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For information of membership if interested I am publishing the memoir of my late father (Alex. Anderson), ‘Hunter to Hunted – Surviving Hitler’s Wolf Packs’ (Diaries of a Merchant Navy Radio Officer, 1939-45). Graduating from the Dundee Wireless College, he served on Salvesen ships on the North Atlantic Convoys from age 19 as 3rd R/O … Read more

I attended a meeting last evening, and the topic of diminishing manning and increasing extra duties on the Bridge (and within Engine Room) came up.  The issues appear to be of growing concern.  One former Master Mariner openly stated that the premature removal of Radio Officers is proving detrimental to the efficiency and effectiveness of … Read more

Thursday Evening sked frequency change. qsy 3507kcs repeat 3507kcs moved away from qrm for continental members as 3564.5 too congested

My new book about the history of the UK’s short/medium range Coast Stations is now available to purchase – entitled ‘All Ships, All Ships’ it has over 500 pages of history, photographs and memories, and can be ordered via Amazon and other online retailers. A limited number of signed copies are available via the GKA … Read more

Howard, WB2UZE, of the Long Island CW Club (LICW) was interviewed for a BBC radio program about the clubs efforts to teach CW to new operators and keep the craft alive. A Scottish operator was able to capture the broadcast OTA and shared it on youtube.https://youtu.be/a2Sa0ViHMVQ It’s worth the 5 minutes of time to listen.  … Read more

MBMS de GKA = PORTISHEADRADIO TELEX NR604/30 CK68/66 30/1512Z MAR 82 = MBMS PORTISHEADRADIO = REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED THAT ARGENTINA HAS ESTABLISHED A MILITARY ZONE AROUND ITS MAINLAND TERRITORY AND THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND HAS SAID THAT ANY BRITISH SHIPS OR AIRCRAFT FOUND THEREIN WOULD BE REGARDED AS HOSTILE AND THAT ARGENTINA WOULD ACT … Read more

Another great issue.But one comment re: Tom Merrill’s article “I see no Ships”.Tom mentions the War Office having a tx/rx station located at Boddington outside Chelmsford. Can’t find that, however, not too far from me is an MoD site in the village of Boddington just to the West of Cheltenham. This used to be known … Read more

Here’s a trip down memory lane for some of you, particularly those of you who served in the RFA back in the day.  No doubt you will remember the KL-7 crypto machine.  What a beast that was… If you’d like to revisit the KL-7 you’ll find an excellent simulator on the Cipher Machines and Cryptology … Read more

I am researching a book abut The RAF, and it contains a lot of detail, to the extent, I like to include information about ships damaged and those that founder as a result of mines, bombing etc. I currently use:https://www.wrecksite.eu/wrecksite.aspx & the Wiki List of shipwrecksI need help, the 2 websites only go so far, … Read more

I need to find a home for a collection of Ships Monthly magazines. There is a total of 177 issues covering a period from 1998 to 2015 (not complete). They are currently in France and I can parcel and send them for just the cost of the parcel post. Please contact if you are interested. … Read more

1755-1800z pre tuning signals 1800z tfc list – ttt  obs  code/10 figs/10 qsx for calls on 3564.5kcs 1830z qsx 14032kcs for dx calls roa members 

The last twelve months have been interesting! We are back in a COVID-19 Lockdown in Brisbane, Australia, so I have time to read through the website. I hope everybody is doing fine. Here is a bit of information about a small “Radio Officer” memorial project that I am working on. I have an interest in … Read more

Can anyone tell me what shifts we worked in Blue Funnel. I think one shift was 2 hours  but I have no memory of what the full shift hours were. 

