Frontline Ulster
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A tour around the abandoned Wee Fea Communications Headquarters at Scapa Flow, Orkney
Four years into the Second World War a two-storey reinforced building had been constructed on the slopes of Wee Fea overlooking the naval anchorage at Lyness and Scapa Flow. This was the Wee fea Naval Communications and Operational Centre, or Headquarters. From here over 200 personnel, mostly women from the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), handled thousands of phone calls daily between the ships of the Home Fleet and land establishments. In this video, I step back into 1943 and explore the remains of this prominent landmark on the island of Hoy overlooking Scapa Flow in Orkney.
มุมมอง: 726

วีดีโอ

Innes Links, Part 2 - Emergency Coastal Artillery Battery
มุมมอง 2564 หลายเดือนก่อน
In the early days of the Second World War, Great Britain had lost most of its fighting equipment and its personnel were tired and demoralised. With Germany energised having swept across France, the shores of this country were under threat. A huge programme of construction began along the coast to create a concrete coastal crust to deter or at least slow any invasion. On the east coast of northe...
Innes Links, Part 1 - Anti Invasion Defences
มุมมอง 7034 หลายเดือนก่อน
In the early days of the Second World War, Great Britain had lost most of its fighting equipment and its personnel were tired and demoralised. With Germany energised having swept across France, the shores of this country were under threat. A huge programme of construction began along the coast to create a concrete coastal crust to deter or at least slow any invasion. On the east coast of northe...
Fortifications of Ascension Island, Part 3
มุมมอง 3274 หลายเดือนก่อน
On a remote colonial outpost in the Atlantic Ocean remains a unique collection of coastal fortifications charting the development of artillery from the early nineteenth century until the end of the Second World War. Colonised to stop the strategic land mass from falling into French hands who may have plotted an audacious rescue attempt of Napoleon on the neighbouring island of Saint Helena, Asc...
Fortifications of Ascension Island, Part 2
มุมมอง 2694 หลายเดือนก่อน
On a remote colonial outpost in the Atlantic Ocean remains a unique collection of coastal fortifications charting the development of artillery from the early nineteenth century until the end of the Second World War. Colonised to stop the strategic land mass from falling into French hands who may have plotted an audacious rescue attempt of Napoleon on the neighbouring island of Saint Helena, Asc...
Fortifications of Ascension Island, Part 1
มุมมอง 5014 หลายเดือนก่อน
On a remote colonial outpost in the Atlantic Ocean remains a unique collection of coastal fortifications charting the development of artillery from the early nineteenth century until the end of the Second World War. Colonised to stop the strategic land mass from falling into French hands who may have plotted an audacious rescue attempt of Napoleon on the neighbouring island of Saint Helena, Asc...
Magilligan Point, the most westerly pillbox in the United Kingdom
มุมมอง 2757 หลายเดือนก่อน
Come with me on this scenic tour of the United Kingdom's most westerly pillbox at Magilligan Point in Northern Ireland, constructed during the early days of the Second World War to protect the entrance to Lough Foyle.
The Second World War defences of Pen y Gwyrd in the Eryri National Park
มุมมอง 2707 หลายเดือนก่อน
In the heart of the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park just beyond Pen-y-Pas at Pen-y-Gwyrd sit four Second World War pillboxes. Sited for their commanding views over the three converging roads, they would have turned this now peaceful tourist trap into a bloody killing ground. In this video, I take a look at each of the four remaining pillboxes and a remaining spigot mortar position, and we learn...
RAF Llanberis on a rainy Thursday in May
มุมมอง 1177 หลายเดือนก่อน
This short film, shot jointly between myself and Orkney Exploration, was an experiment in exploration filmmaking. We took the emphasis off history and focused on using all the resources at our disposal to capture our subterranean trip from as many angles as possible. Shot on four cameras, we have tried to combine more candid first-person footage with cinematic shots showcasing the atmosphere in...
Rhydymwy Valley Fire Watchers Post
มุมมอง 787 หลายเดือนก่อน
In appearance and construction, these small brick buildings could be a pillbox; strategically positioned to defend a strategic objective. They were, however, constructed for a different purpose. These observation posts, specifically fire watchers' posts were constructed on the roofs of buildings or at high points around Royal Ordnance Factories and other industrial complexes. Their purpose was ...
