A 2023 search by the Royal Navy of their archives highlights new information not shown on my Dad’s original S459. Dad was lent to Little Bay Camp from 18 – 26 February 1946 having arrived in Gibraltar on board Fancy after 2 years of minesweeping in the Mediterranean and Adriatic. This was based at Gibraltar during WWII and at Little Bay, which is to the south end of ‘The Rock’. All I can find is that it was originally a POW camp that was eventually condemned by the Swiss Red Cross. A story on the BBC peoples war website also says it was later used as overspill accommodation for naval ratings working at the dock yard. Strange for a Leading Radio Mechanic to be lent to an accommodation camp? I believe there was a telegraph station on the cliff top above Little Bay that was run by Cable and Wireless. I wonder if his skills came in useful there for repairing telegraph equipment or maybe he was just accommodated at the camp but actually working on ships at the dockyard? Has anyone else researched Little Bay Camp and found out any more? Best regards, Steve
Hello Steve. In the 80s I spent a couple of days on Gib. Working, not a holiday unfortunately and absolutely no time for site seeing, but your post, to me, is intriguing so I've had a little dig for you. Nothing concrete, but some interesting stuff (all via my phone which does do my nut in after a while so apologies in advance for any cock-ups) Maps, plan of a tunnel, and "Eastern Telegraph Company" (as was taken over by Cable and Wireless) might be worth digging into further, if you want to. Most info courtesy of the rock's archives, links included; used broad search term (based on your post) "Cable and Wireless Little Bay". Good luck with all your searching, kind regards, always, Jim. Maps, 1944, Little Bay and adjoining (magnifying glass required!) Cable tunnel plan. Gib archive links (search away at your liesure!) Search The Dolphin Pool Cable and Wireless archive link (could only get webcache link to work) Gibraltar (and the whole world of Cable and Wireless Ltd) mentioned, chaps who worked there, and just maybe pertinent leads buried within. Hope this link works for you. cableandwireless Archives | PK Porthcurno EDIT: Have had a go at the tunnel image with my phone software. Let there be light!
Hi JIm, Thanks for your input, it's appreciated. I did find the Gib archive site but not the Cable and Wireless link. No matter how much digging I do I'll not be able to make any definite concrete conclusions, only suppositions.............BUT, the big question is..... would a Royal Navy Leading Radio Mechanic ever be lent to a company outside of the Royal Navy ie Cable and Wireless? Has anyone ever seen / found any evidece of that happening??? Many thanks. Best regards, Steve
