Admiralty Signal Establishment

The Admiralty Signal Establishment (ASE) was a research establishment of the British Royal Navy which existed between 1941 and 1948. It was merged to form the Admiralty Signal and Radar Establishment in Portsmouth (1948-1959). Its headquarters were located in Haslemere. It took staff from the Experimental Department  of  HM  Signal  School,  Whale Island. Concern had already arisen in 1940 as regards the vulnerability of the Signal School to Luftwaffe bombing, but a raid in the autumn of 1940 brought matters to a head, and the move was initiated in April 1941. Premises were found in Lythe Hill House, Haslemere, and in August 1941, the ASE became a separate establishment. Basil Willett was the Captain Superintendent.

In July 1943 a delegation came from the USA to discuss radar and communications. The discussions included Henry Tizard, Cecil Horton, Cedric Holland and George Thomson