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Battle of the Somme centenary commemorations – live Battle of the Somme centenary commemorations – live
(35 minutes later)
12.44pm BST
12:44
Esther Addley
Surgeon-Major George Hayes survived the horrors of the Somme, but he never recovered from what he had seen on the Western Front, according to his granddaughter Marianne Palmer-Smith.
Hayes was an Anglo-Indian and a professional soldier-surgeon; though his own diaries of the war years were lost years ago in a family move (“maddening”), Palmer-Smith has her grandmother’s diaries of the time, addressed to her father, then a small boy, with the words: “I’m going to put the details down for you, my darling John. I want you to know in your afterlife that your father was one of the trench heroes in this awful war.”
As an experienced officer of almost 30 when the war began, Hayes was asked to run a field hospital near Passchendaele and Ypres, before moving south to the Somme valley. He had already been sent home after suffering shell concussion in 1915, returning to France late in the Spring of 1916.
Palmer-Smith knows nothing of her grandfather’s experiences on July ; he never spoke of his war experiences again. From testimonials from other soldiers, however, she knows he would insist on going out to the front in the field ambulances, praying that the Germans would recognise the red cross on the side and spare them, because, as her grandmother recorded, “he did not believe in asking a man to do what he would not do”. Almost 60,000 were killed or injured on the first day of the Somme, and Hayes would have spent exhausting hours trying to do what little he could for those who survived, said his granddaughter. “It must have been hell on earth. You cannot imagine what it was like.”
He survived a second shell concussion later in the war, but was never himself again, says Palmer-Smith, who has a heartbreaking collection of letters written by her young father, who had been sent away to Sussex with a nanny, asking plaintively, “Is daddie well again?” After the war the family moved to South Africa, then the south of France, Jersey, then finally Guernsey, but Hayes found no peace, and twice tried to take his own life. After taking comfort in whisky as the only thing that could dull his senses, he died aged just 52.
Among Palmer-Smith’s prized possessions is her grandfather’s cigarette case, which he always carried with him in his top pocket during the war, and which still contains some of his favourite Craven A cigarettes. “When you open it,” she says, “it’s like going back in time.” It also holds a letter from the doctor’s two sisters in India, and a small photograph of his young son John, stained and crumpled from being held many times.
12.37pm BST
12:37
James Meikle
Nine VCs awarded for heroism among British armed forces on the first day. They included four Ulstermen. Over 5,500 men of the the 37th Ulster Division that day were killed or wounded. The division was a rare part of the British army to reach its objectives early on. By 8am its troops had reached part of the battlefield called the Schwaben Redoubt and taken over 400 German prisoners. But forces elsewhere faltered, leaving the division cut off and exposed to ferocious German counter attacks which forced its troops to abandon the position and retreat. The division suffered over 5,500 casualties.
The whole of the island of Ireland was then British - and over 200,000 men are thought to have served in the British Army during WW1, even though conscription was never introduced there. Around 35, 000 of them, Protestant and Catholic, unionist and nationalist , died in the war.
It is worth remembering that the Somme battle started just a few weeks after the Easter Rising in Dublin on April 24 1916. The attack on the first day involved 13 Commonwealth division s supported by a French attack to the south. Despite seven days of preliminary bombardment , there was little damage to German defences and losses were catastrophic.
The memorial at Thiepval bears the names of more than 72,000 British and South African soldiers killed mostly during the battle, but also up to March 1918, who have no marked grave . The dead from other Commonwealth soldiers who died are commemorated on other national memorials elsewhere.
It was built between 1928 and 1932, and designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, architect of several monuments in New Delhi, several public buildings and numerous country houses as well other war memorials.
There is also small cemetery at at the foot of the memorial containing equal numbers of graves of Commonwealth and French troops.
12.28pm BST
12:28
The service at Thiepval has been incredibly moving for a lot of viewers, who have expressed their mood on Twitter.
Abide with me...beautiful rendition at The Centenary Of the Battle of the Somme #Thiepval @BBCOne pic.twitter.com/EPwhdpUSYO
The live BBC news coverage from Thiepval has broken me.
