OLDER NEWS AND GENERAL INFORMATION
Suez Campaign Medal
A new campaign medal for service in the Suez Canal Zone during the period 1951 to 1954 has been instituted.
The following categories of personnel will be eligible for the award of the appropriate GSM with clasp:
a. Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army or Royal Air Force personnel and equivalent Reserve Forces based in the Suez Canal Zone.
b. civilians who served full time with the Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force during the qualifying period provided that they wore the approved uniform of their organisation.
c. military personnel of Commonwealth or Colonial forces, subject to the approval of their respective governments
d. persons of foreign nationality properly enlisted or enrolled in any of the qualifying categories described above.
Qualifying service will be 30 days or more continuous service between 16 October 1951 and 19 October 1954. Service at sea does not count; nor will time spent in the Canal Zone on official visits.
The addresses of the medal offices are as follow:
Royal Naval Medal Office, Room 1068, Centurion Building, Grange Road, Gosport, Hants PO13 9XA
Royal Marines Medal Office, Room 038, Centurion Building, Grange Road, Gosport, Hants PO13 9XA
Army Medal Office, Government Buildings, Worcester Road, Droitwich Spa, Worcs WR9 8AU
Royal Air Force Medal Office, Room 6, Building 248A, RAF PMA, RAF Innsworth, Glos GL3 1EZ
Squad 56
Information has been received from Chris Voisey that his father, Barrie Voisey, is the 3rd soldier from the left on the back row in the photograph of Squad 56, even though he thought it was Squad 49. His history is as follows: Number 41181864. Basic training at Catterick in December 1947 before transferring to garat's Hay in march 1948. Due to accommodation problems he spent the first few weeks at the Royal Pioneer camp at Quorn. Left Garat's Hay in September 1948 for Cyprus via transit camp outside Ripon and Liverpookl, and sailing on the Empire Halliday. After spending 3 weeks in a transit camp in Port Said, arrived in Famagusta where he served with 2 Wireless Regiment until 1952. He then returned to garat's Hay before spending 6 months at Tellerhof, Graz in Austria. Barrie was dmobbed in 1954 and, after further training at Bletchley, returned to Beaumanor as a Wireless Operator. During this time he married one of the Naafi girls. He served two further tours in Cyprus 1961-64 and 1968 to 71. During his last tour there, Beaumanor closed down so he was posted to Cheadle. Barrie left the service in 1976. One of the other names that comes to his mind is John Cassels If anyone would like to contact him click here. [29 September 2003]
Y Services Veterans' Rugby Team
At a recent commissioning dinner at RAF Digby, some old and bold (mostly old) players decided to form a veterans' team dedicated to the Y Services. The name chosen was "The Old Crows''. The intention is to play an annual game in Loughborough during the reunion weekend. Any serving or ex serving Y Services associated personnel are invited to express an interest.
Criteria: Over 35 years old; sense of humour; medically able to walk, trot, stumble round a rugby pitch once a year.
Further info is available from WO2 (Supvr R) Kevin Fogg on RAF Digby 94731 7129 or 01526 327129.
Annual Conference 2003
For a report on the 2003 Annual Conference at Torquay 24-26 May 2003, please click here
Help Wanted
The Branch regularly receives requests for help in finding old friends or from researchers seeking assistance. Please click here to read the latest ones. If you can help you do the Legion and the Branch a service in promoting our existence as well as benefiting the person making the request.
AGM and Remembrance Weekend 2003
The Remembrance weekend was held at Loughborough and St Marys-in-the-Elms church at Woodhouse over the weekend of 8/9 November 2003. For a report and photographs of this weekend, please click here.
