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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Roger Marsh of the ‘Action Desk — Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Dennis King, and has been added to the site with the author’s permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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.

PR-BR

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