SPECIAL SIGNAL SERVICES (SSS)
Although Brian Watson's involvement in the design of the radar stations in East London and elsewhere along the coast was well known, I was aware that he was preparing material on the SSS for publication. That was until Glenn Holland brought this to my attention in 2025. The following are working lists of his in this regard. (I look forward to reading the published results).
LIST OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO BRIAN WATSON AND THE SSS
The original Pdf file numbers have been retained. Content description by Glenn Hollands
1403 – 1404: Intro notes: Handwritten cover plus 9 typed pages
• Apparently, the WWII reminiscences of Brian Watson who notes that he was asked to compile information on the SSS stations in EL. (presumably by the various historic associations he belonged to). In 1991 Watson corresponded with Pam Stevens who circulated the SSS Newsletter and provided info on the SSS.
• Watson served as a rifleman in Egypt before being transferred to the SSS HQ at the Bernard Price Institute in June 1943. Watson was a draughtsman and was tasked with developing the plans for buildings to house radar and other equipment along the SA coast. He toured various installations along the coast in November 1943 before being
stationed in East London in order to complete radar stations in the Eastern Cape. He writes that while contributing to the war effort, he “had a whale of a time.”
• BW and Pam Stevens also corresponded with Pat (Rose?) retired from the ICL and active in the SA Institute of Electrical Engineers in their endeavours to salvage historical electrical equipment at key sites. The Institute organised reunions of the SSS. With access to the drawings of “SSS huts”, BW was asked to assist those researching and documenting the SSS, including Anthony Partridge and later Peter Brain. It is mentioned that SSS files held by the CSIR were destined for the archives of Wits University.
1405: Correspondence between BW and Pam Stevens 18 Jan 1991 plus SSS Newsletter 19 Jan 1991 Total six pages
• Mention - Anthony Partridge – book on the SSS
• Pam Stevens & Enid Kirk – produce SSS newsletter in SA (Rondebosch based)
1406: Letter from ‘Pat’ to BW and Pam Stevens 27 Oct 1991 Total two pages
• Mention of East London SSS girls doing long shifts with the only plotting relating to the “Monkey London” ship (humour)
• Material went to Wits Archive
• Jeremy Watson took over the architectural business from BW
• Brian Watson – plans of radar huts mentioned
1407: SSS Newsletter August 1992 Total eight pages
• Includes list of women sought for contact – presumably ex-SSS
• Notes on Saldanha, PE and West Africa sites
• Updates on research projects
• Photo feature on EL sites – see below
• Site at Sunrise-on-Sea (pic) 1943 – no remains with pics
• Site at Overton Barracks on farm west of EL – served the Igoda site (pics of Igoda radar station) 1944
• Port St Johns – on hill to west of village overlooking sea, 1944/45, men only
• Pic of Efficiency Course at Military College – 1943 – all women some SSS
• Mention of possible book by Owen Kinahan
• Mention that some radar sites were associated with “gun-laying CA sets” (CA typically stands for Coastal Artillery or Coastal Surveillance.)
1408: Letter from Pat to BW 18 July 1993 Total one page
• Mentions Peter Brain and Richard Tomlinson and that RT’s book should be nearing completion
1409 & 1410: Letter from Pat to BW 10 Jan 1995 Total six pages (A5)
• Personal update with family news and mention of visit to modern radar site at Hoedspruit
• Suggestion that BW draw up map of all Cape radar sites & their history
1411: Letter from Pat to BW Sunday 28 Jan (no year) Total four pages (big A5)
• Geoff Mangin said to have archive of SSS in CT – used in Peter Brain book
• GM said to favour a permanent Cape radar display
• Tess Peter – EC link originally from Q-town / KWT
• Igoda CD (Coastal Defence?) was commissioned in April 1944 with Eric Wood in charge – JB radar brought from Hood Point
• Bats Cave installed in winter of 1944 and dismantled in 1945
• Visit to Sunrise in April / May 1944 to check TRO but it was not installed Pat ? & Ginger Lake
1412: Letter from Moira English to BW 5 Jan 1996 Total seven pages (grey A5)
• Laments failure to start EL SSS history sooner
• Telegram ref from Jhb HQ to OC East London – Lt (miss) English & Sgt (miss) Pat Taylor would be arriving to start the EL Women’s Unit [has photo album]
• Repeat mention of ME’s photo album and that it went to a reunion
• Mention of the Beauchamp girls and Babs Bamber
• Says Port St Johns never used although it cost R17 000 (pound?)
