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From Ernie to the Colossus code-breaking computer of the Second World War, the British Post Office Research Station at Dollis Hill in north-west London was responsible for a host of technological breakthroughs. And reporting on its grand opening in 1933, The Engineer wrote that “it is doubtful… if a more elaborate or better equipped establishment devoted to electrical communication investigations can be found”.
After describing the layout of the Post Office Research Station, which included specially equipped laboratories for research on everything from cable testing to new signalling methods, The Engineer went on to detail some of the key areas of research being undertaken.
The article describes the use of a “microscopical and spectrographic laboratory” to study of materials used in the construction and maintenance of telephone and telegraph apparatus. It talks about new methods of signalling aimed at speeding up the methods of handling telephone calls in trunk circuit and touches on durability tests, “which in the course of a few months subject intricate apparatus used in automatic telephone exchanges to wear equivalent to forty years or more of actual operation”.
The report also mentions “important work” on the teleprinter, claiming that “ingenious methods have been devised for measuring the distortion of signals used to work the instrument and for repeating these signals so that the apparatus may be worked over very long lines”.
Another fascinating bit of research concerned “a way of enabling a fault in a submarine cable to be accurately located by means of apparatus connected to two electrodes towed in the sea by the cable ship”.
Over the following years, the laboratory went onto play a key role in some of the burgeoning telecoms sector’s milestone moments. Its engineers introduced the world to the speaking clock, developed the trans-Atlantic telephone cable, and built the world’s first programmable electronic digital computer – Colossus – which was used at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. The team also designed ERNIE (Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment) for the government’s premium bond lottery.
The Colossi computers were developed for British code breakers in 1943-1945 to help in the cryptanalysis of the Lorenz German rotor stream cipher machines used by the German Army during the Second World War. Colossi used thermionic valves (vacuum tubes) and thyratrons to perform Boolean and counting operations. Colossus has thus been regarded as the world’s first programmable, electronic digital computer, although it was programmed by plugs and switches and not by a stored program.
The Colossus computer was designed by engineer Tommy Flowers to solve a problem that had been posed by mathematician Max Newman at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park. Alan Turing’s use of probability in cryptanalysis contributed to the design of the computer.
In 1975 the facility was moved from Dollis Hill to Martlesham Heath in Suffolk to a site now known as Adastral park. Today, the park is home to BT’s Global research and development headquarters and remains one of the world’s leading centres of telecoms innovation.
I was a post office sponsored (engineering) student in the 1960’s and spent some time at Dollis Hill. I would have liked the ‘Post Office Research Station’ pdf file but couldn’t register because I am now retired! From the GPO I moved to Manchester University/Jodrell Bank for about 10 years and then moved, via Marconi, to Staffordshire University as a Principal Lecturer in Telecomms and Signals.
My late Father in law Bert Ockelford worked at Dollis Hill during the war years and if possible we would like to know more about his service. We believe that he worked with Tommy Flowers.
My late Grandfather Edgar James Barnes worked at Dollis Hill during the war years and also new Tommy Flowers. Any information you have about his work etc would be appreciated.
I started working at the PO Research Station at Dollis Hill as an apprentice in 1963. As a technician, I was one of the very first to move to Martlesham Heath in 1968, and I believe I was the first to buy a house there. In those early days we all worked in ex-RAF buildings, my laboratory being housed in what was the Officers’ Mess. The building development work over the following years was fascinating to experience. The telecoms advances were even more fascinating.
My father Richard worked at DH and Martlesham, in about 1960 he spent a month in nova Scotia in connection with trans Atlantic cable
The family would appreciate some information regarding their grandfathers work at Dollis Hill during the second world war
Arthur Bunn Norton was a SEO working in the ETE .His daughter Joan August who is still alive and worked at Green Park sub station to Bletchley park.She worked on decoding and once visited her father at work and outside his office door ha had similar cathode tubes which she saw in her work
As they both had signed the secret act they never knew what they were doing for the war effort.
Arthur died in silence and we now wonder what he spent his time doing at Dollis Hill
kind regards
Robert
Does anyone recall huge goldfish in the pond in the grounds?
Am researching family history. My father, Edwin George Morley worked for the GPO at Dollis Hill and was involved in secret work there during WW2. It would be much appreciated if anyone has further information about what he was involved in.
Many thanks, John Morley
Barrett
My father, Donald Eric Head, worked at the POED in Birmingham during the War. He was frequently at Dollis Hill and continued to work both there and at Yarnfield when the POED Training School was established at Yarnfield, Staffordshire in 1947. We believe he was involved on the radar side of things but, of course, in his time people held true to their Official Secrets Act signing and he died before any of the information about Bletchley Park became public. Are there any archives we can access? Thank you
Am researching my fathers work during the war years, as he died without saying a word about his work, his name was Henry Bright Richards, Post Office Executive Engineer, was at Baldock G P O Research Centre, Dollis Hill in 1937, believed to have visited Bletchley Park many times, I think he was involved in telecommunications and Radar.
