| Name |
Looking for |
Remarks |
|
A.G. Sadowski
[9 May 07]
|
Information about his
father
|
My father
Lieutenant Kazimierz Sadowski, torpedo officer on the Polish
submarine O.R.P. Zbik, was interned in Mariefred Sweden in 1939
along with officers and seamen of his submarine and two other
submarines O.R.P. Sep and O.R.P. Rys.
He obtained a
radio from a Swedish contact and intercepted German submarine
transmissions and transmissions from the Underground in Poland. He
relayed information to London by inserting coded messages in
cigarette packages which were transported on bicycle by a fellow
officer to Allied contacts in Sweden. The Swedes eventually located
and arrested my father for this activity. After his release we moved
to Plymouth and he subsequently received a commission as Captain in
the British Army.
Professor Norman
Davies makes a brief reference, in his recent book “Rising 44”, to a
radio contact the Polish Underground had with an agent in Sweden. I
suspect this was my father.
I’m seeking
information about his involvement in this radio
reception/transmission activity specifically to learn how he did it,
what type of radio he used and what his messages were and who his
contacts were.
If you can help
me in this regard please contact me at my e mail address:
agsadowski@callatg.com, telephone in Salem, Oregon U.S.A. 503
362 2711, FAX 503 362 2837 or by mail to A.G. Sadowski P.O. Box
2898, Salem, OR 97308-2898 U.S.A.
I will be in
London on the 26th, 27th and 28th
of June 2007 if anyone there would be available with information I’m
seeking.
|
| |
"Geordie" |
Pete Westwell
has come back with the following info :
I might
possibly have an answer for your regarding your missing 'Geordie' ?
Apart
from Geordie Fisher (who it most certainly is NOT).
The
other Geordie that I served with was a LCpl John (Buttons) Ramsay
(Known as either 'Buttons' , 'Geordie
or
simply 'that B*****d Ramsay'. He arrived under a bit of a cloud -
for scrapping - in 225 at that time they
lived
either in the Barracks at 13 Sigs Regt (but worked out of the
Garages - since they were the Mobile mob)
or in
the backwoods of Germany...! Bearing in mind that your average
exercise in those days was about
six to
eight weeks duration. With some full time op posts down in the
Straubing forest near the Donau (Danube) river.
After I
left to go on the Interpreter's course at Beaconsfield - I never
heard of him again.
|
|
Judy Cook [21 Mar 07] |
Friends of Marjorie
Bushell |
I am trying to make contact with any friends of my mother who served
at Beaumanor. Her service number: W82682 Cpl Bushell,
Marjorie served at Beaumanor Dec '41 to July '45 with Y Group, she
was billeted at Barrow-on-Soar - she was originally trained at a
teleprinter op but also trained in wireless. She is looking for her
friend Betty Ridgeway from Kings Langley, she was last heard of
Northern Command in Preston '43, also teleprinter op.
|
| Wg Comdr (Retd)
John Stubbington
[21 Mar 07] |
I am preparing
some research on behalf of Bletchley Park and the 100Group Museum with
regard to Y-Service support to Allied (RAF/8th USAAF and 100Gp) bombing
operations and RCM through 1943-45.
I wonder if any members
of the Y-service association could comment? |
By way of my background, I retired (from the RAF) in 1985
and from my subsequent consulting in 2005. At various times
I worked with 51 Sqn (S Eng O, 1962-63), EWSU (RAF
Watton, long since subsumed into the AWC at Waddington), DIS/DI62,
the USAF/FTD, etc. In these previous appointments, I was of
course well aware of and associated with the work of
post-war intercept.
I have considerable material with direct regard to the
activities at and by Bletchley Park; but very little
concerning the absolutely crucial intercept activities by
primarily the RAF Y-Services. e.g. Kingsdown/Canterbury,
Cheadle, and the Home Defence Units. In this respect, I
would say that I have more or less complete (?) material
about the organisation, subordination, operational duties
and connectivity with Bletchley, HQ Bomber Command and 100
Gp - but no material that records the actual intercept
traffic and the direct telephone 'hook-up' between the
Y-stations (Kingsdown and Cheadle) and Bletchley, HQBC and
100Gp.
This Y-Service activity was fundamental to the entire
support service, for both high-grade and low-grade
intercepts. Can you offer any guidance on the location of
any historical material, be it actual operational records,
summaries or subsequent books, etc, please? (I recognise
only too well the excellent book by Aileen Clayton "The
Enemy is Listening" but this seems quite unique.).
My question concerns the Y service operations from within UK [primarily
Kingsdown, Cheadle & Canterbury - and the other
subordinate HDUs] in support of the Combined Bombing
Offensive 1943-45. Specifically, are you aware of any
log books or other records that may contain details of
any of the R/T or W/T intercepts of German air defence
comms?
Apart from the various documents within the National
Archives (very good, but not on the specific intercept
question), I have asked GCHQ and they believe that the
log books have been lost/destroyed over years gone by -
any that had gone to Bletchley seem also to be
missing? . I am hoping that within the Y service there
may be some traces ???
I would be very happy to elaborate if that would be
useful; but although I had close association with
intercept of various kinds thro my career, I have been
unable to trace any records so far on the specific
intercept work thro 1943-45. Can you help, please?
I have to recognise that the material I am searching for
actually may not now exist. I can find nothing within the
Archives at Kew.
|
| 3101961 LAC Harry Foster.
[21 Mar 07] |
Looking for fellow and lady
teleprinter operators at Compton Bassett, RAF Bletchley and Chicksands |
I was in Bletchley in 1947 and moved to Chicksands in
summer 1947 until the close in 1948 when we moved back to
Bletchley.I was demobbed in May 1949
|
| Josephine May nee Woodward [13 Feb 07] |
Any ex colleague |
She
was a Teleprinter Op at Beaumanor during 1942 – 46, then named
“Joey” Woodward. She appears in a couple of pictures in Joan
Nicholls’ book. She would love to hear from any old colleagues who
remember her. Please get in touch with
Skip.
|
|
Bob Francis
[26 Jan 07] |
Errol Farmer |
Errol Farmer and I trained at 224 Sig Sqn 1963 and we
then were posted to 9 Sig Regt 1963-1966. I left for Germany 226
Sig Sqn and lost touch with Errol.
