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Royal Navy: 1939-1945

Royal Navy Wireless Telegraphy Training School
By Tony Drury
Photo:St. Dunstan's West House
Photo:Class number 60 on passing out as trained Telegraphists (S) in the grounds of West House, c. summer 1943.
Photo:Back of the Class number 60 on passing out photo signed by all those preset.
Photo:Class number 72 on passing out as trained Telegraphists (S) - Clifford Dennison is pictured middle row second on the right.

In April 1942 the Royal Navy Wireless Telegraphy Training School was opened in Brighton to train communications ratings and WRNS personnel. The school headquarters was established at 29 Queen's Road with other sites in Brighton being requisitioned for the use of the school; the main instructional site was located in the former St. Dunstan's property at West House, 12-14 Portland Place, Kemp Town.

Brighton I and Brighton II
The HQ and West House buildings were known by the names Brighton I and Brighton II but the unit was never commissioned with an official ship's name.  The school was most likely a dispersed sub unit of the main RN Signals School, HMS Mercury, at East Meon, near Petersfield, Hampshire.

Trainees billeted locally
Ratings attending the school undertook their initial training at West House and were billeted locally in Kemp Town. Telegraphist Clifford Dennison who attended course 72 during 1943 recalls that he was billeted, along with seven others, with a Mrs Morris at 18 Broad Street during his first stint at the school. Training was undertaken by instructor officers and Mr White, a former G.P.O. employee with specialist skills. 

Photo:Telegraphist (S) Clifford Dennison - photo taken during his training at St. Bede's, Eastbourne

Telegraphist (S) Clifford Dennison - photo taken during his training at St. Bede's, Eastbourne

Photo courtesy Mr Clifford Dennison


Courses at Eastbourne
Beginning in November 1943 a wireless telegraphy school was established at St. Bede's Preparatory School, Eastbourne. On completing the initial phase of training in Brighton ratings transferred to Eastbourne for specialist training. In the case of Telegraphist Dennison this was training to interception of Japanese Morse code. From Eastbourne ratings returned to Brighton to finish off and be passed out as Special Operators and rated Telegraphist (S).  Clifford Dennison and others were billeted at 21 Lower Rock Gardens on their return. Passing out classes had a group photograph taken, this was on waste ground adjacent to West House.   From Brighton ratings were drafted to other units, Clifford was sent to Ceylon to intercept Japanese military messages.

Post War
It is unclear exactly when the school closed, but West House was returned to St. Dunstan's control in 1946, the organisation returning to Brighton from Church Stretton where it had evacuated to in 1940. At some point after this the name was changed from West House to Pearson House.

This page was added on 02/02/2010.

Comments about this page

This is so interesting. During the war, my Father was the landlord at the Little Globe in Edward Street and we also had what was 27 (now renumbered as 26 or 28) and 30 High Street and we had billeted on us several of the sailors on these courses. Attached to 27 in those days was the property numbered 26 which in fact was a garage to 27 with a very large room over it, and this garage was carpeted over and used as a dinning room for the sailors. A small story to add, opposite 27 was Gill & Son a small firm and one of the sailors started going out with the secretay to Mr Gill, I think the sailor's name was Eric; eventually they married and the last time I saw them was in the late 50s when they lived up the road across from the Pepper Pot in Queens Park Road.

By Ken Ross (03/02/2010)

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