CO129-589-9 Government House- damage caused by construction of underground Air Raid shelter tunnels. For extracted photographs.... 1-4-1941 - 1-11-1941 — Page 39

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Hon. D.P.W.

The opinion of the Executive Officer of the Architectural

Office was not taken.

I must carry the responsibility for decisions taken as

to the levels at which the galleries were driven and the form of

construction employed.

There was unfortunately no preconceived plan but the

work developed from a series of instruction emanating from H.E.

the O.A.G.

The first instruction called for a communicating link

between the C.S.O. tunnel and Government House.

This link was provided by driving a gallery towards

Government House. The depth of the gallery below Government

House being about 80 feet. To overcome the physical effort of

climbing 80 feet in one 'raise' it was decided to make two 'raises'

with a gallery at the intermediate level. Later instructions

called for the upper gallery to be large enough to provide

temporary refuge for H.E. and Staff and domestics together with

an emergency exit into the grounds.

The point of access originally designed was in the garden and clear of the foundations of the House but H.E. the

O.A.G. required access to be provided from the Strong-room in

the basement and this was accordingly done.

The

The third phase of development then occurred when

instructions were received to provide a Battle Headquarter. logical position for this appeared to be below the basement and so gain the advantage of the protection afforded by the super-

structure.

The nature of the soil through which the galleries were

driven indicated the improbability of any but minor settlement