The place
Over a number of years it has been the practice of a small team of radio amateurs with the support of the Armed Services Amateur Radio Societies to carry out self-training and exercise their communication skills with Special Event Commemorative call signs.
Some of these have been very high profile events and others of a much lower key but in these the team have had the support and permission of all Commanding Officers and members of 21 Signal Regiment (Air Support) since they moved from Germany about 1992 to be based at the old wartime RAF Station at Azimghur Barracks, Colerne, Wiltshire - now disused in that role except by small training aircraft and a local University ATC.
It is no exception that again over Friday 1st to 7th June 2007 commemorative stations were to be activated on the air worldwide at the Training Wing adjacent Block 52 building over this period. It was from this Training Wing that many other Special Event Stations had been heard and that includes the 63rd Anniversary of D-Day 6th June 1944 and the virtual end of the Second World War.
The theme this year however is in support of our Armed Forces in today's very hostile environments in Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas over the world where our Service people lay their lives down in the line of duty, once again, as we did in the past so a very special QSL card has been issued.
It was found necessary to reposition two of the three excellent 50ft military aerial masts on loan to us. One was already in a suitable position and the other two required to be moved so that North/South and East/West could be covered and so we could gain worldwide coverage from one or more of the four stations under the call signs GB4TCW (Tactical Communications Wing) and GB4 JHF (Joint Helicopter Forces). As it was a Friday afternoon and a very late start as well, following an unexpected transport problem for two of the crew of three, we had to set about and carry out this task ourselves. It requires at least at least two or three people to assist in this operation and we could not call on anyone else - eventually we got aerials erected and ready for use.
We then started to set up stations in three separate rooms from Block 52 to avoid intermodulation from audio and CW etc. After a break for the evening meal at the Sergeants’ Mess we returned to make test transmissions from station one GB4TCW only contacting Ian G8OFZ in Shrewsbury on 80 meters, then Chris G2ABR in Harwich. Station two worked GW3KVX Dick in Wales on CW with OTØM Christian on SSB in Antwerp followed by EA5/ON4CAX Lewis on holiday at Alicante, Spain. Then Rich G4PCE in Solihull called on CW to close down and going to the bar for a well earned pint ready for a full operation on the Saturday.
The following days saw the arrival of John Densem G4KJV (a local from Chippenham) with his new small van redesigned and kitted out as an Amateur Radio Mobile Station with the inevitable "Brew Up" equipment etc. and with its own radio masts in sections, wire aerials etc.
Many contacts were made in the following days both on SSB and CW but we were very sorry that John S. Dixon MØBZG was unable to attend at the very last minute as he had a complete vehicle failure and Dr A. David Vickers SWL who had been unexpectedly surprised by success in local elections and had been booked to attend Training Sessions for those elected.
Contacts were made with many of those who were ex-RAF or had been stationed at Colerne from its inception in 1939 and after WW2 to the early 1990's when the RAF left and 21 Signal Regiment (Air Support) came back to the UK from Germany.
This station is located on a high plateau with a good radio take off and is known to have its own type of weather being rather wind-swept, changeable and sometimes quite hot. Often one can see nearby many hot air balloons of all types and sizes taking to the sky when conditions are stable - a sight to see especially at dusk.
Well over 500 contacts were made with stations from all over the UK., Europe, USA etc. Middle and Far East (such as Japan) in fact worldwide and the specially designed QSL has been sent out to all those contacted by the team and to SWLs who have sent in cards.
We were pleased to welcome Pat. F. Soward as a visitor and our thanks go to all who made a contact and our apology to those we missed or did not hear. We are grateful to the 2/ic Major Chris Laycock and RSM Steve Mayell who also visited the stations and signed the Visitors’ Book.
The team comprised Dennis K. Egan GW4XKE, Peter Fletcher GØRGB, Tim G. Williams G4YVY and John Densem G4KJV.
The above appeared as an article by GW4XKE in "MERCURY" (the Journal of RSARS) No. 147 - July 2007.
The photographs on this page are by kind permission of G4KJV
VISIT THE QSL CABINET of this operation.
AND VISIT THE DIY PICTURE VIEWER - snapshots taken by GW4XKE at the event. of this operation.