Discussion of ‘Terrain evaluation for Allied military operations in Europe and the Far East during World War II: “secret” British reports and specialist maps generated by the Geological Section, Inter-Service Topographical Department’, by E.P.F. Rose & J.C. Clatworthy, Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology , 41 , 237–256

Albert Ludford writes: Having been listed and illustrated in one recent Quarterly Journal article (Rose & Clatworthy 2008 a , table 1 and fig. 2), it is perhaps timely for me to declare an interest in another (Rose & Clatworthy 2008 b ) and to shed some further light on the roles of myself and others listed by Rose & Clatworthy (2008 a ) and the key role of ‘Fred’ Shotton. The apparent anomaly of my serving as the only ‘Gunner’ in the Geological Section Inter-Service Topographical Department (ISTD), a unit established for ‘Sapper’ officers, is another example of Shotton's wartime influence. I had been commissioned into the Royal Artillery despite expressing a preference for the Royal Engineers, and posted for service with anti-aircraft units, as these were given a high priority early in the war. However, by March 1945 significant threat to the UK from Luftwaffe bombers and V1 ‘cruise missiles’ was no more. Anti-aircraft artillery units were no longer a priority British military requirement, and ripe for disbandment or role change. I was looking for an appropriate new role, yet having been invalided home to the UK after service from April 1943 to June 1944 in West Africa, a consequent low medical fitness category …