Absolutely incredible service at the Thiepval memorial. Stirring stuff #Somme100
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12.24pm BST
12:24
The Press Association reports:
The Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers will attend the Ulster Tower ceremony this afternoon with the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Northern Ireland’s first minister, Arlene Foster, will represent the Stormont executive. The Irish government will be represented by Heather Humphreys, minister for regional development, rural affairs, arts & the Gaeltacht.
“Around 35,000 Irishmen – Protestants and Catholics, unionists and nationalists – were killed in the first world war,” Villiers said. “Their contribution and their sacrifice was immense, and we should never forget it.”
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12.17pm BST
12:17
French & British school children marking each of the graves at Thiepval #Somme100 #lestweforget pic.twitter.com/sRUBVkJw2d
12.16pm BST
12:16
In Scotland, a whistle carried by an officer at the Battle of the Somme was blown by his descendant to commemorate the Scottish soldiers who fought in the Somme. It brought to an end an overnight vigil at the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle to mark the 100th anniversary of the battle.
Thousands of Scots from 51 battalions gave their lives and representatives of regimental associations from across the country gathered at the memorial to respect a two-minute silence at 7.30am - the moment when soldiers were led into battle a century ago.
Prayers were said at the vigil before candles were taken inside the war memorial and placed on a casket containing the original Roll of Honour for the fallen of the First World War. The candles were guarded overnight by representatives from units including the Wrens, the Royal Navy and several Scottish Army regiments, standing by the casket with their heads bowed.
Edinburgh Castle was also floodlit red to mark the anniversary.
Alan Hamilton, who blew his great-uncle’s whistle, said:
My great-uncle Robert Hamilton was an artillery officer at the battle. He was attached to a Scottish unit as an observation officer and he blew this whistle on 1 July at 7.30am 100 years ago to take his men over the top into action.
He went forward with the regiment and, because of the high rate of casualties among the officers, he ended up commanding the regiment until he was wounded and evacuated.
After the war, my father was given the whistle by uncle Robert and he then carried it through the whole of the second world war when he was in the RAF, and when I joined the army he passed it on to me. I carried it for 41 years and my son, who is a corporal in the army, will be getting the whistle once these commemorations are over.
It was quite emotional, the hairs on the back of my neck went up and I thought this was something really special.
It’s a big part of the family, with 100 years of history, and with a bit of luck that will continue on to future generations.
Nicola Sturgeon called for reflection on the “horrors of the Great War” as she attended the remembrance event at Thiepval. She said:
Barely a single community in Scotland was left untouched by the battle. Across Scotland communities are now remembering those who gave their lives, and a whole century on from the devastation and suffering of the Battle of the Somme, we should all reflect on the horrors of the Great War and give thanks that our continent now lives in peace.
The Press Association contributed to this report.
Updated
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12.08pm BST12.08pm BST
12:0812:08
Francois Hollande, David Cameron and Prince Charles have all given a reading now. François Hollande, David Cameron and Prince Charles have all given a reading now.
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12.04pm BST12.04pm BST
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Charles Dance is now reading the poem Aftermath by Siegfried Sassoon. It goes...Charles Dance is now reading the poem Aftermath by Siegfried Sassoon. It goes...
Have you forgotten yet?...For the world’s events have rumbled on since those gagged days,Like traffic checked while at the crossing of city-ways:And the haunted gap in your mind has filled with thoughts that flowLike clouds in the lit heaven of life; and you’re a man reprieved to go,Taking your peaceful share of Time, with joy to spare.But the past is just the same--and War’s a bloody game...Have you forgotten yet?...Look down, and swear by the slain of the War that you’ll never forget. Have you forgotten yet?...For the world’s events have rumbled on since those gagged days,Like traffic checked while at the crossing of city-ways:And the haunted gap in your mind has filled with thoughts that flowLike clouds in the lit heaven of life; and you’re a man reprieved to go,Taking your peaceful share of Time, with joy to spare.But the past is just the same--and War’s a bloody game...Have you forgotten yet?...Look down, and swear by the slain of the War that you’ll never forget.Do you remember the dark months you held the sector at Mametz--The nights you watched and wired and dug and piled sandbags on parapets?Do you remember the rats; and the stenchOf corpses rotting in front of the front-line trench--And dawn coming, dirty-white, and chill with a hopeless rain?Do you ever stop and ask, ‘Is it all going to happen again?’Do you remember that hour of din before the attack--And the anger, the blind compassion that seized and shook you thenAs you peered at the doomed and haggard faces of your men?Do you remember the stretcher-cases lurching backWith dying eyes and lolling heads--those ashen-greyMasks of the lads who once were keen and kind and gayHave you forgotten yet?...Look up, and swear by the green of the spring that you’ll never forget.
