Norman Best – Transcript of notes at the back of his personal diary, handwritten at Camp D2 between 27th May and 1st June 1944
Peter Best writes: These notes were at the back of Norman Best’s Diary and he obviously made these notes at the Concentration area D2 (just by Lychiatt Maltravers, Poole, Dorset) whilst getting his head around the organisation of 15082, and who was going to do what. As he was new to 21 BDS, I feel sure that as much as trying to organize what would happen in France, it was also to remind him of the names of key people he would be working with and the equipment they would be using. For instance, the quote “15 positioned” refers to the AMES Type 15 Radar Set.
15 positioned
(2) 14 positioned
(3) 13 positioned
(4) 11 ? ?
15 + 14 2 parties working
- 15
EffieSL Best
Elias F/s Echerat
Stevens Sgt. Edain
Firby Lac. Scalding
Cpt. Michelin
All ???
Cable Running. Diesel inst.
General water leaking
F/L Hitchcock
Lac. Fisher
Lac. Kaye
(1) T.G. Not to be started without F/L Hitchcock
- No radar gear to be switched without Officers
(3) Telephone faulty Detailed to Sgt. Hamble in large
Sgt. Hamble.
Williamson to check
(4) As soon 15 working 15 party + ½ 14 party start on 13.
- MT people to take off cab of 13 as soon as positioned.
- Type 11 to be commissioned last
To be commissioned on the ground
- ???? – commissioned Flicker
50 mile on DU54
(8) IFF on T15 to be commissioned with 15
(9) MT to provide tools for 13.
(11) ???? use of winch for T15
Telephone Faults
Cpl Adderley
Aerial T15
Cpl Simpson
Cpl Rowe
Cpl Heathcote
Newsome
Scott
Reeves
Feeders (including poles)
Smith
Fogg
Cables and Diesels
Transmitter
Mallett
Johnston
Receiver including 21
Sgt. Hamble
Wilson
Cooke
Spares
Melrose
Kelly
Cox
Available after 15 + 14 Commissioned
All except Sgt. Hamble
Cpl Rowe
Wilson
Cook
Cox
26 ???? / SD not detailed
2 on RT (P erection)
4 on cabling
10 reserve GCI working
10 on camp duties