New Book on JSSL
I have just had the opportunity to read a new book called SECRET CLASSROOMS: the story of the Joint Services School for Linguists at Coulsdon, Bodmin and Crail. Written by Geoffrey Elliott and Harold Shukman with an introduction by D.M. Thomas. A good and interesting read. For further details, see Bibliography (23 October 2002)
Latest on Garats Hay
I have just found out that our old camp at Garats Hay is to be demolished and the new MOD 6th form college is to be built there. The current lease on Welbeck College expires in 2006 and the operation will be moved to Woodhouse. For details of the planning permission, go to the Charnwood Council site item numbers 10 and 11 (20 October 2002)
World War Two German Sigint Site
A very interesting article has been forwarded to me from Clive Sanders on a German Sigint Site at Lauf an der Pegnitz. If you would like to know more about this please click here.
Freedom of Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park Trust offers the freedom of the Park to those members of the Y Services who served there during WW2. Further details and an application form can be obtained from the Administation Assistant, Victoria Pether, The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB Telephone 01908 631137 e-mail: vpether@bletchleypark.org.uk (9 May 2003)
The RAF 'Y' Service in WW2: A Wireless Mechanic's recollections
An extremely detailed and informative article has been received from Anthony N Heightman C Eng FIEE FRTS on his wartime recollections. It is far too long to be reproduced here, but it is hoped that it will be published in our Newsletter. It covers units including 50SU, No 1SU, 365WU, and other locations. It is an very interesting article and I look forward to it's being published. (24 Nov 02)
Remembrance Weekend
The 2002 Annual General meeting was held on 9 November 2002 at the Ramada Jarvis hotel in Loughborough when members came not only from all over the UK but even a member, Mike Green, from Germany. Although the numbers attending were not great, it was nice to see the regulars. The Remembrance Service was held on Sunday 10 November at St Marys in the Elms, Woodhouse, where the branch was well represented. Our Standard was on parade when our Vice-President, Terry Whittles, laid a wreath on behalf of the branch. Accompanying him was Lady Martin who laid a wreath on behalf of the community. For one of our members, it was a very special day as it was her birthday. Extra belated congratulations, Maisie.
At the AGM all committee members bar one were returned to office. Dennis Underwood, the hard-working Editor of our Newsletter decided to stand down and John Skipper volunteered to take over this important post. Thank you, Skip, for taking over this job. For some of John's details, and how to contact him, click here. Dennis remains a Committee member, and on behalf of you all, I should like to offer my thanks for all the hard work Dennis has done on the newsletter. He has also gamely helped me to get this site back on it's feet.
To see some photographs of the weekend click here. (23 November 02)
Anniversary of Collosus
Terry Mitchell has contacted us to remind us of the reconstruction of the breaking of the Enigma u-boats codes at the 2001 Festival of Remembrance (FoR)at the Royal Albert Hall. As 2003 will be the 60th anniversary of the installation of the first Collossus at Bletchley Park, this is being considered as an idea for next year's FoR. Part of that story has to be the role of the Y stations in intercepting the coded radio traffic. Nothing has been firmed up yet, but now is the time to start thinking about it. Any ideas direct to Terry please. (23 Nov 02)
Bletchley Park First Day Cover
Terry Mitchell has also provided us with the following information.
In the spring of 1939 General Wolfgang Martini, head of Luftwaffe Signals and a team of wireless experts, flew in Zeppelin LZ130 along the Suffolk coast of England. They were trying to determine if the purpose of the tall masts being erected all along the British coast was a RADAR defence system. They concluded that the British had no operational RADAR and the masts were a radio direction finding system. But all the while RAF radar operators were plotting the course of the biggest blip they had ever seen on their screens. The Germans assumed that any British system would be similar to theirs and use a short wavelength of just 50 centimetres with parabolic dish aerials. But the tall lattice towers and wires of the Chain Home radar network used a then unbelievable wavelength of around 10 metres. This provided the theme for a very collectable first day cover from Bletchley Park Post Office.
