News
September 2024
On Saturday 7th September the 25th VMARS Annual General Meeting was held at the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands, located at the airfield adacent to Royal Air Force Cosford. The business was conducted briskly, followed by an excellent leisurely lunch, providing plenty of time after lunch to wander around the impressive museum exhibits. A full report will appear in the next VMARS News Sheet.
A splendid and delicious cake made to celebrate our 25th anniversary was presented at the AGM
After the meeting, VMARS PRO, Stuart McKinnon G0TBI, made the following statement:-
“On Saturday the 7th of September, VMARS Members met to take part in the 25th Anniversary AGM and Luncheon at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.
Members were able to elect a new Committee and enjoy a celebratory drink, followed by a three course luncheon. Many members commented on a well run event.
Seen below, VMARS Members having the now obligatory photo call after an enjoyable afternoon Our thanks to the Royal Air Force Museum Staff at RAF Cosford, and in particular Karen Dixon the Events Co-ordinater”
Photograph courtesy of RAF Museum Midlands
The only complete surviving example of the 1960’s highly controversial TSR2 bomber on display at the exceptional Royal Air Force Museum Midlands
Click on the highlighted areas to be taken to more information
Above – photographs show VMARS members in the meeting/lunch room at the Aviation Museum, RAF Cosford. At the rostrum is Martin Owen, G4JSX, Chairman of VMARS. On screen via a live link is Bronek Wedsicha, M0DAF, VMARS Publications Manager and Editor of Signal. The link was set up because Bronek was unable to attend the meeting in person.
June 2024
VMARS at War in the Vale event 15th & 16th June
Members put on a display of radio equipped military vehicles and portable stations operating on the amateur bands at this event.
D-Day 80th Commemoration Members Activity
VMARS ran a D-Day net on 3615KHz beginning at 05:00 BST. Key stations included TM80PB located immediately adjacent to Pegasus Bridge in Normandy, GB2AAF at Andrews Field, Great Dunmow, Essex, GB0DAY on board the Tug “Little Gem”, GB2YAM at the Yorkshire Air Museum in front of a Halifax Bomber …. Paul, M1PVC ran the controlled net and logged 77 call signs over a period of about five hours. Click on two of the pictures to hear recordings of the net.
VMARS provide the Pegasus Bridge museum with display radio equipment, delivered during the 80th D-Day anniversary.
Before going to the Pegasus Bridge museum, the VMARS Wireless Set No.19.
In the famous first action of D-Day at midnight on 5th June 1944, British troops of D Company, 2nd (Airborne) Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry led by Major John Howard, undertook a succesful glider assault to capture the Bénouville Bridge crossing the Caen Canal and the adjacent Ranville Bridge over the Orne River. Capturing these two bridges was essential in securing the eastern flank of the Normandy Invasion against the expected German counter attack. The Horsa gliders used in the assault were towed to Normandy from England by RAF bombers, which went on to bomb enemy targets in France after releasing them near the bridges.
Such was the success of the operation that the Bénouville bridge was renamed Pegasus, the flying horse of Greek mythology which is the shoulder patch worn by British Airborne forces. The Ranville bridge was renamed Horsa, after the gliders which delivered Major Howard and his men, along with their equipment.
The Pegasus Bridge museum includes the original Bascule type raising bridge, over which the fighting took place and which was replaced by a larger version in 1994, the original being placed in the museum grounds for display. Recently added to their fine variety of exhibits is a restored Universal Carrier equipped as a forward AOP (Armoured Observation Post),a family of light armoured tracked vehicles built by Vickers-Armstrongs and other companies. Although fitted with a WS18 manpack it lacked the original Wireless Set No.19 installation that it would have been equipped with for close communications with armour. Some VMARS members have formed a close association with the museum over several years and two Committee members, Tony Barron, G3YYH, and Rich Bamber, M0XRB have arranged for a Wireless Set No.19 owned by the Society to be installed while attending the commemoration events taking place at Pegasus Bridge on 6th June, the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Details of the visit of Tony and Martin, M0MGA with their Canadian Military Pattern lorry and support crew can be followed here.
Tony Barron, G3YYH and Rich Bamber, M0XRB survey the Universal Carrier at the Pegasus Museum prior to installing the WS19 from VMARS.