He is a Georgie and was 6ft 7ins tall so those who were around at
that time should have too much of problem remembering him. Any
info gratefully received.
Ed: Bob has now been in touch,
for the first time in 41 years. - The system works!! [13 Mar 07]
|
|
John Van Uffelen
from Belgium (near Antwerp)
[7 Jan 07] |
23912000 Sig Paul
(Inky) Penfold |
In 1964-1965 I did my military service
in Germany, in Sankt Thonis . The camp had 1 third of belgian
soldiers , 2 third british soldiers . It is one of those british
soldiers that I am looking for , later on he also had service in
Singapore Paul must be 55 at 60 years old I guess) I myself
I'm 61. He has served at 224 Signal Squadron in 1969 and 249
Signal Squadron in 1968. His parents had a shop in Upwell,
Wisbech, Cambs |
| LAC 1321445 William Reed
[20 Dec 06] |
Any information about him |
Bill was in
the RAF's 14 Field Signals during WW2. He never spoke about his time
in service and his daughter, Sue, I would love to know if anyone
knew him and perhaps would be able to tell me a little about that
time in his life. He spent some time in the Middle East and was at
Graz airfield in March 1946.If you are able to help, please contact
Sue
|
| Clifford Wall
( B/E 1921082)
[18 Nov 06] |
Any old colleagues |
I have just come across your site whilst
looking for any info' on RAF Comptson Bassett and hoping to find
names of some of the fellows with whom I served during '46/.47. We
were all around the age of 16yrs at that time so I guess that there
won't be that many of us around anymore. Names that come to
mind from those days are, "Happy" Harry Lawson, Frank Pepper, Sgn't
'Dinger' Bell, and a Flt Lt Goodyear. There are more but I do not
want to flood the site.
I hope you will be able to post these
names on your site and I'm hoping also that I get some
acknowledgement.
|
Stephen G Small
SLT [SCC] RNR
Officer-in-Charge Medway Towns SCU
[18 Nov 06] |
I wonder if any of
your membership served at Bridgewoods and would be able or prepared to
provide information that may help our research. |
I am a member of the
Medway Amateur Receiving and Transmitting Society [and an Ex RN
Communicator]. I am a former Royal Navy Communicator and hold the
Amateur Call G4HJE.Myself
and several other members of the radio society have started to research
the wireless interception station that was established at Fort
Bridgewoods Chatham in about 1926 and remained an important part of the
interception network until early 1941. A number of us have a keen
interest in the work carried out by the various parts of the Intercept
Organisation and of course having had a site on your doorstep
[demolished in the mid 1970s] makes it all the more interesting. We do
know that a number of our wartime members served as VIs including a
former President of the Society Bill Nutton G6NU.
We have managed to find a very limited
amount of information about the importance of Fort Bridgewood including
the important part that operators there played in intercepting Enigma
traffic between 1939 and early 1941. Fort Bridgewood, unlike the others
in the Medway defences remained shrouded in mystery as post WW2 it was
used as a nuclear bunker for regional government so officially did not
exist
I know that it was
commanded by a Colonel M J W Ellingworth, who was in fact a retired RN
Lt Cdr and who had been one of the youngest CPO Telegraphists in the
fleet.
I
have been in contact with Lt Col Sandy Le Gassik MBE Royal Signals who
in early 1939 trained at Fort Bridgewoods [Chatham Intercept
Station] as an
Experimental Wireless Assistant and who retired from the Royal
Signals in 1980. The reason for my interest is that he provided an
article to the BBC on 18 November 2005 about his experiences as a young
man at war. Part of the experience described was being recruited as an
Experimental Wireless Assistant at Fort Bridgewood .
I have been able to
establish that local school boys [of about 17 years] were recruited by a
member of Bridgewoods staff and trained to receive morse at 22 words per
minute. Also that many of the female staff were recruited from Sharps
toffee factory in Maidstone.
I
have established from the Bletchley Park website that Chatham played an
important part in the initial interception of GAF Enigma traffic and
played a key role in the early breaks by providing quality intercepts.I
know that Bridgewoods was bombed in October 1940 and that a number of
personnel were killed. I
have also established that the site had two masts from which a number of
HF long wires were strung, also that the intercept bays were located in
the deep magazines.I have identified that Ellingworth was associated
with E K Cole, the owner of EKCO radio company and that some of the
early intercept radios were produced or modified by his company.
We have not been able
to find any other significant records of the site, and certainly no
photographs. The site itself was demolished in 1976 to make was for an
industrial park.
Ed's note:
Reply from Bert Taylor on 30 Mar
07
In Newsletter No
22 there was a request from Stephen G Small, Officer-in-Charge
Medway Towns SCU, who is trying to locate ex Fort Bridgewoods
personnel who might be able to provide information to help his
research. I trained at the Fort and would be prepared to help out if
I can, although if, as he says, he's been in contact with Sandy Le
Gassik there's probably not much more I can tell him.
Also Len Moore has responded with some details [30 Mar 07]
|
| Merv (Taff) Davies
[6 Feb 05] |
Dave Powell/Phil Willicot |
I served with both in the 60's at 225 Signal Squadron in
Germany. Dave I believe last served at Garats Hay in the early
70's and then left the Army, and Phil I know for sure became a
civvy op when he left the Army, sometime during the 70's. I have
tried to contact them through the "Spec-Op" websites but to no
avail. Can anyone help? |
Alastair
Brockbank
|
Information on Frederick James Maggs |
I am researching into the service history of my
great-grandfather, Frederick James Maggs, who died in
1963. I believe he served at RAF Cheadle, Chicksands, Waddington
and various international locations, but I am unsure of the
exact foreign stations. He worked during the second world war on
Luftwaffe order of battle with characters such as Gp Cpt Blandy
and Wg Cdr Swanborough, but I am lead to believe that he
continued to serve for the RAF for many more years.
