Dennis King 

Halcyon Days in Remote Places

By Actiondesk Sheffield

People in story: Dennis King
Location of story: Hebrides, Orkneys, Swinister Hill, Sullom Voe, Shetland Isles, Ireland and Reykjavik, Iceland.
Unit name: M&E (Mechanical and Electrical), AMWD
Background to story: Royal Air Force

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Roger Marsh of the ‘Action Desk – Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Dennis King.

Halcyon Days in Remote Places
By 
Dennis King

I and many of our flight known solely as M&E (Mechanical and Electrical) were engaged in a mission to help supply power for Radar Transmitting and Receiving Stations in remote places, such as high on the hills, and down in the valleys. In fact, miles from activity and airfields, you could be in very lonely and desolate places, unnatural for any human to exist in without going mad (some did!). These were situated on islands such as the Hebrides, Orkneys, Shetland Isles, Ireland and Iceland.

With the absence of any officers, it was hard to understand that we were doing a vitally important job, and doubtless we were. Friendship was great and this did keep us going, despite the weather which changed frequently.

Our daily mail was a problem as we were five miles from the main airfield of Sullom Voe in the Shetlands.

Sadly, as there was no transport, it required two volunteers out of six to cross the moors daily, some 25 miles through dangerous bogs, to get the mail. After collection, a quick pint at the NAAFI and a chat with different friends, it was a long trek back. As our camp was at Swinister Hill, 800ft up overlooking Sullom Voe, we also had a steep climb.

Camp life consisted of mucking in and taking our turn. There was no running water or a toilet, and a hole had to be dug on the moor a fair way from our Nissen hut. This hut housed for sleeping, three SMEs (Mechanic Stationary Engines), three Radar lads and one Corporal Wireless. There were two small huts, one transmitting, the other for receiving, and a very small building for cooking, storing and rest.

No NAAFI snooker table and cinema.

One other small building was our power house, with a Lister generator and two small masts.

A slight change of food was fish and eggs, which we exchanged with bread and potatoes from a crofter living nearby on a stretch of sand between the mainland and an island. The fish, piltocks and sillocks, had to be eaten the same day they were caught. For fresh water for a 'cuppa`, we found a small spring.

We were here for six months, then posted to Seousburgh, a much larger location with two 340ft towers, 200ft above the camp. With sheer determination, I climbed one of these to take a photo of the camp below. It did come out OK, but I did not linger or sit on the seat at the top very long as it was swaying and the weather was again on the change. I did not fancy staying on it during the night!

At Seousbursh we had a small NAAFI ablutions with a bath and showers, needless to say though it was peat water and you came out discoloured and smelly. A few local residents helped us with our chores. With these isolated camps there were no officers, so discipline and dress was lax. Khaki or overalls were worn as we were part of the Airfield Construction Branch - a squadron of men trained in building trades to erect and repair aerodromes near the enemy which had been bombed, whether the enemy be German or Japanese: Although these lads also did a great job from the North to the South Pole, they were praised but unheard of by many people. They were an experiment of AMWD, a Prime Force, to be posted anywhere where civilian engineers refused to go. Although RAF, we were under certain rules from the Clerk of Works.

Iceland was luxury with good living conditions, a full size cookhouse. NAAFI. cinemas and walks to Reykjavik when off duty. A more humane way of living. After fourteen months duty there, it was home to the UK by Short Sunderland Flying Boat and demob.

It was an experience never to be forgotten. but worthwhile as home was more appreciated for it.

Airfield Construction

By Actiondesk Sheffield

People in story: Dennis King
Location of story: Reykjavik, Iceland
Unit name: AMWD (Air Ministry Works Directorate), Airfield Construction Service
Background to story: Royal Air Force

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Roger Marsh of the ‘Action Desk – Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Dennis King.

Airfield Construction
By
Dennis King

The Airfield Construction Service was relatively unknown but fulfilled an essential role, both at home or abroad.

The construction squads worked relentlessly, building as close to the enemy front line as required, or repairing old fields that had been bombed, deserted or captured.
We were a very unusual group, working anywhere, also assisting the Army and Navy in their duties. We were trained as part of an experiment by AMWD (Air Ministry Works Directorate) to undertake all elements of airfield construction and had to learn all the skills required of plumbers, carpenters, builders, plasterers, sparks, mechanics and others.

Frequently, we had to use whatever materials were available to make or repair a runway. Our role was to construct a landing strip as quickly and as effectively as possible, so that operational aircraft, could be deployed at a moment's notice. We were needed to supply electricity for radar, wireless and airfields, along with lighting where it was needed in the wilds, on mountain tops or down in the valleys.

Often there was no running water, no toilets and we had to improvise or mend facilities. Sometimes there were miles to I tramp by volunteers, two out of six airmen a day undertaking a five mile trek back and forth from our camp, often 800 ft up. It was always two people for safety reasons due to the bogs. This was very essential to pick up our mail from home.

We did have fresh food and water once a week, but often relied on spring water.
Occasionally, we had to wash down with peat water (brown) having no bath or basics. There was no radio, games, dart board or draughts to occupy our minds.

In Iceland, we had more in the way of luxury. Nissen huts were fortunately lined inside and had a Cannon stove for warmth which we needed. We were allowed into Reykjavik, for a look around and a break from duties on our time off. Some of the Icelanders were very friendly towards us, but our own lads in `blue' could not weigh us up, we were not quite one of them! We were excused fire picket, guard and general duties except for church and pay parades but, going into Reykjavik, we had to wear khaki and a blue cap, similar to those worn in the RAF Regiment. We had to rough it the best way we could, and we all got along well.

Our clothing was many and varied for the winter conditions. We had two pairs of socks, one long thick pair for rubber boots, two pairs of gloves, all-in-one Zoot suit, fur hat, glare goggles, balaclava, alpine boots, leather jerkin, long johns and thick underwear.
We had few comforts elsewhere and no contact with the W.A.A.F.s. We accepted our fate and had to behave ourselves.

Eventually, we at last got transport home, a Short Sunderland Flying Boat to Scotland, to see trees again. But it was a most wonderful experience, never to be forgotten, especially the Aurora Borealis in all its shapes and colours.