Hello Everyone, Now we’re in isolation/keeping social distance I’ve been catching up on my reading:-) I’ve just finished reading Radio Man: Marconi Sahib, next it’ll be Take care everyone and keep your social distance & safe.  We will defeat COVID-19. 73 DE Declan G4RGH/EI5EZ

Greetings all fellow members, esp. ex MN R/O’s!  Just joined and wanted to introduce myself – hoping to come across old contacts but this may be difficult as I’m getting on a bit now!  🙂 Ex MIMCO sparks – East Ham Depot 1967 – sailed as Junior RO and full RO for just over 5 … Read more

I have only recently joined the ROA and noticed  Larry Bennett’s request for input  to his book on GKA. I did try the Portishead Radio website but the firewall on my PC didn’t like it but I gather it is still under construction. I only served as a R/O for 4 years with B.P. Tanker … Read more

I am currently in the final stages of writing the complete history of Portishead Radio/GKA. I still have a little bit of research to complete on some of the services which the station offered, but intend to have my first draft completed by the end of March. 2020 is the 100th anniversary of the long-range … Read more

Dear ROA Members, let me introduce myself: My name is Antonello Urbani, I am a radio amateur, my call sign is: IK0PHU. I live in Civitavecchia, 50 km from Rome, I am a technical director and I work for a large world company. I am 53 years old. It is with great pride and humility … Read more

I would like to contact  David Clemson, my #1 on Tantalus  who I believe is now a realtor in California.

I have been pointed in the direction of a company that supplies Proud to wear merchandise such as Tee-Shirts “Sloganite” they can be located at the following URL:- https:\\www.sloganite.com\products\proud-to-have-served-in-the-merchant-navy-t-shirts  

Just joined the ROA after many years of procrastination….. I run the Portishead Radio/GKA website at www.portisheadradio.co.uk which is proving popular – there are still some pages under construction but these will be populated as and when time permits. Plenty of photographs, sound files and audio clips, as well as some scans of historical documents … Read more

Would you be kind enough to circulate this to your membership please on behalf of the SS Explorer Preservation Society? SS. Explorer,  SSExplorer.org  a large, 1000t,  1955 steam powered sidewinder trawler on the Historic Ships Register is being slowly reinstated as a heritage visitor attraction in the port of Leith, Edinburgh.  It is open for … Read more

It used to be called South East Essex Technical College before it became Barking Regional College of Technology. After I came ashore and had started work in Television I went there in 1968 to do Colour Television Principles Course, they only had NTSC (American) equipment as PAL was very new then.             I obtained a City … Read more

Spotted something recently on a book about Palm Line.I did a trip down West Africa on Makeni Palm in ’68.as R/O Skipper was Hughie Bunker and I believe Steward was a chap called Bryce. Anyone help with the book title on info on the two men. Tks Gerry Grimes

Published in Nautilus International Telegraph vol 49., Number 11., November 2016. Former MN radio and electronics officer DAVID MARSHALL has received worldwide acclaim as the inventor of the worlds first personal-locator beacon-inspired  by his own experience of falling overboard as a young man. But he hasn’t always found it plain sailing in the business world…. … Read more

Noticed an earlier request for Radio Office Clocks.  November issue of Ships Monthly contains advert for company called Seldec Publishing ([email protected]) which advertises Ships Clocks.  These include Radio Office both pre and post RT and cost £55 + pp of £6.75. Terry Raven

I have been asked to highlight a Radio special event station to celebrate International Marconi Day which will be operated on the Tall Ship GLENLEE which some will be familiar with. The station will be operational on April 30th to May 2nd from 10 AM to 5PM using the call-sign GB0TTS. You can learn more … Read more

I visited The Maritime Museum Liverpool las year to look for examiners notes regarding my PMG exam taken in 1966. I was initiall told by the archivist that they held all records but when I visited I found only records upto the end of 1965 and was then told that my visit was a waste … Read more

I am trying to locate the exam records when I took my PMG at Norwood Tech in 1966. I visited the Maritime Museum, Liverpool last summer. I believed these records were held there. With some help from an archivist I located all college records including Norwood Tech, but for 1966 onward the records were missing … Read more

I have Been Nominated to receive the MERCHANT NAVY MEDAL 2015. The citation is on website thegazette.co.uk goto other notices check 21st October 2015. I consider this represents ROA/MRWS efforts during the Lusitania Event May/2015.and ongoing work onboard the Planet LV 23 berthed in Liverpool.Further Information can be found on the website Merchantnavymedal.org.

