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Hidden in a field next to Locks Lane, Porthcawl until April 1994 was an underground operations room. Built in 1961 on the site of a wartime surface observation post - the original wooden structure was built in 1938 for what was the Observer Corps.

The observation post at Porthcawl commissioned in 1938 consisted of a wooden shed topped by a tower giving excellent views over the Bristol Channel.

The bunker was built in 1961 on the site of the wartime surface observation post and consisted of an entrance turret topped by a locked hinged plate which when lifted revealed a ladder. The undergraound chamber covered by 3 feet of reinforced concrete was 12 feet below ground.

There was a small recessed area housing an Elsan toilet at the foot of the ladder, to the right was a door leading to a small room measuring approximately 8x12 feet.

The post was occupied from 1961 until it was disbanded on 30 September 1991 by men of the Royal Observer Corps who operated a continuous 8 hour shift pattern, each with two men, with duties to check for radioactive fall-out in the event of a nuclear attack.

The observation post at Porthcawl, commissioned in 1938 conisited of a wooden shed topped by a tower giving excellent views over the Bristol Channel. It was continuously manned day and night initially under the command of an Observer Group Officer reporting to a centre controller in Cardiff.

The Royal Observer Corps made a significant contribution to victory by its participation in 'Operation Overlord' - the invasion by the Allies of Nazi occupied Europe in June 1944.

Due to the number of friendly aircraft being shot down, a solution was adopted for observers trained in aircraft recognition to sail with and advise gun crews on board ships taking part in the invasion.

The observers required to man the ships were drawn from some 1400 members of the Corps who volunteered for this duty. Ten of them were mentioned in dispatches and King George VI approved the wearing of the shoulder badge 'Seaborne'.

There were several Observers from Porthcawl who were entitled to proudly wear the Seaborne badge.

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