An interesting article in the history of Drake’s Island appeared in the news back in 1848 about the Artillery nearly hitting civilian boats during live fire practice in the Sound. Target Buoys were towed out from the Island to the East of the Island and were attached to moorings between the Island and Jennycliff. It wasn’t the first time that there were complaints about the lack of warning and lack of accuracy from Her Majesty’s Royal Regiment of Artillery. Live firing was eventually banned in the Sound in 1864 when a waterman’s boat was hit killing one of the two watermen and the Artillery nearly hit the Port Admirals Barge. The image above is the view from the Citadel at around the time the incident took place.
Drake’s Island making the news back in 1848
