Radar Recollections - A Bournemouth University / CHiDE / HLF project

 
 
 

Why the move to Worth Matravers?

It may be supposed that the move to Worth Matravers (3 miles west of Swanage in Dorset) was in response to the poor facilities at St Athan but at the time of the move, there were even less facilitiesat Worth. There was just one hut in the middle of a field when the group arrived on 7th / 8th May.

A Map of East Dorset in 1940
 

The aerodrome to be used was at Christchurch (some 26 miles away) which had little more than a short grassy runway, but it was where the Army group had been sent when Bawdsey had been closed down.

This meant that the Air Ministry Research Group (AMRE) were at least able to rejoin with their parent group.

 

The Group was soon renamed as TRE (Telecommunications Research Establishment) A.P.Rowe was still superintendent of the group but Bowen and the others felt that Rowe had little interest in their work and a number of arguments ensued.

Building work commenced quickly through the summer and included bomb blast protection for the huts. A special CHL unit (known as 'D' site) was constructed on the cliff edge at St Aldhelm's Head.

Aerial view of TRE Worth in 1940
An Aerial view of TRE Worth in 1940
 
 
 
   
Mr A. I. Llewelyn
Professor G. E. Bacon
 
 
   
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