Lord Salisbury Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (; 3 February 183022 August 1903), known as Lord Salisbury, was a British statesman and Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United ...

described Malta, Gibraltar, Bermuda, and Halifax as Imperial fortresses at the 1887 Colonial Conference, though by that point they had been so designated for decades. Later historians have also given the title "imperial fortress" to St. Helena and Mauritius, despite their lacking naval dockyards and not serving as home bases for station naval squadrons. The fortresses provided safe harbours; coal stores; and dockyards to protect and supply

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

warships. They had numbers of soldiers sufficient not only for local defence, but also to provide expeditionary forces to work with the Royal Navy, as well as stockpiles of military supplies.

History

Although the War Office took over from local officials the funding and operational control of auxiliary forces in the British Isles from 1871 onwards, the trend of Imperial defence policy during the course of the 19th century was to remove regular units of the British Army from colonial garrison duty wherever strategic concerns did not require their retention (this included disbanding colonial regular units of the British Army, other than the West India Regiment and the local-service sub-unit of the

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

that would ultimately be titled the Royal Malta Artillery, though others would later be raised), with local governments expected to organise and fund auxiliary forces for local defence (although these forces would ultimately be controlled by the Imperial government via colonial Governors, most of whom were civilians, acting as military commanders-in-chief). The main exceptions were the four Imperial fortresses, which the regular army continued to garrison, and within which the part-time militia and volunteer units were funded as parts of the British Army and brigaded with regular units. The 1887 Colonial Conference sat in London from April 4 until May 9, 1887. At the conference, it was asserted that: Halifax and Bermuda controlled the transatlantic sea lanes between North America and Europe, and were placed to dominate the Atlantic seaboard of the United States (as demonstrated during the American War of 1812, when the squadron of the Royal Navy's North America Station maintained a blockade of the Atlantic coast of the United States and launched the Chesapeake Campaign from Bermuda, defeating American forces at Bladensburg, burning Washington, DC, and raiding Alexandria, Virginia, before ultimately being defeated at Baltimore and forced to withdrawn back to Bermuda), as well as to control the western Atlantic Ocean from the Arctic to the West Indies. In 1828, Royal Navy Purser ''Richard Cotter'' wrote of Bermuda: Gibraltar controlled passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and Malta, aside from supporting operations in the Mediterranean and

Black Sea The Black Sea is a marginal sea, marginal Mediterranean sea (oceanography), mediterranean sea lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bound ...

, served as a base for naval and military forces that would be able to deploy relatively quickly to the Indian and Pacific Oceans once the Suez Canal was completed in 1869. Halifax ceased to be an Imperial fortress in stages. With the 1867

confederation A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

of the

Dominion A dominion was any of several largely self-governance, self-governing countries of the British Empire, once known collectively as the ''British Commonwealth of Nations''. Progressing from colonies, their degrees of self-governing colony, colon ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

(under which all of the colonies of the British Empire's administrative region of

British North America British North America comprised the colonial territories of the British Empire in North America from 1783 onwards. English colonisation of North America began in the 16th century in Newfoundland, then further south at Roanoke and Jamestown, ...

, except Bermuda and

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the population ...

, were ''"federally united into One Dominion under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with a Constitution similar in Principle to that of the United Kingdom ..."''), military defence of Canada would be transferred to the

militia A militia ( ) is a military or paramilitary force that comprises civilian members, as opposed to a professional standing army of regular, full-time military personnel. Militias may be raised in times of need to support regular troops or se ...

of the dominion government, and the British Army withdrew most of its establishment from the continent, leaving small military garrisons to defend the Royal Naval Dockyard at Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Esquimalt Royal Navy Dockyard in

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

. These garrisons were withdrawn along with the Royal Navy establishments when the two Canadian dockyards were closed in 1905, then sold to the government of the dominion. When the

Panama Canal The Panama Canal () is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest point of the Isthmus of Panama, and is a Channel (geography), conduit for maritime trade between th ...