I was wondering if anyone can remember 'Freddie' or knows
anything more on the work he did. If they could they
please contact me as I wish to compile a good knowledge of his
service history, for his son (my grandfather), who has never
known about the work of his father. |
|
Bryan Fraser [19 Jan 06] |
Old Tiger basketball players |
I was secretary and a founder member of the Garatshay
Tigers basketball team that twice won through to the U K major
units final in 1965/6. Are there any other team members out
there? |
|
Nick
Gilder
[30 Nov 05] |
Reginal WATTS |
Reginald worked at the Y station at Cupar in
Fife during WW2. I'm trying to find out more
information for his daughter Marion SAINT who because of wartime
restrictions never knew much about what he did other than where
he worked, and that one day he turned up with a medal (BEM I
think) in his pocket! It is her belief that this was for his
part in obtaining the signals that lead to the sinking of the
Bismark. |
|
Tom Smith & Kay Evans
[4 Nov 05] |
Brenda LeHuqhie |
Brenda, who came from the Channel
Islands, married Maurice Bastiani in Theipval Barracks on the
same day as us. They moved to Luton in July 1957. We
served together in R. Sigs. |
|
Sqn Ldr (Retired) Nick
Anderson [23 Oct 05] |
Colleagues of his
mother, Jean Wallond |
My mother, Jeanne K Anderson,
recently passed away and going through her things in order to
settle her estate has raised many questions. We knew that Mum
worked intercepting German coded Morse transmissions during the
war and we have a record of her having been at Chicksands Priory
in March 1943 as part of Y service. She came from WTS GPO
Nottingham, which we guess was Wireless Telegraphy School and
following Chicksands was posted to WOS at Grange-over-Sands but
we don't know what WOS means, before going on to No 7 Signals
School at South Kensington. I wonder if anyone you know might
remember Jean K Wallond as she was then, a Kentish hop farmer's
daughter who came from near Tunbridge Wells, left the WAAF at
the end of the war as a Flight Officer and married an RAAF pilot
whilst serving at RAF Mount Batten. We would all be very
interested in anything you could tell us about the work she
might have done in Y service as she never indulged much despite
two o f her sons joining the Services; I flew fighters for
the RAF for 20 years and my brother was in the REME for 22
years. |
|
Doug Robinson [16 Oct
05] |
Old colleagues |
I live on Vancouver Island, B.C.
Canada and was with Y Service stationed at Forest Moor near
Harrogate. My duty was to carry despatches from there to Beau
Manor and on two occasions I went to Bletchley Park. I have
tried many times to locate people who were associated with me
around this time in history and so far have found only one
who now happens to live in Florida. If any of my old
comrades read this, please contact me. |
|
Roger Handley
[14 Oct 05] |
Colleagues at Garats
Hay and Ayios Nikolaos |
Roger was with 10WTS between August
1954 and December 1954 before being sent to Famagusta between
January 1955 and July 1956 where he was with C troup 2 Wireless
Regiment. |
|
Jacqueline Dennis
[09 Oct 05] |
Maurice Norman |
Maurice was a Wireless Operator,(for
the Air Ministry) and was stationed in Loughborough
in 1945. In 1949 he was living in Bracebridge Heath, in
Lincoln, still as a Wireless Operator.
Jacqueline would appreciate if any one remembers Maurice as she
is putting together a family tree, and would like contact with
persons
who remember him. |
| Jack Scollick
ex RAF "Y" |
Any Army or RAF
Signals buddies from "Y" service in Gibraltar 1941/42, and
billetted in "The Convents" or "Bruces Farm. |
Please contact
Jack Scollick Ex RAF "Y" on 01344 750910 or 36 Heath Hill Road
South, CROWTHORNE, Berks. RG45 7BW" |
|
WO1 Mick
Cooper RM |
Info on RM |
I am currently the
specialisation advisor for the Royal Marines Communications
Technicians Specialisation. Many of us were trained at CSOS
Culmhead, Garats Hay and SCU Leydene and I am currently trying
to research the history of Royal Marines who may have worked
within Y Services. Any information on this matter would be
greatly appreciated. |
|
Rene Akeroyd Pedersen
[29 Mar 05] |
Any ex- members of
ATS 1943-46 Y Group |
I have often wondered if
any of the girls I spent my wartime service with so enjoyably
are still alive and kicking. After my training on the Isle of
Man, I was stationed at Garat's Hay and did shift work at
Beaumanor taking down 5-letter code words. Respectable ones, I
hope. After VEday, I was sent to Keddleston for new
training for intercepting Japanese signals. Much to our
disappointment, the war ended so we never got to India. My
name was IRENE AKEROYD and I think my number was 277558 I only
remember first names but I remember the girls they belonged to
very well indeed and have diaries from those years which may
interest somebody...........
I feel I'm shooting into the
void with this, but here goes, anyway |
|
John Harris
(18 Mar 05) |
Gilbert Harris |
Looking for any
officer/inspectors of Eastern Command Signals in the
Leicestershire area 1942-44 especially Gilbert. |
|
Ray Ealey
(10 Feb 2005) |
Bert Stubbs |
Bert will be about 80 now and
was a W/Op. |
|
Beth Eastwood
(10 Feb 2005) |
Sqn Ldr B S J Piff |
Bernard served in the RAAF and
was attached to RAF Little Sai Wan from 1962 till 1963. Looking
for the Sqn Ldr who served there aobut March 1956. Bernard
wishes to return a document to him or his family |
| Les Elmore
(21 Nov 2004) |
Colleagues |
Which Branch members were
members of 44 WI Unit (103 SW) Unit from North Africa and Italy
during WW2. Details please to
webmaster. |
|
Eric Taylor
[10 Nov 2004] |
Old Colleagues |
Eric was one of the very first
to enter the Sgts' Mess at Garats Hay as a steward when it
opened in 1964. The messing SNCO was SSgt Moss.