Do you remember the dark months you held the sector at Mametz--The nights you watched and wired and dug and piled sandbags on parapets?Do you remember the rats; and the stenchOf corpses rotting in front of the front-line trench--And dawn coming, dirty-white, and chill with a hopeless rain?Do you ever stop and ask, ‘Is it all going to happen again?’
Do you remember that hour of din before the attack--And the anger, the blind compassion that seized and shook you thenAs you peered at the doomed and haggard faces of your men?Do you remember the stretcher-cases lurching backWith dying eyes and lolling heads--those ashen-greyMasks of the lads who once were keen and kind and gay?
Have you forgotten yet?...Look up, and swear by the green of the spring that you’ll never forget.
UpdatedUpdated
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11.50am BST11.50am BST
11:5011:50
Richard Norton-TaylorRichard Norton-Taylor
A newly-discovered minute-by-minute eye witness account of the first day of the battle of the Somme described how British infantrymen were quickly cut down by enemy shells and machine gun fire amid utter confusion as smoke and gas enveloped the ground between the opposing trenches. A newly discovered minute-by-minute eyewitness account of the first day of the battle of the Somme described how British infantrymen were quickly cut down by enemy shells and machine gun fire amid utter confusion while smoke and gas enveloped the ground between the opposing trenches.
The diary of Major Francis Meynell of the disastrous day in which 19,240 British soldiers were killed and more than 38,000 wounded – the bloodiest day in the history of the British army - was uncovered in Staffordshire’s county archives. Meynell, from Burton-upon-Trent, was stationed at the northern end of the battlefield where the137th Staffordshire Brigade attacked the German-held village of Gommecourt. The diary of Major Francis Meynell of the disastrous day in which 19,240 British soldiers were killed and more than 38,000 wounded – the bloodiest day in the history of the British army – was uncovered in Staffordshire’s county archives. Meynell, from Burton-upon-Trent, was stationed at the northern end of the battlefield where the 137th Staffordshire Brigade attacked the German-held village of Gommecourt.
The 1/6th North Staffords and 1/6th South Staffords formed part of the brigade and were in the first wave of attacks on 1 July 1916. Of the 523 officers and men of the 1/6th South Staffords, 239 were killed, wounded, or were missing. The 1/6th North Staffords lost 170 officers and men of whom 126 were never found.The 1/6th North Staffords and 1/6th South Staffords formed part of the brigade and were in the first wave of attacks on 1 July 1916. Of the 523 officers and men of the 1/6th South Staffords, 239 were killed, wounded, or were missing. The 1/6th North Staffords lost 170 officers and men of whom 126 were never found.
On the day of the attack, Meynell kept a diary of events as they unfolded from his position in a cellar in the nearby village of Foncquevillers.On the day of the attack, Meynell kept a diary of events as they unfolded from his position in a cellar in the nearby village of Foncquevillers.
Meynell wrote his first entry at 6.25am. It simply read “bombardment begins.” Within minutes, by 6.47am, he noted “the drift of shell smoke” obscuring important landmarks. At 4.34pm, after 10 hours of battle, Meynell reported: “First absolute silence of 20 seconds since 6.50am”. Meynell wrote his first entry at 6.25am. It simply read “bombardment begins”. By 6.47am, he noted “the drift of shell smoke” obscuring important landmarks. At 4.34pm, after 10 hours of battle, Meynell reported: “First absolute silence of 20 seconds since 6.50am.”
6.53am. B.232 (O.P.[observation post] reported ‘Observation poor. Enemy shelling front line with whizzbangs and crumps. Two 5.9. shells just fallen in front of battery.’ 6.53am: B.232 (O.P.[observation post] reported “Observation poor. Enemy shelling frontline with whizzbangs and crumps. Two 5.9. shells just fallen in front of battery.”
7.15am. C.232 [an observation post] could not tell me the direction enemy fire was coming from. 7.15am: C.232 [an observation post] could not tell me the direction enemy fire was coming from.
