Epilogue – A pilgrimage to Tannach. 6th July 2010

 Immediately after completing the LEJOG ride, and dismantling my bicycle for transportation in the car to go south, we headed off towards Wick and then to Haster.  Tannach is only a crossroads on the minor road between Haster and Thrumster. There is a nearby farm called Tannach Mains.

But during the Second World War this was the site of one of the top-secret radar stations – then known as Chain Home radar and Chain Home Low radar stations. RAF Tannach was operational from July 1940 to November 1945. It was run by RAF personnel, many of them volunteers in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF).  My late mother was one of those volunteers.

Although there is very little to see now, there must have been scores of servicemen and women living and working here.  I was very fortunate to be greeted by ‘Mary’, who was born just a mile or so away on a farm on the shores of Loch Hempriggs. She now lives in a new bungalow built at the crossroads adjacent to the site of the old radar station buildings. These included the Transmitter and Receiver blocks. Some buildings are used by Mary’s family for agricultural storage and she very helpfully took us for a small tour around them and also pointed out the ruins of the other remaining buildings.  Mary (maiden name Thompson) very kindly took time to explain what she could remember about  the buildings before they were demolished or fell into disrepair.

The ground is mainly flat, with little protection from wind and weather.  I well remember my mother telling us tales of how bleak this place was in winter  especially with rationed coal, a  communal shower block, a black-out and poorly constructed living accommodation blocks (Nissan huts) which offered small defence against the cold, snow and rain. Although she regailed us with accounts of the comradeship and common purpose, and fearsome flight sergeants, and only a few inches of hot water in the bath etc, she never told us children the details of what she actually did because she still regarded it as ‘hush-hush’ and she had been sworn never to divulge that information to anyone.

The small water tower still stands above one of the operations rooms. Drinking water was apparently pumped up directly from the nearby Loch Hempriggs. There were still some remains of other buildings such as the cook-house, which we photographed.  The living quarters were some distance down the road from the main operations block, which had to be negotiated on foot with or without the benefit of shielded flashlights at night.

Like most ruined places the atmosphere is somewhat eerie and you can’t help wondering about all the brave souls who worked here and helped change the course of the war. What became of them in later life?  At that time British radar was at the cutting edge of worldwide science and technology and yet it was being operated by young volunteers who had given up their civilian life and (comforts) to serve their country. My mother was a nineteen year old seamstress when she ‘joined up’.

When we piled back into the car in the late afternoon I felt really pleased that I had actually seen a part of my mother’s life from before I was born. It’s a pity she is no longer around to see the physical remnants of her work and hardships, but her ghost is still there!

My mother, WAAF Conny Crook – later McCulloch. Circa 1940. My granddaughter looks a lot like her.

My friend Tom, Mary from Tannach, and me on yet another beautiful day.

One of the surviving buildings – original purpose unknown.

One of the operations blocks, with the water tower. 

With bomb-proofing and no windows, this was probably the Transmission or Receiving Block.

Mary had been told that this was a radio room. The asbestos roofing is still in remarkably good condition especially considering the harsh local weather and the 70 winters it has survived.

The cookhouse and mess-hall, with  the North Sea in the distance.

This was the only surviving building in the area where the living accommodation (Nissan huts) had been. It was some distance from the main operations buildings. Complete with oyster-catcher on the roof.  It may have  been the ablutions block. There were also mounds of grass-covered rubble which may have been the demolished living quarters.

Explore posts in the same categories: Uncategorized