Saxa Vord - The First Commanding Officer

At 14.30 on 16 Sep 57 the first Commanding Officer (designate) of 91 SU arrived on the Unit. He was Squadron Leader Gordon Mackie Millar (Tech Sigs), 53632 – inevitably known as “Dusty” Millar (or Sir by the other ranks!). On 27 Sep 57 the Unit was transferred from Headquarters 90 Signals Group to Fighter Command and Sqn Ldr Millar took formal command, the first of 30 CO’s. (Left click on pictures to enlarge).

Although some of the equipment was “old hat” – the Types 13 & 14 for example – the Type 80 was state of the art technology. The Official Secrets Act, and the strict enforcement of it, ensured that there were few photos taken on any of the sites. However, the new CO took a number of interesting photos off camp. In the initial months, there was a shortage of spares, supplies and furniture. The NAAFI didn’t arrive until 25 Jan 58 but I’m sure that alternative arrangements were in place for the first 4 months – Unst was “dry” with no alcohol on sale over the counter in any of the local shops (officially anyway!).

Although Fighter Command had taken over the Unit, not all construction work was complete. It was not until 1961 that all the buildings were finished – the Ice Cap and Education Section were late additions. The next photo, taken near the main gate at the Domestic Site by David Goodall (Saxa 59/61), shows the Ice Cap still under construction and, behind it to the left, one of the huts used by the builders.

Travelling to and from Unst was even more significant for servicemen in the early years than it was for later arrivals – less frequent sailings and older vessels being the main issues. The first sequence of Sqn Ldr Millar’s photos was taken in transit:

Fg Off CL Green was a Fighter Controller

Flt Lt Bert Thornley was Display Controller (Radar Supervisor), Sqn Ldr RT Williams was on a staff visit and “Dusty” Millar was the CO.

There had been a small RAF element at Saxa from 1955 to ‘57 prior to the handover to Fighter Command. These men, under the command of Flight Lieutenant CA Davidson (a Secretarial Officer), would have been on the island for administrative and technical duties and were not considered to be a “Unit” but, I suppose, were considered a detachment from HQ 90 Group. I have very little information about them but I do know that almost as soon as the Unit became operational Unst began one of its most successful export schemes – eligible females. Three early press cuttings are attached below:

I don’t know about the first 2 weddings above, but Sqn Ldr Millar certainly attended the third one – a photo he took is below:

In the spring of ‘58 the CO attended an auction at a croft called Sandfield,  just to the south-east of Burrafirth, two more of Sqn Ldr Millar’s pictures follow:

 

A few more of the CO’s pictures are attached below – it looks as if he had reasonable weather during his tour!

Local Regattas had taken place at Baltasound and Uyeasound for many years, the one at Baltasound celebrated its centenary in 1991. The earliest record I have of RAF crews participating is in the autumn of 1959. However, Sqn Ldr Millar and others were at the Uyeasound Regatta in Aug ’58 – their activities were based at Maundeville, owned by the Neven-Spence family.

The gentleman smoking the pipe in the preceding picture was Sir Basil Neven – Spence (1888 - 1974). He was a landowner, Conservative MP for Orkney and Shetland until 1950 and, at the time of this picture, was the Lord Lieutenant of Shetland.

Another of my outstanding queries (from - http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/commissioning-of-91-su-sep-1957.html )

can now be answered. The Crest for 91SU was designed by Sqn Ldr Millar, with some help from one of his daughters – Jan – who was at school on the UK Mainland. The Viking ship represents the Norse traditions of the Shetlands and the bolt of lightning/flash, the signals function of the Unit. The motto can be translated as “I give advance warning about danger”. Later in the life of the Unit the wording on the crest changed from 91 Signals Unit to RAF Station Saxa Vord.

In Dec 1958 Sqn Ldr Millar was posted the HQ Signals Command at Medmenham in Buckinghamshire, he was replaced on Unst by Sqn Ldr John Tocher. The final item in this section is a copy of the handover certificate between the 2 CO’s:

My thanks to Mrs Jan Rates, daughter of Sqn Ldr Gordon Mackie Millar, for allowing me to use her father’s memorabilia.

