[CW] Volunteer Intercept (VI) Commemorative Activation

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

*VI Commemorative Activation - 13th June 2021*

The RSSM ARC is holding a commemorative activation on Sunday 13 June 2021,
this date marks the anniversary of the first airdrop in 1941 of weapons to
the French Resistance, arranged by Georges Bégue and Pierre de Vomécourt
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_de_Vom%C3%A9court>. Two CLE Canisters
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CLE_Canister> were parachuted onto the
estate of Philippe de Vomécourt
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_de_Vom%C3%A9court> near Limoges
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limoges>. The Vomécourt brothers created the
first two SOE networks (or reseau) in France, named Autogiro
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOE_F_Section_networks#Autogiro> and
Ventriloquist
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOE_F_Section_networks#Ventriloquist>.[6]
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOE_F_Section_timeline#cite_note-FOOTNOTEFoot1976163-164,_Appendix_H-6>

In collaboration with FISTS this activity will take place at 12:00, 15:00
and 18:00 hours UCT time on 13 June to commemorate the role played by
Voluntary Inceptors during WW2.   The activity will take the following form:

GI5TKA will call CQ CQ VI de GI5TKA GI5TKA

Replying stations will exchange RST, Name, QTH and FISTS number if
applicable.

GI5TKA will reply in kind and ask the station to standby to receive a
further transmission and will proceed to send random letters in groups of
5.  GI5TKA will also send the cypher key, which will also be published in
advance in the QRZ page, in order to comply with licensing conditions
regarding encoded messages.

Receiving stations should copy the cypher and translate it using the simple
key and email their answer to w.r.bradley at btinternet.com.   Results will be
published by Fists and on the GI5TKA QRZ page.

This activity will provide an excellent opportunity for copy practice and
to sharpen your instant character recognition.  It will also remind us what
VIs did on a daily basis during the Second World War in service to King and
Country.

Maybe this will become an annual activity!

Cypher keys used:

11:00 UTC Session  - Letter shift +3

14:00 UTC Session - Letter shift  -3

17:00 UTC Session - Letter shift +2

20:00 UTC Session - Letter shift  -2

GI5TKA  <https://www.qrz.com/DB/GI5TKA>[image: Northern Ireland flag] Northern
Ireland

Radio Security Service Memorial Amateur Radio Society
<https://www.qrz.com/DB/GI5TKA>Ballygowan, Co Down
Northern Ireland


Email: mi0wwb at btinternet.com


See https://www.qrz.com/DB/GI5TKA

The specific aims of the Society shall be to preserve and memory of
Voluntary Interceptors and staff employed in the RSS, to educate others in
the amateur radio community of the role they played in defence of King and
Country during the Second World War and to pass on their legacy to the next
generation.



The Radio Security Service Memorial Amateur Society is an RSGB Affiliated
ARC.



Annually each May a special event station GB0GLS is activated on the site
of Gilnahirk Listening Station, a Y Station that operated up until 1978.  A
brief history and some historical photographs can be found at:
https://www.qrz.com/db/GB0GLS





*Short history*





The Radio Security Service (RSS) was established in September 1939,
following an investigation and report by Lord Hankey, with the
responsibility for detection of illicit wireless communications within the
UK and surrounding sea. Initially under the control of MI8 of the War
Office, and using physical facilities provided by the Post Office, RSS
supplied the Security Service with details of intercepted communications.



In May of 1940 RSS was made responsible for interception of German overseas
illicit transmissions, and by the end of 1940 for the global interception
of enemy secret service communications. In January 1941 RSS passed to the
control of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), and in August of that
year it assumed responsibility for the overseas interception units,
previously under MI8 control. As well as targeting known enemy
radio-communications networks, RSS undertook systematic searches and
analysis of the radio spectrum looking for illicit broadcasts, which could
then be targeted. These searches utilised home-based volunteer
interceptors, who reported their findings by post to RSS.



At RSS headquarters in Barnet, the Radio Intelligence Section of RSS
undertook intelligence analysis in co-operation with the Government Code
and Cypher School (GC&CS) and the SIS, which resulted in regular Radio
Security Intelligence conferences. RSS also had responsibility for
monitoring allied non-military communications, mainly within the UK. In
1946, RSS was taken over by Government Communications Headquarters
(formerly GC&CS).



Source: Government Code and Cypher School: Administration Files on the
Radio Security Service. Ref. HW34



*Voluntary Interceptors*

Some 1500 radio amateurs served as VIs during the Second World War and
beyond, using their own equipment.  Our hobby is rightly proud of the role
they played in defence of freedom.

Further information about VIs is available from the RSGB site at
https://rsgb.org/main/about-us/national-radio-centre-gb3rs/the-role-of-the-rsgb-and-voluntary-interceptors/
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