opened in 1914, Britain was able to rely on amity and common interests between herself and the United States during and after the First World War, to use Bermuda also as a base from which cruisers could patrol the Pacific coasts of North, Central, and South America (the first Bermuda-based ship to pass through the canal being HMS Chatham in 1920). The perception that the only navies that could threaten British control of the sealanes or territory around the globe were all those of countries on the Atlantic or its connected seas had meant Imperial fortresses were only established in this region. This was despite the growth of the Pacific Ocean fleets of Russia and the United States of America during the 19th Century. Finally the rising power and increasing belligerence of the Japanese empire after the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

(The

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, Potsdam Declaration, when it was dissolved followin ...

was the third largest navy in the world by 1920, behind the Royal Navy and the United States Navy) would result in the construction of the Singapore Naval Base, which was completed in 1938, less than four years before hostilities with Japan commenced during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The need to protect these bases of operation, as well as to prevent, via their captures, their becoming bases of similar utility to an enemy (with ownership of land by foreigners, at least in Bermuda, barred in order to deny a pretext for invasion), each was heavily defended, making ''fortress'' an apt designation. "Fortress" was often included when giving the names of these colonies, e.g. "Fortress Bermuda". Bermuda, protected by an almost impassable barrier reef and unconnected to any continent, required the least defences, but was heavily garrisoned and armed with

coastal artillery Coastal artillery is the branch of the armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications. From the Middle Ages until World War II, coastal artillery and naval artillery in the form of ...

batteries. Defence of Bermuda, and of the region, was greatly weakened by the economic austerity that followed the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars and the American War of 1812, which resulted in drastic reductions to the regular forces and to Reserve Forces in the British Isles (Militia, Volunteer Force, and Fencibles), and in Bermuda (Militia and volunteer artillery), being allowed to lapse. Bermuda's garrison would slowly increase, with the threat of invasion by the United States during and after the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

resulting in further strengthening of the defences. Bermuda's importance to Imperial defence was only increasing, however. Halifax was much more vulnerable to attack than Bermuda, which might come over land or water from the United States, Gibraltar was vulnerable to overland attack by Spain (which remains anxious to recover it) and by Napoleonic France, and both Gibraltar and Malta were much more vulnerable to the navies of the Mediterranean (notably those of Spain, France, Italy, and the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

), and were even more heavily defended.

Naval and military establishments of the imperial fortresses

Bermuda

North America and West Indies Station The North America and West Indies Station was a formation or command of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed in North American waters from 1745 to 1956, with main bases at the Imperial fortresses of Bermuda and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ...

Royal Navy establishment in Bermuda ** Admiralty House, Bermuda ***Rose Hill, St. George's Parish (1795 to 1810) ***Mount Wyndham, Hamilton Parish (1810 to 1816) ***St. John's Hill (renamed Clarence Hill in 1822), Pembroke Parish (1816 to 1956) ** Royal Naval Dockyard Bermuda, and the history of the Royal Navy in Bermuda 1795–1995. *** Convict Bay *** Admiralty Island (now ''Hen Island'') ***Daniel's Head wireless station (formerly used by British Army. Later became Royal Canadian Navy NRS Bermuda. See both below) *** Royal Naval Air Station Bermuda *** Corps of Colonial Marines. 1814–1816. *** Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps *Established by Canadian naval forces ** HMCS Somers Isles 1944–1945 **NRS Bermuda (renamed CFS Bermuda) (see Royal Navy Daniel's Head wireless station, above) * North America Command * Nova Scotia Command * Bermuda Garrison (or ''Bermuda Command'' after Confederation of Canada). 1701–1957. ** St. George's Garrison (Eastern District Headquarters) ***

Ordnance Island Ordnance Island is located within the limits of St. George's, Bermuda, St. George's Town, Bermuda. It lies close to the shore opposite the town square (King's Square), in St. George's Harbour, Bermuda, St. George's Harbour. History The only ...