The defences of Cregneash Radar Station, Isle of Man
มุมมอง 2977 หลายเดือนก่อน
Construction of the Chain Home Low radar station at Cregneash on the southern point of the Isle of Man started in 1940. The isolated early warning radar station was protected by field defences and pillboxes, most of which remain today. Their construction is unconventional and in this video, I walk through the site and examine some of the more significant remains.
A gentle introduction to pillboxes
มุมมอง 1.6K9 หลายเดือนก่อน
In this short video, I explain the events leading up to the construction of thousands of concrete pillboxes around the British coast. This will be the first in a series of videos delving deeper into pillboxes; their concept, design and tactical use. The pillboxes shown in this video are located at Sandy Bay in Somerset. All three are publicly accessible and can be entered at your own risk.
Exploring the Second World War Edingham Nitroglycerine and Cordite Works near Dalbeattie in Scotland
มุมมอง 628ปีที่แล้ว
In this December video I visited the 1940 nitroglycerine and cordite works near Dalbeattie in south-west Scotland. The vast abandoned explosives factory from the Second World War has many secrets about the people who once worked there and the processes used to make critical war material. Visit my website which is packed full of resources and research articles frontlineulster.co.uk I have over 1...
Explore this incredibly rare Royal Navy fuel pump house complete with pumps and spares
มุมมอง 1.1Kปีที่แล้ว
Explore this incredibly rare Royal Navy fuel pump house complete with pumps and spares
A tour of the First World War 4-in QF battery at North Sutor Battery overlooking the Cromarty Firth
มุมมอง 168ปีที่แล้ว
A tour of the First World War 4-in QF battery at North Sutor Battery overlooking the Cromarty Firth
A tour of the underground ammunition magazine at North Sutor Battery overlooking the Cromarty Firth
มุมมอง 391ปีที่แล้ว
A tour of the underground ammunition magazine at North Sutor Battery overlooking the Cromarty Firth
At the edge of the Isles; documenting the decaying radar station at RAF Saxa Vord
มุมมอง 43Kปีที่แล้ว
At the edge of the Isles; documenting the decaying radar station at RAF Saxa Vord
Visiting Gibraltar's incredible 150 year old 100 ton beast 😲
มุมมอง 961ปีที่แล้ว
Visiting Gibraltar's incredible 150 year old 100 ton beast 😲
Walk with me along the Great North Road deep under the Rock of Gibraltar - in full 360!
มุมมอง 1.2Kปีที่แล้ว
Walk with me along the Great North Road deep under the Rock of Gibraltar - in full 360!
Discovering 250 years of military history in Gibraltar's Northern Defences tunnels and galleries 🔦
มุมมอง 1.1Kปีที่แล้ว
Discovering 250 years of military history in Gibraltar's Northern Defences tunnels and galleries 🔦
Exploring the huge abandoned Project C fuel storage tunnels in Gibraltar 🔦
มุมมอง 7Kปีที่แล้ว
Exploring the huge abandoned Project C fuel storage tunnels in Gibraltar 🔦
RAF Bawdsey Radar Station - Venturing solo into the underground reserve transmitter block
มุมมอง 19Kปีที่แล้ว
RAF Bawdsey Radar Station - Venturing solo into the underground reserve transmitter block
Brean Down Fort - Exploring the preserved fort on the Bristol Channel
มุมมอง 2.8Kปีที่แล้ว
Brean Down Fort - Exploring the preserved fort on the Bristol Channel
A solo explore of the eerie abandoned hospital at Amiantos [it has a morgue!] 🧟‍♀️
มุมมอง 2302 ปีที่แล้ว
A solo explore of the eerie abandoned hospital at Amiantos [it has a morgue!] 🧟‍♀️
I uncover a previously forgotten British camp in the Troodos Mountains 🤯 [1878 - this is OLD!]
มุมมอง 2632 ปีที่แล้ว
I uncover a previously forgotten British camp in the Troodos Mountains 🤯 [1878 - this is OLD!]
Tutorial: Importing OpenDataNI LiDAR data into QGIS
มุมมอง 3.3K2 ปีที่แล้ว
Tutorial: Importing OpenDataNI LiDAR data into QGIS
Tutorial: Adding the Northern Ireland Defence Heritage Record dataset to QGIS
มุมมอง 1392 ปีที่แล้ว
Tutorial: Adding the Northern Ireland Defence Heritage Record dataset to QGIS
Explore the Kokkinotrimithia Detention Camp in Cyprus [a British prison camp from 1955!]
มุมมอง 2602 ปีที่แล้ว
Explore the Kokkinotrimithia Detention Camp in Cyprus [a British prison camp from 1955!]
Explore an incredible military time capsule in the Bristol Channel [an immersive 360 video!]
มุมมอง 2.5K2 ปีที่แล้ว
Explore an incredible military time capsule in the Bristol Channel [an immersive 360 video!]
Explore RAF Southrop Farm in virtual reality [with some unique features!]
มุมมอง 4072 ปีที่แล้ว
Explore RAF Southrop Farm in virtual reality [with some unique features!]

