Wondering how Levant Battery got its unique name? It’s all thanks to the Levanter cloud. This artillery battery in Gibraltar sits perfectly below it. This position gave it a clear view when higher batteries were shrouded in mist.
Levant Battery is a piece of Gibraltar’s story. It is perched on Windmill Hill. Look around. It is at the southern edge of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. You’re standing east of the Jews’ Gate Cemetery and south of Mediterranean Road. This was once the Middle South Section. Other emplacements nearby included Edward VII Battery and Genista Battery.
Construction began in April 1901. By August 1903, a powerful 9.2-inch Mark X breech-loading gun was in place. The plan was ambitious. Initially, two guns were envisioned. One would target the Mediterranean. The other would aim at Spanish batteries to the west. But, only one gun was ever installed. It focused on Mediterranean targets. By 1907, the battery was connected to water reservoirs. This was made possible by the Mediterranean Steps, ensuring a steady supply of drinking water and a water-carriage system.
Fast forward to December 31, 1915. German submarines lurked near Gibraltar. The 9.2-inch gun at Levant Battery sprang into action. Records from that day state that one target disappeared. A large explosion occurred at another. In 1934, during a practice firing, a shell exploded inside the barrel. The barrel was replaced later that year.
Interestingly, an earlier battery also bore the name Levant Battery. This was in the 18th century. It was located near the north front.
The guns of Gibraltar were once described as the crowning glory of the Rock’s defenses. Levant, Spur, Breakneck, O’Hara’s, and Lord Airey’s Batteries stood strong. Levant Battery was the most accessible. The others were behind locked gates on military property. Each held a single 9.2-inch gun. It was a vital weapon in British coastal artillery.
Levant Battery was off-limits for years. Entering without authorization was a crime. While Breakneck Battery remains closed, the others are now open to the public. The 1970s marked the end of Levant Battery’s active service. The 9.2-inch gun was removed. In 1981, the gun from Spur Battery was sent to the Imperial War Museum Duxford.
In 2011, a group formed to save the Levant Battery gun. They aimed to restore it to its original site. The 9.2-inch gun now sits in a scrap yard.
Imagine the effort to move this piece of history. It demonstrates the commitment to preserving Gibraltar’s past. Today, Levant Battery stands as a reminder of its strategic importance. It also embodies the enduring spirit of those who defended this iconic rock.