Clark, Ernest Alfred (Oral history)

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Sound: © IWM (12990)

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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Sound: © IWM (12990)

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
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Sound: © IWM (12990)

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

Australian civilian wireless operator and NCO with Royal Air Force attached to Air Ministry working on Chain Home Radar Stations in GB, 1940-1941; served with Nos 544 and 590 Air Ministry Experimental Stations and radar barges in India, 1942-1945

Content description

REEL 1 Recollections of period as civilian wireless operator and NCO with Royal Air Force attached to Air Ministry working at Chain Home Radar Stations in GB, 1939-1940: application to work for Air Ministry; initial acquaintance with radar at RAF Staxton Wold; transfer to RAF Canewdon and RAF Bawdsey; conditions at No 9 Radio School, RAF at RAF Yatesbury, winter 1939-1940; joining RAF Poling radar station; invitation to join Royal Air Force, summer 1940; German Air Force attacks on Poling/Angmering area, 7/1940; difficulty of damaging Chain Home Radar stations; his electrocution accident, 8/1940; arrival of American Civilian Technical Corps, 1941. REEL 2 Continues: shooting down of German Air Force aircraft by fighters, 24/3/1941; guiding Vickers Wellington aircraft back from operation, 1941; use of Parachute and Cable Unit to bring down German aircraft; invasion alarm in Littlehampton area, 9/1940; reaction to transfer to the Whitstable station, 12/1941. Recollections of period as NCO with Nos 544 and 590 Air Ministry Experimental Stations (AMES) and radar barges in India, 1942-1945: voyage aboard HMT Stratheden from GB to India, early 1942; setting up and running No 544 Air Ministry Experimental Station (AMES) at Diamond Harbour; problems with political agitators; handling strike from Indian labourers, 1942; operation of equipment; effect of temperature inversion on radar equipment. REEL 3 Continues: Imperial Japanese Army Air Service attempts to penetrate Diamond Harbour area, 12/1942; transfer to No 590 Air Ministry Experimental Station (AMES) at Balasore; detection of lifeboat survivors by radar in Bay in Bengal; unit attitude to promotion of Canadians serving with station, 1944; transfer to radar barges; move of barges to River Chittagong for Arakan Campaign; narrow escape during tidal bore on River Hooghly; degree of effectiveness of radar barges; awarding of British Empire Medal for his work during cyclone on River Hooghly; occasion when he obtained fish and chips from GB; reaction of British forces to screening of film 'Objective Burma' in Calcutta, 1/1945; cost of living. REEL 4 Continues: experiences during Bengal famine, 1943. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Air Force in GB, 1945: reaction to being posted to north of Scotland; operation of Gee and Oboe navigational systems; family origins in Sydney, Australia.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Clark, Ernest Alfred (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1993-02-02
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 12990

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Clark, Ernest Alfred (Oral history)

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