Anyone who remembers him, please get in touch. |
|
Tim Roberts
[10 Nov 2004] |
John Cooper |
John was a scouser serving at
Garats Hay in 1982. He used to drive an old red Capri
before buying Time's white one. May be living in the
Melton Mowbray area. |
|
Ken Kenway
[10 Nov 2004] |
Mike Bland |
Looking at Mike's photos brought
back memories. Ken helped out serving the stirrup cups at the
Quorn Hunt and also remembers the tents at Ay Nik. Now
looking for Mike. |
|
Rod Butler
[10 Nov 2004] |
American Servicemen |
Looking for a list of American
servicemen who served at RAF Compton Bassett in Wiltshire during
December 1944 on behalf of his 83 year old mother-in-law who
invited one to share Christmas that year. A list of names
may jog her memory and lead to finding him. |
|
Tony Laurence -
19161034
[10 Nov 2004] |
Mike Hargreaves |
Tony was an operator at
Thalerhof in 1948 and remembers Mike. He operated the
amateur radio station MB9BJ with Ivor Bailey and a couple of
other chaps, being situated in the control tower before moving
to the meteorological block. He now operates under the
callsign G3GGI. Remembers 'Curly' Holliday, 'Busty'
Goldberg, 'Thumper' Crump, Aubrey 'micky' Hopewell, 'Q' Horner,
Derek Holderness, Gerry Hodson, Fred Hillier, Chris Stockbridge,
Capt Ray Bishop, RQMS Higgins and not forgetting Sgt Foskett in
the cookshouse. THE OIC at the time was Major
Smith-Ainsley with the Garats Hay team of Capt Beaumont, Sgt Ted
Boston (Japanese morse expert).
[Webmaster: Mike
Hargreave's details given to Tony, but details of personnel
included for interest of others] |
|
Wing Leader Vic Baker
126 Wing RCAFMaidstone,Kent
[ 7 Nov 2004] |
Colleagues at
Sutton Vallance WU number? |
During WW2 there were at least four wireless stations here
manned by erks and waafs. All personnel lived in the village
with families. There was also navy and army small stations.
The RAF had big huts and tall aerials; the other two were like
garden sheds, and yes there were
two other stations manned by young men.
(The Bert Ashman
story I think you will enjoy reading. Mr Ashman’s team was
connected to Bletchley Park. In 1944 we had a mobile
column at Aberfield Court which I now believe to be 365 WU.
At the main station someone still lives in the main building,
but the guardroom is still there. The only things missing
are the aerials. I think that the people that served there
should be remembered, and hope that you can help me with the WU
number.
I know that
Squadron Leader Newport was Officer Commanding and they were
controlled from Cheadle. 365 WU was based at a large house in
Chart Sutton at Amberfield Court. |
|
Jan Axford
[7 Nov 04] |
Members of Force 135 |
An appeal has been made by Jan
Axford who lives and works in Jersey in the Channel Islands.
Jan has been given the job of
finding as many Force 135 Members (the liberating forces in
1945) as possible in order to invite them over to the Island in
May 2005 to help celebrate the 60th Anniversary. If there
are any members of Force 135 reading this, please get in touch
with the Webmaster. |
|
Dennis Underwood
(15 Sep 2004) |
TEL (S) 1942-45 Association |
Anyone who has knowledge of this Association
(previous chairman R.H. Bird) please contact Dennis |
|
Webmaster
(12 August 2004) |
Geordie John (Surname u/k) |
Served at Garats Hay from 1972 to 1974. Rest of details
unknown. If you remember Geordie, knew his surname and/or
know his present whereabouts, please let me know.
(Answer from Peter Budge, ex R Sigs:
Only Geordie that I knew back in those days
at Garats Hay was Geordie
Lynn (that was his surname). Back then he was going out with one of
the WRAC that were based on camp with us. He was about two squads back
from me (166 squad) so he would have left Garats Hay towards the
middle/end of 1974. Squad 167 came out to Cyprus in June 1974 and I
can't remember him arriving in Cyprus with them and no one from Squad
168 came out to Cyprus so he must have been posted to 13 Sigs.) |
|
Mary Ely
(6 August 2004) |
Acquaintances of her father Harry Ely |
Harry was a special wireless operator who served in 101 SWS, 9
SWS and 2 SWS (1940 to 1945). He trained at Beaumanor and from there to
the end of the war passed through Ossett, Trowbridge, Heliopolis,
Tunis, Constantine, Baserta, Sicily and Italy. After that he was in Malta
(late 45/46) in Rabat. He can't remember exactly when he served at
Beaumanor so any help would be appreciated.
(Webmaster - This reply arrived
on 16 October, showing that the system does really work)
As two ex-"Y Service"
operators who served with Mary's father, Harry, more or less throughout his
wartime service in the Middle East, I, (Mervyn/Maxie Evans) and my close
friend, (Bill Gilholm) were most interested in reading Mary Eley's
contribution to your "Lost Touch" listings. Following demob in 1946, I
myself worked briefly at Beaumanor during
1947, but I have no recollection of Harry's being there during that time.
However, our main (joint) interest as regards Harry is to say that we would
welcome some early contact either from him or his
daughter, either by e-mail to me at mervyn.evans@ntlworld.com or to
one or other of our two addresses, which are as follows-: M.H,M.Evans, 113,
Park Lane, New Duston, Northampton, NN5.6QW & W.Gilholm, 29,
> Prior's Walk, Kirkhill, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61.2RF. Phone
calls would also be welcome, & are as follows-: Mervyn/Maxie's is
01604-457152, & Bill's is: 01670-512952. I am sure Harry would
remember both of us very readily, and we look
forward to hearing from him, either directly or via his daughter, Mary, in
due course. |
|
Alfred
Allan (Bix) Ludlam
(5 July 2004) |
Pilot Officer Tony Fry |
Born 1920 and served in Special Missions in
Burma 'on the key'. With Tony he set up the first RAF mobile signals
unit 5762 in 1942 working out of Feni. They travelled with the 12th
Gurkhas up to the Lushai Hills then into Naga Land and Fort Hertz.
