“A Rare Insight Into A Radio Security Service Station”

I am indebted to David White G3ZPA for granting me permission to use the photographs and text below, which reveals the WW2 secret listening station run by the Radio Security Service from a bungalow in Colwyn Bay North Wales. The son of Edmund Vale who was the RSS regional officer for Wales spoke to David G3ZPA about it recently and provided some photographs. The interceptors were volunteers although they were exempt from national service. The photographs show the equipment in the bungalow with the radios being seen quite clearly: left to right there is an Eddystone 358, and HRO senior, Two Hallicrafter S20 Sky Champions. The other photograph shows the bungalow and its aerials and the third is believed to be some of the staff at the station. There were a total of 9 regional RSS officers around the country and the network they ran was believed to be looking for radio transmission from German agents based in Britain.

The photograph above is a record for posterity and it would have been nice to read what was written on the envelope in the tray / basket. Personnel dressed in civilian clothes could suggest Post Office, Military Intelligence or Diplomatic Wireless Service. VIs were primarily recruited to listen for internal illicit transmissions, but quickly attention was turned to Nazi occupied Europe, which is where their attention remained and proved to be so valuable.

Our Society’s Patron, George Busby, comments on the above photograph: What caught my eye was a really good example of the spliced telegraph poles. Two / three poles brought together as one to get as much elevation as possible. This was the work of a small number of GPO special pole erection units. The work was specialised and dangerous. Remember that below the ground could be up to six feet of hidden wood. You can see such poles in the background of the wooden bungalow building at Gilnahirk.

Such a photograph of those who worked in Northern Ireland would be wonderful to see. The lady would have been a secretary dealing with correspondence to HQ and the VI’s. Captain, later Major Banham, the OC of Gilnahirk, had a secretary but she was based at the regional offices, Telephone House, the BBC and San Sousi off the Malone Road Belfast. Despite all efforts to identify this person she has remained a mystery woman. 

Images such as those above, together with accurate descriptions are invaluable for keeping our radio heritage and history in the public eye. We would love to hear from you if you have images that would serve this purpose.