Tony, G3YYH, handing over the WS19 to Nicolas Dumont, Curator of the Pegasus Museum
Demonstrating the uncomfortably tight working conditions for the wireless operator in the Universal Carrier
February 2024
SEARS Rally Cornelious Vermulyn School Canvey Island
VMARS Public Relations Officer Stuart McKinnon has reported on the first UK amateur radio rally of the year, the Canvey Island Radio Rally held on Sunday 4th February. Known as the SEARS Rally and organised by the South Essex Amateur Radio Society, Stuart reported that it was well attended and was a great success.
Displayed on the VMARS stand was a post war DWS Mk 123 spy set in it’s green canvas case, including all spares. For more information on these post war spysets follow this link – https://www.cryptomuseum.com/spy/mk123/index.htm. A TR9, a TW2 2 metre AM transmitter and TW4 High, the only existing 4 metre high power transmitter built by TW, were also displayed, along with TW receive converters for 2 and 4 metres The comprehensive TW line up was provided for the display from the private collection of Pete Shepherd, G7DXV. TW standing for Tom Withers of course and for those with an interest there is a website developed by TW owners which can be found at http://twradio.uk/. On display from Stuart’s collection of WW2 vintage equipment was a recently acquired T1154 transmitter, used on British bomber aircraft such as the famous Lancaster, and the very special B2 Suitcase Spy set, developed by Captain John Brown for use by SOE agents operating in Nazi occupied countries and the forerunner of the DWS Mk 123 spy set. The display generated considerable interest from many visitors attending the rally.
Manning the VMARS stand at the Canvey Rally and with the B2 Spy Set prominent, from right to left: P.R.O. Stuart McKinnon, G0TBI, Hon. Secretary Iain Moffatt, G0OZS and member Pete Shepherd, G7DXV, talking to fellow member Jen Easdown, G4HIZ.
The Canvey rally attracted many VMARS members who gathered at the stand for a group photograph.
June 2023
Photos of the VMARS presence at the ESWR (Ipswich Rally) on 18th June 2023
The first picture features (L to R), Derek M0JMV, Roger G1EUF, Iain G0OZS, Martin G0HVW, Andy 2E0DIQ, David G0SKE and Alan G8LIT. The second picture has Bob G0PEY. Photos by Kathy M0DFL (M0HVE XYL).
I would like to thank Al and David for doing the VMARS stand while I was busy with RSGB book sales.
Iain G0OZS
Membership Secretary of VMARS Ron Swinburne, M0WSN, displaying his Series III long wheel base Landrover at the Thorpe Camp Rally held in May. This particular vehicle is an ex-army FFR version – Fitted For Radio – and is installed with various Clansman HF and VHF communications equipment.
Ron is proudly wearing the Beret and “Jimmy” cap badge of the Royal Corps of Signals, which is a depiction of Mercury, the Roman God of communications. Ron served with the Royal Signals for his National Service.
April 2023
VMARS Publications Manager Professor Bronek Wedzicha, M0DAF, receives the cup for the best home built equipment presented at the annual Blackpool Rally held at the Norbreck hotel in Blackpool and hosted by NARSA, the Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association. The award presented to Bronek by RSGB Chairman John McCullagh was for the home design and construction of a 10 meter transceiver. More details on Bronek’s winning equipment can be seen in the VMARS monthly News Sheet distributed to all members.
Among the aims of the Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society, building and operating home built equipment has a strong following within the membership. Many examples of these can be heard on the regular A.M. nets held on 3615 KHz and also on 10M.
Martin Owen on the right, G4JSX, VMARS Chairman, welcomes Adrian Hodgson, G8UGD, to the Society stand at the NARSA Blackpool Rally. For more information on joining VMARS follow this link.
March 2023
Vintage & Military Amateur Radio Society members have been buying copies of the hardback Royal Signals glossy, coffee table top publication, “Roger So Far”, through an arrangement made between the Society Public Relations Officer, Stuart McKinnon G0TBI, and the Royal Signals Museum located at Blandford Camp in Dorset. In March, Stuart and Anne McKinnon, M3TBI, met with the RS Museum Business Manager Adam Forty at the museum and presented him with a cheque for the sum of £224.20 toward museum funds.
VMARS PRO Stuart McKinnon and RS Museum Business Manager Adam Forty
hold up a copy of the “Roger So Far” publication
“Roger So Far” is a lavishley illustrated book which follows the history of the Royal Corps of Signals from its earliest incarnation as a Signals Troop in the late 19th century through to its present day operations. In a message to VMARS, Adam Forty thanked the Society for its support and outlined some of this years planned public activities.
Copies of “Roger So Far” can be obtained from VMARS P.R.O. Stuart McKinnon at a special price of £14.95.
25th February 2023 – VMARS Auction Day
