The Role of Radio Amateurs in World War One School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS The Role of Radio Amateurs in World War One Dr Elizabeth Bruton, Postdoctoral Researcher, “Innovating in Combat: Telecommunications and intellectual property in the First World War”, University of Leeds and Museum of the History of Science, Oxford. Twitter: @WWITelecomms / @lizbruton elizabeth.bruton@gmail.com Oxford and District Amateur Radio Club, 15 April 2014. 1

School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Innovating in Combat Elizabeth Bruton, Postdoctoral Researcher, “Innovating in Combat: Telecommunications and intellectual property in the First World War” Aim of the project is to help museums, archives, and the wider public to better appreciate the significance of communications technologies during World War One University of Leeds and Museum of the History of Science, Oxford Graeme Gooday and Elizabeth Bruton Funded by AHRC 2 2

Outline School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Outline Introduction Amateur Wireless before World War One Wireless Society of London What could wireless amateurs do in wartime? Henry Norman, MP Russell Clarke and Colonel Richard Hippisley Leslie McMichael Postwar developments – broadcast radio Conclusion Transcript of wireless message about outbreak of war sent from Marconi wireless station at Poldhu on 4 August 1914. Image courtesy of Burton-upon-Trent Amateur Radio club. 3 3

Introduction School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Introduction Early August 1914: World War One Wireless telegraph: valuable and dangerous tool Amateur wireless sets sealed up End of story? No! Signals Intelligence and wartime work Instruction to the Sectional Engineer of Post Office Telegraphs, E A Pink, to take possession of wireless telegraphy equipment, dated 1 August 1914. Image courtesy of RSGB. 4 4

Amateur Wireless before World War One School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Amateur Wireless before World War One Wireless Society of London 6 June 1913: Rene Klein writes to English Mechanic 5 July 1913: Establishment of London Wireless Club Summer 1913: GPO introduces one guinea charge for all wireless licenses 13 September 1913: First AGM of London Wireless Club; changes name to Wireless Society of London – national not local 1922: RSGB Three of the founder members: Rene Klein (seated), L F Fogarty (left), Leslie McMichael (centre) and Frank Hope-Jones (right) who became the first Chairman. Image courtesy of RSGB 5 5

Early Members of Wireless Society of London School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Early Members of Wireless Society of London Includes Henry Hope-Jones A.A. Campbell-Swinton J. Ambrose Fleming William Duddell W.H. Eccles Henry Jackson Oliver Lodge Sylvanus Thompson Alan Cambell Swinton. Image courtesy of RSGB. 6 6

Wireless Publications School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Wireless Publications Left: First cover of The Marconigraph (1911); Right: The four-color cover of May 1913 Wireless World. Both images are available in the public domain. 7 7

What could wireless amateurs do during wartime? “Listen in” School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS What could wireless amateurs do during wartime? “Listen in” Russell Clark and Richard Hippisley Henry Norman MP Wartime Service Leslie McMichael Richard John Bayntun Hippisley (1865-1956) Image from Mate's County Series (1908) and available in the public domain. 8 8

Hunstanton Wireless Station, Norfolk School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Hunstanton Wireless Station, Norfolk A postcard of the Lighthouse and Marconi Wireless Station at Hunstanton, early 20th C. Wireless station is to the left of the mast. Image available in the public domain. 9 9

Hunstanton Wireless Station, Norfolk School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Hunstanton Wireless Station, Norfolk Wireless Direction-Finding Station on the cliffs near Hunstanton, c. 1915. Image available in the public domain. 10 10

Hunstanton Wireless Station, Norfolk School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Hunstanton Wireless Station, Norfolk Former power station for the Marconi wireless station at Hunstanton as it is today. Image courtesy of RightMove.co.uk. 11 11

Born in Leicester and educated abroad MP for 23 years Knighted in 1906 School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Henry Norman, MP (1858-1939) Born in Leicester and educated abroad MP for 23 years Knighted in 1906 Pioneer in radio telegraphy 1914: First President of Derby Wireless Club, founded in 1911 “Listening in” begins before outbreak of war Portrait of Sir Henry Norman, 1st Baronet, taken from The World's Work (1914). Image available in the public domain via Wikimedia Commons. 12 12

Hubert Leslie McMichael (1884-1951) School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Hubert Leslie McMichael (1884-1951) Generally known as Leslie McMichael Background in electrical engineering (and laundry?) Served in Wireless Instructional Section of RFC, later RAF 1919: Demobbed and begins business in Hampstead, supply ex-military stock including radio valves June 1920: Establishes L. McMichael Ltd Directors are Leslie McMichael and Rene Klein Leslie McMichael, callsign G2MI. Image courtesy of RSGB. 13 13

Revival of wireless amateurs post-war School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Conclusions Revival of wireless amateurs post-war Wartime expertise crosses over into peacetime Wireless amateur have key role in development of broadcast radio 1922: Different radio clubs and societies including Wireless Society of London merge to become RSGB 14 14

School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science FACULTY OF ARTS Acknowledgements: Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) for permission to use many of the images in this presentation. Thank you! e: elizabeth.bruton@gmail.com w: http://blogs.mhs.ox.ac.uk/innovatingincombat/ @WWITelecomms / @lizbruton 15 15