LUCCOMBE, SOMERSET
There are a number of errors in the details (Names/Regiments) listed upon Luccombe's two war memorials. These are highlighted in RED below
WW1 1914-1918
PRIVATE Albert Daymond (1893-1914)
He was born at Luccombe, Somerset, in 1893 and was the son of Albert Daymond (1856-1940) and his wife; Maria Daymond (1852-1938). His brothers were: Alfred John Daymond (1882–1889), and Alfred Daymond (1891–1918).
He served as Private 1217 in the West Somerset Yeomanry under the name of Daiman (possibly so as not to be confused with his brother ; Alfred Daymond, who served in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry). He died of pneumonia at Luccombe on the 10th of December 1914, aged 21 years and was buried at St. Mary's Churchyard, Luccombe. |
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PRIVATE Alfred Daymond (1891–1918)
He was born at Luccombe, Somerset, in 1891 and was the son of Albert Daymond (1856-1940) and his wife; Maria Daymond (1852-1938). His brothers were: Alfred John Daymond (1882–1889), and Albert Daymond (1893–1914).
He served firstly as Private 1291in the West Somerset Yeomanry, and later as Private 28747 in the 7th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He died at home in Luccombe on the 11th of November 1918 (The day WW1 ended) aged 27 years, and was buried at Luccombe churchyard. |
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SAPPER Herbert Hobbs - ERROR ON LUCCOMBE'S MEMORIALS
Listed on both of Luccombe's memorial is Sapper Herbert Hobbs of the Royal Engineers. No records found with either the Imperial War Museum or the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a Herbert Hobbs who was killed during WW1 whilst serving in the Royal Engineers. However, there is a Herbert Andrew Hobbs (1894-1915) who was born in Luccombe and served in the 8th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry and who is commemorated on the Porlock War Memorial. See: Porlock - WEST SOMERSET AT WAR (weebly.com)
Arthur James Huish - ERROR ON LUCCOMBE'S MEMORIALS
Listed on both of Luccombe's memorial is Private Arthur James Huish of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. No records found with either the Imperial War Museum or the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a Herbert Hobbs who was killed during WW1 whilst serving in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. However, there is a Albert John Huish (1885-1916) who served in the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and who is commemorated on the Porlock War Memorial. See: Porlock - WEST SOMERSET AT WAR (weebly.com)
CORPORAL Thomas Partridge (1894-1916)
He was born in 1894 and was the son of Samuel James Partridge (1850-1920) and Louisa Ann Partridge (1858-1946) of Hurlestone, Porlock, Somerset.
During WW1 he served as Trooper 751 in the 1st/1st West Somerset Yeomanry, and was subsequently promoted to Lance Corporal, and then Corporal. The West Somerset Yeomanry were deployed to Gallipoli, Turkey, sailing from Liverpool on the 25th of September 1915 aboard the RMS Olympic (commandeered for the duration of the war as HMT Olympic, 'His Majesty's Troopship'). They arrived Mudros on the Greek Island of Lemnos on the 1st of October 1915, before being transferred onto the SS Osmanieh for onward travel to Suvla Bay in Gallipoli, arriving on the 9th of October 1915. They bivouacked at 'Oxford Street' at Karakol Dagh, attached to the 11th (Northern) Division, and whilst digging trenches received their first casualties. Thomas was wounded during heavy shelling sometime between the 27th and 29th of November 1915, when the West Somerset's lost 3 officers and 78 other ranks. He was evacuated to the Australian Military Hospital on the Aegean Island of Imbros, where he 'died of wounds' on January the 14th 1916, aged 21 years. Thomas was buried on the Island of Imbros at either the Kephalos British Cemetery or the Kusu Bay Cemetery (It is unknown which). However, following the signing of the Armistice in 1918 the bodies of the allied troops buried at Imbros were exhumed and, ironically, transported back to the Gallipoli peninsula to be reburied at the Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli, Çanakkale, Turkey. Thomas has his grave at Plot K.63, where there are almost 1,200 allied personnel buried at the cemetery. He is also commemorated on parents grave at Luccombe Churchyard where it reads: Thomas Partridge. Died at Imbros Island. Gallipoli. Jan 14th 1916. Aged 21. 'In Gods Keeping'. |
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Sapper Noah Pollard - ERROR ON LUCCOMBE'S MEMORIALS
Listed on both of Luccombe's war memorials is Noah Pollard, a Sapper in the Royal Engineers. No records found with either the Imperial War Museum or the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a Noah Pollard who was killed during WW1 whilst serving in the Royal Engineers. However, there is a Noah Hubert Pollard (1890-1917) who served in the 7th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry and who is commemorated on the Porlock War Memorial. See: Porlock - WEST SOMERSET AT WAR (weebly.com)
PRIVATE Francis 'Frank' William Prestcott (1894-1915)
He was born in born in 1884 and was the son of William and Mary A. Prestcott of Culver Cottage, Luccombe.
