Achnacarry - Walled garden entrance and The Dig

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 08/06/2014 21:39:37

Guys

I was recently at Achnacarry to assist with the Commando Spirit 30 miler charity event. I noticed that by the entrance to the walled garden there are 2 earth mounds either side of the entrance door with many strike marks in the wall brickwork above the mounds. Photo attached.

Just curious to know what type of training activity took place here?

Many thanks.

Rik Hamilton

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 24/10/2013 17:37:06

Hi Rik

I sent your photo to Major James Dunning who was a TSM in No. 4 Commando and then Training Officer in charge of Haydon Training Commando at the CBTC, and later on the staff at the Commando Mountain Warfare Training Centre. He cannot recall the mounds as seen in your photo. We are up at Achnacarry in a few weeks time and I will make some more enqs to see if anyone knows whether they were WW2, or post WW2 when the big clear up took place, or perhaps even something with a simpler explanation

Regards

Pete

Pete

Many thanks. Definitely worth a look, it was the strike marks in the brick work that drew my attention. Thanks again - look forward to hearing any news.

Rik

Hi Rik

Visited the site of this photo at the weekend. They are as you say definitely a lot of strike marks on the wall. The general feeling by those present was that the location with the raised mounds and the gap to the entrance door may well have been used for assault training. I have a few more people to ask

Pete

I had a look at the marks which, in my opinion, where definitely made by rounds (bullets).
Having said that, there aren't as many marks that would suggest regular firing practice - seems like a couple of quick bursts either side of the doorway...

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 15/11/2013 02:10:39

Two close-ups of a hole - large calibre, but no great penetration...

I poked my fingers right into the holes and the far end felt sharp and jagged - not at all like brick. I would say that the bullet is still in the hole, but has corroded to leave sharp edges. Certainly in the close-up there appears to be rust at the end of the hole.

Might well be rifle range/target practice with targets mounted on the mounds ?

Is there evidence of only one calibre?

Is there any indication of trajectory?

Could they have been firing along fixed lines left to right, right to left over the gap ensuring all who were exiting the walled area had to do so in a crouched/prone position?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 15/11/2013 22:52:50

Steve,

The River Arkaig is directly in front of the doorway - about 25 yards away (roughly from where Rik's photo was taken). The strike marks are about five foot above ground level and the rounds seem to have hit the wall parallel with the ground.

There are two main areas, just above the banks of soil, but there are two smaller areas directly above them.
There is no evidence of the guns traversing and no damage to the door frame - although that may have been replaced since the firing took place.

nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 09/03/2014 14:36:26

Well the Lochaber Archaeological Society have started their exploration of the grounds at Achnacarry.
Bridget Willoughby from the Society has given me permission to post some of her photos.

The first photo shows the first find which Paul Macdonald indentifies to be a .303 round with a Lee Enfield firing pin impression.

The third photo shows 9mm and .45 rounds, again identified by Paul, recovered from the left hand side of the doorway.

Thanks Bridget.

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 09/03/2014 21:42:48

Bridget wrote:Horrible weather at Achnacarry today (9 March 2014) so the metal detecting shifted to the riverbank and the shelter of the beech trees...

Finds included a few spent cases, a couple of buttons, a penny, a 1p and a couple of tent pegs from beside the gate of the big house

The yellow flags beneath the beech trees are markers to show finds.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 09/03/2014 21:48:47

some more finds from 9th March.

a spent case - probably from a Bren gun which, according to Paul Macdonald, " leaves an elongated detonator strike..."
a brass button - possibly from a 1937 pattern battledress (Paul Macdonald).
a 1920 penny.

Bridget did not picture the 1p coin.

Nick

Gibbs' Dentifrice toothpaste tin

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 06/04/2014 14:34:25

Royal Berkshires cap badge and what has been described as the clasp for back of a cap badge (although I'm not 100% convinced of that at the moment - it looks like the rear of a brass/metal button from a Field Service Cap to me!)

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 27/04/2014 23:15:53

Spent cases and other objects - hopefully these will be identified more accurately and updated accordingly.

Aparently the item in the 1st photo is is from a wooden ammo box - it's the pin that locks the lid closed. The hole is where string is attached, the other end of the string is connected to the box so when the pin is pulled out it's not lost but remains attached to the box for reuse.