The Bletchley Park Post Office cover carries a set of ten Royal Mail 'Coastline' stamps cancelled on their first day of issue with a radar mast postmark. The front is a specially commissioned painting of the southern British coastline and its chain of radar stations. On the reverse is a Y station Signals Operator passing on the information. Combined with the regular decoding of messages by Bletchley Park's codebreakers, this gave RAF fighter squadrons an advantage in combating the Luftwaffe's superior numbers. Inside the cover will be the historical information about the system and a copy of the decode of an intercepted message sent to General Martini by German agents. The cover is a limited edition of 300 and will be a valued collectable for those with an interest in early radio and radar systems. It is available at £12.50 from Bletchley Park Post Office, The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, MK3 6EB or through their website. (23 Nov 02)
Colossus Window
I have just been contacted by Jennifer-Jane Bayliss AGMP, the designer and maker of the Colossus window. It transpires that we did not seek permission of Ms Bayliss under UK copyright law to show her work. This I have now done. Our apologies to her for our omission. To see the window click here. You can contact Jennifer-Jane here Now a quiz for all you ex-Spec Ops. The punch tape in the window spells out a message. What is it? Answers to me please (16 October 2002)
County Chairmen's Seminar
Our Vice President, Terry Whittles, attended the above seminar at Tidworth on 28 September 2002. To read his report, click here
Comrades and Colleagues
We have been asked to give a quick plug for anyone wishing to contact ex-forces personnel. This site has been running now for over 6 months and during that time they have raised over £300 for UK forces charities. Please take a look at the site run by an ex RN Fleet Air Arm technician. You can find this site by clicking here.
Branch General Meeting
The summer Branch General Meeting was held at RAF Digby on Saturday 3 August 2002, and a full report can be seen by clicking here
New Zealand Y Sites
A request has been received on this subject. Please click here
Branch General Meeting - Chicksands
The Summer meeting of the Branch took place at Chicksands on 7th
July 2001. Click here for a brief report and
pictures.
(7 Jul 01)
Hambühren - New Book on RAF Signal Units (and more)
One of our Branch members, Peter Jackson, who spent his
national service with RAF 'Y' in Hambühren, has written a history of the site
since 1939. Click here to learn more about
book and author.
(21 Jul 01)
Garats Hay Photos from the 50s Sought
Bob Hayward, who served at Woodhouse in about 1951 before
posting to Munster in Westphalia enjoyed a recent visit to our website.
But he asked, "Can you not obtain some photos of the old Garats Hay - the
place where one longed for a wet inspection day because the rain came through
the metal huts and we were not judged so harshly? And where the
potatoes were never sieved as we would never have had any potatoes with our
meal? Also where being on guard duty allowed one to go through the
coal yard fencing to get coal and wood for the pot-bellied stoves in the
huts and where one could "borrow" food from the cookhouse to
supplement the hut' s appalling rations?". Can anyone oblige?
You know we'd love to have an archive of older photographs. Just send
anything suitable, if you can, (preferably in JPEG format at 72 dpi) to
the webmaster. We'd be delighted to credit anyone who can help.
(30 Sep 01)
Caring for the Past
Everyone who cares about the traditions and history of the Y
Services will be delighted to hear that serving personnel from Chicksands have
agreed to make care and maintenance of the Y site at the National Arboretum in
Staffordshire one of their priorities. Courses going through training will
visit the site, in their own time, and undertake work to keep it in good
order. This generous gesture is very much appreciated and
valued.
(9 Sep 01)
Naval History Net
Yes, you're saying - very interesting, but what does it have to
do with the Y Services. Well, maybe not a lot. but I'll bet that the
webmaster, Gordon Smith's account of his grandfather's experiences as a Yeoman
of Signals in the British Expeditionary Force in Russia in 1919 will hold
attention for a minute or two. There's also fascinating material in
Gordon's site on little-known matters like the use of Thames barges for invasion
duty. Something for our salty sea-dogs to mull over. Click
here to visit - and don't forget to tell
Gordon, if you appreciate his work.
