Connaught Battery is a

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

era harbour defence battery located north of York Redoubt at Ferguson's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada. It took its name from the then

Governor General of Canada The governor general of Canada (french: gouverneure générale du Canada) is the federal viceregal representative of the . The is head of state of Canada and the 14 other Commonwealth realms, but resides in oldest and most populous realm, ...

, the

Duke of Connaught Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom that was granted on 24 May 1874 by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to her third son, Prince Arthur. At the same time, he was also ...

, who was

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

's third son.

Construction

Built between 1912 and 1917 the battery was a part of

Halifax Harbour Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Halifax largely owes its existence to the harbour, being one of the largest and deepest ice-free natural harbo ...

's larger ''Defence Complex'', which included other fortifications such as Fort George (Citadel Hill). Connaught Battery was the only new structure built by the military after 1905, with a grand total area of 2.5 hectares and a floor space of 447 sq. metres. Since its inception Halifax Harbour has always had strategic and commercial importance, Beginning in the colony's early days it was a well-fortified location. During the Second World War its defences included three 4.7-inch quick-firing guns.

Today

Today Connaught Battery is an abandoned complex, but open to the public to use as a municipal park. The cement casemates of the fort remain in good condition.

References

Military forts in Nova Scotia Coastal artillery History of Halifax, Nova Scotia Artillery batteries Coastal fortifications in Canada {{Artillery-stub