CONTENTS LIST

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Function in the Officers’ Mess – Andy Capp Night

In late 1979 or during 1980, there was a party in the Officers’ Mess with an Andy Capp theme.  For those of you not familiar with Andy - he is the main character in a long running cartoon strip in the Daily Mirror. The cartons are syndicated in many countries, including the USA. His wife, Florrie, is the bane of his life and his main hobbies are pigeon racing, avoiding the rent collector, snooker and soccer - all normally whist intoxicated.
I doubt if there were many pigeons on the night but I suspect a degree on intoxication may have been in evidence late on. The only memento's I have of the evening are the 6 photos below. The first 4 pictures come from Steve Morson and the last 2 from George Keith. (Left click on photos to enlarge).

If anyone has more pictures from the evening, or printable anecdotes, I would be pleased if they would get in touch.

CONTENTS LIST

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Fire Practice at Inner Skaw - Part 2

Back in November 2009 a section about a Fire Practice at Inner Skaw in the early 70's was issued:
http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/fire-practice-at-inner-skaw.html
Since then a few more photos of the same practice have come to light. I am told that the original slides were salvaged from a bin in the Officers’ Mess. Should anyone claim ownership I will be happy to credit him/her with the photos or remove them if necessary. (Left click on photos to enlarge).

CONTENTS LIST

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Golfing Update

I have just updated the section on Golf which was issued in December 2009. A number of new pictures have been added (including some from Fred Pope). The text has also been expanded:

http://www.ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.co.uk/2009/12/most-intimidating-golf-course-in-world.html

CONTENTS LIST
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FRED POPE – Some Recollections of Saxa 1967 to 69

TACAN

I was in charge of the TACAN, an AN-URN 3, modified to an AN-URN 3A with a gas filled duplexer in 1968. Winter of 68 and the TACAN bearing went haywire. I was on duty at night & went up the mast by myself to find that the shaft on the taco-generator had sheared. I had to take the aerial cover off, the aerial was rotating at 900rpm and all I had was a torch. TACAN RAD faulted to GRSC at North Luffenham – my previous station.

After the watch change at 23.00, adjourned to the NAAFI, where an all ranks dance was in full swing & with great glee informed Sqn Ldr Frank White (OC Eng) that the TACAN was off for a long lime.

In fact it took 3 months for a new Tacho to arrive from the USA – never could work out why a spare wasn’t kept at Luffenham! (Left click on photos to enlarge).

ADDITIONS TO HEROES OF SAXA VORD

http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.co.uk/2009/12/heroes-of-saxa-1968.html

Originally the 4 of us, all members of the sailing club, had wanted to attempt to cross to Norway but luckily Chem said no! Sitting in the NAAFI with a fair amount of beer on board we had the bright idea to go to Lerwick to collect the beer as the Earl was on Strike. A quick call to Chem, who OK’d it but made us promise to phone him on arrival in Lerwick. We left at 23.00 and, after an uneventful voyage down, arrived in Lerwick at 07.00. We were going to have a few beers before returning but a local fisherman, who had watched us chug in at a max speed of 2 or 3 knots with amazement, told us to load & go as the tide was turning and we’d never make it out of the harbour.

We’d phone Chem at Lerwick, who breathed a sigh of relief as he was just about to call Kinloss to send a Shackleton up to find us.
On arrival at Baltasound at about 17.00 the 3 tonner was waiting for the beer, which was rapidly loaded and departed for Saxa Vord. We were left to sort out the safety boat & make our own way to Saxa Vord. We all fell asleep during the dance!

This voyage was the subject of an article printed in the RAF News dated 21^st September 1968, which is reproduced below:

INTRODUCTION TO SAILING
After the usual horrendous introduction journey to Saxa Vord – I spent 3 days on the St Clair in Aberdeen port waiting for the weather to abate – one of the first individuals I met was Ron Aves, MT Fitter, who I’d known at RAF Labuan in Borneo along with Chem who was on the long range radar convoy, Type 13, 14 & 15..

Ron told me to join the Sailing Club. I’d never sailed before & in Jan ’68 he told me we were going sailing & using Sqn Ldr Frank “Chalky” Whites (the Commodores) Albacore. He had spent all winter lovingly varnishing & getting it into top notch condition for the coming racing season – Chalky had gone to the Boat Show in London. Off we went to Baltasound in the 1 tonner, Ron happily slugging away at from a half bottle of whisky.

