The Communications Department

Welcome To The Bridge Wireless office My birthday, it was fantastic, Sparkers and Buntings rum up spirits

The communicators girlfriend who didit didit didit

This is department img

This is a picture of every member of the communications branch on board,The ship was sailing without communications, well for two minutes it was until the duty watch ran back inside



I joined Bulwark as a new Radio 0perator Second class, and thanks to the tireless efforts of our Chief Radio Supervisor "Jock" Meldrum,and Radio Supervisor "Brum" "Ive got an initiative test for you" Lawley. I left as a fully profesional Radio Operator First class, passed for Leading Radio Operator.
RS "Brum" Lawley. Used to call me to the Bridge Wireless office at 2000 the night before we sailed and say "I have an initiative test for you" He then gave me twenty different frequencies to set up on the air transcievers all thirtysix of them. Then off he went ashore. It was only when I picked up my hook, that I found out it was his job and I had been conned. But it was lucky for him I could do the job for if I had messed up he would have been in the Junior Rates mess with us, and lucky for me that having done so many I became proficient enough to pass the grade for my hook, Thanks "Brum"

Whilst on board, I carried out over the three years,every radio task,but my favourite's were setting up the transmitters/receivers for air operations, and the cryptography down in the Lower Receiver Room.


I have to make a special mention of a special Radio Supervisor Barrie Norman As I have said in other places on this site I came from Sunderland, and it was almost impossible to get home in those days from Plymouth to Sunderland. Well Christmas came and I was duty but off Christmas eve and Christmas day, RS B Norman gave me up-homers for Christmas (Unheard of in those days for a senior rate to mix with an Urk) I had a great time Christmas eve out for a drink and followed by Chirstmas dinner. Then back on board for Boxing day, he really lashed me up, Of course as an OD I had not much spare cash, but all I had to offer were my thanks, and again "THANK YOU" RS Norman wherever you may be. I do not think anyone realises how much such a good deed means when one is far from home


We did a three year commision together, and we all lived in the same messdeck,(junior rates) so we knew each other very well, had umpteen runs ashore, and I suppose, the hardest but best trip was when we were away nine months to the Far East. (Old Matelot's called it a dog watch as the FE Trip used to be two years) Still Nine Months away from home was a fair whack, it did not really bother me, as I came from Sunderland, so I never got home for weekends,from Plymouth anyway, but away you were. No real communication to home, as letters took a couple of weeks until your next port, Radio Phone Calls were very rare and very expensive,as was trying to phone home from abroad,At this time you had to book a time for an operator call usually about three hours and even more expensive. Now a days Matelot's get flown home if the wife has lost the cat. Or two months seatime whichever is the sooner!


under construction