Royal Naval Reserve Battery

A RNR Battery was established on the Headlands overlooking Peel Bay in 1884 — it is fortunate that the gun was too big to be installed in Peel Castle where the construction of the previous battery, immediately post Napoleonic war, had caused much damage to the fabric.

The 'Graphic' (24 Oct 1885) carried the following woodcut

Mrs Spencer Walpole (wife of the Lieutenant Governor) firing the first gun at the new Battery.

The Battery continued in operation until 31 March 1906 (later became CHA Guest House)— a commemorative postcard was issued:

The wording stated 'Opened March, 1884, closed March 31st, 1906' — "greatest number belonging to Force at any one time, 650. Nuumber drilled altogether about 5,000"

Officers Past and P:resent.

Battery Officer — Mr Quigley, Mr Davey.
Divisional Officer — Lieut. Newnham, Lieut Lowday.

In 1903 reported complement was a 4.5" Maxim, five-barrel Nordenfelt, 3 lb. Hotchkiss, 9 in. firer, 7 in. R.M L. gun

Battery + Men

1897 Establishment

COAST GUARD AND ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE.

Royal Naval Reserve Battery — Creg Malin, Peel.

Divisional Officer — A Newnham. R.N., Peel.
Hon. Paymaster — W. H. Holmes, Collector H.M.'s Customs, Douglas.
Senior Gunnery instructor — William Stivey.

Coast Guard
Peel — Harry Hunt, Commissioned Boatman.
Castletown Detachment. — J. J. Thomas, Chief Boatman ; Henry Spragg, Commissioned Boatman.
Ramsey Detachment, Llewellyn Brinkworth, Chief Boatman; Evan J. Sims Commissioned Boatman ; __ Fleck, Boatman.

Number of Members in Royal Naval Reserve: Officers, 2; First-Class 182; Second Class, 268 ; Firemen, 24. Total, 476.

1906 Establishment

Coast Guard and Royal Naval Reserve.

Royal Naval Reserve Battery — Creg Malin, Peel.
Divisional Officer — John Lowday, R.N.
Senior Gunnery Instructor — John Bray, C.P.O., G.I.

Coast Guard: —
Peel — Chief Boatman, vacant; Sidney William Matthews, Commissioned Boatman and Station Signalman ; 2nd Boatman, vacant.
Ramsey Detachment — William Taylor, Chief Boatman; John Hurford, Commissioned Boatman; William Bainbridge, Boatman and Station Signalman.
Castletown Detachment — Wm. Smale, Chief Boatman; Wm. Taylor, Commissioned Boatman ; Alfred Burnett, Boatman and Station Signalman.

Number of members in Royal Naval Reserve : — Officers, 5 Leading Seamen, 1 ; First Class, 336; Second Class, 270; Firemen, 32. Total, 644.