RAF West Beckham
Encyclopedia
RAF West Beckham a former Chain Home
Radar station located in Norfolk
, England
. RAF West Beckham opened in 1938 and closed in 1958.
and Holt
in Norfolk
, England
. The station was large and included a transmitter site, receiver site, generator site, underground reserves as well as two camps for personnel to live in.
, several WAAF
s were stationed here and B Site 'Marl Pit WAAF camp' located in nearby Lower Bodham is well known to the local population. The other accommodation site was known as C Site, home to Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1940, followed by Military Police and then RAF Regiment.
The radar site itself located at West Beckham was known as A Site.
The station Commander during World War II was famous dance band leader Marius B. Winter (1898–1956). Due to his background in the entertainment industry he was able to get good people in to entertain the people at the camp. Every Sunday night, a dance would be held at B Site which was popular with the RAF, Army and locals alike. Marius B Winter was at West Beckham from 1942 until 1946. Other Commanding Officers included F/L Gardner and F/L Ingham before Marius B Winter assumed command. During the 1950s the Commanding Officers were F/L J.H.W Griffith, F/L T.Bradford, F/L R.W Chaston, F/L C.A Brown, F/L Keith Yexley followed by F/L William R. Jones. Sometime during the late 1940s there was a F/L Melville in charge. F/L Turpin an Australian and former Lancaster pilot was a radar officer at the station and sometimes acting CO.
In the 1950s very few dances were held at the station, maybe the number was in single figures. However each Friday night an event known as the Bodham Hop was held in Bodham village hall and was very popular with airmen and local girls alike.
During the war shift changes at RAF West Beckham were at 8 am, 1 pm and 6 pm. During the 1950s radar at West Beckham was done on a dawn til dusk basis apart from during the odd exercise when 24 hours coverage was often provided.
After World War II, C Site when into care and maintenance. A Site closed in 1956, B Site Closed in 1958. B Site lasted longer as it was also used by personnel from RAF Bard Hill.
The station close links with local fighter station RAF Matlaske
.
RAF West Beckham reported to the filter room at RAF Watnall which was HQ to No. 12 Group during its life. Originally RAF West Beckham was parented to RAF Bircham Newton, then RAF Wittering and finally RAF Coltishall. The distance of Bircham Newton and especially Wittering proved a major disadvantage. Daily trips to RAF Coltishall
were made for supplies.
There were four metal transmitter pylons which were 360 feet (109.7 m) high and four wooden receiver pylons which were 240 ft (73.2 m) high. The wooden masts were blown up in the summer of 1957, the metal masts were taken down in late 1957 and early 1958.
For a selection of historical photos of RAF West Beckham please visit the following link:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rafwestbeckham/
and a videos at:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o36WhgqR3_s
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ekTw_zHHQY
Today the station is in private ownership. Many buildings remain. The owner of the Transmitter site is researching the station.
If you or a family member served at RAF West Beckham please contact him at miked3038@hotmail.com
Chain Home
Chain Home was the codename for the ring of coastal Early Warning radar stations built by the British before and during the Second World War. The system otherwise known as AMES Type 1 consisted of radar fixed on top of a radio tower mast, called a 'station' to provide long-range detection of...
Radar station located in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. RAF West Beckham opened in 1938 and closed in 1958.
Facility
RAF West Beckham was located between the towns of SheringhamSheringham
Sheringham is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, west of Cromer.The motto of the town, granted in 1953 to the Sheringham Urban District Council, is Mare Ditat Pinusque Decorat, Latin for "The sea enriches and the pine adorns"....
and Holt
Holt, Norfolk
Holt is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The town is north of the city of Norwich, west of Cromer and east of King's Lynn. The town is on the route of the A148 King's Lynn to Cromer road. The nearest railway station is in the town of Sheringham where access to the...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The station was large and included a transmitter site, receiver site, generator site, underground reserves as well as two camps for personnel to live in.
History
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, several WAAF
WAAF
WAAF may refer to:*Women's Auxiliary Air Force, a British military service in World War II**Waaf, a member of the service*WAAF , a radio station licensed to Westborough, Massachusetts, United States...
s were stationed here and B Site 'Marl Pit WAAF camp' located in nearby Lower Bodham is well known to the local population. The other accommodation site was known as C Site, home to Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1940, followed by Military Police and then RAF Regiment.
The radar site itself located at West Beckham was known as A Site.
The station Commander during World War II was famous dance band leader Marius B. Winter (1898–1956). Due to his background in the entertainment industry he was able to get good people in to entertain the people at the camp. Every Sunday night, a dance would be held at B Site which was popular with the RAF, Army and locals alike. Marius B Winter was at West Beckham from 1942 until 1946. Other Commanding Officers included F/L Gardner and F/L Ingham before Marius B Winter assumed command. During the 1950s the Commanding Officers were F/L J.H.W Griffith, F/L T.Bradford, F/L R.W Chaston, F/L C.A Brown, F/L Keith Yexley followed by F/L William R. Jones. Sometime during the late 1940s there was a F/L Melville in charge. F/L Turpin an Australian and former Lancaster pilot was a radar officer at the station and sometimes acting CO.
In the 1950s very few dances were held at the station, maybe the number was in single figures. However each Friday night an event known as the Bodham Hop was held in Bodham village hall and was very popular with airmen and local girls alike.
During the war shift changes at RAF West Beckham were at 8 am, 1 pm and 6 pm. During the 1950s radar at West Beckham was done on a dawn til dusk basis apart from during the odd exercise when 24 hours coverage was often provided.
After World War II, C Site when into care and maintenance. A Site closed in 1956, B Site Closed in 1958. B Site lasted longer as it was also used by personnel from RAF Bard Hill.
The station close links with local fighter station RAF Matlaske
RAF Matlaske
RAF Matlaske was a satellite air station to RAF Coltishall of the Royal Air Force, situated near Matlaske in Norfolk, England. RAF Matlaske opened in 1940 and closed in 1945.-History:...
.
RAF West Beckham reported to the filter room at RAF Watnall which was HQ to No. 12 Group during its life. Originally RAF West Beckham was parented to RAF Bircham Newton, then RAF Wittering and finally RAF Coltishall. The distance of Bircham Newton and especially Wittering proved a major disadvantage. Daily trips to RAF Coltishall
RAF Coltishall
The former Royal Air Force Station Coltishall, more commonly known as RAF Coltishall , was a Royal Air Force station, a military airbase, North-North-East of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia, from 1938 to 2006....
were made for supplies.
There were four metal transmitter pylons which were 360 feet (109.7 m) high and four wooden receiver pylons which were 240 ft (73.2 m) high. The wooden masts were blown up in the summer of 1957, the metal masts were taken down in late 1957 and early 1958.
For a selection of historical photos of RAF West Beckham please visit the following link:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rafwestbeckham/
and a videos at:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o36WhgqR3_s
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ekTw_zHHQY
Remains
The station fence lasted until the early 1980s by when it had almost rusted away.Today the station is in private ownership. Many buildings remain. The owner of the Transmitter site is researching the station.
If you or a family member served at RAF West Beckham please contact him at miked3038@hotmail.com