Did Your Ancestor Take Part in Cadet Force Radio Nets?
The Cadet Forces of the UK have for many, many years operated on National Radio Nets. These nets were run separately for the various branches of the Cadet Forces, Army cadets, Sea Cadets & the Air Training Corps. The cadet forces at schools were usually a combination of all three services and were run under the title of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF).
The earliest known net was around 1925-26.
Many of the CCF cadets operated on their national net which were started before the Second World War. The war meant that the nets were closed down but they reopened after hostilities had ended.
Before the war the units were those of the Officer Training Corps at Public Schools and in 1939 they became the Junior Training Corps, finally after the war they took on the CCF name.
The CCF net that was set up at this time operated from a number of schools including Rugby, Cheltenham, Repton, Leeds Grammar School, King Edwards School in Birmingham, Glasgow Academy, Loretto, Sedbergh, Sherbourne, Uppingham and Victoria College on Jersey.
There were almost certainly more CCF Units who operated at this time.
The radio net was called the QE (Queen Easy) Net because their Callsigns were in the range QEA-QEZ.
The net operated during lunch hours using old radios such as the Wireless Set (WS) 11 and later the WS 12, WS 19 and WS 22.
Around 1949 it was suggested that a chess league run over the radio net . This league was to be 'Chaired' by Graeme WORMALD of Leeds Grammar School.
The moves for the games were to be sent in Morse Code using the standard chess notation.
On the day of the contest the games started but after 6 moves had been made radio conditions deteriorated and the game fell apart. The press had been invited and the 'Chair' had to go underground to avoid the furore.
The nets continue to this day, perhaps you or one of your ancestors took part in the ill-fated Chess League or was an operator on one of the nets. The author would be interested in any contacts who have memories or stories of operating on these nets and would welcome any information, in particular any from the 'early' days.
Please contact me via the address below:
38 Polyear Close
Polgooth
ST AUSTELL
Cornwall
PL26 7BH
David HOLMAN
FFHS Education Officer & Vice Chairman
Picture of a typical station setup.
This one comprising a WS-12 and two R107 receivers.
