Six Inch Guns, Horsburgh Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Six Inch Guns |
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| Horsburgh Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands in Australia | |
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 Six Inch Guns
Location of Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean
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| Coordinates | 12°04′52″S 96°50′38″E / 12.0812°S 96.8438°E |
| Type | Former Artillery battery |
| Site information | |
| Owner |  Australian Army |
| Condition | Heavily corroded |
| Facilities | Two 6-inch (15 cm) guns |
| Site history | |
| Built | c. 1941 |
| Materials | Steel |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison |
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| Official name: Six Inch Guns | |
| Type: | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated: | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference #: | 105222 |
The Six Inch Guns are old artillery guns located on Horsburgh Island. This island is part of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in Australia. These guns are considered a special historical site. They were added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on June 22, 2004.
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Why Were These Guns Built?
During World War II, soldiers were stationed on Horsburgh Island. In late 1940, the Australian Army decided the Cocos Islands needed protection. They wanted to prevent another attack like the one from the German ship Emden during World War I.
So, in 1941, Captain Koch and his unit from the Ceylon Garrison Artillery arrived. They set up two large six-inch guns on Horsburgh Island. These guns were meant to guard the main entrance and anchorage of the atoll.
Other soldiers from the Ceylon Light Infantry also helped defend the islands. These soldiers were volunteers. They were led by officers from the British Army.
On May 8, 1942, some of these volunteer soldiers started a mutiny. A mutiny is when soldiers rebel against their commanders. Their goal was to give control of the islands to the Japanese. The mutiny did not go as planned. Some soldiers faced serious consequences. Today, the two rusted gun emplacements are still there. They remind us of the time when soldiers occupied Horsburgh Island.
What Do They Look Like Today?
The Six Inch Guns are found at a place called Possession Point. This is on the south-east side of Horsburgh Island. There are two guns in total.
One gun sits on a steel base. This base has partly fallen onto the beach. The other gun is about 50 meters (164 feet) further inland. Its barrel is separate and partly buried in the sand on the beach. There are also stone and coral walls that stretch into the lagoon.
These guns might be connected to other World War II gun setups. For example, there were similar installations on Christmas Island.
How Are the Guns Now?
By 1996, the guns were very rusty. Some parts were missing from them. The gun closer to the water had its base washed away. The barrel of the inland gun had also come off.
In 2000, reports said that the coastline had eroded a lot. This means the land near the sea had worn away. Because of this, the gun barrel had been washed further into the sand. The base of the gun now sits completely on the beach. It used to be on higher grassy land. Other pieces of the gun are now visible on the coral. All parts are very corroded, meaning they are heavily rusted. The gun mount in the grass area is also very rusty.
Why Are These Guns Important?
The Six Inch Guns were built around 1941. They show how important the Cocos (Keeling) Islands were during World War II. Their location in the Indian Ocean was very strategic.
World War II changed how isolated the islands were. The military presence brought attention from Australia and other countries. People started looking closely at how the Clunies Ross family managed the Cocos Malay people. This family had a very old-fashioned way of ruling.
This attention helped the Australian Government decide to take control of the islands in 1951. The Six Inch Guns are important because they are proof of the armed forces being there. They show the impact of World War II on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. They are also the only remaining parts from when the Ceylonese Army was stationed on Horsburgh Island.
