7th Coast Battery, West African Artillery
On 4th July 1941 (but with effect from 1st March 1941) the coast artillery at Lagos, Nigeria, until then known as the Lagos Coast Defence Battery, became known as the 2nd Coast Regiment, W.A.A. Approval for the formation of Regiment had been given on 11th June 1941.[1]
The batteries were:
- 6-inch and C.A.S.L.s manned by the 4th Coast Battery, W.A.A.,
- 12-pounder gun and C.A.S.L.s manned by the 5th Coast Battery, W.A.A.
It was planned to add one 4-inch gun to the above and it was proposed that an additional unit be created, to be known as the 7th Coast Battery, W.A.A. This appears to have taken some time.[2]
The 7th Coast Battery, W.A.A. may have formed on 1st January 1943 (first mention in the war diary of 2nd Coast Regiment is 10th April 1943).[3]
The 7th Battery manned the single 4-inch gun installed at Lagos, Nigeria.
Work on camouflaging the 4-inch gun and its emplacement began on 9th January 1942. The protection wall began construction on 21st May. Ammunition for the gun was received during June.[4]
The 7th Coast Battery, W.A.A. moved out of Hanwell Barracks to the new 4-inch gun site on 10th April 1943.[5]
It is possible that the 7th Coast Battery was disbanded on 1st October 1943.[6]
15 April 2025
[1] War diary 1st Coast Regiment, W.A.A., WO 173/151, Coast Artillery West Africa, WO 106/2914
[2] WO 106/2914
[3] Coast Artillery West Africa, WO 106/2914
[4] War diary 2nd Coast Regiment, W.A.A., 00WO 173/389
[5] War diary 2nd Coast Regiment, W.A.A., WO 173/740; War diary H.Q. Lagos Sub Area, WO 173/699
[6] War diary Lagos Fire Command, WO 173/1032