All that can be seen nowadays at Brixham Battery Gardens was built between June and September 1940; immediately following the defeat and evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk after the fall of France.
In total, 158 Emergency Batteries were built along the coast stretching from Scotland all the way around along the south coast, up the Bristol Channel and as far as Milford Haven. Of the 116 Emergency Batteries built in 1940 between John O’Groats and Lands End, only 7 remain. Of these, Brixham Battery is the most complete.
The role of Brixham’s Emergency Coastal Battery was to defend against the expected invasion by enemy forces in occupied France.
Brixham’s Battery was in operation with a similar battery at Corbyn Head, Torquay. Between them, they defended possible landing beaches like Torre Abbey Sands, Livermead, Hollicombe, Preston, Paignton, Goodrington, Broadsands and Elbury Cove. Corbyn Head Battery covered most the bay while Brixham could cover right out into parts of Lyme Bay.
“Battery” is a military term used to describe a number of artillery weapons and the soldiers who operate them. The WW2 coast and defence batteries had two main guns, anti-aircraft weapons and, in the case of Brixham, extra harbour defence guns.
During WW2, a total of about one hundred officers and soldiers manned the Battery. The site was manned initially by the Royal Artillery 362 Battery 18 CA GP Regiment, becoming 362 Battery 556 Regiment in 1941 and 378 Battery 556 Regiment in 1942. The Royal Artillery was strongly supported by local men transferred from ‘D’ Company (10th Torbay) Battalion Devonshire Home Guard.
Trained in all the functions of the Battery and being able to man it on their own if the occasion arose, the crews became very efficient and were often commended by the Brigadier Royal Artillery Southern Command and Commander of Coast Artillery South West District.