ความคิดเห็น

  • @JacobWiggins-n7o
    @JacobWiggins-n7o 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    There’s plenty more underground to explore there…

  • @wug18
    @wug18 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

    thank you for sharing my Gran worked here when it was up and running the secondary site was an exact replica of the main site so if something went wong they could satrt straight away working in the amunitions

  • @ododargo
    @ododargo 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

    hi they have done a lot of restoration since the family and i went up in the 90s i fly my drone over it now i filmed the film shoot they were doing in dec last year no idea what the film was guy ritchie was involved

  • @swell_tuna
    @swell_tuna หลายเดือนก่อน

    Used to play armies up there as a kid.

  • @5134SW
    @5134SW 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I was station at Saxa 97/98 as a stacker, worked at Middle and Top Site. Best Tour I ever had. I remember putting in the SSSB cabins under slug on Chinook. So many days drunk in the Pengie

  • @adamjmacrae2715
    @adamjmacrae2715 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Good video, couple of corrections - 1 There was mess accommodation for non married personal at the lower site 2- The site you were filming at was the mid site and not the lower site as you kept quoting it as

  • @madbrowndog4887
    @madbrowndog4887 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I can't help thinking about the Roman Empire.

  • @stevealker7316
    @stevealker7316 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I was there 87 to 88

  • @TurtleKing-lol
    @TurtleKing-lol 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great video and it took me right back to when I served there as a “scopie” (Trade Grp 12) between 1992 - 1993. I remember that daily walk down that long corridor (38:50s) to the Ops Room (40:20s) to begin my stint. I think in the first room as you enter was secure comms but the Ops Room itself was up the small staircase (40:45s). That room had about 4 radar consoles in. There was hatch in the light-coloured part of the floor, on the RHS immediately in front of you when you walked in. Underneath the floor was kept an old sponge mattress - this could be folded away quickly, if you get my drift! 🤣 Very fond memories of my time there and the guys I worked with! Your video showed me areas I wasn’t aware of. Btw - the room with the door with the hatch was the ComCen - a highly restricted area. Signals were passed through the hatch. Only ComCen staff were allowed in there. Thank you 😉👍🏻

  • @DaveFaraday-b7s
    @DaveFaraday-b7s 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hi I was there in 1958 with the opening of base camp ,cook in Sgt mess & officers mess sac Joe Friday.Happy Memories

  • @pmcg97
    @pmcg97 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Worked there during construction

  • @Daniel-S1
    @Daniel-S1 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks, I visited here when on holiday in Gib'.

  • @Daniel-S1
    @Daniel-S1 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks. I thought we had visited the tunnels when we were on holiday in Gibraltar but it seems we 'only' visited the Great Siege Tunnels and World War 2 tunnels.

  • @Daniel-S1
    @Daniel-S1 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks + the other 100 ton (not tonne) Armstrong gun, that is in Malta, also has a museum with historical rifles and very knowledgeable guides, at the same location.

  • @Daniel-S1
    @Daniel-S1 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks. If you haven't visited the Needles battery (old battery?) on the Isle of Wight, it is worse a visit.

  • @Daniel-S1
    @Daniel-S1 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Many thanks. I saw all of these guns in late 1985 and I think the guns from HMS Hood could be traversed at that time. HMS Hood was sunk by the Bismark but these were Hood's previous guns, not the ones she was sunk with, having been 'up-gunned'.

  • @Daniel-S1
    @Daniel-S1 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks + The Fort name from Cockburn to Thornton was named after Admirals of the same name. Cockburn actually took Napoleon to St Helena.

  • @Kevin-mx1vi
    @Kevin-mx1vi 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    When I was at school in the 1960's, we had a maths teacher (a horrible sadistic bully who wouldn't get into education today) who had spent the war as a naval signaller at Scapa Flow. I would assume that he worked in this building.

