Royal Observer Corps (ROC) Group No 5 ,HQ- Watford

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by CL1, Mar 18, 2019.

  1. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Think this should go under Postwar, Clive.
    Unless there's some WW2 history you know of with the site?

    So like the 14 Group Winchester HQ I used to sometimes play nuclear war at.
    Chatting to a mate that's doing some survey work at another broadly similarly-purposed site made me wonder if much of it was thrown up in '63-ish when the Missile Crisis warmed things a tad. (Though IIRC, a fair bit of the internal 'survival' equipment was WW2 date-marked).
    Anyway, they always looked a bit rough & ready. Wonder if their diesel tank was entirely unprotected & under the car park too...
     
  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Found this

    ROC 5 GROUP HEADQUARTERS in Cassiobury Drive Watford. 17 Group as it was designated during the war moved into their new purpose built headquarters in 1943 having vacated their former HQ in the GPO buildings in Market Street Watford. The new centre consisted of a central brick built two storey control room with single storey prefabricated blocks around it, similar to WW2 centres at Winchester and Bedford (now demolished). Unlike Winchester and Bedford a brick second storey has also been added to one of these blocks. In 1953 Watford was redesignated 5 Group with protected accommodation being opened at the rear on the 18th November 1961.
    Research Study Group: Sites: Watford ROC Group HQ No 5
     
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  4. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Which definitely explains most of the HQs' somewhat jerry-built nature.
    Not that it mattered. Once Ivan had reached the area nobody was going to worry much about defending it. Long as it held together for a week or two post-strike.
     
  5. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    1945 map where the little brown blob is shows buildings
    upload_2019-3-18_21-31-0.png
     
  6. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Interesting to see this building. I have a WW1/WW2 ROC Group to a soldier from Liverpool. He served with R.O.C. Group 19-Bromley.

    Observer Corps Group.jpg
     
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