- Contributed by
- Essex Action Desk
- People in story:
- Doreen E.Westwood (then Beryman), Cprl.Passway (lance), Ptes.Helen Robinson Kerr, Nelly Wilson, Maude Pope, Katie Goodchild, Vera Harris, Eugene Cole.
- Location of story:
- Jaywick, Clacton.
- Background to story:
- Army
- Article ID:
- A5987857
- Contributed on:
- 02 October 2005
We were guarding part of the coastline to ensure the enemy didn’t get through at the time of the invasion scare. We were a team of Radar Operators watching around the clock. It was my turn to be on all-night watch. About 13.00hrs I picked up a signal. It wasn’t moving and about 30,000 yds off shore. Presently it divided into two then three then about twelve in all. Range was steady, hardly moving. “Invasion” I thought — they are attacking by sea. I sounded the alarm and the whole site took up positions. Nothing moved — nothing happened. Everyone was hanging on my report over the tannoy. The O.C. informed headquarters. The whole coast was on alert. A reconnaissance
Plane went to investigate. We all waited, expecting the worst. A message came back to stand down. Harwich fishing fleet had gone fishing twelve miles out to sea and had not informed us. My team stood down and I carried on searching.
The next day, when I walked into the N.A.A.F.I. I was ribbed something rotten and I retreated with a very red face. We had a few nasty experiences, but this one ended well. Jaywick 1942-43.
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