Adrian Webb, Churchill's secret chart-makers

Abstract:

Adrian will be talking about his work for his recent book, ‘Churchill’s Secret Chart-Makers’. In it, he records the trials and tribulations of staff in the Hydrographic Department during World War Two. The importance and secrecy during WW2 of the preparations for the Invasion of France is well documented and publicised. Eight decades later, British and foreign allied services still attend to remember and celebrate those heroes who ventured all. From these ports the Allies would sail for D-Day, delayed by storms until the 6th of June, went thousands men and ships in tight formation. The Hydrographic Department of the Navy was responsible for all the charts and navigational products designed, compiled, proofed, printed and distributed to the Allies. The vital work in Taunton and Bath, without which the invasion would fail, was undertaken in total secrecy. All that outsiders knew was that the buildings used were simply “the Admiralty”. The numbers of charts produced by the Department are staggering, as in 1938 only just over one million were issued, compared with almost seven million in 1944. During the war 30.7m charts and diagrams were supplied to 4969 vessels from 14 allied countries, compared with an average of 3.5m over a similar period in peacetime. This increase had a tremendous effect on chart making staff in the Department. The stories of the secret chart-making activities has not been told until the publication of this book.

Dr Adrian Webb is a local historian with a particular interest in Somerset’s local and family history. He runs Harry Galloway Publishing, which brings archive sources relating to the ancient county of Somerset into print, and is editor of the Somerset section of Somerset & Dorset Notes & Queries.