Canterbury Control

Location
Canterbury (near barracks), Kent
Type
Control
Call sign
Kent x
Special Duties Personnel
Role Name Posted from Until
Operator Second Subaltern Phyllis Marion Britten (Mrs) 1942 1943
Operator Second Subaltern Angela Mary Davis (Miss) 1942 1942
Operator Second Subaltern Hiliary Graham Graham (Miss) 1941 1942
Operator Second Subaltern Constance Mary Caroline Hilliers (Miss) Unknown 20 Jul 1944
Operator Second Subaltern Cicely Hopkins 1943 1943
Operator Second Subaltern Wendy Monica Pax Kaines (Miss) 20 Jul 1941 1942
Operator Second Subaltern Elizabeth Janette Norris (Miss) 04 Sep 1942 20 Jul 1944
Operator Second Subaltern Hilary Joan Paddock (Miss) 1941 1942
Operator Second Subaltern Joan Paget 1942 1942
Operator Second Subaltern Joan Priestly Pratten (Mrs) 09 Oct 1942 1943
Operator Second Subaltern Patience Mary Ronald (Miss) Unknown 24 Oct 1943
Station description

Closed pre July 1944. It is thought it was near Old Park Army barracks, close to the military hospital, Sturry Road, which is behind Howe Barracks in Canterbury.

Beatrice Temple first visited 1 Jan 1942 where she met Kaines, Graham and Paddock in the "Met" hut. On 23 Feb 1942 she found Graham in hut – Paddock and Davis in billet – had them all to dinner. She visited again 23 April 1942 when her Uncle, Bishop William Temple was installed as Archbishop of Canterbury. On June 1 1942 Reigate phoned to say Canterbury were homeless. The ATS billet had been hit during an air raid and in her diary Temple notes;  "Crash wagon (ambulance), Tugboat Annie, 4 bombs in cellar. Set off at 3 (Colonel's car) with rations and bedding. Graham and Paget going to spend night in Hut and feed in “A” Mess. Overnight stay. Tuesday June 2 - ATS Company will take Graham and Paget". Newspapers reported this was a raid by 50 planes, in 3 waves, with much destruction. It was reported to be a revenge attack for a British forces raid on Cologne and became known as a Baedeker Raid. Archbishop Temple and his wife helped to fight the flames dressed in their pyjamas and tin hats. On 18 Sept 1942 Beatrice visited Canterbury to meet Patience Ronald in Hut. “Benjy” and Hilliers in ATS Mess. She called in to Lambeth Palace to see her uncle and have a picnic lunch. Nov 4 1942 she drove to Canterbury through fog to find Britton and Pratten and Patience Ronald away and stayed overnight at Lambeth Palace. She left 3 bikes with Patience Ronald and Pyllis Britton 15 Dec 1942. On Jan 26 1943 Temple drove to Canterbury via London and commented; "all 3 very cheerful. Very boring driving at 30mph! Overnight at Hotel". On 9 April 1943 she visited Cicely Hopkins and Elizabeth Norris at Canterbury. By her visit on May 4 1943 Cicely and Norris were noted as being very depressed about their next move.

She last visited 16 June 1943.

Map Location

Canterbury Control

References

The Last Ditch - David Lamp

Beatrice Temple Diary

Kent Online

BBC Peoples voices