Any Information would be very much appreciated, Thanks for reading.
My father James Frank Bampton was at Dollis Hill during the war years as a PO electrical engineer. He knew Tommy Flowers. I would there be any information to confirm whether he was involved in building Collosus and linked work at Bletchley.
Any info on requesting staff lists at Dollis Hill – rather like the accessible staff lists at Bletchley??
I spent a couple of months @ Dollis Hill in R9.3.1 during July 1970 working on the mathematics of Pulse Code Modulation Systems (PCM) whilst I was a sponsored “BT Student”! You can download my Dollis Hill Research Report @ https://www.slideshare.net/DrDavidProbert/dep1970pcm . I followed this with the 1st Doctorate in “Stochastic Machine Learning” @ Statistical Laboratory – Cambridge University! Now I am retired & give talks on Cybersecurity & Artificial Intelligence!
Hello Carolyn, this is a difficult site to work and I’m not really sure if you will get this message. My Dad , David Reid 1916 to 2002, worked at Yarnfield after working at Dollis Hill during the Second World War. He too signed the official secrets act and honoured it all his life. I want to know more! He went to Yarnfield in 1947 when he got married. I too would really like to know more.
Am researching my fathers work during the war years, as he died without saying a word about his work, his name was george William Mackie, Post OfficeEngineer, was at Research Centre, Dollis Hill during ww2 also near Harowgate in 1940. He signed the official secrets act and honoured it all his life. I want to know more! I think he was sent a letter thanking him. Was that usual? My mother lost the letter. Any idea where I could find out about this.
My Father Laurence George Wise (lorry) worked /seconded to dollis hill in the early 50s .He along with Les Sparkes and Albert Loomes worked on the spy tunnels, but i cant find any reference to him, any help appreciated
Im researching my fathers (Laurence George Wise (Lorry)) time at DH he worked with Albert loomes and Les Sparkes in the early 50s .Any help appreciated
My late Father, Percival (Percy) John Brice worked at Dollis Hill for a few months in 1938. In 1939 he joined Radio Branch Office at GPO and was up in Orkneys and Shetland in December. In WW2 he was on numerous occasions at Leafield and Rugby as well as working in London, I believe Armour House. In 1950s he was at Dollis Hill some of the time. I am sure he must have signed a Secrets Act Document. Would love to know if anybody remembers him or knew what work he was doing. Thank you.
My late father (George Hatton) was a Post Office engineer. He worked at either Bletchley Park or Dollis Hill or both during the war. He was fluent in German and I believe French and had a detailed knowledge of Japanese. His marriage to my mother failed perhaps because of the separation (as did many); hence my surname. I have only recently tracked him down and would welcome any information about him that colleagues may have
My Great uncle who died in 1953 was awarded an MBE for his work at Dollis Hill in the war years. He was George Simeon Wilson I have been unable to find why the award was made. His nephew (now also dead) said he asked him around 1949 and he showed him a small plastic block with wires attached and said this is why. I guess it may have been some type of semi-conductor. The family rumour was it was for investigating Hitler’s telephone. He is listed in the London Gazette 4th Jan 1944 as Assistant Factory Manager, Factories Department General post Office when he was awarded his MBE. Any further info gratefully received.
My late father Dennis Lisney worked at Dollis Hill, a long time after WW2, I know his name appeared on some IEEE papers regarding group delay in microwave systems. As a child I did get to visit there a few times.
My father, Harry Chinchen, was an Inspector/Instructor at Dollis Hill round about 1937 to 1940 and then I believe he was transferred to Harrogate. I am trying to piece together his involvement with telecommunications & the GPO during WW2 but like others he signed the Official Secrets Act. After Harrogate he was transferred to Kent, living near to Dover and I believe worked on securing communications along the south coast. Should anyone have any information regarding this period I would be very grateful.
My father, Keith Lester Beak, was one of Tommy Flowers’ small team of engineers who put together the first Colossus computer at Bletchley Park.
My father James Kinlen worked as pattern maker at Dollis Hill in 1960s, previously worked at Finsbury Sq. Had a hand on the Trimphone development also worked at Goonhilly. He was offered transfer to Martlesham but declined. BT/GPO looked after very well when he become ill.
I started work at Dollis Hill on September 3rd 1956 as a Radio Youth-in Training at the age of 16 on a starting wage of £3.4s.6d. The training was 2 years in which time we spent 3 months in each laboratory. I remember ” Carrier Generation”, “Filters”, “Transmitters”, “Receivers”, “Aerials”,”Television”and “SHF”. Also there was a six week mechanical workshop course.
After two years I became a Technician and the pay increased to £10 a week.
Engineers up to and including Technical Office were termed “Minor Staff” but “Clerical Assistance” were “Major Staff” and worked shorter hours.
We knew nothing of the wartime secret work but there was a restricted entry area called “The Paddock” which was on top of what is now known to be a secret bunker.
It was a wonderful place to start your career as the training was excellent particularly the courses at Yarnfield near Stone. There was also lots of fun to be had as the practical jokes seemed to be endless.