I was an officer in the Royal Observer Corps responsible for a cluster of six of these 'bunkers'.
We had the job of reporting the fall of nuclear weapons, location and power. Intensity and arrival of fallout (we were responsible for fallout warning of the population) and secondarily providing weather information to provide a wartime forecast service.
The purpose did not include surviving a nuclear war. A destroyed post still provided information in a way.
There was a programme of installing hand operated Luwa filter units to some posts but the stand down occurred before it could be rolled out.
The 3W pea bulb was supplied from a large NiFe battery and a generator was supplied for recharging but it would last weeks, It was plenty of light to operate and, of course, helped during a night deployment. A one hour timer was fitted that had to be continuously reset to ensure the load was not left on accidental.
We had regular exercises where the post was operational for 72 hours with three people and ventilation was never a problem, We cooked on picnic stoves, gas or paraffin with no difficulties and heating was never needed, the temperature was just about comfortable.
I think that is all the points above, any more questions?
An interesting first hand report, thanks.
Yes the purpose was not perhaps to survive a nuclear war, but the chances of survival in such a post would be considerably greater than on the surface.
The original 3 watt bulb was not as bad as it sounds in a small and white painted area. Most posts had a 12 volt fluorescent light retrofitted over the table.
Many reports state that the battery was lead acid, but they are incorrect. As you state it was nickel iron, wet alkaline.
Many posts had additional lead acid batteries retrofitted but the original was definatly alkaline, I have seen several.
I have stayed overnight in such a post and confirm that the ventilation seemed fine, even if using a couple of candles.
The degree of ventilation was adjustable by sliding covers over the vents.
The vent above the upper bunk admits perceptible daylight in bright weather if fully open, just enough for cautious movement without use of the electric light.
A hand or battery powered blower with an NBC filter seems a sensible present day retrofit.
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