Military History of North Queensferry

Location, location, location !

North Queensferry’s location at the narrowest point on the Firth of Forth has made it a convergence point for travellers over many centuries. Not all of these travellers had friendly intentions, and the relatively small area of North Queensferry peninsula has been the site of what was arguably a disproportionate number of military sites and activities through the centuries.

This page gives a brief timeline of more than 500 years of military history in the village and also, to provide some context, the broader Defences of the Firth of Forth

Alternatively you can click on any of the 22 Military Sites on this map.

1600’s the Fort and the Great Sconce

In the 1600’s the village defences included, “12 cannon on the Ferry Hills, 5 cannon in the Fort, and an armed guard-ship in the sheltered waters of St Margaret’s Hope.” These Early defences of North Queensferry were reinstated in the 18th Century.

British Civil Wars, 1639 to 1651

The ferry cannon were captured by Cromwell’s troops before the Battle of Inverkeithing 20th July 1651, a key turning point in the Civil Wars, with a sea-borne invasion outflanking the defending forces, and breaking a stalemate. It is recorded that Cromwell’s troops damaged some of the properties in the village, notably St James’s Chapel.

19th century Tension in the North Sea

The emergence of the German nation in the late 19th century and her increasing military presence across the North Sea, triggered a programme of improved defences and new naval bases along Britain’s East Coast.

Submarine Mining

The Port Laing Submarine Mining Station – 1900 to 1906 was the final development of a Forth defence system that had been initiated in the 1880’s.

Rosyth Dockyard

The sheltered waters of St Margaret’s Hope were an ideal site for The Creation of Rosyth Dockyard – 1903 to 1916 protected by the line of defences at Queensferry. Some of the dry dock Caissons were built at the Railway Pier in North Queensferry.

The material dredged from the basins was used as landfill and resulted in the creation of St Margaret’s Marsh, now a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Impact on North Queensferry

Accommodation for Dockyard Workers

The influx of workers for the dockyard overwhelmed local accommodation until the Naval Base Mansions were built at Jamestown in 1909.

Barracks and Batteries

Carlingnose Barracks, Carlingnose Battery and the nearby Coastguard Battery formed Carlingnose Fort, which along with batteries on Inchgarvie and at Dalmeny provided the inner line of defence across the river. As well as housing Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers, the fort was a training ground for other regiments across Scotland. The barracks continued in use through WWII and beyond
Carlingnose Barracks – 1906 to 1960
Carlingnose Battery – 1898 to 1916
Carlingnose Camp, Black Watch Exercises – 1913
Coastguard Battery and Searchlights
Signal Station to be added here.

Naval Aviation

RNAS – Carlingnose Naval Air Station – 1912 to 1914 was the first Military Air Station in Scotland.

World War I

Naval Battles

Although most of the fighting in World War I was conducted in the battlefields of France and Flanders, there were many Naval Battles in the North Sea.

Civilian Impact

The civilian population was affected by the influx of troops, especially North Queensferry School
There was also an affect on the School in WWII
The Ferryhills Golf Course membership was increased by naval officers from Rosyth, but it was damaged by the digging of defensive trenches!

Naval Defences of the Firth of Forth

Long before the dockyard could be brought into service, The Firth of Forth was used as a naval base, with the Cruiser Squadrons based there from 1914. Once the dockyard was completed in 1916, the Forth was home to the battleships and Cruisers of the Grand Fleet. The increasing naval presence demanded a steady evolution of the Naval Defences of the Forth in the early 20th Century.

In North Queensferry, Anti-submarine Nets were suspended from the spans of the Forth Bridge.

1916 – Admiralty House

In 1916, St Margaret’s House was acquired by the Admiralty as accommodation for the “Commander in chief Coast of Scotland” and it became known as Admiralty House.

1917 – Kite Balloons

One lesson of the Battle of Jutland in 1916 was the value of kite balloons to extend the field of view of the fleet.
New Kite Balloon stations were ordered including Ferry Barns Naval Kite Balloon Station – 1917 to 1920

Anti-aircraft Company

The AA company at Carlingnose left no physical evidence, but a painting on the IWM website led to the story of the “Interior of Barracks 17 AA Coy., North Queensferry”

WWI Armistice 1918

The fighting of World War I was ended by the signing of the Armistice on 11th November 1918. This was followed by the formal Surrender of the German High Seas Fleet in the River Forth, before the ships were impounded in Scapa Flow.
The Surrender of the German High Seas Fleet in the Forth November 1918 – summary

In 2018, North Queensferry Heritage Trust created and organized an exhibition to commemorate the centenary of this event. The material from this exhibition is now available on-line to tell the full story of this event.
The Surrender of the German High Seas Fleet in the Forth November 1918 – full story

War Memorials

Those who fell are commemorated on the village War Memorial and are also remembered by the Ypres Bell which hangs behind the village church. The War Memorial Web Page remembers six men who fell but were not listed on the memorial, including George Paton who is commemorated on This Plaque at Port Laing.

Inter-War years

Scuttling and subsequent Raising of the High Seas Fleet

The slow progress of negotiating a peace treaty in 1920, convinced Rear-Admiral von Reuter to Scuttle the German Fleet in Scapa Flow. Many ships were subsequently raised with the larger ships being broken up in the dry docks at Rosyth.

Shipbreaking in Inverkeithing Bay

The Treaty of Washington, February 6th 1922 limited the size of the Royal Navy. From 1922 to 1971 134 Naval and 174 Mercantile ships were broken by Thomas Ward, Shipbreakers in Inverkeithing Bay

Barracks continued use to be added here.

WWII – related

In the late 1930’s as the threat of war increased, Air Raid Protection plans were introduced. Barrage balloons, air-raid shelters, and evacuation plans all affected North Queensferry. The local geology made it impossible to dig out “Anderson Shelters”, and the school was occupied by troops from the beginning of the war North Queensferry School in WWII

The concerns became reality in October 1939 with The First Air Raid of WWII when raiders attacked naval vessels in the Forth.

Almost immediately Barrage Balloons arrived in North Queensferry

Carlingnose Barracks were used again in WWII while the buildings at Port Laing and the Guv’y Pier were an RASC base.

War Memorials

Those who fell in WWII are commemorated on the village War Memorial

Post WWII

In 1952, an Artillery squad from Carlingnose Barracks gave a 56 Gun Salute on the death of King George V
The Barracks Closed in 1957 and the Buildings were Sold in 1960

Military History around the Forth

Here are some articles which cover the wider aspects of military history around the Forth, helping to give background and context to the sites and activity at North Queensferry.

Ancient defences

Forth Defences – from pre-Roman times to 19th Century

19th and early 20th Century defences

By the late 19th and early 20th century, the defences were subdivided into Naval Defences – stopping enemy ships from approaching; Anti-invasion Defences – stopping enemy troops from landing and Aviation Defences – preventing aerial attacks
WWI – Naval Defences of the Forth
WWI – Anti-Invasion Defences of the Forth
WWI – Military Aviation around the Forth

Inter-war years

Aviation development continued during the 20th century with the rise of civil aviation between the wars.
The Inter-war Years – New Civilian Aerodromes

WWII Defences

The civilian airfields were pressed into military service and joined several other World War II Military Airfields around the Forth
The World War II Naval Defences of the Forth extended to the mouth of the Forth.
And anti-invasion defences were once again put in place including these World War II defences in Collesie and Fife