What happened at GKA during WW2?

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

What happened at GKA during WW2?

From what I understand, there were no ship-to-shore coms at sea during WW2 unless it was a matter of life or death. So complete radio silence throughout. But I guess that GKA kept going with broadcast transmissions (in code?). What actually went on at Portishead?

And did neutral nations continue to use marine radio as before the war?

GKA continued to broadcast messages to ships (twice) and it had to be assumed ships received them as no QSL could be given. The station became more of a listening/monitoring post as well as training of R/Os prior to despatch to sea or land stations worldwide. The station was taken over by the Admiralty and it became the hub of the Area Scheme where Commonwealth stations all over the world could send/receive traffic to/from the UK, linked by Admiralty circuits.

More info can be found in my book Portishead Radio - A Friendly Voice on many a Dark Night, available worldwide through Amazon