• ME seems to have provided much assistance to the Peter Brain book but not happy with PB
• ME keen to assist with SSS research (but failing eyesight)
1413: Letter from Moira English to BW 22 Jan 1996 Total four pages (large A5)
• Arrival at Artillery barracks – OC Gwen Nisbet 20 Feb 1944
• 1st SSS HQ in Cambridge
• Capt Seaber (sometimes spelt Seaber) as OC
• HQ move to huts near Deals Hotel in Quigney
• Mention of enclosed pics & Sunday Times article on SSS (pics of: Igoda / Overton, Rhona Bruce working at site, Badman?, tech building, HQ personnel – Capt Seaber, Pat Taylor, Pat Rose, Neville Shirley, Adjutant Willie Plant,
• Mentions enclosed pics of Bat’s Cave & other snaps plus newspaper clips (but not part of folder)
1414: Telegraph Total two pages telegram and route instruction
• Telegraph of travel arrangements for Lt English & Sgt Taylor from Jhb to EL 20 Feb 1944 to report to Capt Seaber at 64 CD Bay? No 64 C.D Coy. [Company]1415: Letter from BW to Richard Tomlinson 19 Feb 1996 1 page
• Mention of RT’s WWII research in PE plus that of Brian Jackson & Geoffrey Mangin
• BW mentions work on a potted history of the SSS
• BW also says he was responsible for the PE buildings
• Clarifies that Jeremy Watson is BW’s son
• Mentions condition of guns at Signal Hill & role of Propnet (Portnet?)
• Intentions of a booklet to cover all coastal defences
1416: Letter from BW to Geoffrey Mangin 19 Feb 1996 2 pages
• Mention of contributing papers by Pat Rose, Moira English and Dennis Seaber (ex CO)
• Noted that book “SA in WW2” did not include the SSS
• Intent to get an official list of ship sinkings and map – ref to Peter Brain
• Confirms that the main building at Overton still exists and the “CD” atop the Igoda Hill has been converted into a dwelling.
• Confirms that the adjacent wooden bungalow camp in a wooden valley is in good condition and functions as a “vakansie oord”
• The CD at Bats Cave is in good condition and functions as a radio beacon used by harbour authorities
• Port St Johns not visited and condition unknown
• Publishing intent but unclear which publication
1417: Three BW letters to: J.H. McBeath (21 Feb 1996), Carmen Kockjeu (22 Feb 1996), Patti Hack (22 Feb 1996) Four pages A4
JHM:
• Mention of BW’s work at the Garrison Engineers Office in Caxton St (but HQ in Cambridge behind Town Hall)
• JHM was at the Vacuum Oil Building
• Other mentions: Lt Stevens, Lt Griffiths, Lt Toll, Barlow, Jefferson
• BW – the Overton station was already under construction in Sept 1943 by “Williams Contractor” – tender questions. Sunrise-on-Sea nearly complete
• Engineers Garrison also active at Eastern Beach – site of Lime Kilns Koff previously used by searchlight teams
CK:
• Questions around the CDs at Bats Cave & Igoda
PH:
• As above – plus note that HQ moved to Marine park (date?)
1418: BW letter to W. (Jock) Munro 27 Feb 1996 2 pages A4
• Questions relating to dates for Engineers office, installations at Signal Hill, search light bases, Overton tender and other similar to above
1420: Richard Tomlinson letter to BW 7 March 1996 (sep email) 1 page A4
• Mention of pics and docs received from BW relating to Signal Hill via Brian Jackson
• Lists various installations around PE including 5 radar stations
• Discusses brass fittings removed from East London guns
• Outlines RT’s on-going work on WWII installations including Cape Recife
1421: Carmen Kockjeu letter to BW 18 March 1996 (sep email) 2 pages A4
• Arrival at Marine Park on 27 July 1944 to work as a radio operator (WT)
• Confirms working at Overton as a CD operator and later move to Signal Hill but no dates (but has pic of move)
• Mention of Victory concert produced by Capt Moira English
• Describes camp arrangements at Signal Hill including tent for day sleeping (shifts)
• Confirms she was a CD operator at Bats Cave in 1945 and that Pat Rose did the installation
• Hilton Foster confirmed as technician
• Mention of Peter Bain book and JB radar move from Hood Point (1943?)
• Identifies Pat Hack nee Huxham as “ex-SSS girl” plus names for several others
1422: BW letter to E.P.P. (Pat) Rose 6 May 1996 & Letter to Geoffrey Mangin 6 May 1996 4
pages A4
Pat Rose:
• BW reports he is under pressure to produce a technical book on the SSS
• Mention of “War in the Southern Oceans 1939 – 1945” as good source of info for
German U-Boat and raider action and impact of radar, map by N. Orpen “SA at War 1939 – 1945” of U-Boat sinkings
• BW now thinking of a more personalised account of the WWII with chapter on the SSS in the Eastern Cape
• Mention that Rose provided a map of the SSS stations
• BW does not have copies of the station layouts
• Mention of BW and Jeremy’s role in various heritage and historical institutions
GM:
• Similar to above with BW noting he is undecided about the format for his report on the Eastern Cape
• Mentions that GM has the SSS archives
• Mentions that U-Boat commanders were “most respectful” of radar (book ref)
• Mention of the sinking of U-197 and Dr Bizley
1423: BW letter to Dennis (Monty) Seaber 6 May 1996 1 page A4
• Refers to Seaber’s letter of 5 March 1996
• Makes reference to the “War in the Southern Oceans 1939 – 1945” book and the high rate of shipping losses revealed therein
• Requests more info on the Filter Room (possibly at Cambridge?) and mentions need to contact Amy Dalas and other SAAF personnel mentioned by Seaber
• Mentions TRU at Sunrise and that masts were never erected
• Mentions SSS move to Marine Park to site behind bowling green – date?