He served as Private 11113 of the Somerset Light Infantry and died at home in Luccombe of Pneumonia on the 11th of April 1915, aged 21, and was buried at Luccombe churchyard. |
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PRIVATE Joseph Fredrick Staddon (1899-1917)
He was born at Luccombe in 1899 and was the son of Mary Ann Staddon of Luccombe.
He enlisted at Minehead and served as Private 48237 of the 11th Battalion of the Duke Of Cornwall's Light Infantry, later becoming Private TR7/13363 of the 95th Training Reserve Battalion. He died at home in Luccombe of pneumonia on the 6th of May 1917, aged 18 years, and was buried at Luccombe churchyard. |
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Herbert Stevens - ERROR ON LUCCOMBE'S MEMORIALS
On the WW1 memorial within St Mary the Virgin Church at Luccombe, listed as killed during WW1 is Private Herbert Stevens of the Somerset Light Infantry. Oddly, 'Herbert Stevens' is not listed on Luccombe's second memorial which shows a list of all from the parish who served in WW1.
In military records there is a Herbert Stevens who served as Private 7692 in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and latterly as Private 34674 of Somerset Light Infantry. However, he survived the war and, therefore, should not be listed on the memorial to the dead in Luccombe's church. Another possible result might be Private Henry George Stevens (28659) of the 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, who died on the 21st March 1918 and is buried at the St Souplet British Cemetery, France. Plot I. H. 35.
In military records there is a Herbert Stevens who served as Private 7692 in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and latterly as Private 34674 of Somerset Light Infantry. However, he survived the war and, therefore, should not be listed on the memorial to the dead in Luccombe's church. Another possible result might be Private Henry George Stevens (28659) of the 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, who died on the 21st March 1918 and is buried at the St Souplet British Cemetery, France. Plot I. H. 35.
WW2 1939-1945
CORPORAL Joseph Dennison Barron (1910-1943)
He was born in 1910 in Whitehaven, Cumbria, and was the Son of William Dennison Barron (1872-1944) and Sarah Jane Barron nee McGarry (1883-1946, of Whitehaven, Cumbria. Joseph was the brother of Albert A. Barron (1917-1942) who died in Ghana, Africa, whilst serving as a Serjeant in the Somerset Light Infantry.
