.M.T.B. Batteries (and possibly ‘Hants’ Battery).[5]

Addu Atoll: October 1941 – January 1942

1st Coast Regiment, R.M. – Force ‘Piledriver’

On 1st August, the Brigade was re-designated as the 1st Coast Regiment, Royal Marines.  At Port Tewfik, the 1st Coast Regiment completed embarkation for Addu Atoll on 20th September.[6]

The batteries of the 1st Coast Regiment were involved in constructing and then manning the defences of Addu Atoll where facilities for support of the Royal Navy were being based.  Work began in September 1941.  ‘The plan for the defences of Addu Atoll called for guns to be mounted in six weeks, and in six weeks to the day the batteries fired their proof rounder – but not before the ‘Devon’ and ‘Kent‘ Batteries of the 1st Coast Regiment working on Hitadu and Midu had been reduced by sickness to less than 50 men apiece.’ [7]   The ‘Devon’ Battery installed and manned a battery of two 6-inch coastal guns on Midu, both guns being installed by 31st October.  Proof rounds were fired by the two 6-inch guns of ‘Devon’ Battery on Midu on 8th November.  The Battery was relieved by the incoming Indian garrison when the 8th Heavy Battery, I.A. arrived at Midu and Heratera on 8th January 1942.  The ‘Devon’ Battery embarked upon the H.T. Talma which left for Ceylon on 14th January and arrived at Colombo on 16th January.  The personnel disembarked on 17th January and went by train to the Royal Navy Rest Camp at Diyatalawa where they arrived the next day.[8]

‘Devon’ Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, R.M.

Ceylon: February – November 1942

H.Q. Anti-Aircraft Command Ceylon

On 10th February, the personnel of ‘Devon’ Battery left Diyatalawa and went to Boosa Camp along with the rest of the 1st Coast Regiment, R.M.[9]  Fifteen men of the Battery went to Colombo from Galle on 17th March 1942 for a week’s instruction on Bofors light anti-aircraft guns.  At the end of the month, on 30th/31st March, ‘Devon’ Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, R.M. was formed at Boosa Camp, Galle, under the command of Captain A.E. Chilcott, R.M., from ‘Devon’, ‘Z’ and A.M.T.B. Batteries, the latter units having been released from service with Force ‘Shortcut’ on 19th March.  The unit was a twelve-gun battery formed into three troops numbered 1-3.  The men from ‘Devon’ Battery left over from this re-organisation were formed into a Mobile Infantry Company.  A detachment was sent to Colombo on 5th April to attend a L.A.A. course.  The new anti-aircraft battery was attached to the 1st R.M. A.A. Brigade for operations on 7th April 1942.  On 9th April, the Battery moved to Rifle Green Camp, Colombo.  On 12th April, the Headquarters, No.3 Troop moved to Kolonnawa with two Bofors guns.  The next day, the Troop took over two gun sites over from ‘C’ Troop, 164th L.A.A. Battery, R.A.  Two further sites were taken over on 14th April.  No.1 Troop moved into positions in Colombo with three guns on 22nd April.  An additional Bofors gun was delivered to No.1 Troop, ‘Devon’ L.A.A. Battery on 17th May.  Meanwhile, No.2 Troop moved to Mount Lavinia and was declared ready for action on 5th May.[10]

Captain Chilcott, the Battery commander, was ordered on 25th April to take operational command of:

- ‘A’ Troop, 22nd L.A.A. Battery, R.M.,
- ‘X’ Troop, 7th L.A.A. Battery, C.G.A.,
- ‘N’ Troop, Royal Navy personnel manning four gun sites with Naval 12-pounder guns.

The Naval unit, ‘N’ Troop was dispersed on 14th June 1942, with the personnel being drafted to St. Joseph’s Barracks.  On 18th June, No.1 Troop moved with guns to Kollonnawa to take over positions previously manned by the 164th L.A.A. Battery, R.A.  This period involved an almost continuous round of digging, preparing emplacements, improving facilities and communications at the various gun sites.  On 28th July, No.2 Troop was relieved by the 264th L.A.A. Battery, R.A. and moved to Rifle Green Camp, Colombo.  On 1st August, the best football players in the Battery were transferred to No.2 Troop.  Elsewhere that month, Marine T. Crosbie continued to give Italian lessons to all Troops.  Later that month, heavy rains caused some gun pits to collapse giving rise to yet more construction and reconstruction.[11]