Tony continued in the RAF ending up as a Wing Commander. Would love to
hear from him. |
|
Linda
Cameron-Cadenazzi
(16 May 2004) |
Any WWll colleagues |
Husband Mike who is a US Naval Cryptologist is being promoted to
Lt Commander at 11am on 1 June 2004 at Bletchley Park and anyone
who is willing to have a chat with him is cordially invited
along. Help make this a memorable promotion party. |
|
Roger
Hern, ex Op EW |
Ex-colleagues from army, Harestock, GCHQ,
Bletchley |
Served for 25 years from 1960 to 1985. After completing
A3 training was posted to 9 SR. Whilst there got detached down
to 650 Signal Troop in Bahrain. Worked in a small area that had
been tacked on to the end of the comcen in HMS Jufair, and lived
in a block of flats that was named "Mercury Flats" on the main
road out of Manama.
Whilst at 650 Sig Tp was detached down to what he believed was 15 Signal
Regt in Aden where he did an Arabic course and then went to the Radfan for a
short spell. Since leaving Bahrain only ever come across one other who was
there at the same time and this was the one and only Geordie Fisher. Next
met up with him in Germany at Dannenberg where we were both serving in
H Troop 13SR.
From H Troop returned to what by then was Comms & Sy Group (UK) where
with Al Newman helped run the Special Task Detachment, which took him
eventually down to the Falklands when Argentina decided to visit. |
|
Mike Thomson |
Montreathmont |
Mike is looking for any details on the use of this site as
part of the hf Y Services pre-war. Any details, contact him direct. |
|
Ken Kenway, 22970744, Royal Signals
|
Len James |
After training at Garat's Hay, Ken was posted to D Troop, 2 Wireless
Regiment in August 1954 for three years. Len joined the civvie ops at
Beaumanor. Anyone know his whereabouts, please contact Ken direct.
An e-mail received from Ken on 30 December
2003 said he had a phone call from John Webber (Redvers) to say that len was
in Somerset and provided a phone number. Contact was made between Ken
and Len and many happy memories were exchanged. Hopefully this will be
the start of a renewed friendship. Ken sends his thanks to John (Redvers)
for his help. The system works! |
|
Geof Jones (28 August 2003) |
Any website relating to Sai Wan |
He was
stationed at 376SU at Sai Wan in 1951/62 after having trained at Digby.
Now lives in Florida. |
|
Mark Hunter (19 July 2003) |
Details of his grandfather John James Hunter (nickname JJ) |
JJ
had been a signaller in the Merchant Navy prior to being posted to Bletchley Park.
Any information would be appreciated. |
|
Fred Roles, ex RAF Wireless Operator 1382808 (19 July 2003)
(See entry of May
2001) |
Any colleague who served with him in 357WU or other related activity between 1942 and 1945 out of Sri Lanka |
He served as a Wireless Op in the RAF in the Far East from 1942 until the end of the War. He was stationed in RAF Anderson near Colombo and took part in many RN missions in the Bay of Bengal, the
Malacca Straits and around Sumatra and Java. Because of the classified nature of his missions he was refused the Pacific Star and the Burma Clasp as there was no record of the
missions. He spent 4+ months in 1944 in the Cocos Keeling Islands intercepting the Japanese air activity in the Sundra Straits. Any information would
be helpful. |
| David
Hargreaves (11 June 2003) |
Any colleague who served with him near Graz in 1948-49 |
Received
from Peter Keen on 4 Nov 05 "it was 12 Wireless Sqdn that was at
Thalerhof,BTA3,Austria.. I was there 1950/51"
He served as a Special Wireless Op at Thalerhof, near Graz, from 1948-49 but
cannot recall the name/number of his Squadron. Any information would
be helpful. Please pass through
webmaster. |
|
Brian Bates (9 May 03) |
Any old comrade such as Barry Jeffries, Mike Hill, Mick Allen, Tony Arnold, Eric Wakeling, Dick Ring, Taffy Hole |
Brian served in the RSU at Gatow from Oct 61 to Oct 62 as a Russian linguist. After demob he worked in Cheltenham and then ended up serving 30 years with the BBC Monitoring Service near Reading. Brian now lives in South Oxfordshire.
|
|
Claire O'Donnell (22 Mar 03) |
Any colleague of her mother, Betty Leslie
(nee Bryan) |
Betty was RAF Y Services at Bletchley and Chicksands in 1943 and then in Sylt and Germany in late 40s/early 50s. She is 76 years young at the moment.
|
|
David Fowler (15 Jan 03) |
Any war-time colleagues of his father, Jack
Fowler |
Jack was a Flight Sergeant at Chicksands at
the end of the war. Also his good friend Freddie Mills
Ed - Some details provided by David (22 Dec 04)
Here are some names recalled. Most or all would have been in their
very early twenties at the time and stationed at RAF Chicksands during
the war.
Cyril Waywell - Married local girl Phyllis and settled in Clophill
(locally). Two sons Robyn and Graham. Cyril Humberstone Bill Knox - Settled in Scotland, Eddie Walker - Settled North; Jack Bergen - Lodged at the time in Clophill with Olive Wilson and her
parents. Dick Shepherd #1 - Lodged at the Flying Horse Public House with
Charlie Cross and his wife. Daughter Gwen Cross. Dick Shepherd #2 Originally from Manchester.- Friend of my father,
Dick dated my mother Gladys (Jean) Collis but was 'dumped' by
Mum. Dick was so upset my Dad resolved to date her then do the same to
teach her a lesson! Plainly, that didn't work according to plan, they
married in 1946.
Les Went - Lodged with Mrs Cole and family in Clophill and played the
piano at the Flying Horse Public House in Clophill. Ted O'Diory? - Also lodged with Mrs Cole.
Fred Mills - Stayed at Gravenhurst. After the war worked with my
father in T.V. sales. Later landlord of the Green Dragon Public House ,Gravenhurst. Later Sales director with Elcontrol (Division of
Instrument Panel Services Ltd) Weymouth Dorset. Now lives in Portland
Dorset.
Some of the girls? Olive Wilson, Connie? Phyllis (now Henderson)
- Living in Cheshire. Phyllis has written a book about her time with 'Y'.
