Memories of a secret Blast Tester at Millersford Range
An oral history interview with Vera Storr.
Interview Date 27/04/2013
Vera Storr was from the Manchester area. She attended Walthamstow College to do a course in radio and telecommunications. After signing the Official Secrets Act Vera was posted to Millersford where she worked in secret assembling gauges to test the blasts form exploding bombs. Staff at the Millersford site were known in the village as ‘them over the wire’ due to the secret nature of their work.
Group Photo ID sheets:
- Group Photo of Staff with names – SAE Millersford – 1945
- V-S Group Photo a with names – S.A.E. MILLERSFORD
- V-S Group Photo b with names – S.A.E. MILLERSFORD
- V-S Group Photo c with names – S.A.E. MILLERSFORD
- V-S Group Photo d with names – S.A.E. MILLERSFORD
- V-S Group Photo e with names – S.A.E. MILLERSFORD
Can you help add the names to these faces? Leave a comment or get in touch.
Interview Quick Clips
All material is © 2016 New Forest National Park Authority.
Full transcription of interview recordings.
Download transcription (PDF)
Interviewed by: Sue Jackson
Transcription by: Liz Rolfs
Checked by: John Martin
Audio Editor: Cosmic Carrot
List of known staff names in the large group photo:
2. Mrs Hayter, (Canteen)
5. Hersey
10. Vera Storr (nee Fazackerley)
11. Maureen Weir
15. Clifford, messenger
16. Mr Swanborough, (Caretaker)
17. Mr A G Rimmer, (Scientist)
19. Barbara Smith
20. Celia Trott (nee Revell), (purged)
22. Jean Crow
23. Joyce Walker
24. Pearl Crouch, (local)
25. Cox, (local)
26. Cooper, (local)
27. Vi Trout, (Telephonist)
28. Mr C L Farror, (Deputy Superintendent)
29. Mr Roy Pilgrim, (Superintendent)
30. Mr John Rice, (Officer)
31. Betty Marshall (Higgs)
32. Pat Gyton (nee Hunt)
33. Mr Ottaway
34. Mr Hayes
35. Mr Jessop
37. Mervyn Deacon, (Industrial)
41. Huffy Houghton
44. Boy
45. George Waterman
46. Bill Simmonds, (Experimental Officer)
48. Beryl
49. Joyce Gerrish
50. Alice Burrill
51. Winnie Worsfold, (Photographic)
52. Meg Gilling, (Experimental officer)
53. Frances Williams, “higher up”
54. Joyce Walker
55. Iris Hiscock, local
60. Bill Scanlon, (Office)
61. Tom Nix, (Workman)
65. John Chadwick
66. Mr Jock Purdey
67. Isobel Hutton
68. Noah Pearce “a boss”
69. John Trott
71. Jack Batchelor
73. Ray Gyton
74. Maurice? Boyce
75. Norman Smith
77. Charlie Eels, (Driver)
78. Alec Douglas
You can find more memories of S.A.E. Millersford Experimental Works below:
Armaments Research Department – Millersford Overview
Group Photo with names – SAE Millersford – 1945
Barbara Smith – Memories of the secret work at Millersford Range
Betty McCarthy – Memories of assistant photographer at Millersford Range
John Robinson – Blast Pressure Group. Armaments Research Test Range – Millersford Range
The ‘Mr Simmonds’ Vera mentions as one of the big bosses was my uncle. I have a few details of what he did at Millersford although my aunt said he never discussed the project in detail with her.
For the record number 75 is a typo, it is listed as Norman Smith but is in fact my late father-in-law Bernard Smith, a member of the Blast Pressure Group.