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Appendix No. 4. with barracks for artillery; (6), store magazine near Munden's Point Battery; and (7), contingent on
establishment of coal depôt at Rupert's, the re-occupation of Bank's Half-Moon Battery.
ST. HELENA.
(Signed)
GEORGE PHILIPS, Lieutenant-Colonel, R.E., and Colonel Commanding Royal Engineer, and Com- manding the Troops, St. Helena.
October 17, 1881.
ESTIMATED COST.
As detailed in Inspector-General of Fortifications' Memorandum of the 26th April,
1891
In addition to above-
Two towers..
Defensible barracks for 40 men..
Breast-work in various places
Munden's Hill, closed work with barrack for 40 men
Munden's Point, store magazine near
Total
If Bank's battery be re-occupied (two 10-in. R.M.L., shielded, two 64-prs.)-
Works Armament
(Signed)
::
£
£
95,650
3,200
1,200
200
1,600
500
6,700
102,350
£
17,750
8,100
25,850
GEORGE PHILIPS
No. 14.
War Office Memorandum on the Defence of St. Helena.
THIS island was captured from the Dutch in 1672, and it has remained in the hands of the English ever since.
The following description, extracted from the Report of the Committee on its defences, under the presidency of Colonel Harding, R.E., and written in 1838, gives a clear idea of its formation :-
"The Island of St. Helena may be considered as an isolated rock rising from the sea to a general level of 1,900 to 2,000 feet, about 10 miles long and 7 broad, having 28 miles of precipitous sea-coast. From the centre ridge of hills deep ravines run to the sea, forming there small landing-places more or less practicable. Between these landing-places the coast is nearly perpendicular and inaccessible to the height of 600 to 1,000 feet, and thence forms ridges rising gradually to the centre, 1,900 to 2,000 feet high. The sides of these ridges forming the ravines are so steep and rugged as to be generally inaccessible to near the centre of the island, or for half the distance from the sea to the centre ridge; but in the upper half, though steep, they can be passed by infantry. The central portion of the island, where transversal roads are practicable, extends from the centre ridge to about High Knoll, and there is no communication between the ravines on the outer circle without ascending to the height of 1,900 feet.”
James Town, the only town in the island, is situated in a valley terminating at the principal landing-place. This is on the leeward side of the island, off which there are several positions where vessels can anchor in from 12 to 30 fathoms of water. There is no harbour, but a wharf wall and landing-place have been constructed.
There is no naval establishment.
A small garrison is maintained in the island, and there is barrack accommodation in and about James Town for 435 men, and at Bank's, Lemon Valley, and Sandy Bay for 76 more. The defences of the island have received much attention at various periods, dating from the time when the Emperor Napoleon was confined there. Batteries were at that time constructed at almost every point at which they might be of use in opposing a landing, and the principal landing-places were further protected by continuous entrench- ments, provided with scarps and counter-scarps. Of late years a sum of 30,0001. has been expended on the fortifications, which, however, are still in an incomplete state, and no sufficient means exist for defending the wharf and stores at James Town from the guns of an armoured cruizer.
The state of the defences at present is as follows:-
Of the twenty-six more or less practicable landing-places, which, according to the Report quoted above, exist round the coast, five are defended by lines of works across the mouths of the valleys leading to them, six others have been rendered inaccessible by scarping, including that at Prosperous Bay, where the English landed in 1692; the remainder are very difficult of access.
A large masonry work has been built at High Knoll, 1,900 feet above the sea, over- looking the James Town Valley, and covering the approach to Ladder Hill. This work forms a keep to the whole position in case a landing be effected by the enemy.
Although not constructed to resist modern artillery fire, yet it appears strong enough for the position, as none but the lightest guns could be brought against it. It requires
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