She's looking for a publisher!, Bettie Bryan |
|
Jon Lee
(24 Nov 02) |
Any ex-colleagues of Tim Moilien
|
Tim worked at Bletchley and Jon is seeking anyone who knew him. Jon has a collection of his wartime items including some of the names of people with whom he worked. He also has photographs which he would like identified. I am hoping to get hold of them to publish on this site. Anyone who can help. contact Jon direct. |
|
Pamela
O'Callaghan nee Waterson
(16 Oct 02) |
Leslie Fowler
|
Looking for Leslie who served at Shenley prior to being posted to India. Pamela served at Trowbridge before going to Shenley. Anyone who knows her, please contact her. |
| Rob Lee (16 Oct 02) |
Irene Smith née Cushion
|
Irene worked at Bletchley Park during WWII. It is thought that she came from Islington and then Greenford, Middlesex. If you can help, contact
Dennis Underwood
|
Anthony
N Heightman
(16 Oct 02) |
Any old comrade
|
Anthony was a Sergeant Wireless Mechanic with the mobile "Y" unit of 26 Group Bomber Command in UK, Belgium and Germany 1943 - 1946
|
Roy
(Tich) Lee
(16 Oct 02) |
Any old comrade |
He served at Garats Hay after leaving the AAC at Harrogate in 1978 before being posted to 13 Sig Regt. |
Dr
G E (Tommy) Thomas and Mark
(16 Oct 02) |
Any old comrade
|
who served at the Knitson Listening station near Swanage (1935 - 194
Click here
for his website.
|
Bob Hodgson
(14 Oct 02)
|
Any old spec op pals from 1969 to 1991
|
Bob served in Cyprus, Germany, Berlin, UK (223 Sig Sqn, NI, Falklands and a few other places. Went through training with such names as John Lymm, John Young, John O'Connor, Ron Adams. Instructors were "Darkie" Williams and Ted Haslam. Served with Tony Gilbert, Pete Gilbert, Paul Lancaster, Pete Manger, Martyn Smyth (tech), Kim Beavis, Bob Lucas (RAF). Ran the .22 shooting teams in both Cyprus and Berlin. Is now a Sgt with MPGS at Glencorse Barracks, Edinburgh.
Please contact him directly |
Jim
Sheader
(6 Oct 01) |
Any wartime members
of 367 SU |
Jim
joined 367 Signal Unit in 1942. He would love to hear from anyone
who served with the Unit over the same, or very similar, period.
Please contact him directly - but we'd love to know if you do. Just
mail our webmaster |
Michael
Parry
(30 Sep 01) |
Any
information on his father, William Roger Parry |
Michael
believes that his father, who died in 1958, was engaged in wireless
intercept work in the UK during the last war, probably in or around St
Albans (Shenley?). Could anyone who may remember William Parry,
please contact Michael with any information they have. Michael
mentions that his father was with the Post Office before and after the
War. (Could he have been a wartime Experimental Wireless Assistant?). |
S
Chubb
(30 Sep 01) |
Friends
and colleagues of Mrs Nancy Chubb |
The
correspondent is hoping that someone may know their mother, Mrs Nancy
Chubb, who is believed to have been a Catering Corps member of the staff
at Bletchley Park in the last war. (It is assumed that her married
name was in use at the time). Any information on Nancy would be a
great comfort to the correspondent, who lost her mother when only 12
years of age in 1963. It is thought possible that Nancy may have
suffered a nervous breakdown while employed at BP. This unfortunate fact
is not offered gratuitously, but in the hopes that it may jog the odd
memory. |
Bob
Hayward
(30 Sep 01) |
Anyone
who can reminisce about poor food and cold, wet conditions in 1950s
Garats Hay |
Bob was
a Signalman at Woodhouse in about 1951, who went on to serve in
Munster. His military service led to many years of further radio
work later, including some at CSOS Beaumanor. He'd be particularly
interested to know if anyone has photographs showing Garats Hay old camp
in the 1950s. |
Brian
Lagden (VE7QH)
(15 Sep 01) |
Tim
Wood(s?), Jack Bashford and Ken Bryan. |
Brian
served with the RAF 'Y' Service throughout the Second World War.
Click here to read more. He had two great friends, Tim and
Jack (both Code and Cipher Sergeants) during a spell of service with 382
Wireless Unit based near Rugby in Warwickshire. He would very much like
to hear from them again and is particularly interested to know if they
were running an undeclared SLU within his Wireless Unit! Can
anyone lift the veil after all these years? Ken Bryan is another
wartime colleague Brian would very much like to contact. Ken was a
wireless operator who hailed from Shaw in Lancashire. |
George
Cook
(Sep 01) |
George
Dunn (a 'han nigori' operator of 1940s vintage) and anyone else who
shared the experiences recounted in the accompanying remarks. |
George,
who now lives in Sonoma, California (Webmaster - Lucky Man!) joined the
Royal Signals in 1931 and by 1933 had joined the Cherat Signal Section,
listening hard to transmissions from the USSR. Having
qualified as a Foreman-of-Signals, he went to join "A" Indian
Special Wireless Group in Abbotabad in 1941, and thence to the race
course at Barrackpore, to work on the receiver station installation
there.
George was also involved in installation of Marconi-Adcock DF stations
down on Orissa's coast at Puri, up at Tezpur in north Assam, and over at
Chittagong! He remembers a TMO called George Axson, does anyone
else? George also remembers the conflicts between security and
common sense that have occasionally distinguished Y work. One
example being an invitation to repair an equipment for which he was not
cleared, it was considered to see the handbook. He succeeded!
In 1943, he was posted to the Isle of Man with a ‘han
nigori' operator friend I had known for years by the name of George
Dunn!
