The information is not as you say worthless just because you choose to ignore it, dont think for one minute that sub brit is the 'be all and end all of everything' your site is littered with inaccuracies so why not clean up your own act before you have a go at me.........Peter.
I think I am correct in stating that your main dispute about our report on Mount Wise is that you say the two level building (MHQ) in the moat is built as a result of the collapse of the tunnels and that the tunnels were there first.
What we say is that the MHQ was built first and that the tunnels , as named on the plaque outside , are the 'Plymouth Tunnel Extension' to the already existing Maritime HQ. This is confirmed by numerous PRO documents (quoted at the end of our report) which show that the MHQ was completed by the start of the war before the tunnels were started. We have copies of all these PRO/NA files which can be supplied to anyone if required. This is also confirmed by Roger Thomas of English Heritage and local historians.
I have copies of these ' Admiralty files ' that you refer to that James Fox sent us some time ago. There are three pages only two of which are sequential. The pages have sentences and words blanked out. James tells me that there are only these three sheets and that is how he received them. So this is your evidence :
The document is dated 25/3/1943 and states that on 24/2/1943 the C in C Plymouth has stopped the tunnelling of the underground extension due to subsidence and a sewer fracture. He recommends that the tunnels should be abandoned and the extension should be built above ground. (Note this refers to the 'extension ' not the actual HQ which was already in existence in the moat for 3 years) Another sheet , although no sequential , refers to the same document and is dated 11/3/1943 and states that " a second subsidence has been referred to the Admiralty " . A report by the Chief Engineer Home Forces lists options. The third sheet which does follow from the second gives in paragraph 13 options A - E. Option B clearly refers to the underground extension in the vicinity of the "Existing ACHQ". Option D also refers to the "Existing ACHQ" Option E refers to the "utilisation of the portion of the underground accommodation already excavated, extended as necessary" and "to erect above ground accommodation in the immediate vicinity and close to the existing ACHQ"
Mountbatten opts for Paragraph 13 paragraph E ; to use what's already built and if necessary add huts near the ACHQ for the remainder.
Theses three sheets are useful as they confirm that the building in the moat (ACHQ=MHQ) was already in existence when the tunnels were under construction and the collapses occurred.
As a further confirmation of the fact that the ACHQ was operational at the start of the war can I refer you to the book " I only joined for the hat" by Christian Lamb with forward by Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Christain Lamb worked at the MHQ in the moat at Mount Wise before Western Approached moved to Derby House. On page 43 she states "In 1937 as war began to loom again, it was proposed to build in this dry ditch, a protect Joint Service Headquarters consisting of a single storey structure within a 10 foot concrete and shingle overburden. By 1939, the plans had widened to provide Area Combined HQ's to withstand a direct hot from a 500lb bomb. When you enter the Maritime Headquarters at Mount Wise, you could see the side walls of the dry ditch quite clearly. It was planned to relocate the the Naval Command C in C Plymouth and the Western Approaches to a safer and more central place, initially on the Clyde and eventually to Liverpool were Derby House had been taken over and strengthened"
I can recommend this book, I learnt a lot from it. ISBN 9781903071151 (Pub 2007)
Nick