Before the war Joseph had already gained military experience, having served as a Private in the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire). He married Anne Barron, of Withiel Florey nr Brompton Regis, and the couple resided at Withiel Florey, and later at Minehead. In WW2 he enlisted into the 1st Regiment of the Royal Reconnaissance Corps, serving firstly as a Private 3854166, and later as a Corporal. He was posted to Tunisia, North Africa. On the 13th of June 1943 he was wounded by an enemy air attack during the Allied invasion of the Italian island of Pantelleria (53 miles off of the coast of Tunisia, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea) and he was repatriated to the UK. He died from his (unspecified) injuries whilst in hospital at Bristol on the 7th of December 1943, aged 33 years, and was buried at Minehead Cemetery (R.C. Sec. Grave 1067). In a war diary of 1943 from fellow Soldier 20-year-old Gordon Nisbett, he mentions Corporal Joseph Barron, referring to him as "Old Joe" from 16 Troop, 'C' Squadron carrier section; "Old Joe", a veteran, was formerly in the Lancashire Fusiliers and has abandoned his 'foot slogging' for less demanding duty of riding in a Bren carrier. After Pantellaria was captured, the regiment moved to a camp near Kelebia. There were frequent route marches. It was during our marching that "Old Joe" played his trump card. On every march, he went for about a mile and then refused to go any further on account of his claiming to have flat feet. He was given a medical inspection and his protests proved to be right. Soon he left the troop for the less arduous task of guarding prisoners of war." |
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PRIVATE Clarence Richmond Charles Harding (1918-1940)
He was born on the 11th of June 1918 at Luccombe, and was the son of Richmond Vellacott Harding (1878-1928) and Catherine Agnes Harding nee Wallace (1884-1951).
At a young man Clarence was employed as a Gardener at Honicote House nr Selworthy. In 1939 he enlisted at Minehead into the Somerset Light Infantry, but was quickly placed into the 1st Bucks Battalion of the Oxford and Bucks Regiment as Private 5674375. In May 1940 his Battalion were in France fighting a rear-guard action against the advancing German troops as Allied forces retreated to Dunkirk. It is believed he was killed by a sniper’s bullet on the 27th of May 1940 at the Ypres-Comines Canal nr Hazebrouck. His body was never identified/recovered (probably due to the entire area being heavily bombed by Stuka dive bombers). He was aged 21 years and is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial,Dunkirk, Departement du Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. Column 93. He is also commemorated on his parent's grave at Luccombe churchyard. |
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MARINE William 'Bill' Henry John Howard (1925-1944)
He was born at Luccombe, Somerset, on the 8th of March 1925 and was the son of Frank Howard (1895-1952) and his wife; Mary Howard, of Luccombe. He was the brother of Basil “Bas” Howard (1931-1994).
Before the war William had worked as a 'Butchers Boy', and in WW2 served in the Royal Marines as PLY/X 121252. He died, aged 19, at the Royal Naval Hospital at Chatham on the 16th of April 1944 of tubercular meningitis. It is believed the condition had been brought-on after he was attacked and received a head injury from an Italian prisoner of war he had been escorting from HMS Westcliff, a shore base in Essex. He was buried at Luccombe Churchyard. |
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SECOND LIEUTENANT Richard Edward Fitzalan Howard (1916-1940)
He was born on the 18th of October 1916 at Stratford, Taranaki, New Zealand, and was the son of the Rev Cecil William Howard M.A. (d1950), and Augusta Sophie Howard nee Hall (1893-1978) of Luccombe Rectory.
Richard's father was the Rector of Luccombe between 1932 and 1945. Richard served in the Royal Marines, and after spending two years in the ranks, he was gazetted as probationary second lieutenant on the 1st of September 1939. On the night of the 19th of October 1940, Richard was in the City of Westminster, Greater London, at the height of the London Blitz. He was killed by 'Enemy Action' (Bombing). He was aged 24, and was buried at Luccombe Churchyard. A framed memorial scroll also hangs within the Church of St. Mary, Luccombe. |
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OTHER MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS
REAR ADMIRAL Edward Leopold Dyke Acland (1878-1968)
He was born on the 7th of December 1878 and was the eldest son of the Rev. Henry Dyke Acland (1850-1903) and Clementina Hart Ackland nee Davis. Edward's father had been the Rector of Nymet St George, Devon, between 1879 and 1891, and was the Rector of Luccombe, Somerset, from 1891 until his death in 1903. Edward's siblings were: Captain John Henry Dyke Acland (1880-1916), Katherine Ann Acland (b.1882), Rt. Rev. Richard Dyke Acland (1881-1954), Adelaide Mary Acland (b.1885), and Theodora J. Acland (b.1892).
