Starfish Site Formby Dunes

By Geoffrey Edmonds Site Wireless Operator 1940-43

My story begins in mid 1940 when I was almost 20, I joined the RAF as a wireless Operator / Air Gunner, did training in West Kirkby, [then] radio [training] in Blackpool then further study in Wiltshire, Compton Bassett, [after which I was] posted to London to do a special course at the Northern Polytech, Holloway Road, just in time for the Blitz, terrible days indeed!  One day I was tapped on the shoulder and told to collect my kit.  I was lodging in a private house in Islington, a military police motorcycle combination was waiting for me, I got into the side car and was whisked away to RAF Stanmore.  All very hush hush.   Being a trained Wireless Operator I thought I may be lined up for dropping over France or some undercover activity, but it was to this secret site in Formby I went,  along with 10 other chaps (as I recall), one Sgt in charge, no officer ever, which of course suited the lads, the Sgt was often conspicuous by his absence.

The photos you sent brought back much nostalgic memories, I could see again a 20 Year old going into the ‘Starfish’ bunker and sitting outside on Summer nights Smoking my pipe, everything was silent, not possible to think of war going on, the sound of the sea and the cries of sea birds.  In spring Range Lane was extremely pretty, Very lovely hedgerows and fields all around.  Joe Formby had a little cottage toward the sand hills, he owned asparagus fields. I recall some of the lads helped gather in on off duty days.  My first billet was with a lady in Ryeground Lane, A charming person, Mrs Rheam, A big house on the right going down from the Grapes Inn.  After a short spell in Ryeground Lane I went to live with Jack and Ruth Murray, a lot of memories of course, they were my second home, parents almost, they looked after me so well. My Wife Mary was billeted with a Mr/Mrs Wenzel, there she (Mary) had been Re-located to Southport from Liverpool after the shocking May Blitz in 1941.  Mary was with the War Damage commission, we met on a blind date just after my 21st Birthday in June 1941.

[The Starfish Site was]..a layout of docks and other buildings, a lighting system and explosive detonations to fool the Luftwaffe into thinking there was something down there worth bombing. Attracting bombs to fall onto the shore, sea or open country, thus saving dock and city areas. Unfortunately the May 1941 Blitz had done terrible damage, [later] things settled down somewhat. I remember going down to Joe Formby’s Cottage and having a cup of tea and a cigarette with him. Sometimes I’d go down to the cottage and bring him back to the bunker to play cards. I never joined in preferring to sit out and look at the stars or wander the site. The Murray’s had a Spaniel ‘Brownie’ which often accompanied me to the site and around the sand hills when doing patrols, checking on installations etc. In the middle of 1943 the job was considered to have served its time. Two chaps, a Jock Walker and a Jack Martin, were retained at starfish doing dismantling etc. I remember the names of all the chaps with whom I served there. No doubt the years have taken a toll.

As I write this I can see Formby-Freshfield clearly, I know that my Freshfield Formby is no longer there. It was all so rural then and I have so many good times memories. I remember John Tasker with his little huts among the sand hills . Woodvale had some night fighters, Beaufighters as I recall. My only visit to Woodvale was for a few days in sick quarters with tonsillitis. I re-mustered to Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner, along with a friend Bill Brown, who sadly was lost on the night of the Nuremberg Raid, when we lost 93 aircraft. Due to a spell in Yatesbury RAF Hospital, I was posted to Air Sea Rrescue (ASR), due to temporary downgrade, I made it through.

My time at ASR was altogether different story, not always pleasant , we were either on time or too late and the weather was not like serving in the Bahamas or Capri, Don and I met when I was posted as an Wireless Operator to join an MTB which the Royal Navy had passed over for long range ASR. Don was the electrician and very good too. I learned that he was from Formby when we were in Gibraltar on the way to the Far East for the assault on Japan, The Enola Gay finished it for us, so back we came. After leaving Air Sea Rescue I went to Kirkham where I was put in charge of the Post office section dealing with returned mail from over seas and many airmen came to see me to confirm addresses, many had changed over the war years.

In 1953 I came out to New Zealand as a member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force on a big aircraft from Lyneham, Wiltshire. Served six and a half years in the RNZAF and moved to Christchurch in 1959. We now have 3 daughters and 7 grandchildren all living in Australia. That pretty much sums up things.