Looking for any information on Andrew falconer died 17/12/1944. Service number 1744313. Or anything about his unit Casualty Serjeant FALCONER, ANDREW Service Number 1744313 Died 17/12/1944 527 Coast Regt., Royal Artillery Buried at LIVERPOOL (ANFIELD) CEMETERY Location: Lancashire, United Kingdom Cemetery/memorial reference: Sec. 5. C of E Coll. grave 33. Screen Wall Panel 3
Culver Battery was garrisoned by Culver Fire Command, 527 Coast Regiment Royal Artillery (Territorial Army), with the headquarters based at Bembridge Fort. Huts were built for the garrison at Culver Battery, and air defence covers added to protect the guns from air attack during the Battle of Britain. At night time, Culver Battery worked in conjunction with searchlights mounted at Yaverland Battery and the sea forts, although the Yaverland searchlights lit for the last time in July 1942 and Culver no longer played an active night time role. However, a Coast Defence/Chain Home Low radar station had been constructed east of the battery at the cliff edge, to assist the coastal guns and spot for enemy low-flying aircraft. The batttery consisted of a pair of two 9.2-inch breech-loading Mark X guns in barbette Mark V emplacements. This gun, the standard British coast defence weapon of the time, weighed 129 tons when shielded and could fire a 380 pound armour piercing shell up to 29,000 yards, although it was most effective at a range of 6,000 against armoured vessels. It was emplaced within a 6 foot 6 inch concrete parapet, beneath which was the hydraulic lift and accumulator used to assist in loading and firing the weapon.
The Hampshire Heavy Regiment was formed in 1924 within the Territorial Army. In July 1940, it was redesignated as the 527th (Hampshire), 528th (Hampshire) and 529th (Hampshire) Coast Regiments, Royal Artillery. I believe they where stationed in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas like the Isle of wight 527 (Hampshire) Coast Regiment RA(TA) in July 1940 where in the uk and were formed part of the Durham Hvy Rgt, they stayed in the UK till 1945 when it went into suspended animation. This info from: RA 1939-45 527 Coast Rgt h2g2 - Fortifications of the Isle of Wight - Culver Battery Hope this helps
before image of 527 coastal command at Culver battery and after as it is pictures from Then and Now Images - Page 27 - ADVrider
culver battery & signal station - isle of wight culver battery & signal station - isle of wight - YouTube The Culver Defences. The Culver Defences. - YouTube Pastscape - Detailed Result: CULVER DOWN BATTERY
You also want to look at WO199 Home forces at the national Archives also WO 166/1729 : ROYAL ARTILLERY: COAST REGIMENTS: 527 Coast Regiment. 1940 Sept.- 1941 Dec. WO 166/7149 : ROYAL ARTILLERY: COAST REGIMENTS: 527 Regiment. 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 166/11428: 527 Regiment 1943 Jan.- Dec. WO 166/15021: 527 Regiment 1944 Jan.-Dec. There is some really nice people on this site who could get the info for you as they go to the national archives quite often one is Drew and another is Arcre regards Keith