He was educated at Bedford School and in 1910 he married Phyllis Mary Whipple, with whom he had two children:
Between 1930 and 1933 he was the Commander of the Royal Naval Engineering College, Keyham, Plymouth, Devon. In 1933 he again became Naval Attaché to King George V and in 1937, he was appointed CB. (Companion of the Bath) is the lowest appointment held in The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, the fourth most senior of the British order of chivalry. CBs must be of the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Major or Squadron Leader, or above. They must also have been mentioned in dispatches for distinction in a command position during a combat situation. He retired from the Royal Navy in 1937 as Engineer Rear-Admiral Edward Leopold Dyke Acland MVO CB. He died on the 11th of March 1968, aged 89 years, and was buried at St. Mary's Churchyard, Luccombe. His wife died five years later, on the 25th of September 1973. |
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CAPTAIN John Henry Dyke Acland (1880-1916)
He was born on the 24th of June 1880 at George Nympton, North Devon, and was the son of the Rev. Henry Dyke Acland (1850-1903) and Clementina Hart Ackland nee Davis. John's father had been the Rector of Nymet St George, Devon, between 1879 and1891, and was the Rector of Luccombe, Somerset, from 1891until his death in 1903. .John's siblings were: Rear Admiral Edward Leopold Dyke Acland (1878-1944), Katherine Ann Acland (b.1882), Rt. Rev. Richard Dyke Acland (1881-1954), Adelaide Mary Acland (b.1885), and Theodora J. Acland (b.1892).
In 1901 he studied as a medical student and resided at Luccombe Rectory with his parents. On the 4th of November 1914 he married husband Elizabeth Margaret Corner, and the couple resided at 7 Gloucester Place, Marylebone, London. When war commenced he became a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He promoted to the rank of Captain in the 1st Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, and later he returned to the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Captain. He was killed in action in France whilst rescuing the wounded on the 12th of July 1916, aged 36 years. He was buried at the Sucrerie Military Cemetery Colincamps, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France. PLOT I. H. 16. He is also commemorated on a memorial plaque on the side of his father's grave in Luccombe Churchyard. |
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Evacuees in Luccombe during WW2
An article by Eric Rowlands of Luccombe. Author of 'A Walk Through the History of Luccombe'
First Published on Aug. 11th 2022 at www.luccombe.org
The government had been planning for the evacuation of children and other vulnerable people from certain high-risk areas to relative safety in the countryside for some time before Operation Pied Piper swung into action on 1st September 1939. Quite incredibly, within the first three days over 1½ million civilians had been moved out of the cities.
Later that same month, on 29th September, the National Register was compiled. Having issued forms to more than 41 million people, the enumerators were charged with the task of visiting every household in Great Britain and Northern Ireland to collect the names, addresses, marital statuses and other key details of every civilian in the country, issuing identity cards on the spot. The identity cards issued were essential items from the point the Register was taken right up until 1952 when the legal requirement to carry them ceased. Until that point, every member of the civilian population had to be able to present their card upon request by an official (children’s cards were looked after by parents) or bring them to a police station within 48 hours. The reasons were numerous – it was essential to know who everyone was, of course, and to track their movements as they moved house, as well as to keep track of the population as babies were born and people passed away.
The short time lapse between these two dates provides a reasonable method of discovering the names of the schoolchildren involved in the first wave of evacuation. Studying the National Register results for Luccombe, entries described as being “at school” were selected. Discarding those names associated with local families and legitimate visitors resulted in a list of 17 schoolchildren. Cross-checking the ages of these children with the register of births, revealed that 16 of them had births registered in West Ham and one in Stepney. There may well be more potential candidates, as a number of entries in the National Register are still redacted for reasons of privacy especially if the subject is still alive.
