Scroll down to read about memories of those who either served at the Burscough Post / Bunker
or memories from others about their time in the Royal Observer Corps
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Below is a letter from Donald Brereton who was an observer at Woovale Post / Bunker
This post was one of three which included Burscough and St Helens.
They were operational during the Cold War Period.
Donald gives an insight into the history of Bickerstaffe post WW2
which was later relocated to Burscough
Page 1
Page 2
PHOTO BELOW
TOM BRADSHAW (RIGHT) THE BACK PART OF THIS SHED IS MADE UP FROM THE REMAINS OF THE FORMER BICKERTSTAFFE WW2 POST
TOM BRADSHAW WITH THE TELEPHONE POST AND THE TOP OF THE STOVE
BOTH FROM THE FORMER WW2 BICKERSTAFFE ROC POST
E mail from Keith Ashcroft who served at the Burscough Post
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What can I tell you about the Burscough Post that Tom Bradshaw couldn`t?
Tom was in the R.O.C.originally at an above ground post at Bickerstaff.With the chance air attack fading and the possibility of nuclear attack coming to the forefront, the underground bunker was commissioned on the edge of what was Burscough aerodrome (I think about 1962 or 3). I joined after having served at another post in 1965.
Being a warning and monitoring organisation,Burscough was one of hundreds of posts forming a network over the whole country. The country was divided into groups each with its own central control and responsible for the posts within its own area.
The posts were then divided into clusters of three(the other two connected to Burscough were Woodvale and St Helens). Although the photos that you have are not of Burscough Post all posts were of a standard layout. As time went on, each cluster was to have a Master post in this case Burscough. Our post was to fitted with a radio in case land line to control was breached. If this happened communications between posts permitting Burscough would control the other two posts and pass on relevant information via radio link. The central control for this area was Goosenargh just north of Preston. In the event of nuclear explosion the post could record pressure and radiation levels.Above ground, what looks like a beehive has photographic paper inside with pin holes pointing to the four cardinal points. This for recording height and direction of the flash. This info would be reported to control by Burscough or any other post that got readings.
I don`t know if what I have given you is the sort of information that you want. What I can recommend is a visit to Hack Green. Hack Green was not only a central control but would have been a rural seat of government in the event of war. The proprietor of the establishment used to be an Observer on the Burscough Post and it does have its own web site.
I do hope that I have been of help and if there is anything else I will do my best.
Yours Sincerely Keith Ashcroft