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This story has been told to Chirpymaggie by a family member.

Anybody still around who was trained on the Met Vickers Radar MK1 (1st Radar Battery) in 1939/1940? If so, you will recall that it contained a number of valves such as the Millard EF50 which gave off quite a lot of heat.

The radar set was manned by three operators who, in the night watch, would get thirsty and hungry. We were warned that liquids and food were not allowed in the cabin because liquids and fairly high voltage circuits do not mix in a friendly fashion. However, soldiers usually ignore such trifles. They knew that the flat tops of the units were ideal for mugs of tea to be kept warm and also toast with lashings of margarine and marmalade or jam. All due to EF50's.

One night our officer in charge of the radar section came to see if all was going well. Being a tall chap, he took his cap off and placed it on top of the unit (not knowing what was on top - my friend's toast!). Having seen that we were doing our job he took up his hat and left the cabin, complete with toast and marmalade.

The next morning we waited for the storm to break, it didn't. Instead he told us not to put so much margarine on our toast. Captain Lindsay was a human officer and a gentleman.

Told by "Evvy" of 1st Radar Battery

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