Hi Dave Ellis OM. Your a superlative writer and you had this old Sparkie in bloody tears with your ” Last RO” thing in March QSO, so vibe with these Codes!. Been there!.

Yes I also remember Dick. He started at what was then Southampton Tech in St Marys Street in about 1958 or 9. From memory he took over from a Mr Robinson. Dick was 2nd R/O on the tug Turmoil and his Chief was….? The Chief also taught at Soton Tech with radar being his subject. … Read more

I was saddened to note the passing of Dick Moody, announced in the recent edition of QSO.  I was a student at the Southampton College of Technology back in the early 1970s, where Dick taught me – and many, many others – the intricacies of the Morse code.  I well remember his soft Hampshire accent … Read more

During the recent AGM a collection of QSL cards received by the ROA station, M0ROA, was on display, and many attendees enjoyed viewing them.  Some of these have beautiful or ingenious photographs on the back. In order to share these with the rest of the membership, we are going to load one of the best from … Read more

Hi Tony.   A suggestion for those of us unable to access that BBC programme with iPlayer.   Were you to bring a DVD copy to our upcoming AGM get together at Chelmsford, t’would be good!.  Bound to be a decent screen there.     73’s OM,   Bruce Graham.

Wonder if anyone remembers the callsign of the “Aquitania”? 73 George Woods. [email protected]

Hi Everyone Despite my best efforts I have been unable to locate the call signs of the following British vessels I served on as RO. I would be delighted if anyone can help find/supply  them. Many thanks in advance! Shell Tanker    ST Hadriania Stevie Clarke Collier   –  SS Brimsdown Border Shipping  Tanker – MT Border Chieftain … Read more

  Recently received the following link for those members who would like to hear transmission http://archive.org/details/MaritimeMorseCoastStationMarkers?goback=%2Egde_823947_member_269930879#%21   Geoff Valentine

so far 21 plus emails requesting some gear. I am working thru them and will give updates on this site. apologies for delays , its taking some time. best wishes Clive Evans

I have worked a Hereford farmer, callsign G4FAD, on the key many times in the last few years under my own callsign, G4AJY.  Richard is a first-class CW man.  He was unaware I am also M0ROA, the ROA callsign. He heard me running the ROA net tonight and called me up afterwards, when he was … Read more

Yesterday I was at the Annual HamFest in Newark,  one of the bigger Amateur Radio annual rallies.  The RSGB had a very large bookstall (the equivalent of about 3 shop fronts), but no copies of our book. The PW bookstall, which wasn’t as big but still worth about 2 shop fronts, had 3 copies when … Read more

As the holder of the ROA callsign M0ROA I occasionally have a CW QSO with Rolf Marschener/DL9CM, a leading light in the German ROA and a principle organiser of MRD (Marine Radio Day). We were chatting on the key today and he told me the German ROA had its annual meeting last week, its 60th … Read more

It is with deep regret I report the passing of Ken Klosser who was District Secretary of the NW based in Liverpool. Ken will be remembered by many ROU/REOU members, Ken died in early May and was cremated in Liverpool 6th June. Please read the “In Memorium” Page for the full obituary. RIP

Recently came across this site… listen to the authentic morse transmissions : http://radiomarine.org/audio/list?panel=pab1_13 Full site also added to links page Geoff    

Apologies for absebce this year / due to Various Commitments unable to attend.

We have been contacted by Dr. Jo Stanley requesting information from our members about female Radio Officers. Jo asks ” I’m writing an educational book about women’s history at sea, which includes a chapter on R/Os. Already I’ve put together something from a Ship’s Nostalgia discussion, Joanna Greenlaw’s book, and various other sources. But I could … Read more

Does anyone know the call sign of the LOF ship MV London Statesman circa 1970? I need it for a bit of research that I am doing. Thanks Jeremy GW3VOL   /   SV0XBJ

Greetings from an old Lady in deepest West Cork. [the vessel I mean|],   MV Coos Bay /EINX, sends a hello. Got my copy of ‘THE SILENCE’ and am savouring it.   Fantastic job done and they can’t totally forget us all now.         One little crib,  there seems to be a … Read more