(31 Aug 01)
British Computing Breakthrough Marked
British firm Tritech International, which last year won a Millennium Prize for Scotland's most technically innovative and commercially successful company, recently installed a commemorative stained glass window showing a Colossus being serviced by a wartime WREN. A request to the Company for information on the background to the window's installation has been very courteously responded to by the Managing Director, Mr Richard Marsh . It has been explained that there were really two reasons for the decision to feature Colossus. The first was quite practical. The Company had just opened a new engineering department and was looking for a dramatic work of art to relieve the tedium of a long approach corridor. The second purpose stemmed from the idea that it would be appropriate for a firm which exports some 70% of its products to show overseas friends just where the World's first programmable computer came from. The significance of a computer link lies in the fact that Tritech's products are substantially PC-based. Senior Company figures had a great appreciation for the work of the Bletchley codebreakers and the Colossus window just seemed to fit all the criteria. Apparently the window makes a great impression. Tritech have been kind enough to offer some colour photographs. An electronic image has also been provided, which you can see by clicking here. (03/01)
Beaumanor Association Growing
Ken Carling's excellent work to provide a focus for civilian operators who served at Beaumanor continues to bear fruit. A list of individuals who served at Beaumanor during its post-war operational period now bears 820 names. There is quite a bit of detail of many who served over the years concerned. In many cases, it's also been possible to record some details of current circumstances. Ken has more than 60 active members of his Association now and more names regularly come to light. If you haven't already read about the work of Beaumanor's civilian staff, click on the 'Beaumanor' link above. There's a link to an Association photograph album available through the Freeserve Smartgroups site.
A Generous Benefactor
Joan Nicholls, writer of the excellent history of wartime wireless intercept work at Beaumanor - 'England Needs You' - has made a substantial donation to Legion benevolent funds from monies received for her book. Joan would be embarrassed by disclosure of the actual sum, but her generosity should not go unremarked. It was always her selfless intention to support the Legion with any sum remaining once she had recouped the costs of producing 'England Needs You'. This means that payments received now will almost certainly go into Legion charitable work. If you haven't got your copy yet - and you really should do, because it's a wonderful work, then you've got a really good reason to order it now.
Hong Kong and Little Sai Wan
David Gresswell maintains an excellent website on behalf of an Association of former members of the Royal Air Force's 367 Signal Unit. The Unit worked for many years at Little Sai Wan on Hong Kong Island. The website has some lovely photographs, including some that show what has become of the former station. There is also a list of Association members by surname and postcode, enabling visitors to identify old friends. The inclusion of a link to a group known as the TARTS is worth mentioning too. You might like to find David's website and check that one out for yourselves.
Australian Calling!
John (Zug) Zeller has asked anyone who may have served with Australian units in the Far East to get in touch. The units concerned include; 121 Signal Squadron at Chai Keng, 2 Squadron in Singapore or 693 Signal Troop in Labuan (Borneo) or Kuching. Zug is a former Australian operator who spent a few years with British Y units in Singapore, Malaya and Borneo before heading off to Vietnam. He now belongs an association of past and present members of the parent unit, 7 Signals Regiment based in Queensland, Australia. The Association's members treasure their memories of contact with British and American colleagues and have many photographs ready for archiving. They would love to re-establish old friendships and share memories.
AGM 2000 - Caversham Park
Please click here to view pictures from the AGM held at the home of BBC Monitoring in 2000 and to read a brief report.
Remembrance Weekend 2000
Please click here to read an illustrated report on Branch-linked events to commemorate Remembrance Sunday 2000. Established precedent took us back to our spiritual home at Woodhouse in Leicestershire and a combination of events provided members with an opportunity to 'mix and match' their commitments to suit personal circumstances.
US Naval Intelligence
I am indebted to Phil Jacobsen, an American colleague, who has alerted me to a site containing a number of articles which will certainly interest many of our members. He is the author of many articles and clearly very knowledgeable, especially about aspects relating to the Pacific campaign. Phil has been good enough to pass several titles for our bibliography. They deal mainly with the Pacific and have been incorporated into the bibliography page, where they join another couple of additions my own researches have unearthed. Phil's recommended website is reached by clicking here. DO PLEASE NOTE - you will need to click 'intelligence' once in the site to access Phil's articles.