***Royal Army Service Corps Wharf (St. George's) ***St. George's Armoury ***East Coast Forts (St. George's, Paget, Governor's, and St. David's Islands) **** Fort St. Catherine's **** Fort Victoria **** Fort Albert **** Western Redoubt **** Fort George **** Town Cut Battery (or Gates' Fort) **** Alexandra Battery **** Fort Cunningham ****Fort Popple ****Paget Fort ****Smith's Fort ****Peniston's Redoubt **** St. David's Battery *** Castle Islands Fortifications ****Devonshire Redoubt ****Landward Fort ****King's Castle (Queen's Castle, The Castle, or Seaward Fort) ****Southampton Fort (or Brangman's Fort) ****Charles' Fort ****

Martello Tower Martello towers are small defensive forts that were built across the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the French Revolutionary Wars onwards. Most were coastal forts. They stand up to high (with two floors) and typica ...

****Burnt Point Fort **** Ferry Island Fort ** Prospect Camp (Command Headquarters and Central District Headquarters) *** Warwick Camp *** Agar's Island ***Royal Army Service Corps Wharf (Hamilton) ***Hamilton Armoury *** Prospect Hill Position **** Fort Prospect **** Fort Langton **** Fort Hamilton ***South Shore Batteries (former fixed batteries adapted for field guns) ****Fort Bruere ****Bailey's Bay Battery (Tucker's Town Battery, and Tucker's Town Bay Fort) ****Newton's Bay Fort (Hall's Bay Fort) ****Albouy's Fort ****Harris' Bay Fort ****Sears' Fort ****Devonshire Bay Fort ****Hungry Bay Fort ****Crow Lane Fort (also known as New Paget's Fort and East Elbow Bay Fort) ****Middleton's Bay Fort (also known as Centre Bay Fort) ****West Elbow Bay Fort ****Warwick Camp Battery ****Warwick Fort ****Jobson's Cove Fort ****Great Turtle Bay Battery ****Jobson's Fort ****Hunt's Fort (Lighthouse Fort) ****Ingham's Fort ****Church Bay Fort East ****Church Bay Fort West ** Boaz Island and Watford Island (Clarence Barracks; Western District Headquarters) ***Somerset Armoury *** Whale Bay Battery (West Whale Bay) *** Whale Bay Fort (West Whale Bay) ***West Side Fort ***Wreck Hill Fort *** Scaur Hill Fort ***Daniel's Island Fort and Daniel's Head (later transferred to Royal Navy then Royal Canadian Navy) ***Mangrove Bay Fort ***King's Point Redoubt ***Maria's Hill Fort * Bermuda Militia. 1612–1815. * Bermudian Militia, Volunteer and Territorial Army Units, 1895–1965 * Bermuda Militia Artillery * Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps * Bermuda Volunteer Engineers * Bermuda Militia Infantry * Royal Bermuda Regiment * Bermuda Home Guard * Bermuda Cadet Corps * Royal Air Force, RAF Darrell's Island. 1939–1945. * Royal Air Force Transport Command station, Kindley Field

Halifax, Nova Scotia

* Admiralty House, Halifax * Royal Naval Dockyard, Halifax * Halifax Defence Complex ** Citadel Hill (Fort George) ** Fort Charlotte ** York Redoubt ** Prince of Wales Tower ** Connaught Battery **Practice Battery **Sandwich Point ** Camperdown Signal Station ** Fort Chebucto ** Fort Charlotte on George's Island ** Fort Clarence ** Devil's Battery **Five forts on McNabs Island: ***Fort Ives ***Fort Hugonin ***Sherbrooke Tower ***Strawberry Hill ***Fort McNab *5th Battalion,

Royal Garrison Regiment The Royal Garrison Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army that formed in 1901 and disbanded in 1908. The regiment was originally formed from personnel of the Royal Reserve Regiments, a reserve force composed of veteran soldiers f ...