7.33am. We tried to get in touch with Right F.O.O. [forward observation officer] and Battalion Liaison Officer, but were unable to get any reply. 7.33am: We tried to get in touch with Right F.O.O. [forward observation officer] and Battalion Liaison Officer, but were unable to get any reply.
7.45am. A.232 (O.P.) reported that enfilade gun in ORCHARD (HANNESCAMP road) was being whizzbanged. 7.45am: A.232 (O.P.) reported that enfilade gun in ORCHARD (HANNESCAMP road) was being whizzbanged.
7.46am.Two infantry officers who came into HQ reported that there appeared to be more heavy enemy guns in action than on any previous occasion 7.46am: Two infantry officers who came into HQ reported that there appeared to be more heavy enemy guns in action than on any previous occasion
7.52am. Out of communication with R battalion on artillery wire. 7.52am: Out of communication with R battalion on artillery wire.
7.56am. Out of communication with L battalion on artillery wire. 7.56am: Out of communication with L battalion on artillery wire.
8.08am. The orchard was reported as being shelled by 4.2 and 5.9. 8.08am: The orchard was reported as being shelled by 4.2 and 5.9.
8.11am. The 139th Bde Major reported that most of the infantry casualties were being caused by a machine gun on their right. 8.11am: The 139th Bde Major reported that most of the infantry casualties were being caused by a machine gun on their right.
8.55am. Lt. Villa of 5th batt. Came in to HQ and reported that he had got into enemy first line which he found to be very strongly held. He was wounded in arm and in a bad way. He told us that the enemy came out of their dug outs after the first waves had passed over. 8.55am: Lt. Villa of 5th batt. Came in to HQ and reported that he had got into enemy first line which he found to be very strongly held. He was wounded in arm and in a bad way. He told us that the enemy came out of their dug outs after the first waves had passed over.
9.35am. Col. Goodman reported, ‘Things have gone badly. Scott (M.O.? [medical officer]) says first two waves started, but 3 and 4 were cut down before they got to first line as smoke apparently thinned.’ 9.35am: Col. Goodman reported, “Things have gone badly. Scott (M.O.? [medical officer]) says first two waves started, but 3 and 4 were cut down before they got to first line as smoke apparently thinned.”
10.36am. The information at this time 3 hours and 6 minutes after 0.0. [ie zero hour] seemed very conflicting and no conclusion as to what had actually happened could be come to. 10.36am: The information at this time 3 hours and 6 minutes after 0.0. [ie zero hour] seemed very conflicting and no conclusion as to what had actually happened could be come to.
1.12pm. C.232 (O.P.) reported ‘Fancy infantry seen moving between little Z towards big Z. Cannot say for certain whether hostile or friendly. Could we say for certain.’ We reported had no knowledge. 1.12pm: C.232 (O.P.) reported “Fancy infantry seen moving between little Z towards big Z. Cannot say for certain whether hostile or friendly. Could we say for certain.” We reported had no knowledge.
1.15pm. C.232 (O.P.) reported they thought above were English. 1.15pm: C.232 (O.P.) reported they thought above were English.
4.34pm. First absolute silence of 20 secs since 6.05am 4.34pm: First absolute silence of 20 secs since 6.05am
5.15pm. Bdr. Hale and Gr. Richards, A.323 battery, two of Lt. Clarke’s party came to report themselves to me. Their account was as follows: - Just before the attack started they were both put out of action by gas shells....They discovered the wire smashed to atoms for some distance. The reels of wire having been taken over by Lt. Clarke they returned to the battery, procured some more and went down again to the sap head to relay the missing part. Meeting with much difficulty in carrying out the work because of snipers and realizing the impossibility of getting across they decided to return and report to their battery commander who sent them to me. These men appear to have behaved extremely well under great difficulties. This is the second time that Gr. Richards has proved his excellence and courage as a wire-man. 5.15pm: Bdr. Hale and Gr. Richards, A.323 battery, two of Lt. Clarke’s party came to report themselves to me. Their account was as follows: - Just before the attack started they were both put out of action by gas shells....They discovered the wire smashed to atoms for some distance. The reels of wire having been taken over by Lt. Clarke they returned to the battery, procured some more and went down again to the sap head to relay the missing part. Meeting with much difficulty in carrying out the work because of snipers and realizing the impossibility of getting across they decided to return and report to their battery commander who sent them to me. These men appear to have behaved extremely well under great difficulties. This is the second time that Gr. Richards has proved his excellence and courage as a wire-man.