• Speculates that the tracking of an object by the Hood Point JB in May 1943 may have been a U-Boat
1424: BW letter to H. Forster 6 May 1996 2 A4 pages
• Mentions Geoff Mangins “Outposts” (Outposts that scanned the sea and sky by Geoffrey Mangin) book and BW’s own uncertainty of how to focus his work
• BW notes that U-Boats did not have radar but had “Fumb” – black box that indicated when radar had located them
• From “War in the Southern Oceans 1939 – 1945” BW cites:
o On 26 Feb 1943 U-516 watched a searchlight display over East London
and noted the lighthouse remained lit during the blackout
o At 10.00 on 27 Feb 1943 U-516 saw Dutch submarine depot ship
Columbia leave East London for Simonstown after a refit. Three
torpedoes sank her in 13 minutes. The escort Genisha than attacked the U-Boat without success and U-516 remained off East London for some days – BW speculates that this caused JB radar to be rushed to EL
• HQ move to Marine Park on 28 Aug 1944
• Various dates for SSS member movements
• BW suggests the HQ moved not to behind the Deals Hotel but near the Kaffrarian Rifles Drill Hall
• The radio link was operated by Carmen Kockjeu (nee Stroud) – remained active in the Ex-Service Women’s Association & SA Legion
• Ref to HF’s mention of unidentified tracks / thunderstorm in May 1994 (44) – BW notes presence of submarine at this time
• Questions around timing of COL & CD becoming operational at Overton
1425: Handwritten notes apparently listing names and addresses of ex-military personnel
(poor legibility): 7/3/96 4 pages A4
• Reference to HMNS Colombia + Chalumna + supply ship 27/2/43
• Apparent notes of postings for key people – Airforce bases e.g. Collondale and service records e.g. fighter pilot (?)
1426: Map of ship losses to enemy action 1939 – 1945 1 page A4
• Map seems to be by Neil Orpen and has hand-written reference to South Africa at War by H.J. Martin (?) and N. Orpen but also printed acknowledgement of War in the Southern Oceans by P. Alton
1427: Map of coverage of SSS radar stations along the SA East Coast 2 pages A4
• Labelled “Most Secret” and includes key for radar type
• Both projected and operating stations
• Includes grid layout
1481: Correspondence B Watson to MD Seaber, 6 February 1996: 1 typed A4 page; MD
Seaber to B Watson, 5 March 1996: 7 handwritten A5 pages
• BW letter to Dennis Seaber (Seeber sic) 6 February 1996: request for information e.g. Marine park, notes suggestion to write up SSS history came from Pat Rose, wants to emulate Geoff Mangin’s work on Cape Town, requests for “exciting stories”
• Reply from Seaber 5 March (two separate letters of same date) – one (single page) attempts to confirms BW’s past link with Seaber , mentions Seaber’s schooling and university career and link with Wits Bernard Price Institute and Major Bozzoli
• Full reply by Dennis Seaber (5 March 1996)
- Transfer from Durban to EL in May 1943, initially to hotel then camp building at Hood Point (lonely & depressing with view of cemetery)
- JB Outfit arrived next day accompanied by Hilton Forster and Ginger Lake – male operators a few days later
- Recall of camp life and noisy generator / fishing nearby at Shelly Beach
- Grading of EL radar sites as a “platoon” / component of PE but under commend of the EL Fortress Commander- Mention of Maj Hugh Logie & Maj Stack-Forsyth
- Promotion with ‘3rd pip’ and move to SSS HQ in Cambridge Town Hall
- Lt Willy Plant arrives to take charge of admin
- MDS moves to Casa Mia boarding house in Southernwood
- Mention of the ‘Freddy’ being set up by SAAF – accommodation was in office bld near Ocean View Hotel in Cambridge – info from Hood Point was sent to this
Freddie (Maj Reddie, Lt Dougal and operator Amy Dallas)
- MSD was tasked with setting up radar at Bats Cave, Overton / Igoda, PSJ, “a site near Gonubie (presumably Sunrise) – latter was a TRU long-distance aircraft warning (buildings completed and equipment arrived but not installed)
- Overton exchanges with farmer & gate issue
- Move from Cambridge to Marine Park
- Moira English arrival with “girls” for Overton
- Hood Point contact but no aircraft response
- MDS departs EL in Jan 1945 – position taken over by Eric Woods
