Northumbrian Gunner: Seaham 5.5 inch Gun

Tuesday 13 June 2023

Seaham 5.5 inch Gun

Seaham Harbour IJ

Seaham Harbour VM

Seaham lies on the Durham Coast and was a key port devloped by the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry for the shipment of coal from the Durham Coalfields.

Seaham Harbour

Seaham Harbour 1903

Seaham Harbour 2023

The Royal Artillery has been associated with the town and people of Seaham for over a century. In 1860 the Marchioness of Londonderry sponsored the formation of the 2nd Durham (Seaham) Artillery Volunteers.

In 1908 on the formation of the Territorial Force, the Seaham Gunners were absorbed into the 3rd Northumbrian (County of Durham Brigade RFA. Batteries from Seaham would see active service in both World Wars and stand to during the Cold War.

Seaham Volunteer Artillery

During the First World War the 3rd Northumbrian (County of Durham Brigade RFA was part of the 50th (Northumbrian) Divisional Artillery.

Post war on the reforming of the Territorial Army the Seaham Gunners became a Medium Brigade RA, the 55th. During the 1930's with the ever increasing air threat Anti-Aircraft Command was formed in 1936. The 55th Medium Brigade RA converted to an air defence Regiment, 63rd (Northumbrian) Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment RA.

Mobilised in 1939, the Regiment defended key locations in the North East during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. In 1942 they deployed to Ceylon moving to India in April 1944. In India they converted to a Medium Regiment in August, seeing action in Burma in 1945.

5.5 inch guns 63rg Medium Regiment RA
Satthinagyon Burma 1945

At the end of WW2 the Regiment went into suspended animation. The Territorial Army was reconstituted in 1947 and the Regiment became 463 (Durham) HAA Regiment RA. They converted to Light Anti-Aircraft guns in 1955 amalgamating with a DLI RA Searchlight Regiment to form 463 (7 DLI) LAA Regiment RA. In 1967 the Territorial Army re-organised and the Regiment became a battery with the The Northumbrian Volunteers metamorphosing into A Company 7th Battalion Light Infantry in 1971.

SEAHAM GUNNERS

2nd (Seaham) Durham Artillery Volunteers

3rd Northumbrian Brigade RFA

55th (Northumbrian) Medium Brigade RA

63rd (Northumbrian) HAA Regiment RA

463 (Durham) HAA Regiment RA

463 (7 DLI) LAA Regiment RA

SEAHAM ARTILLERY COMMEMORATION

To commemorate the links between Seaham and the Royal Artillery a 5.5 inch gun has been installed on th cliff tops at Seaham. It was unveiled at a ceremony held on 13th April 2023.