Later that same month, on 29th September, the National Register was compiled. Having issued forms to more than 41 million people, the enumerators were charged with the task of visiting every household in Great Britain and Northern Ireland to collect the names, addresses, marital statuses and other key details of every civilian in the country, issuing identity cards on the spot. The identity cards issued were essential items from the point the Register was taken right up until 1952 when the legal requirement to carry them ceased. Until that point, every member of the civilian population had to be able to present their card upon request by an official (children’s cards were looked after by parents) or bring them to a police station within 48 hours. The reasons were numerous – it was essential to know who everyone was, of course, and to track their movements as they moved house, as well as to keep track of the population as babies were born and people passed away.
The short time lapse between these two dates provides a reasonable method of discovering the names of the schoolchildren involved in the first wave of evacuation. Studying the National Register results for Luccombe, entries described as being “at school” were selected. Discarding those names associated with local families and legitimate visitors resulted in a list of 17 schoolchildren. Cross-checking the ages of these children with the register of births, revealed that 16 of them had births registered in West Ham and one in Stepney. There may well be more potential candidates, as a number of entries in the National Register are still redacted for reasons of privacy especially if the subject is still alive.
The following is the resulting list of evacuees arriving in the village in September 1939. The surnames in brackets are the married names, added to the register at a later date. I have also given year and registration district of birth, and where they were staying on 29th September 1939.
NAME (Married name in brackets)
Sylvia Wright (McGuinniety) Jean Wright (Howell) William Wright Lilian Horton (Merrigan) Richard Horton Florence M. Hughes (Fenton) Ivy M. Gibbs, Henry J. Gibbs Doreen L. Gibbs (Cann) Grace Audrey Denwood (Toms) Winifred M. Hurdley (Bessell) Mercia Eve. (Hill) Queenie Harnwell (Hale)* Samuel W. Harnwell David T. Harnwell Stanley B. Boyle Dorothy N. Anderson (Russell) *Queenie Harnwell married Luccombe boy Tony Hale in 1945. |
D.O.B
1927 1931 1933 1926 1928 1925 1925 1927 1933 1926 1926 1926 1926 1931 1933 1928 1928 |
PLACE OF BIRTH
West Ham West Ham West Ham West Ham West Ham West Ham West Ham West Ham West Ham West Ham Stepney West Ham West Ham West Ham West Ham West Ham West Ham |
STAYING IN LUCCOMBE
Wychanger Barton Wychanger Barton Wychanger Barton Wychanger Barton Wychanger Barton Church View 1 Gilhams Cottage 1 Gilhams Cottage 1 Gilhams Cottage Porch Cottage Glebe Farm Glebe Farm 2 Gilhams Cottage 2 Gilhams Cottage 2 Gilhams Cottage 2 Knapp Cottage Ebbshill |
In addition to the first seven children who were recorded as staying at Wychanger Barton, also residing there were Kathleen F.R. Smith (Purvis) and Violet F. Clarke (Ward), whose occupations were given as assistant teachers. During the Second World War, thousands of British teachers were evacuated with their pupils, yet we hear their stories far less often than those of child evacuees. Cut off from their own families, they not only educated the children in their care but did their best to monitor their health and happiness, providing comfort when their pupils were homesick or distressed. It seems likely that Wychanger Barton was being used as a dormitory and base for the London evacuees who had not been billeted in local homes. The chapter about the village school in the book “Exmoor Village” says of Miss Sims, the headmistress, that: “She had, during the war, twenty pupils of all ages, ranging from five to fourteen. This was rather above the peace-time number, since seven were evacuees.”
There were also whole families that were evacuated, for instance the Gande family, who came from Bow (London) and after several moves, finished up in Luccombe. At the end of the war they moved back, but were unable to settle. After a while they were allocated a cottage and moved back to the village, members of the family remaining here to this day.
There were also whole families that were evacuated, for instance the Gande family, who came from Bow (London) and after several moves, finished up in Luccombe. At the end of the war they moved back, but were unable to settle. After a while they were allocated a cottage and moved back to the village, members of the family remaining here to this day.