  • @gregdavis48
    @gregdavis48 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Very interesting I learned a wee bit more about the defences. There are some closer to my home at Tentsmuir forest in Fife I often go and look at 🙂

  • @1960totnes
    @1960totnes 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for posting this excellent little video. I'm not usually a fan of art installations, but in this case, I love the period photos of the people who worked here.

  • @1960totnes
    @1960totnes 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I had a look about this place about thirty years or more ago. Unfortunately, with no torch or lights of any kind, so I nearly shat myself when a pigeon launched itself into the air in one of the darkened rooms, nearly giving me a bloody heart attack! It's an amazing spot. Back then I noticed, among stuff lying on the floor, one or two 1940s era women's shoes.

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The pigeons are a feature now! On my first visit a few years ago they could be heard scuttling in the vents above my head. Combined with the creaks and groans of the building it was definitely an eerie atmosphere!

  • @CanleyClassics-n3o
    @CanleyClassics-n3o 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    That's survived quite well considering the passage of time.

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I think the remoteness has helped reduce vandalism over the years, and it’s such a solid structure even despite the inclement conditions there aren’t many routes for wind and rain to get in. Hopefully some work can be done to restore or at least stabilise the building before it deteriorates beyond repair.

  • @stevecook1190
    @stevecook1190 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I grew up just down the road - we used to goto into the tunnels and explore - there's was full military base further back linked to the fort - most has been reclaimed by the sea.

  • @nathantorresstanevil6958
    @nathantorresstanevil6958 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Was the guide Peter Jackson?

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Not on this occasion, we had a military guide.

  • @nathantorresstanevil6958
    @nathantorresstanevil6958 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Tf? Is this Gibraltar?

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Northern Scotland outside Inverness at a place called Inchindown.

  • @jeffreycarson3183
    @jeffreycarson3183 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    These loopholes are of better design than those used in the pillboxes.

  • @TheVigilant109
    @TheVigilant109 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Very interesting. Thank you

  • @TheVigilant109
    @TheVigilant109 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Very interesting. I flew out of Lossiemouth and Kinloss many times and never noticed these.

  • @CanleyClassics-n3o
    @CanleyClassics-n3o 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Really enjoyed thar. Bring on the next one.

  • @jeffreycarson3183
    @jeffreycarson3183 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I presume the loops on top of the blocks were for steel rope or barbed wire connecting all the blocks. With such open embrasures maybe they originally had armoured plates on them and maybe the witness marks on the outside are signs of the plates?

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      So that's an interesting observation. Some of the cubes on the beach had remnants of barbed wire, even a wire tensioner still attached to the loops. The loops themselves are almost superficial, not being connected to the internal steel frame of the obstacle. They certainly wouldn't have been capable of lifting the completed cubes! I have looked in a few contemporary engineer pamphlets and there is no mention of wire obstacles being fixed to the cubes. Many obstacles elsewhere don't even have the loops. If you look on the Imperial War Museum collections section www.iwm.org.uk/collections and search for " H 11554" you can see the closest I think these defences would have looked like.

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      As for steel plates over the loopholes, I don't think they were a feature of these defences. It's possible they were constructed sufficiently early in the conflict so as not to have had them fitted in the design, and as the defensive plan changed throughout the early years of the war, it's possible that this line was practically abandoned and resources focussed elsewhere. If shutters were fitted, given the demand for steel, I think they would have been as small as possible. The loopholes are very large compared to later designs, and the wall thickness suitably thin to only make them reisstant to bullets and shrapnel. The defences exposed on the beach would not have lasted very long at all in my opinion.

  • @thisisus1307
    @thisisus1307 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    My home turf 😊

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      A stunning part of the country with such a rich and varied history!

  • @stuartgorman8150
    @stuartgorman8150 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Google , Cromarty firth coastal battery , you will find it every bit as interesting if not more so , it is more intact than this one ,

  • @stuartgorman8150
    @stuartgorman8150 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The chicken wire is of WW2 vintage as were the large gun emplacements who were also covered with it with the accompanied running trenches , when I first started paying a visited to them in the mid 1950s everything was pretty intact as they had been when given up by the MOD .

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Incredible! That’s great to know, thank you. It’s sometimes hard to believe seeing positions so intact, it’s a really special site.

    • @stuartgorman8150
      @stuartgorman8150 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@frontlineulster There are also the remains of a small arms and a grenade range up there , I have a small plan of the site , unsure how to send a copy to you .

