1. 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.
Oxford and District Amateur Radio Club, 15 April 2014. 1

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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 Image courtesy of RSGB. 4 4

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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 ( )
Image from Mate's County Series (1908) and
available in the public domain. 8 8

9. 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

10. 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
Image available in the public domain. 10 10

11. 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

12. 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 ( )
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

13. Hubert Leslie McMichael (1884-1951)
School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science
FACULTY OF ARTS
Hubert Leslie McMichael ( )
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

14. 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

15. 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: w:
@WWITelecomms 15 15