Monument record MBC43706 - Second World War military base Special Communications Unit Number 1, Whaddon Hall

A Second World War military base is visible on historic aerial photographs and was mapped as part of the North Buckinghamshire Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18304). Located in the grounds of Whaddon Hall and centred at SP 80755 34705, the site was selected because of its proximity to Bletchley Park and performed several vital war roles. The base was staffed by a mix of intelligence and army personnel and in 1939 became the headquarters of MI6’s Section VIII, or Special Operations Group of the Special Communications Unit Number 1 (SCU1), under the command of Brigadier Richard Gambier-Parry. Whaddon Hall was one of several SCUs scattered around Britain. It provided radio communication with British embassies and Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents working in Occupied Europe. In purpose-built military workshop huts constructed near to the hall, compact radio sets radios were assembled that were to be used by SOE agents in the field. Research and development of communication equipment was also undertaken. Whaddon Hall had its own receiving and transmitting stations in the grounds and in 1941, coded messages began to be received, with intelligence designated as “ultra” sent to Allied commanders in the various theatres of operations around the globe. Prior to D-Day, Whaddon Hall provided the personnel and fitted out special radio vans for use by the invading Allied forces. These Special Liaison Units (SLUs) were then attached to each military command in the field, with a radio truck manned by the selected personnel to maintain secure communications with Whaddon and supply military commanders in the field with information provided by the Bletchley Park codebreakers. The camp comprises at least 14 rectangular military buildings of various sizes built to the north of the Hall and gardens, along with pathways and a sewage disposal site along the woodlands some way the northwest of the base. After the war the Special Communications Unit became the Diplomatic Wireless Service, also based at Whaddon Hall. Still extant on aerial photographs taken in 1954, by 1962 the military buildings have been demolished, although the concrete building bases/platforms and pathways are still visible and remain so until 1970. However, by 1993 all the remaining features have been demolished and no features remain visible (1-10).