Anti-invasion Defence Schemes – 1900 to 1912

 
The Army took the threat of invasion and of attacks on its coast batteries sufficiently seriously, that from 1899 it prepared and printed complex ‘Defence Schemes’ for parts of the United Kingdom.

1900 Defence Scheme

The 1900 scheme described Edinburgh as ‘after Glasgow, the largest and most important city in Scotland’ which ‘might form a tempting object of attack if undefended’. The Forth at this time was not to be ‘a regular naval station’ in time of war but was a centre for naval signalling and contained several ports vulnerable to hit-and-run attacks. Attacks on Edinburgh or Leith were expected. Key installations were identified: the batteries at Kinghorn and Inchkeith; the submarine mining establishment and its attendant batteries at North Queensferry; the Forth Bridge. To repel land attacks, Edinburgh, the Forth and Fife were to have about 7,500 Volunteers (including 1,579 artillery, 120 cavalry, and 475 engineers) plus the regular infantry battalion garrisoning Edinburgh Castle.

1905 Defence Scheme

In 1903, the creation of Rosyth Dockyard was announced, so by 1905 the Forth was a ‘Secondary Naval Base’ at a risk in the “Precautionary Perioed” i.e. the run up to war, of ‘minor raids by a few daring men for the purpose of damaging docks, lights, bridges, and batteries or vulnerable points on the coast’.
In the ‘War Period’ attack by cruisers or torpedo boats to damage docks and shipping or an attack on Edinburgh or the batteries of the Forth by a landing party of 2,000 men, supported by cruisers were anticipated.
The potential embarkation ports were named as Dunkirk (France), Wilhelmshaven and Kiel (both in Germany). Land forces of 11,704 men (mainly auxiliary) were identified as being available to protect the coasts of the Forth estuary and the coast batteries.

1907 Defence Scheme

The Rosyth Dockyard project had been subject to political debate and uncertainty, so in the 1907 scheme the Forth had reverted to being a ‘Defended Commercial Port’. During the Precautionary Period attacks were to be prepared against at Kinghorn Battery; Coastguard Battery, Carlingnose Battery and the north end of the Forth Bridge; Dalmeny Battery and searchlights, the south end of the Forth Bridge; and the island of Inchkeith.
The docks at Leith, Granton and Burntisland were to be defended by the local police force.
In the War Period the type of attack to be prepared for was very much as set out in 1905.
The forces available to the Fortress Commander were 321 Imperial Yeomanry, 232 artillerymen in the fixed defences (which had been radically reduced by the Owen Committee in 1905–6), 232 artillerymen in two field artillery batteries, each of four 15- pdr guns, and 5,523 infantry, mainly auxiliaries. The garrison of Inchkeith was only to be 134 officers and men, reduced from the previous plan to have 200 men.

1909 Defence Scheme

Although the contracts to build Rosyth Dockyard had finally been awarded, the planned completion date was 1916, so in 1909, the Forth was still considered a Defended Commercial Port, that would ‘probably be used as an anchorage for the Fleet in time of war. The estuary was now at risk of a attacks to destroy docks and shipping, the Forth Bridge, the works of defence and electric lights, warships at anchor and works at the naval base.
Infantry detachments were allocated to protect the coast batteries. Inchkeith had the largest garrison, with 660 infantrymen (over four times larger than in 1907), while Inchgarvie had 41. A general reserve of four battalions of infantry was held in Edinburgh with 12 15-pdr field guns in two batteries.
The commander at Kinghorn and Burntisland was instructed to prepare a line of defensive positions north of Kinghorn, while the commander on Inchkeith was instructed to prepare shelter and positions for his large infantry garrison.

The beaches identified as practicable for enemy landings were shown in this map.

Forth Coast Defences in 1909 – beaches marked in red were potential invasions sites.

1912 Defence Scheme

The 1912 document was prepared by Scottish Command in Edinburgh and covered the whole of Scotland. The 1909 defence schemes of the individual defended ports (the Forth, Clyde, Tay and Aberdeen) were included in this Command-wide scheme. Large-scale invasion of Scotland was not envisaged. The two most important targets were considered to be the Rosyth naval base and the Forth generally, and the Clyde and its ship-building industry.

It was feared that landings might be attempted against the two main targets on the Forth by landings on either shore but more likely on the north. The Forth was provided with a reserve of Territorial troops comprising the Lothian Infantry Brigade, Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery.

Apart from the local garrisons, the army in Scotland was split into two groups. One force, was to be held in reserve and could operate against any major landing. The other was the ‘Local Force’, which was to be based around central Scotland in places that would allow it to concentrate and move against landings either in the east or the west. Significant elements were stationed near Stirling, Larbert and Dunfermline, from where the rail network could move men and equipment rapidly to wherever they were needed.