Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Dear all,

I hope this rings a bell with someone. My Gran apparently worked on the Ince Blundell estate for the Admiralty during WWII. She was a telephone operator.

Does anyone know what the Admiralty were doing on the estate? After an initial look online I haven't been able to turn up any information about what happened there during WWII and so thought a forum of experts might be the best place to ask.

Best wishes,
Sam

Hi and welcome to the forum. We have definitely a couple of members who live in the Southport direction but not sure there is anybody who would remember the time personally, but I think they might be able to suggest places for a search, perhaps the local newspaper might be a starting point for you.

I suspect it had something to do with the Fleet Air Arm Station at Burscough...

From: http://www.champnews.com/newsstory.aspx?story=3038011

HMS Ringtail, a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval station on the outskirts of Burscough, was acquired by the Admiralty for the formation and training of torpedo fighter squadrons who were based there for weeks or months prior to deployment in front-line action.

Could it have been Fort Crosby at Hightown it's nearby but it was artillery rather than Admiralty. There's quite a lot about it on the web.

Can't see anything about Ince Blundell but
I'll make some enquiries.

Was Gran in the Wrens?

There was a Naval Gunnery school based Ainsdale Lido that was known as HMs Queen Charlotte not far away.

I've found a reference to a searchlight battery in searchlight plantation in Ince Blundell during WW2 so how about that.

I found my suggestions . It might be worth you visiting Sefton Local History at Crosby Library. They certainly hold the relevant local newspapers and may have other information.

If your Gran was in the services it would be worth getting her service records it find definitely where she was.

Dear all,

Thanks very much for all your thoughts. I just spoke to my Dad and he thought that it was perhaps a munitions store/dump. Apparently Gran recalled helping out loading lorries with ammunition alongside servicemen when they needed a hand.

Gran was a civil servant working for the Admiralty. I have an Official Secrets Act declaration signed by her, but I'm not sure when it was dated. Will have to dig it out.

If the location was being used as an munitions store, presumably its presence there would not have been public knowledge and therefore looking through newspapers might not really yield anything...?

Best,
Sam

I knew you would get a few good suggestions

Munitions factories and stores appear to have been well known, everybody seemed to know somebody who worked in them and where.

I hope you find some reference in the local newspapers, Crosby seems to be the best place to go.

Forgot the Firing range at Altcar it's still there near Hall Road

I'd agree with MaryA a munitions dump etc would have been known about especially in a tiny place such as Ince Blundell. However in the wider area within 5 miles you'd have all the other places I've mentioned.

Somewhere there would be mentioned if land was requisitioned. The family who owned the land all around were the Weld Blundell family.

Did Gran live there or did she travel

Hi everyone,

I think Gran was living in Patrick Avenue in Bootle with her parents so would have commuted. Not sure if that's relevant or not...?

Family name is Lewis.

Best,
Sam