20th May 2017. The watch station at NCI Runton had the pleasure of a surprise visit by Mr Mike Sadler accompanied by his Daughter Sally.

Mike was a former member of the LRDG (Long Range Desert Group) in WWII , who came to prominence for his expertise in map reading, on one occasion navigating a unit of SAS troopers to their target and back with an error of just a few yards. This brought him to the attention of David Sterling, the founder member of the Special Air Service.  Mike was asked and accepted a transfer into the elite unit.

Now at the age of 97, one of the former members, if not the sole surviving member of L troop, was interested how Coastwatch still teach the same plot and spot skills that he used, although electronics are now widely in use.

The photograph shows (foreground) Snr Watch Keeper D Foulkes, Mr Sadler and L Allen (rear) Deputy Station Manager Ian Morland and Mike’s brother-in-law Malcolm Benson