On 1st September, all anti-aircraft units in Colombo were taken over by the Commandant, Base Area, Colombo.  Several football matches were held during September including one against the ‘R.N. Rovers’ – the result is not recorded.  Another match was held against a team from the Royal Netherlands Navy.  The maintenance of gun sites continued alongside training throughout the month and into October.  A court of inquiry was held into damage caused to a bullock cart by a Bofors gun which came off the hook of the lorry towing it back from a practice shoot.  On 1st November, preparations began for the hand over to the 7th L.A.A. Battery, Ceylon Garrison Artillery. The eight gun sites operated by the Battery were handed over to the C.G.A. over the next two days.  On 6th November, ‘Devon’ L.A.A. Battery was reattached to the 1st Coast Regiment, R.M. for all purposes.  A party from the Battery went to Diyatalawa for a range course and some leave, beginning 14th November.  The men underwent small arms training during the month.  The war diary of the 1st Coast Regiment, R.M. states that ‘Devon’ L.A.A. Battery was split up on 27th November and the original batteries were re-formed.  On 30th November, ‘Devon’ Battery and ‘Z’ Detail left for Colombo; A.M.T.B. Details remained at Diyatalawa.[12]

‘Devon’ Battery, R.M.

Ceylon: December 1942 – February 1944

1st Coast Regiment, R.M.

The ‘Devon’ L.A.A. Battery was disbanded at Diyatalawa on 27th November 1942 and the personnel reorganised to reform ‘Devon’, ‘Z’ and A.M.T.B. Coast Batteries.  On arrival in Colombo on 1st December 1942, ‘Devon’ Battery and ‘Z’ Battery Detail went to Rifle Green Camp.  Here, ‘Z’ Battery was amalgamated for training and administration purposes with ‘Devon’ Battery and the two batteries were known as ‘Devon’ Battery, although the identity of ‘Z’ Battery was preserved.  Training of various kinds, including in the use of folding boats, was undertaken for the rest of the month and into January 1943.  On 22nd January, ’Devon’ and 'Z’ Batteries became separate entities once again, under the command of Major Chilcott and Captain C.R. Blount, R.M. respectively.[13]

The Headquarters, 1st Coast Regiment moved from Galle to Echelon Barracks, Colombo on 18th January and assumed responsibility for the beach defences in the Colombo area.  On 3rd February, ‘Devon’ and ‘Z’ Batteries moved from Rifle Green Camp to Echelon Barracks.  The ‘Devon’ Battery continued to provide a beach defence party throughout March.  It was involved in an exercise during April and towards the end of the month began training in gunnery and searchlight operations.  Infantry and ‘commando’ training was conducted during May.  On 1st June, the 1st Coast Regiment, with ‘Devon’ and A.M.T.B Batteries moved to the Royal Naval Air Station at Katukurunda.[14]

On 1st August 1943, at Katukurunda, the 1st Coast Regiment, R.M. was divided to form two new regiments – the 1st and 3rd Coast Regiments, R.M.  The ‘Kent’ and ‘X’ Batteries went to the 3rd Coast Regiment, which also included the ‘Portsmouth’ Battery, formed from the A.M.T.B. Battery.  The 1st Coast Regiment now consisted of:

- ‘Devon’ Battery,
- ‘Z’ Battery,
- ‘Chatham’ Battery – formed 1st August 1943 as an A.M.T.B. battery.[15]

The Battery received two Oerlikon guns on 7th September 1943, and immediately began training in their use.  The 1st Coast Regiment, with ‘Devon’, ‘Z’ and ‘Chatham’ Batteries moved from Katukurunda to Galle on 18th September 1943.  ‘Devon’ Battery continued to train with the Oerlikon guns and in early October also began to train with Bofors guns.  Instructions were received on 22nd October regarding the move of ‘Chatham’ and 'Z’ Batteries to India and the store and advance parties of these two units left the next day.  ‘Devon’ Battery remained at Galle under the command of the 1st Coast Regiment, R.M.  On 1st November, the Battery was organised into four troops.  It seems that all troops trained with both the Oerlikon and the Bofors guns and also with Bren guns in the anti-aircraft role.[16]

The R.H.Q. of the 1st Coast Regiment was disbanded at Galle on 31st December 1943.  On 26th January 1944, the Battery left Galle for the Royal Marines Base Depot, Colombo – the Battery’s stay in Ceylon now nearing its end.  All ranks paraded in embarkation order on 18th February and embarked upon H.M.T. C.85.  The ship sailed the next day, the Battery in company with the 3rd Coast Regiment, R.M., bound for the United Kingdom.[17]

United Kingdom: March – May 1944

3rd Coast Regiment, R.M.

The 3rd Coast Regiment disembarked at Gourock on 16th March 1944 and moved into accommodation at Paisley.  Two days later, the 2nd A.A. Regiment, the 3rd Coast Regiment, 24th Battalion and ‘S’ Searchlight Battery were all placed under command of 3 Mobile Naval Base Brigade.  The ‘Devon´ Battery was taken on strength of the 3rd Coast Regiment, R.M. on 18th March.  It is not certain if this implies that ‘Devon’ Battery was disbanded at this time.  The 3rd Coast Regiment posted most of its men during the months that followed and was itself disbanded on 22nd May 1944.[18]

31 January 2001