George served in Canada after the war at the National Defence HQ and at
Leitrim and in 'the Green Box' in Tunney's Pasture. |
Bob
Pritchard
(Sep 01) |
Anyone
from intake 69C at Harrogate or 13th Signal Regiment in the early
1970s. |
Bob
commenced his service in Harrogate, intake 69C for 2 years and then
spent some time with 13th Signal Regiment at Birgelen between 1971 and
1974. He also saw service in Loughborough and Hereford (Pluto and
Mars). Bob still gets twitchy, he reveals, whenever he hears morse
code. His work nowadays involves the development of commercial
wind farms for energy production. If you remember Bob, do please
get
in touch with him. |
Private
M Fell (275583)
(Aug 01) |
Anyone
from A Watch Forest Moor (1943-46) and Sergeant Myford |
Little
information available immediately. Just a few lines in an
e-mail. Your webmaster will try to find out more, but does anyone
else remember those early days in Forest Moor? If so,
contact
Private Fell through S Booth. |
John
Holland
(Aug 01) |
Brian
Eccleston (Fratton.. Hampshire) Jack Bingham (Sheffield, Yorkshire) Derek Black (Belfast, N. Ireland) Ginger Day (London) |
Webmaster - On
Sunday 27 Feb 05 I received the following from John Holland. It's
nice to know that the system works!
I am glad to say
I am now in touch with Maurice Day (Ginger) and we met up at last year's
367 SU Association AGM in October 2004. I often talk to Jack Bingham on
the internet and we all hope to meet up at the next 367 SU AGM near RAF
Cosford in October 2005. In total we are talking about a reunion meeting
after over 50 years without any contact. Thanks you for allowing me to
use the site. John D. Holland (ex 367 SU)
19 Oct
05 from John Holland:
I
attended the 367 SU Association AGM and dinner at Shifnall
(near RAF Cosford) over the weekend of 7/9 October 2005 and
finally met up with my old colleague Jack Bingham from Sheffield
after a 52 year break. Maurice Day also attended and we
three made up the oldest members who served at Little Sai Wan
present at the reunion. I am sorry to say that other members
named in my entry on your site have not been in contact but I am
still hopeful someone may call one day.
John
was called up as a National Serviceman in Sept. 1950 and did his basic
training at West Kirby near Liverpool. He was classified as a wireless
operator and posted for WOP training to RAF Compton Basset. Whilst in
training the mythical Wg Cdr Swanborough of Cheadle fame interviewed the
members of the course and invited them to join the Y Service, which
required them to sign on for an additional year, but promised an
overseas posting. On completion of the WOP course they were posted to
RAF Cheadle for Y training and posting to Germany, the Middle East or
Hong Kong. John sailed on the Empire Orwell in late 1951 and arrived in
HK in early 1952. Little Sai Wan Commcen was operational, but the
living quarters were still under construction. In spring 1953 the
accommodation was opened in Little Sai Wan and John was one of the first
servicemen to live there. He was demobbed in September 1953 after
travelling home on the Empire Pride. Almost immediately, a letter
arrived from GCHQ suggesting he continue his intercept career in the
Civil Service. Training followed at Bletchley Park before posting to
Cheadle in 1954. In late 1954 a posting to London Air Ministry Sigs 13
took him much closer to his hometown of Hastings. Sussex. He worked in
several areas of the Ministry until 1992, when he retired as Duty
Officer in the Defence Communication Centre, MOD Main Building.
Whitehall. London.
(Webmaster
Comment Oct 01 - John has now made contact with Jack Bingham and awaits
news of the 367 SU Association)
|
Mark
Ryan
((Aug 01) |
Anyone
who may remember him from RAF Service in the 1970s. |
Mark
now lives in Australia and works as the business development manager for
the Health Communication Network. He was a Wireless Operator,
Special - serving at Digby, Gatow and Masirah. His training
included Arabic Morse at Bletchley Park. |
Jack
Gregson
(Aug 01) |
Chris
Tunnely, originally from Belper in Derbyshire. |
Jack,
who hails from Preston, Lancs and Chris served together at 13th Signal
Regiment after training at Garats Hay in the late 1950s. Jack
would love to hear from anyone who may have shared the experience - or
who remembers him from that time. Can anyone help him find Chris? |
David
Garood
(Aug 01) |
John
Bradley, Lance Cavan, Alan Kirkwood, Denis Hill, Peter Robinson. |
David
Garood served as a National Service Russian Linguist between 1958-59 in
Germany. He is organising a second reunion dinner in London and
would like to add more former colleagues to the list of
invitees. |
Brian
(Ginge) Dorer
(Aug 01) |
Anyone who served with 477 SU between
March 1957 and March 1958 and especially anyone, who like Brian, spent
time on detachment at Darmstadt.
|
Brian
was a National Serviceman (SAC WOP (A)) based with 477 Signals Unit over
the period concerned. He would be delighted to re-establish contact with
anyone who might have been in Butzweilerhof - or on detached duty in
Darmstadt. |
Peter
Jackson
(Jul 01) |
Anyone
who served in Hambühren, particularly in the 1950s. |
Peter
Jackson was a national serviceman with the RAF in Germany. He has
written a military history of Hambühren
between 1939 and 1999. He would love to hear from anyone who
served there, or with RAF 291 or 755 SUs. |
Bill
Cooper
(Jul 01) |
Anyone
who may have served with him at Garats Hay or in 2 Wireless Regiment,
Famagusta. |
Bill
spent his national service as a specialist operator, beginning in May
1948. He was a member of Squad 56 in training. His passage
to 2 Wireless Regt in Famagusta was aboard the SS Ordura and he
sailed back to Blighty on the SS Empire Windrush in February 1950.
He can be reached by telephone on UK (0044) (0)1234 772172.
Alternatively, e-mail our
Secretary, who will pass on any news. |
Brian
Wardrop (son of Gavin Wardrop)
(Jul 01) |
Anyone
who can provide information about 104, 112 and 122 Special Wireless
Sections. |
Brian is
trying to find out something more about the units in which his father
served as a Royal Signals operator before joining civilian staff at
Beaumanor. He would love to hear from anyone who can tell him
something of the work of the Special Wireless Sections mentioned - or
about work done at Chart Sutton / Sutton Valence.