Gibraltar

* British Forces Gibraltar * Royal Navy Dockyard, Gibraltar * Her Majesty's Naval Base Gibraltar * HMS Rooke * Fortifications of Gibraltar ** Alexandra Battery ** Civil Hospital Battery ** Cumberland Flank Battery ** Eliott's Battery ** Europa Advance Batteries ** Europa Battery ** Europa Pass Battery ** Gardiner's Battery ** Genista Battery ** Half Way Battery ** Harding's Battery ** Jones' Battery ** King's Bastion ** Lady Augusta's Battery ** Lady Louisa's Battery ** Lighthouse Battery ** New Mole Battery ** O'Hara's Battery ** Orange Bastion ** Parson's Lodge Battery ** Prince Albert's Front ** Prince of Wales Battery ** Raglan's Battery ** Rock Gun Battery ** Signal Hill Battery ** Victoria Battery ** Wellington Front ** Windmill Hill Batteries ** Woodford's Battery ** Zoca Flank Battery * Devil's Tower Camp * Retrenched Barracks *

RAF Gibraltar Royal Air Force Gibraltar or more simply RAF Gibraltar (also formerly known as North Front) is a Royal Air Force List of Royal Air Force stations, station on Gibraltar. No military aircraft are currently stationed there, but RAF and aircraft o ...

* Royal Gibraltar Regiment *2nd Battalion,

Gibraltar Defence Police The Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP) is a civil police force which provides a policing and security service for the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Ministry of Defence in Gibraltar. Prior to 17 December 2009 it was known as the Gibraltar Ser ...

* Gibraltar Cadet Force * 2 Overseas (Gibraltar) Squadron, Air Training Corps (ATC)

Malta

* Lascaris War Rooms * Admiralty House, Valletta * Royal Naval Dockyard, Malta * HMS Egmont or HMS St Angelo * HMS Phoenicia (Fort Manoel) * HMS Euroclydon * Royal Navy Hospital Mtarfa * Malta Command *

Fortifications of Malta The fortifications of Malta consist of a number of walled cities, citadels, forts, Watchtower, towers, Artillery battery, batteries, redoubts, Entrenchment (fortification), entrenchments and Pillbox (military), pillboxes. The fortifications we ...

Fortifications of Mdina The fortifications of Mdina () are a series of defensive walls which surround Mdina, the former capital city of Malta from antiquity to the medieval period. The city was founded as Maleth by the Phoenicians in around the 8th century BC, and it ...

** Cambridge Battery ** Cittadella ** Della Grazie Battery ** Fort Benghisa ** Fort Chambray ** Fort Campbell ** Fort Delimara **

Fort Leonardo Fort Leonardo (), also known as Fort San Leonardo or Fort San Anard, is a polygonal fort in Żabbar, Malta. It was built between 1872 and 1878 by the British between the villages of San Leonardo and Żonqor above the shore east of the Grand Har ...

** Fort Mellieħa ** Fort Ricasoli ** Fort Rinella ** Fort St. Angelo ** Fort Saint Elmo ** Fort Saint Michael ** Fort Saint Rocco **

Fort San Lucian Fort San Lucian (), also known as Saint Lucian Tower () or Fort Rohan (), is a large bastioned watchtower and polygonal fort in Marsaxlokk, Malta. The original tower was built by the Knights Hospitaller, Order of Saint John between 1610 and 1611 ...

** Fort San Salvatore ** Fort Tas-Silġ ** Fort Tigné ** Fort Pembroke ** Fort Verdala ** Garden Battery ** Għargħar Battery ** Lascaris Battery ** Pembroke Battery ** Saint Mary's Tower (or ''Comino Tower'') ** Saint Paul's Battery ** Sliema Point Battery ** Spinola Battery ** Tarġa Battery ** Victoria Lines *** Fort Binġemma *** Fort Madalena *** Fort Mosta ** Wolseley Battery ** Żonqor Battery * Pembroke Army Garrison * Malta Tanks (Royal Tank Regiment) * Royal Malta Artillery * Malta Fortress Squadron, Royal Engineers * Royal Signals in Malta * The King's Own Malta Regiment *1st, 3rd, and 4th Battalions,

* Royal Malta Fencible Regiment * Air Headquarters Malta * RAF Hal Far * RAF Luqa * RAF Ta Kali

References

* - Malta described as an imperial fortress in 1959. * - describes Malta, Gibraltar, Halifax and Bermuda as imperial fortresses. *{{cite book , last=Tucker , first=Gilbert , title=The Naval Service of Canada: its Official History, Volume I: Origins and Early Years , location=Ottawa , publisher=King's Printer , date=1952 Military installations of the United Kingdom History of Bermuda