About the contributor

I have joined this site as I have an historical interest in WW2

My interest started when I was called up as a National Service Man. At that time I was already a fully skilled radio and T/V engineer. Because of this I was given a perfunctory trade test at Cardington, and told that I could put up L.A.C. after square bashing and get back pay to day 1. Holding this rank qualified me for a radar fitters course at R.A.F. Yatesbury where I was trained on Rebecca 8, Radar Ranging, and I.F.F. as fitted to Hawker Hunters. I was then posted to R.A.F. Tangmere, (no longer in existence). Although not trained on Eureka 2, I also serviced this beacon, using my exising knowledge of electronics. During the summer excercise I was singled out by I.R.I.S. (The Inspectorate of Radio Installations and Services), as having the best Eureka Beacon in the world, (this is what was passed down to me). On the strength of that, I was given an extra 48 on top the 48 that all get after the excercise. By adding the minimum 3 days leave this gave me a 10 day holiday. It was my contact with the services that engendered this interest in WW2.

I have a roundabout contact with WW2, previous to this. An aunt of mine was caught up in Belgium, (she lived there), with the German push to the channel coast in 1940. She joined the underground, and finished up one of the last surviving memebers of the Escaping Society. I remember her telling of some of her exploits on a visit just after the war ended. My cousin, who was also Belgian joined the partisans, (or whatever the Belgians called themselves).

I have had the benefit of passing on some of my knowledge to schoolchildren. During my stint as a school governor I was asked to take a class on WW2 which at that time was one of their current subjects. The lesson, lecture, or whatever you want to call it, must have had a modicum of success, as there was no fidgeting, no looking out of windows or any of the other things that tell you, you have lost their attention. A most gratifying experience.

I look forward to answering any questions that anyone might have, on the above or anything else for that matter.