(Webmaster Comment Oct 01 - Brian has been contacted
by a Branch Member, Les Gittins, who was his father's Sergeant at one
time and who will provide photographs and information) |
Peter
G Maddison
(Jul 01) |
Anyone
who may have known him in training at Garats Hay 1963-64 or in later
service |
Peter
contacted the Branch to suggest that there should be more information
about the early days of Garats Hay as a training centre. Can
anyone provide some stories or photographs? If so,
contact
me and I will be delighted to give them space on this website. |
Leslie
Button's Family
(Jun 01) |
Anyone who may have
known Leslie at Bletchley Park during World War 2 |
Leslie
was an RAF enlisted man working with radios in some capacity.
Please e-mail any news or information
to her directly. |
Arthur
(Pete) Vernon
(Jun 01) |
Anyone
who may have known him between 1942-45 |
Arthur,
known them more frequently as Pete, trained on the Isle of Man and
subsequently, when posted overseas, re-allocated as a Radio Mechanic. |
Fred
Roles and his wife Jean (nee MacDonald)
(May 01) |
Anyone
who may have served with him in the Far East during World War 2 in 357
Wireless Unit or later at RAF Chicksands |
Fred,
then Cpl F A Roles 1382808, served in 357 WU from 1942 to the end of the war. He and many of his
colleagues were trained in Japanese
interception at Stretton Under Fosse in early 1942 before going to India
and later Ceylon (Sri Lanka). There they assisted the Army in
India by listening to Japanese air activity (over Burma). Later
work involved service in Ceylon and work aboard numerous Royal
Navy ships making strikes all up and down the coast of Burma,
Thailand, Malaya, Sumatra and Java. The role played by 357 SU was to
warn the Navy command of Japanese air activity and impending threats of enemy
attack. Fred also
served in the Keeling Cocos Islands for about 4 months listening to
Japanese activity in the Sundra Straits between Java and Sumatra.
Fred would be very interested to know if anyone
has contacts with members of 357 WU or 371 WU (who later joined us
in Ceylon). He has no personal contact currently with anyone from
his old unit, but adds that he also served at Chicksands for a few
months in 1945 until he was demobbed. He met his wife at
Chicksands, where she was a WAAF intercept operator, Cpl Jean
MacDonald, who had been
listening mostly to German air activity for over 2 years. Later,
both Fred and his wife worked against French and Russian communications.
Any help directly to
Fred please, but we'd love to know of any successful contacts.
Mail
us here. |
|
Mike
Jones |
Wartime members of 381 WU or 3
FU |
Mike is keen to make contact with anyone
who might have served with his late father, John (Jack) Jones, who
hailed from the Wirral in Cheshire. Former colleagues
would have served in North Africa ,Italy and around that region
between 1942 and 1945. Mike's father never spoke about the bad
times, only about the men he served with, who by all
accounts, besides being Wireless Operators, also doubled as
cooks, scroungers (food etc), and in many other capacities - both
funny and serious. |
|
Allan Clack |
Former Members of 477 SU |
Allan served with 477 SU in Butzweilerhof in
the 1950s as an RAF national serviceman. He would be interested to
communicate with anyone else who did so. |
|
Don Stewart |
Lennox
(Lex) Miles and any former members of Number 8
and Number 110 Special Wireless Sections |
Don was a wireless intercept operator during
World War 2, serving with Number 8
and Number 110 Special Wireless Sections. Don trained with Lex
Miles on the Isle of Man between July 1943 and January1944. Lex would
probably be around 75 years of age now. Don remembers that he was
Scottish and lived in the Edinburgh area. If Lex reads this
- or anyone else can help to trace him - please contact Don. He
can be reached on e-mail by clicking here.
Failing news on Lex Miles, Don would love to hear from anyone who served
in France throughout the Normandy campaign with either of the Wireless
Sections mentioned. [Webmaster's comment:
new email address given as at 10 Nov 2004] |
|
Jean Czajkowski (formerly Glasow) |
Anyone who might remember her from Service
days at Shenley and Harrogate. |
Jean lives in Florida now. She is very
keen to renew acquaintances with former colleagues and has agreed
to make her e-mail address publicly available through this site.
Just click here to contact
her, if you have memories to share of service together, or perhaps of
either site. Please note though, that Jean may take some time to
respond. She occasionally spends some time away from home (and her
e-mail facilities). |
|
Dick Winters |
Former Colleagues from the Royal Signals and
from Comms & Sy Gp |
Dick served with the Royal Signals for many
years through the 60s, 70s and early 80s. He now lives in Melton
Mowbray and is keen to find anyone who served with him. He can be
reached on e-mail by clicking
here. He remains very actively engaged in things signals,
editing the journal of the Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society, amongst
other things. (Radio callsign - G3NVK) |
|
David (Alf) Ramsey |
Anyone who may remember him from service in
the 60s and 70s |
David, whose military service included work
in Vienna, is now retired from a second career as a schoolmaster in
Leicestershire and lives in Oadby. Like Dick Winters, mentioned
above, he is a keen amateur radio enthusiast. This much is evident
from his e-mail address, on which he can be reached by
clicking
here. |
| Fiona Mantle, a relative of Chris Mantle |
Anyone who might have served with Chris, who
was a translator at Bletchley Park and in Malta |
Fiona and other members of the Mantle family
are very keen to hear from anyone who remembers Chris. |
| Florence Straight (who may be better known by
her maiden name of Lily Wood) |
Any colleagues and fellow veterans of
Kedleston Hall days |
Please
pass
me your details and I will relay them to Florence |
| Paul Moran, who now lives in Florida |
Tom and Wendy Morrall |
These folks served together during the 70s
and 80s. Paul is keen to re-establish contact with the two of them. If
Tom and Wendy, or anyone who can reach them, would like to pass an
address or telephone number, I can relay it to Paul by e-mail. Just
contact
me now. We've had one helpful reply, already, but it was just a move
behind the Morralls' latest address! |
| Frank Langfield |
Any wartime members of 105 and 106 Special
Wireless Sections. |
Frank served with 105 and 106 SWS in the
Desert Campaign. He would love to hear from any colleagues who remember
the Sections or himself and can be contacted by writing to him at 19
Glenside Close, Frenchay, Bristol BS16 2QY. |
