Langstone Zero Station

 

 

In 1942 Lord Petherick MP was tasked with setting up the Special Duties Section of the Auxiliary Units. Around 1000 civilians, men and women, unknown to each other and from all classes and occupations acted as coast watchers, observers or ‘Agents’. Messages would be relayed to the civilian radio operators who would then transmit intelligence to the control or Zero stations.

 

They used radio telegraphy called TRD (transmit, receive, Dabbs) sets. They also used runners and dead letter drops. There were 43 ATS Subalterns and 69 Royal Corps of Signals personnel to back the ‘Agents’ up. They reported to Auxiliary Units Special Duties Section IO’s. Their HQ was based at Hannington Hall until it was relocated to Coleshill in 1942. These civilians were unpaid and sworn to everlasting secrecy. They had a motto – ‘Be like Dad – Keep Mum’. The SDS Auxiliers and their identities were rarely recorded on any WW2 records. There was a large underground radio station on the Blorenge Mountain that was used to relay messages from the SDS sections of the units.

 

The structures used were similar to an OB; These were known as 'In or Zero Stations', and out stations.

 

Apparently, there were four out stations and one zero station in Monmouthshire, approximate locations are:-

 

Out Stations
1) Penrhiw,Risca
2) Lower Lake, Pye Corner, Newport
3)Ty Fferm, Caerleon
4) Coed Y Careau common, Langstone Zero and Control Station
5) Blorenge, Abergavenny

 

Decoded messages and intelligence was distributed using dead letter drops via messengers on horse back or bicycle. Messages were sometimes left in a split tennis ball!

 

The Special Duties Section and the Auxiliary Units worked in isolation and generally neighbouring units were not in communication with each other.

 

Welsh units did not communicate with the English units as they were classed as ‘foreigners!’ There is an SDS bunker located some several hundred metres from Jonah Patrols bunker at Coed Y Careau. (photograph above). There were four personnel who occupied this bunker led by Arthur Allsop of Langstone Farm. Jonah Patrol knew of its existence - raiding it as a prank on regular occasions for training practice. Of course the occupants of the SDS bunker were probably not aware who was responsible for the attacks when their bunker was unoccupied!