A few days earlier some trawlers had iced-up and capsized off Iceland so one can imagine the sea temperature – I was wearing a jersey, jeans, plimsoles and an oilskin jacket. A lee shore wind was blowing & after the 4th or 5th attempt we got out into Baltasound & promptly capsized. After 3 or 4 attempts at capsize drill, never done it before and Ron shouting, still with his whisky bottle, I thought – this is it!

Luckily a trawler, tied up at the pier, saw what was happening & came to our rescue, grappling hook through Chalky’s boat & we both collapsed on the deck of the trawler.

Once back at Saxa Vord I went straight up the hill on watch – Ron adjourned to sick quarters for a medicinal brandy and I left him to tell Chalky! – I’ve loved sailing ever since.

EXPEDITION TRAINING

Pete Overy, Jeremy Thornton and I (all Sailing Club members) went on Expedition Training - ie, a “Booze Cruise” -sometime in 1968 or 69. We went offshore sailing from Fowey, in Cornwall, on an 1898 gaff-rigged lugger called Amulet, to the Scilly Isles and round the Bishops Rock Lighthouse. We went from the northernmost Isle in UK to southernmost and took great delight in phoning Saxa from St Marys, capital of the Scillies. No STD codes in those days – it took an eternity to get through.

We were a tourist attraction at every port we stopped at and the beers kept coming! We were even guests on a Royal Navy Fast Patrol Boat, invited to the wardroom (with dire threats from our skipper to behave ourselves or we’d all have to walk the plank!). Needless to say a little later on we all deserved to walk the plank!
Whilst I have no photo of the Amulet the following picture is of a similar boat passing us – heading in the opposite direction.



THEY CONQUERED OUT STACK

All stories start in the NAAFI bar & one Saturday lunch time Ron Aves, Fred Pope, Nick Palmer, Bob Atkinson, his wife and dog were having a few beers (probably many), when Ron suggested a trip to Out Stack. So, off we all went, Ron was  in a dry suit as he was going to climb onto Out Stack and he was carrying his customary half bottle of whisky. The safety boat chugged all the way round to Out Stack, where there was a big swell on, with waves breaking onto the rocks.

We got as near as we could & Ron Jumped over the side & proceeded to scramble up the side of Out Stack. At the same time the painter went over the side, via wrapping around the dogs head & the propeller – the engine came to a grinding halt.

Panic Stations! – stopped the dog being strangled & rapidly unshipped the oars to keep us into wind, which was rather difficult in the swell. Ron eventually managed to clamber on board after freeing the propeller & we finally got the engine restarted.

On arrival back at the slip at Baltasound a message from an irate Lighthouse Keeper on Muckle Flugga was waiting for us. He had just been about to launch the lifeboat when we managed to get the engine restarted. Needless to say – this little escapade was hushed up!

CHEM

Chem was the best CO we all had the pleasure of serving under.

THE FLY

Transport was required to reach the boats at Baltasound so Jerry Thornton & I jointly bought a 1939 500cc BSA ex army motorbike, with no lights, and the Sailing Club members contributed towards a 1947 Morris 8 – with about 8 inches of play on the steering – registration FLY --? (hence the Fly nickname). Needless to say neither was road taxed and was hidden away during visits by the “local” policeman from Yell. We did have both vehicles insured.

One Saturday night, after a very heavy session in the bar in the NAAFI, Nick Palmer, Fred Pope, John Fernie & Jerry Thornton decided to go & visit Willum & Ken in their croft between Baltasound & Uyeasound – as they had done many a time. Willum & Ken were the postie and cook at Baltasound School. They always welcomed Saxa Vord residents and their wives with home brew & bannocks – the home brew was in a chamber pot which doubled as the Ladies Loo upstairs, when the contents were emptied out of the skylight.

Having purchased the last bottle of whisky from Twiggy in the NAAFI, they set off with Nick driving , He soon fell asleep at the wheel, along with everyone else. We all came to as the Fly bounced across the peat having left the road. He succeeded in straightening up back on the road as the Fly stopped. The petrol tank was spotted on the road about 100yds back. A passing post van was flagged down and we were all given a lift back to Saxa Vord. Unfortunately the top came off the whisky bottle and soaked the mail bag.
The Fly was put back in operation after a jerry can was fitted into the boot as a replacement tank and was eventually disposed of over the cliff at Lamba Ness (Inner Skaw).

My thanks to Fred for his recollections. He has sent me lots more photos - many of which will appear in later sections.

CONTENTS LIST

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