In addition to the London children, some children from Bristol were evacuated to Luccombe a little later. These included Anne Lidgate (Chapman) and Mavis Miles (Griffiths). In 2006, Mavis contacted the publisher of The Book of Luccombe and Selworthy and recalled some of her memories of the time she spent in the village:
“I was one of the Bristol evacuees who arrived with Ann Lidgate. My first night was spent with Family Wylde, I told the teacher the next day I wanted to go home as I didn’t like it. I was immediately moved to Glebe Farm and the Staddon Family. What a lucky move for me! After I had settled in I was given chores, one of which was delivering milk to the Rectory each morning, before school, walking through the woods. For this I was paid 6 pence per week. Louie (Staddon) told me I had to save it to pay for shoe repairs, knitting wool, etc. She didn’t approve of me sending home for money. “Mrs. Keal lived opposite and did our laundry. If I remember correctly, Mrs. Baker and Miss Cole ran the Post Office. ” Ann and I played together but we were not allowed to play with the village children, Louie and Mary Rowlands were very protective. I sang in the Church Choir, choir practice Thursday evenings! “When I look back I am amazed how adaptable we were, I was raised in a very modern home in Bristol and I came to a house with oil lamps outside water etc. the bathroom was a zinc bath in a cold apple storage room. ” I can’t remember the exact date I returned to Bristol but I do remember decorating Holly trees for Christmas. I have returned many times; the last was on our last trip to England, possibly 4 years ago. We went to Luccombe but didn’t see anyone, a knock on Glebe Farm door only brought a barking dog. I thought it was very sad that such a busy village looked so deserted.” |
The Luccombe School log book notes that on 26th May 1941, “The Bristol children were merged into the school with the local children this morning, sufficient furniture being lent by the Hut committee” This would imply that more than the two children named previously were involved. Unfortunately the school admission list does not contain the names of these evacuees, or of those that had arrived from London in September 1939, many of whom had probably gone back home in the meantime as a result of the “phony” war. As I cannot recall any mention of the London evacuees in the school log book, I suppose that it is likely that they were taught their lessons at Wychanger Barton by the teachers who came with them.
This final photograph relates to1943, when the Ministry of Food announced that beekeepers who qualified as suppliers of sugar not exceeding 10lbs per colony were permitted to keep their beehives going through the winter. The photo was taken in the orchard at Wychanger Cottage and shows Ted Rowlands, complete with scythe and false beard, with wartime evacuee; Anne Lidgate from Bristol, who was billeted with the 'Rowlands' during the war. Ted's beehives can be seen in the background. The reason for the false beard and other ultra-rural effects is because the photo was taken by a relative from Bristol; Ted Staddon, who was very keen to capture the old ways of life in his images. Mr Rowland did say that one of the benefits of wartime bee-keeping was having an extra sugar ration.
WEBBER'S POST Searchlight and Anti-Aircraft Gun Emplacement
An article by Eric Rowlands of Luccombe. Author of 'A Walk Through the History of Luccombe'
First Published on May 1st 2020 at www.luccombe.org
During the Second World War, there was a great deal of military activity on Exmoor. The closest establishment to Luccombe was just a mile or so from the village at Webbers Post, where there was a searchlight and anti-aircraft gun emplacement. This image dates from 1942 and on the back of the original is written- “1942. Presentation of items of furniture to AA gun crews Exmoor at Webbers Post by an American". (The said American can be seen between the 2 officers on the right of the photo). Watching-on in the background, centre (white hat) is Cllr W.E. Dewar, Chairman Minehead Urban District Council. On his 2nd Right is Mr A.G. Mansfield, Clerk of Minehead Urban District Council.
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Taken at Webber's Post, this second photograph almost certainly shows the military personnel that were stationed there. The soldiers would often come down to the village for the regular Saturday night dances at “The Hut” (the old village hall) and one of them married a Luccombe girl. Their job positioned at Webber's Post was for the searchlight to locate enemy aircraft (usually heading for Swansea, Cardiff or Bristol) and for the anti-aircraft battery to attack the enemy caught in the searchlight beam. |