Wembley. As 1943 drew to a close, momentum in the war had clearly swung
towards the Allies. After the invasion of Italy, the Italians surrendered, the
Russians took Smolensk and then Kiev and the Fifth Army entered Naples.
On Boxing Day, the German heavy warship, the Scharnhorst was sunk.
December also saw a welcome development at the GEC Board meeting on
the 9th where post-war plans for the company were discussed for the very first
time. The ‘beginning of the end’ it seems, was now in sight.
1944 began almost as spectacularly as 1943 for the Laboratories when Mr.
McLeod, the popular foreman of the metal shop, was recognised in the King’s
New Year Honours List by the award of a BEM—delighting all the staff at
Wembley. The same could not be said however of an ‘Atlantic Conference’
over cable on the evening of 27 January regarding ‘micropup’ and CRT
valves, Robert describing the event to Paterson as a ‘slow and dull affair’. But
just a few weeks later, the Laboratories had an outstanding week of self
indulgence celebrating the 21st Anniversary of the opening on 27 February
1923 with celebrations organised by the Social Club Committee—entirely
independent of ‘management’. The program consisted of evening events each
day of the week and began with a religious service on the Sunday afternoon
then a formal recognition of, and presentation to, the 34 original members of
staff who were present at the opening in 1923. These members gathered in
the Library for a photograph, Plate 17.11, Paterson is seated centre, front
row, with Robert immediately to his right. The implication is obvious.
The principal events that week were a dance on the Monday night, a
lecture entitled ‘A Confidential History’ given by Paterson on the Tuesday,
and a ‘social’ on the Saturday. Incidentally, Paterson’s lecture was the only
one he ever gave regarding the war work of the Laboratories and in it he made
a formal recognition of Robert’s work on thermionic devices over the years
(Chap. 15). Paterson also records the effect these celebrations had on the
general esprit de corps of the Laboratories, noting that it could ‘hardly be
exaggerated’. The general ‘feel good’ factor of the Laboratories was also
reinforced by events at the front over the next few months. In March, Monte
Cassino was destroyed by Allied bombers, then taken by the Allies in May.
Rome was entered by the Fifth army on 04 June and two days later came the
Normandy landings, ‘D-day’, Paterson’s observations that day being expressed in just two sentences in the diary;
The invasion has come at last – a cool blustery W to NW wind. One would
not have thought it possible in such weather.
440
D. Sheppard
towards the Allies. After the invasion of Italy, the Italians surrendered, the
Russians took Smolensk and then Kiev and the Fifth Army entered Naples.
On Boxing Day, the German heavy warship, the Scharnhorst was sunk.
December also saw a welcome development at the GEC Board meeting on
the 9th where post-war plans for the company were discussed for the very first
time. The ‘beginning of the end’ it seems, was now in sight.
1944 began almost as spectacularly as 1943 for the Laboratories when Mr.
McLeod, the popular foreman of the metal shop, was recognised in the King’s
New Year Honours List by the award of a BEM—delighting all the staff at
Wembley. The same could not be said however of an ‘Atlantic Conference’
over cable on the evening of 27 January regarding ‘micropup’ and CRT
valves, Robert describing the event to Paterson as a ‘slow and dull affair’. But
just a few weeks later, the Laboratories had an outstanding week of self
indulgence celebrating the 21st Anniversary of the opening on 27 February
1923 with celebrations organised by the Social Club Committee—entirely
independent of ‘management’. The program consisted of evening events each
day of the week and began with a religious service on the Sunday afternoon
then a formal recognition of, and presentation to, the 34 original members of
staff who were present at the opening in 1923. These members gathered in
the Library for a photograph, Plate 17.11, Paterson is seated centre, front
row, with Robert immediately to his right. The implication is obvious.
The principal events that week were a dance on the Monday night, a
lecture entitled ‘A Confidential History’ given by Paterson on the Tuesday,
and a ‘social’ on the Saturday. Incidentally, Paterson’s lecture was the only
one he ever gave regarding the war work of the Laboratories and in it he made
a formal recognition of Robert’s work on thermionic devices over the years
(Chap. 15). Paterson also records the effect these celebrations had on the
general esprit de corps of the Laboratories, noting that it could ‘hardly be
exaggerated’. The general ‘feel good’ factor of the Laboratories was also
reinforced by events at the front over the next few months. In March, Monte
Cassino was destroyed by Allied bombers, then taken by the Allies in May.
Rome was entered by the Fifth army on 04 June and two days later came the
Normandy landings, ‘D-day’, Paterson’s observations that day being expressed in just two sentences in the diary;
The invasion has come at last – a cool blustery W to NW wind. One would
not have thought it possible in such weather.
440
D. Sheppard