9.52pm. C.232 (O.P.) reported, ‘Bombing seen and heard in German second line also flashes and smoke.’ Further orders for the artillery in connection with the proposed attack in the evening...The proposed attack was not successful. 9.52pm: C.232 (O.P.) reported, “Bombing seen and heard in German second line also flashes and smoke.” Further orders for the artillery in connection with the proposed attack in the evening...The proposed attack was not successful.
Gill Heath, Staffordshire councillor responsible for the county’s first world war commemorations, said: “Meynell’s diary was a really exciting discovery for our Archives staff and gives us a frightening insight into how things unfolded on that terrible day. Publishing the diary for the first time is all part of our plans to commemorate the centenary of the Great War and highlight Staffordshire’s many contributions.” Gill Heath, a Staffordshire councillor responsible for the county’s first world war commemorations, said: “Meynell’s diary was a really exciting discovery for our archives staff and gives us a frightening insight into how things unfolded on that terrible day. Publishing the diary for the first time is all part of our plans to commemorate the centenary of the Great War and highlight Staffordshire’s many contributions.”
Updated
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11.36am BST11.36am BST
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This was the reading by Sol Campbell.This was the reading by Sol Campbell.
Reading by Sol Campbell about former Clapton Orient (now Leyton O) player Willie Jonas #Somme100 pic.twitter.com/yCr8rexA5yReading by Sol Campbell about former Clapton Orient (now Leyton O) player Willie Jonas #Somme100 pic.twitter.com/yCr8rexA5y
11.33am BST11.33am BST
11:3311:33
Rachel ObordoRachel Obordo
As letters are being read out at Thiepval (currently actor Jason Isaacs is narrating the proceedings), readers are sending in their own stories.As letters are being read out at Thiepval (currently actor Jason Isaacs is narrating the proceedings), readers are sending in their own stories.
Harry Norman Snape, born in 1893, was a prisoner of war after being captured at the battle of Trônes Wood. He wrote many letters during his time at the front until his capture on 10 July 1916. One of them, dated 20 June, refers to “the day”, which was to become the first day of the battle of the Somme:Harry Norman Snape, born in 1893, was a prisoner of war after being captured at the battle of Trônes Wood. He wrote many letters during his time at the front until his capture on 10 July 1916. One of them, dated 20 June, refers to “the day”, which was to become the first day of the battle of the Somme:
We are training for ‘The Day’. We are only here for a day or two and then back. I can’t say when it’ll come off but when it does I think that we all shall be ready. Honestly, kid, I am going to try and do something. Nothing rash of course but I’m going to have a good try for honours. There are three of us here pals together, Clem Nixon, a chap we call ‘Ginger’ (H Rogers) & myself. The aforesaid Ginger is in for a Military Medal for attending the wounded under shell fire … This is the last letter I can write for a bit for post is stopped from here after tonight.We are training for ‘The Day’. We are only here for a day or two and then back. I can’t say when it’ll come off but when it does I think that we all shall be ready. Honestly, kid, I am going to try and do something. Nothing rash of course but I’m going to have a good try for honours. There are three of us here pals together, Clem Nixon, a chap we call ‘Ginger’ (H Rogers) & myself. The aforesaid Ginger is in for a Military Medal for attending the wounded under shell fire … This is the last letter I can write for a bit for post is stopped from here after tonight.
Best Love Harry.Best Love Harry.
Don’t worry. I shall be A1.Don’t worry. I shall be A1.
Love to all.Love to all.
A few days later Harry’s battalion assembled in Maricourt, just west of Trônes Wood, as part of a strategic offensive to capture the village of Guillemont. Although they crossed the first 200 yards of no man’s land without incident, they encountered heavy shell fire from the Germans.A few days later Harry’s battalion assembled in Maricourt, just west of Trônes Wood, as part of a strategic offensive to capture the village of Guillemont. Although they crossed the first 200 yards of no man’s land without incident, they encountered heavy shell fire from the Germans.
