Western Approaches

I have been in my home city of Liverpool this week at a conference. I took the opportunity to visit the Liverpool War Museum for the first time.

The museum is based in the bunkers that made up the Western Approaches command, the nerve centre of the allied forces in the crucial Battle of the Atlantic. It was here that allied ships and aircraft were directed against U-Boats that threatened the vital convoys moving across the Atlantic.

This quote emphasises the huge contribution made by this command:

IF ONE WERE TO CHOOSE A BUILDING WHERE THE SECOND WORLD WAR WAS WON, THE WHITE HOUSE OR THE ADMIRALTY ROOMS IN LONDON MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY, OR ONE MIGHT VERY WELL CHOOSE DERBY HOUSE IN LIVERPOOL

Bitter Ocean, David Fairbanks White

It is also worth remembering that it was largely staffed by Wrens - young women, mostly under 21 years of age, who had to have a very high standard of maths. They worked long shifts, in very difficult circumstances, under great pressure.

The entry 'ticket' is a bit different - a nice touch.

The high point of the museum is the map room. Left just as it was when the room closed in 1945.

This is the Admiral's office - He didn't get to play a lot of golf during the war!

The original switchboard room and equipment, they also have a cypher room for those vital ULTRA intercepts.

The museum has many useful explanatory panels like this one.

And a room dedicated to some of the many successful U-Boat sinking.

Finally, a typical Liverpool Street, although the city suffered badly from bombing and many of the Wrens leaving after a shift would have found plenty of rubble in the streets around the bunker.

If you are in Liverpool, this is well worth a visit.