I am reading a Wilbur Smith novel at the moment and one of the characters is a pilot in World War One, so I was reminded of this little publication that I published a few years ago.
About Christmas 1915 the Admiralty, who were then responsible for the air defence of these Islands, decided that Look Out Posts should be established round the South East Coast to act as "eyes" for Anti Aircraft Defences, London.
Captain Stansfeld R.N.Officer Commanding the London AA Defences offered Mr. E. S. Oak-Rhind charge of one of these Look Out Posts to be established at North Foreland.
This offer Mr. Oak-Rhind accepted & enrolled as crew two other local men both of whom possessed useful sea knowledge.
The initial crew were enrolled in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, AA Corps & were rated as follows;-
E. S. Oak-Rhind. Chief Petty Officer in charge.
S. Boucher. Able seaman.
W. N. Haggard. Able seaman.
watch being kept from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset - so little did the authorities anticipate attack after dark.
The first day's watch commenced in the compound of The North Foreland W/T, on the 3rd January 1915 & under the most depressing conditions.
Later in the day the Look Out Post was transferred to H. M. Coastguard Station, Ramsgate where proper facilities were to be found for such Look Out.
The initial decision to place the Look Out at North Foreland was correct as it at once became the landfall for attacking craft & it was not for some long time that Mr. Oak-Rhind could persuade the authorities to make the obvious provision for the Look Out to be once more at North Foreland.
Late in April 1915 the authorities had come to the conclusion that watch must be kept day & night & for this purpose Mr. Oak-Rhind enrolled M. B. Hughes to form the fourth member of his little crew.
From the 29th April 1915 until early in 1919 a continuous watch was kept by this Look Out Post.
Click here to read on
About Christmas 1915 the Admiralty, who were then responsible for the air defence of these Islands, decided that Look Out Posts should be established round the South East Coast to act as "eyes" for Anti Aircraft Defences, London.
Captain Stansfeld R.N.Officer Commanding the London AA Defences offered Mr. E. S. Oak-Rhind charge of one of these Look Out Posts to be established at North Foreland.
This offer Mr. Oak-Rhind accepted & enrolled as crew two other local men both of whom possessed useful sea knowledge.
The initial crew were enrolled in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, AA Corps & were rated as follows;-
E. S. Oak-Rhind. Chief Petty Officer in charge.
S. Boucher. Able seaman.
W. N. Haggard. Able seaman.
watch being kept from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset - so little did the authorities anticipate attack after dark.
The first day's watch commenced in the compound of The North Foreland W/T, on the 3rd January 1915 & under the most depressing conditions.
Later in the day the Look Out Post was transferred to H. M. Coastguard Station, Ramsgate where proper facilities were to be found for such Look Out.
The initial decision to place the Look Out at North Foreland was correct as it at once became the landfall for attacking craft & it was not for some long time that Mr. Oak-Rhind could persuade the authorities to make the obvious provision for the Look Out to be once more at North Foreland.
Late in April 1915 the authorities had come to the conclusion that watch must be kept day & night & for this purpose Mr. Oak-Rhind enrolled M. B. Hughes to form the fourth member of his little crew.
From the 29th April 1915 until early in 1919 a continuous watch was kept by this Look Out Post.
Click here to read on
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