  • @johnreilly4533
    @johnreilly4533 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Another great video mate 👍🏻 looking forward to the next

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Awesome, thanks John! Next week you have a tour of the coastal battery along this line!

  • @lizlawrence4553
    @lizlawrence4553 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    You're videos are always well researched, very well presented.

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thank you ☺️ I try to keep them varied and it’s an excuse to travel to some interesting parts of the country!

  • @colintinker7778
    @colintinker7778 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I've learnt a lot about these types of forts since watching your videos. It all makes sense now, the little alcoves for the lamps and the narrow passage ways to access them being separate from the room being lit. I had previously been puzzled when seeing these features at forts on the Isle of Sheppey and Minorca. Your explanations have solved the mystery. There's Fort Manoel in Malta. I used to explore this as a kid. It's riddled with tunnels underneath. Some of it from WW2 with huge oil storage tanks. I went back to Malta about 5 years ago and wasn't allowed onto the fort. It was sealed off... I think for restoration. Would be a great explore if accessible! I enjoy all your videos. Excellent!

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thank you! I’m learning and sharing as I go, and the more sites I visit the more details I learn about. I’ll try to keep it up!

    • @colintinker7778
      @colintinker7778 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@frontlineulster Much appreciated. Thank you.

  • @TheVigilant109
    @TheVigilant109 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Very interesting series. Many thanks

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Glad you like them! Thank you.

  • @rogerarnold7262
    @rogerarnold7262 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Didn’t even know there was guns on ascension, thanks for another great video.

  • @dogzero1
    @dogzero1 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I was stationed there in the 80's.

  • @andrewcodes
    @andrewcodes 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hello, local here - I’m fascinated with the history in these tunnels although I have found most to have been sealed off. From the location that you exit this tunnel it has now been completely sealed, do you happen to know if there are other entrances to this tunnel and or better tunnels? Such a shame that they have sealed them instead of clearing them and being able to do controlled paid tours.

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for your message, but unfortunately my visit was in 2023 and we only spent a short period of time on the Rock. I am sure much has changed in that time. Perhaps in time the tunnels will be cleaned up and open for tours or put to another use.

  • @tonycardall7334
    @tonycardall7334 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I went there over the weekend,I walked a total of 11 miles and climbed 220 steps .

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It’s certainly not an easy walk to get out to the fort! But apparently exercise is good for us 😍

  • @MOUDY73
    @MOUDY73 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    looks like their building a new one closer to the launch pad

    • @frontlineulster
      @frontlineulster 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Not a new radar station, that’s still on top of the hill. I wonder what new buildings and communication structures will appear to support the launch site, I imagine they’ll have their own radar to track the objects.

    • @MOUDY73
      @MOUDY73 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@frontlineulster i didn`t mean a new radar station i meant a new bunker

  • @paulwalker4763
    @paulwalker4763 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I was stationed there in the early to mid 80s. Fab place.

  • @peteryates1208
    @peteryates1208 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    For those Alumni not aware of it I reccomend a visit to: ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.com/2012/03/contents-list.html It was all a Cold War front to hide the existance of Shetrad!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @fraggit
    @fraggit 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The biggest clue to what that area may have been used for, are the large circular clearings around it on Google Earth. They look like a defunct Circularly disposed antenna array site, nicknamed "elephant cages", look up "AN/FLR-9". The only problem is that the only one documented in the UK was at RAF Chicksands. What you were looking at looks like a VHF antenna array, pointing North, where coincidentally there was another "Elephants cage" in Alaska. Just speculation, so no taking the mickey if I'm way off, lol..

  • @stevecowham1017
    @stevecowham1017 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    My father was stationed at Bawdsey. We lived in Alderton, where I was born. His name is Alan Cowham, a Flight Lieutenant, fighter controller. I think he was stationed there in the early 60's and early 70's.

  • @Gazzab6
    @Gazzab6 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I really enjoyed watching the video. I was a radar operator at RAF Buchan 1979 - 1984 in Aberdeenshire North East Scotland. Many of my friends were stationed at Saxa so thank you for posting - very informative.

  • @TheVigilant109
    @TheVigilant109 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Fascinating. Never knew that pill box was there. Thank you

  • @buzzabuzza3494
    @buzzabuzza3494 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Many thanks for sharing a interesting video, and it’s great to see there’s no vandalism 👏👏

  • @jeffreycarson3183
    @jeffreycarson3183 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Rails notsleepers