Did you know this seemingly ordinary bunker holds a secret past? This is the Devil’s Tower Emplacement. It stands as a silent guardian of a bygone era.
Let’s step back in time to World War II. Imagine this very spot buzzing with activity. Soldiers are vigilantly watching over Gibraltar. The Devil’s Tower Emplacement played a crucial role in defending this strategic location.
This emplacement wasn’t just a random structure. It was strategically positioned to guard the Caledonian Canal. A tank trap existed a few meters in front. This formidable defense was in place from 1939 to 1945.
The plaque on the bunker tells a simple story. It marks the Devil’s Tower Emplacement’s role in World War II. The words are clear. This was a key defensive point.
The Devil’s Tower Emplacement took its name from the nearby Devil’s Tower. The tower was a seventeenth-century watchtower. It stood at the eastern end of what is now Devil’s Tower Road. The watchtower was demolished in 1940. This was done because it was in the line of fire of Gibraltar’s guns.
Devil’s Tower Road itself has a storied past. It’s one of only two roads crossing the full width of the peninsula. For a time there was a proposal to rename it North Front Avenue. But this idea met with local opposition. People valued the historical significance of the Devil’s Tower Road name.
The area around Devil’s Tower Emplacement has seen many changes. A new road Kingsway now passes under the airport runway. This has changed traffic patterns. But the Devil’s Tower Emplacement remains a steadfast reminder of the past.
Nearby is the North Front Cemetery. It is the only Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Memorial and the Gibraltar Cross of Sacrifice stand at the corner of Devil’s Tower Road and Winston Churchill Avenue. They commemorate the fallen of both World War I and World War II.
The Devil’s Tower Camp is nearby. It is the headquarters of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment. The Princess Royal Medical Centre replaced the Royal Naval Hospital Gibraltar.
So, as you stand before this bunker consider its history. The Devil’s Tower Emplacement is more than just concrete and stone. It represents resilience. It signifies strategic importance and the enduring spirit of Gibraltar. It is a place where the past echoes. It’s a place where the name “Devil” adds to the intriguing story.