The Guns of St Helena are a dramatic physical symbol of the Island’s extraordinary history as a fortified Island.  Settled in May 1659, as a place of rest and refreshment for vessels on the final leg of the return voyage from the East Indies, the Island had exceptional strategic importance.   The brief period when the Dutch seized the island in 1672 has echoed down the years.  First, the East India Company and then the British, after the Island became a Crown Colony in 1834, were at pains to ensure that there were no further invasion attempts.
The Island’s soaring cliffs and rugged terrain offers natural defences with relatively few navigable landing places.   Generations of defenders added batteries. Some like eagle’s nests, with many in almost inaccessible places and at dizzying heights.  At the time of the incarceration of Napoleon Bonaparte, between 1815 and 1821, St Helena was the most heavily defended place in the world.   This of course was the reason why it was felt to be the only place Napoleon could be safely held. 

Where there are batteries there are guns and many were left in situ as the cost of removing them exceeded their value. Opposite and on the next 2 pages are shown only a few of the huge number of cannon sti ll on the Island.  Some have already corroded beyond redemption but many are capable of restoration provided action is taken soon.

Only those who visit this very special Island truly appreciate the wealth and range of historic treasures here.  The cannon are just one example of irreplaceable artefacts visibly wasting year after year. 

Contrary to local myth these guns are not from HMS Hood (unlike the two 5.5’ guns on Ascension).  They were ordered in 1902 to help guard the Boer prisoners, but did not arrive until after they had left.  Active until the late 1940s, local oral history is that they were fired once at a German submarine which was rash enough to surface within range during WWII .  Another local story is that the Graf Spey used to pass by St Helena whilst ravaging South Atlantic shipping and had been directed by Hitler to leave St Helena alone because he admired Napoleon.  The gunners manning these weapons wanted to take a pot shot at the pocket battleship but were banned by the then Governor who feared that the Graf Spey would sit outside the range of these guns and blow them and the island to pieces.  There were two more Elswicks on Munden’s emplacements

Related Information

Icomam Magazine

‘For more information on cannon and their conservation’