Portsdown Tunnel Communications Centre

[David Dunlop]

While researching the history and use of the RCA AR88 Series of communication receivers during WW2 I ran across the attached photo of this Comm Centre in action during the war. A high percentage of Naval personnel, but when I subsequently found the following website, it made sense as the facility was built and administered on RN Property.


http://www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk


This facility was the communications nerve centre for the allies leading up to Normandy with about 700 personnel serving at it's peak, and that was the communications centre alone. It closed in 2002, was gutted by the military and sold to a private company that it now hoping to rebuild/restore as much as possible as a museum.

Would anyone know if any Canadian military personnel might have served in this underground facility during the war?


David

[Bruce MacMillan]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Would anyone know if any Canadian military personnel might have served in this underground facility during the war?

David

I would say yes. Fort Southwick was the US & Canadian combined HQ located in the tunnels under the fort.

No. 1 Wireless Section , RCSigs, was attached to 5th Anti-Aircraft Divisional Signals and responsible for sigs to gun positions around Portmouth.

Bruce