Ze757. An artillery piece on Grande Island, dated 1903. This is Grande Island for sure, I recognize Sinco Picos Mountain on the Redondo Peninsular. I’m not an expert, is it a Spanish gun or U.S.A. one? This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
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The Coastal Defense Study Group (cdsg.org) people told me, when we explored Grande Island, the ex U.S. Army Fort Wint, that the Marines had a large Caliber artillery piece near where Battery Warwick is now.
But I never read anything about that. Then recently I came across 15 images of U.S. Marines on Grande Island. They garrisoned the island and had a Camp Dayton there. They had artillery guns on the island and used the island for various training purposes. The date of these pictures’ ranges from 1902 to 10; they are from the Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives. This is the URL, click here or copy and paste it:
In the first decade of the last century the USMC had many Marines in the Philippines, 2 regiments; at one time there was even a Brigade Command. They were busy, the Philippine-American War was going on, we called it then: The Philippine Insurrection”. So, the Marines were doing many things including Coastal Defense of the Naval Bases.
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Here are the 15 images.
Ze758. This is a Google Earth image with Grande Island in Subic Bay, it changed hands many times in the last 121 years, Spanish, Philippines, US. Marines, US Army, Imperial Japan, US Army, US Navy, now Independent Philippines. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze759. An artillery piece on Grande Island, dated 1903. I’m not an expert, is it a Spanish gun or a U.S.A. one? US Marines are standing behind it. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze760. Grande Island in Subic Bay from a west direction, perhaps from the USMC Hell Hill 4.7 Inch Guns Battery at Macmany Point on Redondo Peninsular, around 1908 to 10. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze761. Grande Island in Subic Bay from the Olongapo (north) direction in 1911; wow, it is really built up already. Are they captured Spanish buildings, did the Marines built them or is it all new stuff opening Fort Wint by the US Army? I speculate, maybe from all three! This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Did you know? The Spanish fled here during the Spanish American War, chased by the Filipinos and did not want to surrender. A German warship arrived and assisted the Spanish. The leader of the Filipinos, Gen. Aguinaldo complained to Commodore Dewey. The commodore sent up a US warship which told the German one to beat it and forced the Spanish to surrender.
Did you know: That after the collapse of South Viet Nam, Grande Island was used by the US Navy, as a temporary camp for the Indochinese refugee boat people?
Ze762. That is a lot of Marines, the F Company, 2nd Regiment in 1909 on Grande Island. I see at least 2 Navy white hats. One got a big bag, maybe he is a pekker checker (Corpsman). That all looks like heavy gun parts, are the dismantling a battery? The rail track looks like it has been there a while, not new and arrived with the army. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze763. US Marines are dismounting 6 Inch guns in 1909 on Grande Island, the hard way, by hand! Why, because the Army is going to take over the island and these dismounted guns are going to the Kalaklan Ridge? This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze764. US Marines are dismounting 6 Inch guns in 1909 on Grande Island, the hard way, by hand! Why, because the Army is going to take over the island and these dismounted guns are going to the Kalaklan Ridge? I notice a narrow rail track in front, bottom of the picture. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze765. This picture is very interesting for several reasons, it is dated 1909. USMC Officer Ellis reports that the C.A.C. is exploding a mine in the channel to Subic Bay between Grande Island and the Redondo Peninsular. C.A.C. stands foe US Army Coast Artillery Corps, so they were on the island already and are starting up, building the new US Army Fort Wint on Grande Island. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze766. The Marines had at least Company F, 2nd Regt., U.S.M.C on Grande Island in 1908. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze767. The Marines had at least Company F, 2nd Regt., U.S.M.C on Grande Island in 1908. This must the Company Clerk or Officer’s tent area. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze768. Here are men of Company F, 2nd USMC Regiment relaxing on Grande Island between 1908-09. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze769. The dispensary of Camp Dayton, 2nd USMC Regiment on Grande Island between 1908-09. Wow, he sure has a lot snake oil in the tent there. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze770. Jesus, they keep them busy, not sure I could make that one, pulling yourself up like that. These are men of Company F, 2nd USMC Regiment on Grande Island between 1908-09. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze771. They keep them busy, hey, that exercise is right down my alley. These are men of Company F, 2nd USMC Regiment on Grande Island between 1908-09. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.
Ze772. They keep them busy, hey, that exercise is right down my alley. These are men of Company F, 2nd USMC Regiment on Grande Island between 1908-09. This is an Earl Hancock “Pete” Ellis picture from the U.S.M.C. Archives.