Admiralty Mining Establishment

The Admiralty Mining Establishment was a technical department of the Royal Navy responsible for both the design of naval mines and the development of suitable countermeasures. In keeping with many technical departments it employed both military and highly skilled, civilian personnel. It was partly located near Portsmouth naval base at West Leigh House, Havant.

During the Second World War it recruited a number of scientists to its ranks. Many of them went on to become highly regarded in their respective fields including; David Bates, Robert Boyd, Francis Crick, Tom Gaskell, John Gunn, Harrie Massey and Nevill Mott.