大象传媒

We lived at Saltford close to the Avon. As a fourteen year old I was lucky enough to own a folding kayak that I used on school half-days and weekends.

One Tuesday half-day in 1944/5 while paddling on the river a man called me over to the bank near the Jolly Sailor pub. He said his name was Farthing, that he was from the Admiralty in Bath, and that he was looking for a boat to help carry out an experiment, could I help? Naturally I could, so he asked me if I could come back the next afternoon; I told him that it would not be a half-day. He then asked what school I went to (Bristol Grammar), and the Headmaster's name, saying he would arrange for me to get the time off. At school the following day an obviously displeased John Garrett, the Head, strode into the morning physics class and told me to get home, as I was required for some war-work. I learned later that the reasons for his displeasure were twofold; he didn't like students having time away from classes, and he had been called on his ex-directory telephone line.

At the riverside a military-style truck was parked together with some apparatus and a number of men. Farthing was obviously in charge and explained that my role was to tow a water-filled oil-drum to and fro in front of the equipment. This turned out to be exceptionally hard work as submerged oil-drums are both heavy and are not shaped for easy towing. While I was towing the drum the onshore crew was tracking me with some sort of Asdic device, since I could clearly hear the characteristic "ping". Quite a number of repeat passes were called for, as it was apparently necessary to adjust or calibrate the apparatus.

Eventually the result satisfied the Admiralty men, and I was thanked, and told that I must not tell anyone about the work. At school on the Thursday my classmates wanted to know why I had been given an unscheduled day off. Given the answer "it's an official secret" absolutely no one believed me!

Sometime later I had an official letter signed by Farthing enclosing a photograph of me towing the drum: stamped SECRET and labelled "the target". In the letter Farthing said that the Asdic device had been used successfully in the crossing of the Rhine.

Unfortunately, years later my mother had a "clear out" and both letter and photograph disappeared, and I very much doubt if there is any official record of my admittedly small contribution to the war effort!

Simon Downs,
15th January, 2005.

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