Historian uncovers covert D-Day chart maker's tale

An historian who brought to light a clandestine Hydrographic department, integral to the success of D-Day, is on the hunt for the people that worked in it.

Since 2003, Adrian Webb has researched the covert department, predominantly based in Taunton and Bath.

In 1944 its 1,100 workers produced a "staggering" seven million nautical charts that showed servicemen and allies the exact locations and routes to take during the Normandy landings.

Mr Webb said without their "tireless" work the invasion might well have failed.

"It's difficult to imagine the levels of secrecy back in the 1940s," he said.

"Through corroborated stories, we understand there was a worker who was overheard talking about what they were doing.

"That person was shipped off to Iceland."

In Bath, the department drew "complicated" master copies of charts that "really pushed people's technical limits".

They were then securely delivered to a purpose built factory in Taunton where they were printed in "unimaginable numbers".

"In the year of 1938 they issued around one million charts and books and in 1944 it staggeringly produced around seven million charts," he said.

"It was unprecedented really."

"It's a true testament to the workers who did incredibly long , tireless hours to get them ready."

Mr Webb said the most amazing stories came from the workers themselves and their families.

"I believe there are still five people alive who worked in the department and most of them are now 100 years old," he said.

"A lady called Ivy, who has now passed away, told me she was tasked with taking a roll of top secret charts from Bath to Taunton by train.

"They locked her into a carriage for security and waited to meet a policeman in Taunton who would deliver her to the factory.

"But unfortunately when she arrived, no-one was there.

"It was late at night, there was a blackout, she just started walking.

"After a while the department feared the worst when she had not arrived and found the policeman exhausted and alseep at his home.

"On an act of faith the department flicked their lights on and off to signal to her and show her where to go in the hope she was walking to them."

He said she "thankfully" eventually made it and "saved the day".

"If those handdrawn documents had not arrived D-Day could have been delayed," he added.

Mr Webb said he was sure there were more people out there with more stories about the department.

"Out of the 1,100 people I've only spoken to a few. If anyone knows a person, a relative who had worked in the department please let me know," he added.

His book, Churchills Secret Chart Makers: The Road to D-Day and Beyond has been published ahead of the D-Day anniversary on 6 June.

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