'England Needs You' describes the work of the War Office Y Group at Beaumanor Hall in Leicestershire during World War 2. The Hall was one of the United Kingdom's most important wireless intercept (Y) Stations. 'England Needs You' represents excellent value for money, since it is really two tales in one. The first is a very touching and personal account by Joan Nicholls, then a teenager, of her own experience of joining the Army, undergoing selection for secret service and working, in the most demanding circumstances, as a morse intercept operator tasked against German military targets. The second goes into some detail about the organisation of a wartime Station, briefly discussing its technical features and considering its place in the overall, national, Signal Intelligence effort. The authoress, who dedicated several years of research to the preparation of her work, has consulted widely and drawn on a multitude of sources to paint a lively and readable account of a fascinating 'secret society'. The book is richly illustrated with original photographs and drawings, most of which are published for the first time. The recollections of Y Group members who served at Beaumanor provide an intriguing insight into the unusual and challenging work of a site that, with its counterparts, underpinned the intelligence campaign run so successfully at Bletchley Park. The book tells many interesting tales of local liaisons and the relationships of the secret army with the neighbouring civilian community, amongst whom most people were billeted. It recounts the impact too of the arrival of large numbers of American airborne soldiers at nearby training and concentration areas in the build-up to D-Day.

The publication of this work in A4 format gives the graphic designers who have collaborated in its production scope to show off the excellent artwork and photography that lend so much to the well-crafted text. An excellent and attractive cover (reproduced above) invites the reader to pick up a book that, once they do, will prove difficult to put down. It shows a wartime photograph of the principal building on the Beaumanor estate and the badges of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the Royal Corps of Signals and the Intelligence Corps. Military staff of the Station from all of these bodies served with quiet distinction throughout the War alongside civilian engineers, researchers and support staff.

Information on Ordering

To order this book, which the authoress has published privately, please contact her directly at: 3 Merrylands Farm, Church Road, Bookham, Surrey, KT23 3ES. Payment may only be made in Sterling and each copy costs £17-50 (with £3-00 Post and Package in the United Kingdom)

It should also be possible to order the work from any good bookseller, quoting the ISBN 0-9538186-0-8.  It is certainly stocked by Waterstones, with whom Joan now has an account.

The Authoress - Joan Nicholls

Joan Nicholls was very much a teenager when a false attestation, motivated by a desire to serve her country, permitted her to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service of the British Army. She had just turned 16, when she arrived for active service at Beaumanor in 1942. Born and brought up in County Durham, she had considered a career in the Royal Navy at first, but was put off by various factors, which she describes amusingly in her book. The Army, which seemed to set the right tone and whose recruiters , it seems, were quite relaxed about administration fit the bill. In fairly quick time, after early selection as a quick-witted and capable young woman, Joan found herself amongst a very select group of girls given over to special signals training. This took place in mainland Britain and the Isle of Man. Successful completion ultimately saw Joan join a large number of other servicewomen at Beaumanor Hall.

England Needs You is a book she has been driven to write as a testament to all of those who served so vitally as the providers of the raw material without which Bletchley Park might have been nothing but an interesting collection of exceptional, but eccentric individuals. She has often said, modestly, that someone else might have recorded the work of the War Office Y Group at Beaumanor better. This may be so, but it's hard to imagine anyone doing so with more obvious regard for their colleagues and respect for their views and requirements. Joan Nicholls is an English gentlewoman, and like so many others who merit that description, she has an iron will and great determination. 'England Needs You' has made great demands on her patience, time and personal resources. It will be a lasting legacy, as she intended, to an exceptional group of people, amongst whom she stands out quite exceptionally herself.

Beaumanor Hall, an imposing Victorian building was the heart of a Leicestershire estate with its roots going back to a period just after the Norman Conquest. In about 1232, William the First created the estate in favour of Hugh le Despenser, in whose family it stayed for three generations. In succeeding centuries its changing ownership reflected the fortunes of noblemen dependent on Royal patronage. 'Backing the right Royal horse' in troubled times might bring the estate as a prize. Getting it wrong would guarantee its forfeiture - at best.

The wartime years saw the construction of several, essential outbuildings and the conversion of existing ones to meet the military need. Many of these were cunningly camouflaged to confuse both local villagers and German reconnaissance flights. Simple concrete huts took on the appearance of cricket pavilions and the like. There was nothing to be done about the vast antenna arrays strung about the Hall's surrounding fields. These covered several acres and must have attracted some comment. A watch-working arrangement for the military community involved many of them living in rented or requisitioned accommodation in the local area. Premises were taken in Quorn, Woodhouse Eaves and, closest of all, at nearby Garats Hay in Woodhouse Village itself.

'England Needs You'  has continued to sell very well.  It has helped a great deal that Joan's account with Waterstones is now working reliably.  This means that anyone can now order the book from this bookseller and be confident that the Company knows where and what is expected. Sales continue to go well and Joan was kind enough to make a substantial donation to Royal British Legion benevolent funds in February 2001 from monies received from sales.  She is likely to do so again, so ordering the book is now directly assisting the work of the Legion.