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Sir Robert Watson-Watt Society of Brechin
OUR APPEAL TO SUPPORTERS, SPONSORS & OUR
COMMUNITY ~
The Pioneer
of Radar
The Sir Robert Watson-Watt was born in Brechin, Angus, Scotland on the 13th April 1892 and was
educated at Damacre School in Brechin and Brechin High School. He graduated with a BSc (engineering)
in 1912 from University College, Dundee which was then part of the University of St Andrews. Following
graduation he was offered an assistantship by Professor William Peddie who excited his interest in radio
waves.
In 1915 Watson-Watt started as a meteorologist at the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough with the aim of
applying his knowledge of radio to locate thunderstorms so as to provide warnings to airmen. During this period
Watson-Watt recognised the need for a rapid method of recording and display of radio signals and in 1916 he
proposed the use of cathode ray oscilloscopes for this purpose, however these did not become available until 1923.
In 1924 Watson-Watts work moved to Slough where the Radio Research Station had been formed and in 1927,
following an amalgamation with the National Physics Laboratory (NPL), he became Superintendent of an outstation
of the NPL at Slough. After a further re-organisation in 1933 Watson-Watt became Superintendent of a new radio
department at the NPL in Teddington.
Following an approach from H.E. Wimperis of the Air Ministry, enquiring about the feasibility of producing a 'death ray', Watson-Watt,
with the help of his assistant Arnold Wilkins, drafted, in February 1935, a report titled 'The Detection of Aircraft by Radio Methods'.
This was presented to the newly formed committee for the scientific survey of air defence, chaired by
Sir Henry Tizard, and on 26th of February 1935 a trial took place using the BBCs short-wave (about
50 metres wavelength) radio transmitter at Daventry against a Heyford Bomber.
The trial was a success and on 1st September 1936 Watson-Watt became Superintendent of a new
establishment under the Air Ministry, Bawdsey Research Station in Bawdsey Manor near Felixstowe.
The pioneering work that Watson-Watt managed at this establishment resulted in the design and
installation of a chain of radar stations along the East and South coast of England in time for the
outbreak of war in 1939. This system, known as Chain Home and Chain Home Low, provided the
vital advance information that helped the Royal Air Force to win the Battle of Britain
The Birth Certificate of Radar
Watson- Watt's 'numerical considerations on the method of detection by reflected radio waves' were sent to
Tizard's committee and a first draft memorandum entitled 'Detection of aircraft by radio methods' was forwarded
on the 12th February 1935. It was followed by a final draft entitled 'Detection and location of aircraft by radio
methods'.
In this memorandum - "the Birth Certificate of Radar" - Watson-Watt put forward his proposals in impressive
detail. He estimated the strength of the radio signal reflected from an aircraft and discussed the optimum
wavelength. He outlined how the range of the target could be measured by the use of short pulses and the plan
position by the use of three range measurements; furthermore he suggested that a cathode-ray direction-finder might be developed to
measure the bearing and elevation.
Do you know The Man ? : Help us achieve Global recognition of another GREAT Scot !
Other Interesting Facts about The Man
Born in Brechin on 13th April 1892
Attended Damacre Primary School and Brechin High School
Won a bursary to St Andrew’s University and studied electrical engineering at
University College, Dundee
Served as assistant to Prof. William Peddie (St Andrews University) developing an
interest in radio waves
In 1915 started work as a meteorologist for the Aircraft Factory, Farnborough
By 1942 he was working at the Radio Research Station and then became head of the
National Physics Laboratory’s new radio department at Slough
Early in 1935 was joint author of an Air Ministry report entitled ‘The Detection of Aircraft
by Radio Methods’
On 26 February 1935 a secret and highly successful trial using a short radio transmitter took place at Daventry
He was President of the Royal Meteorological Society 1949-1951
He was appointed head of the newly established Bawdsey Radio Research Station near Felix
By the outbreak of war in 1939, as a result of work done by the team led by Watson-Watt, a radar defence system –
code name ‘Chain Home’ – was designed and built along the East and South coasts of Britain, which played a crucial
part in the defeat of the German Luftwaffe
His book ‘Three Steps to Victory’ details his team’s achievements during World War II
Robert Watson-Watt was elected FRS and knighted in 1942
He was also awarded the United States of America Medal of Merit
He died on 5 December 1973 and is buried at Pitlochry
© 2009 Watson-Watt Society of Brechin. Registered Charity No. SC037545
If you have any other facts
you wish us to share please
let us know
On one occasion, late in his life, Sir Watson-Watt
reportedly was pulled over in Canada for
speeding by a radar-gun toting
policeman.
His remark was, "Had I known what you
were going to do with it I would never
have invented it!" He wrote an ironic
poem ("Rough Justice") afterwards >>
Pity Sir Robert Watson-Watt,
strange target of this radar plot And thus,
with others I can mention,
the victim of his own invention.
His magical all-seeing eye
enabled cloud-bound planes to fly,
but now by some ironic twist,
it spots the speeding motorist and bites,
no doubt with legal wit,
the hand that once created it
by Sir Robert Watson-Watt
1892 - 1973
The Magical all-seeing eye of Justice ..
Battle of Britain Radar
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