大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War website by Marie on behalf of Sheina and has been added to the site with her permission. Sheina fully understand the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

The War was coming to a close - it was the beginning of summer 1945. The location was Cornwall and the Radar Station was RAF Pen Olver. We were close to the Lizard village and billeted in the main Hotel in Housel Bay.

Our Radar Station was on the very top of Lizard Point and to ensure good coverage we had a 200ft tower on which to place the paraboloid aerial.

Our Watch, on this occasion, was on night duty. The night was busy, but fairly spread out. Our Supervisor had told us all, on arrival at 1800hrs that a directive had been issued to all UBoats to the effect that if they surrendered without resistance they would be escorted to the nearest Naval Port. They were required to surface - one crew member or Captain to wave a white flag and the deck-mounted gun was to be wound up and pointed skywards. We all thought this very sketchy information!

The night watch continued - then as dawn was breaking - there appeared on our screens something substantial - mainly because it was close to the rocks which stretched along that part of the coast under the cliffs - we were concerned for "its" safety, as there were many fishing vessels also around who needed our vigilance.

The plot seemed to be steadily hugging the cliffs so the Supervisor "volunteered two WAAF to get as near to the cliff edge as possible and get a "visual" on what "it" was.

So Jenny and I set Off! When we emerged from the operations block we were met with a swirling sea mist and the dampness that it contained. This often occured during the summer months, usually "burning off" fairly quickly as the sun managed to penetrate. We could also hear the light-house warning - so it must have been pretty general - making a very murky and eerie beginning to the day. We went down the cliff grass, nearly to the edge - the first thing that we were conscious of was the sound of a very noisy engine coming from the sea. Then out of the mist a black form broke through, under the cliffs almost beneath us and we recognised that it was a U Boat.
We were thunderstruck or paralysed with fear - I don't know which.

The Captain unfurled a white flag on seeing two figures in uniform (we all wore battle-dress at that time, so it was likely that he thought that we were men) - he then went to wind up the gun (!) at which point my friend Jenny almost knocked me and herself to the ground saying "he's turning the gun on us - we shall be killed!". We kept still for a few minutes and then we realised that his engine was turned off and that he was shouting something to us. I asked Jenny if she knew any German - "no - only "achtung"!" - so suggested that she used it and then we both made wild signs, as best we could, about the danger of the rocks underneath his UBoat. It seemed to have an effect and we scrambled up the cliff as fast as we could to report our findings.

Falmouth was waiting on line- with the suggestion that the local Coast Guard be alerted. The Coast Guard Station was very close and the Coast Guard had seen the UBoat and was already en-route to meet him, in a rowing boat!!

Another report to Falmouth and we received the news that a light destroyer would meet the UBoat and Coast Guard - in slightly deeper water (!) to escort him to the appointed place. The Coast Guard reported to us later that the UBoat Commander was very young - in his early 20's - and very nervous.

The watch ended at 0800hrs and we all walked back by the cliff path - few of us realising that we had witnessed a small part of history.

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