The History of the Fort

World War 2

The Nothe Fort did not see action against the enemy until World War 2, when the main threat came from the air. Until then the big guns had mainly been fired in training and in competitive events.  However, in July 1940 two mystery ships failed to identify themselves and were fired on. They quickly turned on all their lights to reveal themselves as refugees from the Channel Islands.

In 1938 it had been decided to use the fort as a central anti-aircraft ammunition depot and some of the casemates and magazines on the south side were converted for storage.  An electrically operated hoist was installed and a loading platform built alongside.  Guns as far away as Coventry were supplied from here.  The Nothe was also given its own AA guns.  A Vickers Pom-pom was placed on a platform built on the north-west corner of the fort: (later to be replaced by a 40mm Bofors), and a battery of four 3.7-inch guns were emplaced on the glacis/gardens (now part of the car park).  As that which goes up must come down, the Fort was supplied with large concrete and iron flak shields to protect the gun crews from spent shrapnel.