I am nearly 84 and live in Bristol, even at this age I have a wonderful memory of wartime radar, a very secret time. My training began early in 1940 and the course covered nine months, not only learning drill but more interesting how the GLMk1 worked, down to the last detail. This was in Thorpe Bay, Essex where all civilians had been evacuated. Later I used GLMk1* and GLMk2 in this country and the early model (Mk1) in West Africa and Burma where I worked with Nigerian soldiers. On my return to UK at the end of the war I stayed in the RA using 584, 3MK2, 3Mk7 and 4Mk6.
In 1952 I attended a long gunnery course at the School of AA in Manorbier and qualified as an AIG (assistant instructor of gunnery).
In 1960 my department, the Basic Wing, was moved to the school at Larkhill where I stayed until retirement in 1966 with the rank of WO1/Master Gunner. I have given a number of talks on this subject to different groups and also to courses at the Royal School of Artillery, Larkhill.
By Jim Humphreys © 2006
1 - Taken in April 1940 when in 284 HAA Battery RA, TA and shows the entire troop alongside the 3inch gun at Littlehampton, I am standing on left of Barrel.
3 - Taken when I was at Larkhill after being promoted to WO1/Master Gunner, I am in the centre.
2 - GLMk1, an early AA radar which provided range, bearing and angle information.