British Resistance and Aux Signal Units - new Zero station

Discussion in 'Top Secret' started by BC610E, Sep 28, 2014.

  1. BC610E

    BC610E Junior Member

    CL1 likes this.
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    thank you for posting
     
  3. BC610E

    BC610E Junior Member

    Sadly, more knowledgeable heads than mine have identified the radio shown in the Times article as not being the near-mythical "TRD" radio, mentioned in the text as having been destroyed at the war's end to conceal it's advanced technology, yer right. For other milradio fans, I'm told it is actually a British Wireless Set No 9 depicted and a young Ronnie Corbett doing his bit. :biggrin:

    '610
     
  4. Malcolm_A

    Malcolm_A Junior Member

    'Resistance' is a much abused term! There are a lot of misconceptions about the Auxiliary Units which were never a 'British Resistance Organisation' but were instead intended as a short-term, uniformed, guerrilla organisation designed to act on the flanks and rear of an on-going military operation during the immediate anti-invasion campaign. The Special Duties Branch may have been capable of transmitting battlefield intelligence for a few days but the network would quickly collapse. Instead, their prime role was probably internal security - spying on their neighbours! The responsibility for organising a true 'Resistance' was in the hands of SIS (MI6) and the secrecy of this was carefully guarded. Indeed, the Auxiliary Units provided a useful distraction both during WW2 and later during the Cold War when the government were still sensitive about wartime intelligence operations which might give a clue to current operations (i.e. the Gladios in Europe). I also don't believe there was any particular mystery about the destruction of the TRD sets (which were not terribly good if ever intended for 'resistance' as they were high maintenance and static). SIS were enthusiastic about destroying as many clandestine wireless sets as possible at the end of the war. Unfortunately (for them) most were abroad and the MkIII and Parasets etc were difficult to re-aquire. By contrast, the TRDs were conveniently in the UK and easier to round up. More explanation for such hypotheses can be found on http://www.mwatkin.com.
    Malcolm
     
  5. Fantastic post!
     

Share This Page