Newfoundland – VO1BZM
A 30Kw Naval Wireless Station was ordered by the Admiralty in November 1914 and was one of eleven identical “long range” stations built and completed by 1915. Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. Ltd. supplied every last little component specified in meticulous detail in various schedules. The Admiralty required the stations to be built “with the utmost rapidity”…..and “is further required to maintain and operate the station for the Admiralty”. The guaranteed range of the station was 1000 nautical miles (from East through South) “operating on a principal wavelength of 1300 meters and up to 2000 meters, and also on 600 and 1300 when using reduced power, and to receive on all wavelengths between the limits of 600 to 2000 meters on the spark system and up to 5000 meters on continuous waves”. Three 305 foot sectional antenna towers were constructed to support the twin wire “T” antennas. The antennas could be warmed electrically to melt winter ice and prevent damage. The buildings: one for the transmitting and receiving plant, workshops, stores and offices and another residential building (which now houses the Admiralty House Museum and Archives and the Society of Newfoundland Radio Amateurs (SONRA) radio station were also part of the Marconi contract. The station call was, and still is, BZM.
The staff were also specified: Officer-in-Charge (Commander MacDermott of H.M.S. Calypso/Briton, a reserve training vessel moored in St. John’s harbour): an Engineer-in-Charge (Sub-Lieutenant R.N.V.R.): four operators (Warrant Telegraphist R.N.R.), and so on.
The station was operational until 1922, when, along with H.M.S. Briton, it was decommissioned. The antennas and transmitting equipment continued in use, providing the Province’s first high powered broadcast radio VONF (later, after 1949, CBC). During the station’s Naval operation the first contact with the British rigid airship R34 was made in 1919 during the airship’s first transatlantic crossing.. Earlier, in February 1918, the station also received the S.O.S. call from the Marconi wireless operator on the stricken S.S. Florizel (MZL). Rescue was initiated by the station commander and Naval reservists were involved in the rescue missions.
Admiralty House Museum and SONRA continue to preserve the story of early wireless communications for future generations.
The above was supplied by Alasdair Black, Museum Co-ordinator, Admiralty House Museum and Archives.
The Museum was officially opened in June 1997 by His Royal Highness Prince Philip.
The Museum is operated today as VO1BZM.
From the Sonra Website http://www.sonra.ca
VO1BZM Admiralty House Museum and Archive located in Mount Pearl
Admiralty house as it was back in 1920
Admiralty House Museum and Archives is a modern museum and municipal archive nestled on 2.1 acres of beautiful gardens in the heart of the City of Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. SONRA has a seat on the Board of Directors of the museum and helps in the operation of the amateur radio station on site.
Originally constructed in 1915 by the British Royal Navy, Admiralty House was then known as HMS British Wireless Station – Mount Pearl.
During World War 1, HMS British Wireless Station – Mount Pearl was occupied by 22 British naval staff. The station provided North Atlantic communications for the Royal Navy under the call sign BZM and intercepted the communications of the German Navy, who were carrying out covert operations along the North Atlantic seaboard.
In 1925, the property was sold with Admiralty House being converted into a farm house while the three 305 ft towers were considered for use by the newly formed Dominion Broadcasting Company. In 1938 the Commission of Government took over this radio station and formed the Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland (BCN). The call sign was changed to VONF and, as Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, the radio station became a part of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
In 1968, the farm house and 101 acres of surrounding land were purchased by the partnership of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. The farm house and adjacent lands were used as administrative offices while residential and commercial land development proceeded in the general area. Now, thirty years later, the work of this partnership is substantially completed. The City of Mount Pearl acquired the property in 1995 and a group of volunteers led efforts to rehabilitate the old structure and create the beautiful garden setting surrounding Admiralty House.
Today, the Society of Newfoundland Radio Amateurs is a partner in the restoration of this historic site as the custodian and operator of VO1BZM, the Admiralty House Amateur Radio Station. Visitors can see historic pieces of equipment alongside a fully operational, modern Amateur radio station boasting full HF, VHF and UHF capabilities.
The station was officially opened on June 25, 1997 by HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. We will be operating from the station at many times during the future so keep listening for VO1BZM on most bands.
Special Events:
Each April 15, we set up a special event station at Admiralty House to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. The marine radio station at Cape Race relayed traffic to and from the ship as it crossed the Atlantic and heard the call for help, using the Morse letters, CQD (this was before SOS became the standard distress signal). In honour of the work done by Walter Gray, Jack Goodwin and Robert Hunston at the Cape Race station in 1912, we will be operating CW only.
For more info on the Titanic, check out http://titanic.gov.ns.ca
