Corregidor - Battery James

Battery James (1908-1910) was armed with four 3" (76,2mm) M1903 guns on M1903 Barbette (pedestal) carriages. It was manned by men of Battery B, 1st Coastal Artillery, Philippines Army under 1st Lt. Amadeo S. Garcia.

The battery, facing Bataan directly across three miles of water, provided counter-fire against Japanese targets Bataan as best as it could for as long as was possible. On April 15, 1942, a shell collapsed a tunnel behind the battery, killing 42 men. The battery was silenced by the 20th, with three emplacements severely damaged and three guns wrecked beyond repair. The remaining gun was sabotaged by its crew, only to be repaired again by American POW's during the Japanese occupation of Corregidor.

During the Siege of Corregidor (1941-1942), 42 Filipino Soldiers died here serving on Battery James.

The battery was cleaned up by the Philippine authorities in 2015.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: Kaj Metz
• Photos: Wikimedia Commons