The Germans retaliated and Trônes Wood came under heavy bombardment. The allied troops found themselves locked in and were eventually bombed out. All were killed or, as in the case of Harry Snape, captured. Over 200 men were missing after the battle of Trônes Wood.The Germans retaliated and Trônes Wood came under heavy bombardment. The allied troops found themselves locked in and were eventually bombed out. All were killed or, as in the case of Harry Snape, captured. Over 200 men were missing after the battle of Trônes Wood.
Due to wounds on his hands and wrist Harry was in hospital before being transferred to the POW camp in Hammelburg. He continued to write during his time there until his release and subsequent return home.You can share your photos and stories with us via GuardianWitness or by clicking on the “Contribute” button at the top of the live blog.Due to wounds on his hands and wrist Harry was in hospital before being transferred to the POW camp in Hammelburg. He continued to write during his time there until his release and subsequent return home.You can share your photos and stories with us via GuardianWitness or by clicking on the “Contribute” button at the top of the live blog.
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11.29am BST
11:29
A century after the Somme, another war now seems less unimaginable, writes Simon Tisdall.
Opinions vary about the origins of the first world war, but there is no doubt that the rise of aggressively chauvinistic nationalism in Britain and across Europe in the latter half of the 19th century, dressed up as respectable flag-waving patriotism, was a key factor.
As Britain and its erstwhile allies and foes commemorate an awful byproduct of that phenomenon on Friday – the 1916 battle of the Somme – the spectre of unthinking, potentially violent nationalism and its ugly sister, hatred of foreigners, is once again stalking Europe.
Read the full piece below.
Related: A century after the Somme, another war now seems less unimaginable
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Here is a picture of Cameron, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Tte Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Hollande arriving.
Hollande-Cameron-PrinceCharles-PrinceWilliam-Kate-Camilla-PrinceHarry... BreKing news ;-) #Thiepval cc @BFMTV pic.twitter.com/TUXhPEfOI3
The new Europe. Francois Hollande not seeing eye-to-eye with David Cameron. Or the royals. #Thiepval #Somme pic.twitter.com/0tHBGlXAfs
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Celebrities including Charles Dance and Sol Campbell are narrating the event. Letters and stories are being read out to the crowd.
I’ll be reading a heart-breaking letter shortly, written by a footballer in the trenches, from The Thiepval Memorial @BBCOne #Somme100
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The Guard of Honour arrives at the #Somme100 commemorations at the Thiepval Memorial in France, ahead of VVIPS. pic.twitter.com/34w8108rHS
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Marine Le Pen, the head of France’s far-right National Front, is at Thiepval.
Je suis présente au mémorial de #Thiepval pour la commémoration de la Bataille de la Somme. #Somme100 pic.twitter.com/wlnKA47yNP
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10:53
Michael D Higgins, the Irish president has arrived.
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David Cameron has also arrived. This will be one of the last commemorative events he attends as prime minister. No doubt Cameron and Hollande have plenty to talk about …
Angela Merkel is not expected today, but a former president of Germany will attend.
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François Hollande has arrived at Thiepval and is meeting part of the British delegation and French armed forces. Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have also arrived. The heads of state will gather and wait until all the principal guests arrive. The national anthems will be played before the heads of state take their place in the crowds, which have been waiting for up to three hours at this point.
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At Thiepval, the band of the Welsh Guards have just finished performing and given way to the French military band. You can watch the proceedings live on BBC 1.
Arrivée dans la Somme pour la commémoration de la Bataille. Très impressionnant. @Mission1418 @IWM_Centenary pic.twitter.com/0PPs9cp4wt
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10.40am BST
10:40
Students have made a life-size paper recreation of the Battle of the Somme.
In 2014, dozens of students on Birmingham City University’s theatre, performance and event design course worked tirelessly to craft the installation out of paper and cardboard. The items were originally on show to mark the start of first world war, but today the images and time-lapse video of the exhibition are being revisited by students and graduates paying their respects on the Battle’s centenary.
Each figure, setting and item was made out of brown paper to portray a typical day on the battlefield. It featured trenches, poor outdoor sleeping quarters, injured soldiers and reproductions of the weaponry used during the conflict. It took students four weeks on a budget of only £450 to transform the exhibition space into a recreation of the first world war’s largest battle.
After completion, the Royal Air Force, who visited the site, took the full installation to its base at RAF Shawbury.
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