Diplomatic Wireless Service (DWS)

Exactly to what extent the DWS supported the Luven station is not known. So I have to use my imagination a bit. According to what I was told the radio station was supported by the DWS with regard to some equipment being supplied. This support most likely has some history as the station was established in early 1940, even before SOE was established. Station L very definitely had interaction with SOE and Section VIII of MI6.

How the Luven station was established is fully described in the "The Key Messenger". I found an old photo of the section of the station that seems to have been supported by the DWS (Figure 1). There is no date on the photo, but judging from the equipment visible, was probably taken in the late 1960's. There may be more photos tucked away, if I find some I will add them here. The earliest radio equipment visible in the photo is the 1940 Navy Type B34 (Eddystone Type 358X) receiver (top left hand corner), whilst the most recent is the Eddystone EA12 (1964-1969). The DWS MK214D transmitter was built in the period 1955 to ~1960. The Marconi Morse key dates from the early 1930's.

The Collins Radio 75A-1 and 32V-1 receiver and transmitter as well as the 310B-1 exciter dates from ~1947/8. Collins Radio was a company located in the USA, so it is probable that these radio sets were provided by the USA and passed to the Luven station via the US Embassy. Many of the other radio equipment used by "Station L" were manufactured in the USA, including equipment used during WW2. All of the WW2 radio equipment must have entered Switzerland by some secret route during WW2 and was most likely routed to the Luven station via the US Embassy in Bern or were transported to a safe location for collection by some of the station personnel. After the end of WW2 equipment from the USA would have entered Switzerland without problems. One can only speculate on the actual interaction between Station L and the US Embassy in Bern, during and after WW2.

The Eddystone 840A general coverage communications receiver covered 480 kc/s to 30 Mc/s and was manufactured between 1954 and 1961. The fact that the Luven radio station was not issued with an Eddystone 730/1a (1954-1958) and a Eddystone 830 or even 830/8 is easy to understand, the Luven station was not a DWS station, it had totally different objectives and its activities were different. The EA12 was of course based on the 830, so the EA12 was an obvious choice for a DWS "deviation".

According to my notes, the Luven station also had a DWS MK119A transmitter/receiver, this radio set was typically used as a stand-by set for British Embassies. The MK119A is a "special purpose" transmitter/receiver, developed in late 1945 at Whaddon (headquarters of Section VIII during the WW2). The first production units could only have been available in late 1946 or 1947, as the EF91, EF92 and 2E26 tubes were only available commercially since 1947. The wireless set was built for the British Army, however it was also used by the British SAS (Special Air Service). The SAS is a unit of the United Kingdom Special Forces; SAS duties include counter-terrorism, special operations, covert reconnaissance, and hostage rescue. Additional information is available at SAS. There is quite a nice summary of the MK119A, and some photos, available at MK119A.

The MK119 version is different from the MK119A (the MK119A is contained in a single wooden box with lid), as it had the receiver, transmitter and power supply encased in separate aluminium boxes, which had water and air tight lids. The MK119 version was ideally suited for use by Stay Behind groups. When I finally dig the MK119A out of the Luven station crates (if it is there), I will post a photo and some details here.

Update 4 January 2020

I found the DWS MK119A (Figure 2). It is in reasonable condition, complete and original, but will require small repairs and restoration work. The box lid folds open to expose a CW key; the lid can be used as small worktable and is quite convenient when writing down messages on a writing pad. Once cleaned up, I will add more photos. I have started to add some technical details at DWS MK119A.

The Diplomatic Wireless Service developed out of the communications department (Section VIII) of MI6 and the Radio Security Service (RSS) of MI8. After the end of WW2 Section VIII was transferred from the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) to the Foreign Office (FO).

Sir Ernest Bevin (born March 9, 1881, Winsford, Somerset, Eng.—died April 14, 1951, London) sent a Foreign Office circular to all posts on 23 April 1946, which read:

‘From the 1^st April, 1946, the wireless telegraph service hitherto described as “Government Wireless” which provides direct wireless communication between Foreign Office and those of His Majesty’s Missions in which transmitting and receiving stations have been installed is to be regarded as a regular Foreign Office organisation and to be described as “Diplomatic Wireless”.’

The DWS was initially located at Whaddon Hall in Buckinghamshire, but it moved to Hanslope Park (also in Buckinghamshire) during the end of 1946 and early 1947. Brigadier Richard Gambier-Parry (Figure 3), Head of MI6 Section VIII during WW2 was instrumental in its transfer. Already as early as 1944, the FO entertained the idea of assimilating Section VIII. Brigadier Gambier-Parry was appointed within the FO as the first FO Director of Communications in 1947, with the task to manage/complete the transfer of Section VIII to the Foreign Office. Colonel Edward Maltby ("Ted") (stationed at Broadway) managed the transfer from within MI6. DWS then continued to handle covert radio traffic, and of course, normal diplomatic traffic. During WW2 Section VIII was involved in many additional tasks, which included supporting "Outstations" in Europe. One can easily suppose that Station L was such a Section VIII supported station.

The name "DWS" was dropped in 1973 and it was changed from "Diplomatic Wireless Service" to "Communications Division". The Foreign Office was renamed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1968 after merging of the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office. There is not much in the Luven station boxes of material that refers to the DWS, but there is some. I suppose that is only to be expected. But none of the notes refer to the "Communications Division", there are only some references to the DWS. It would seem that Mr Maltby (previous colleague/assistant/deputy of Brigadier Gambier-Parry at Section VIII), became Director of DWS, he certainly was in February 1965 according to some of my notes.