Bickley Battery

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Brief History

Two 6 inch Mk XI guns were installed on Bickley Point on Rottnest Island during 1938. In late 1940 a re-organisation of coastal defence units saw the permanent gunners and militiamen manning the guns re-organised as Bickley Battery. Along with those at Swanbourne Battery and later Leighton Battery provided the close cover defence for Fremantle Harbour and Cockburn Sound. During 1943 the Engineers attached to the battery were absorbed, and in the following year the Fremanlte VDC became increasingly involved in manning the guns on the mainland. When in February 1945 the guns of Leighton Battery were taken over by the 802nd Coastal Artillery/Anti Aircraft Battery, the VDC crew from Fremantle Coastal Artillery (VDC) transferred to Rottnest to man the guns with a cadre of AMF men. They were able to have at least one gun operational until the end of the war.

Unit Personnel

• Jack Bell 10 Mar 1941 - 9 Jul 1941

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 3 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 3.170 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018