What Has Happened To Heather Harmon

The Telegraph (from the Greek tele τηλε away and γραφειν graphein, writing) is a system designed to transmit messages from one point to another over large distances, the using codes for the prompt and reliable.

Tour de Chappe telegraph

During the French Revolution, Claude Chappe (1763-1805), Lyon engineer, invented, devised and managed to impose on the French government's revolutionary system semaphore signaling, particularly through the support of Joseph Lakanal: Tower Chappe.

The Chappe brothers realized March 3, 1791 initial public experience of air telegraph Brûlon to park over a distance of 14 km.

The Telegraph air were adopted July 26, 1793 by the National Convention.

July 16, 1794 The first official line Paris-Lille was commissioned.

In recent years, 5000 km network and nearly 533 stations were established, covering a significant part of French territory.

The success of the optical telegraph faded and Bonaparte in 1800 reduced the appropriations Alou construction and maintenance. Claude Chappe does not support this disallowance and despair threw herself into a well in 1805 at the age of 42 years. The brothers continued the development of optical telegraph until 1830, when it was finally adopted.

Failure Telegraph Chappe is that it does not work at night and in foggy weather.

This defect has been of considerable importance in the history of France:
Upon return of Napoleon during the Hundred Days, it landed March 1, 1815 with 1200 men in Golfe Juan, but Paris, then under the reign of Louis XVIII, not learned it by telegraph of Chappe than March 5, 1815, due to fog.

Thus, Napoleon was not intercepted (unsuccessfully) that just before Lake LAFFREY Grenoble, March 7, 1815.

The Chappe telegraph was subsequently replaced by the electric telegraph.

Up Now, sites Chappe telegraph, because of their locations are highly sought to install radio communications relay, and even considered a type of optical telecommunications very different: the laser links.

The first telegraph was light and totally manual. The first uses of the telegraph Chappe were dedicated to military communication. The messages could be transmitted over long distances through relay spaced about ten kilometers and located on high ground.

principle:

The telegraph Chappe brothers is a mechanical device to 5 meters high consisting of:

- two wings or indicators of 2 meters long and 30 cm wide.
- a counterweight for balancing the assembly.

- a manipulator in order to move the wings.

- The operator changed the position of the wings to transmit a message according to an established code.

- This message is visible from afar was observed using a telescope.

These towers were equipped with a system of articulated arm operated manually by an operator via a pulley system. The operator monitored through two lunettes in the opposite way round the previous and next. Thus, he observed signals from the previous relay and retransmitted to the next. In the early days, two people operating the telegraph. Rapidly, due to budgetary restrictions, only one operator was responsible for overseeing the two glasses of turn over. This required constant observation.

Telegraph Mont Saint-Michel

This system allowed to transmit messages much faster than the mail on horseback, it linked Paris to Marseille, or Brest, for example in a few hours using a code composed of hundreds of words and phrases that accelerates the transmission and guaranteed some privacy. It should nevertheless allow 20 minutes for a code to be relayed from Paris to Brest. Assuming 40 seconds between each word or phrase, a message 10 words took an hour to make the trip, and this not counting the possibility of paralysis short drive (a relay continued to repeat the sign until it was passed, forcing all the string to repeat the same signal as the relay was not done.)

The code was submitted as follows:

The vertical position indicated the no message for

warned diagonal position a message was coming and was a neutral position between two messages.

A first code indicating the page of a book dedicated

Following a diagonal position of the arms ...

A second code indicating the line of the page.

Only the transmitter and receiver (at the beginning and end of the relay) had a copy of the book. This allowed to send messages confidentially.

Signal List

Book codes (excerpt)

The big drawbacks of the system were that it could not work night or Low visibility, and it mobilized thousands of operators (one every 15 kilometers).

Chronology:
- The 2 and 3 March 1791, experience with an optical telegraph system clocks synchronized optical panel and a white and black and between Brûlon Park.

- In June 1791, Claude Chappe moved to Paris and create new experiences Menilmontant.
- In April 1793, the word telegraph made its appearance thanks to André-François Miot de Melito.
- April 1, 1793, Representative Charles-Gilbert Romme pleads the cause of the Chappe telegraph before the National Convention.
- July 12, 1793, the first test of 26 km between Ménilmontant Écouen and Saint-Martin-du-Tertre (Val-d'Oise).
- July 25, 1793, Claude Chappe telegraph engineer is appointed by decree.
- August 4, 1793, the Committee directs the public hello implementation of the Paris-Lille under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War.
- April 30, 1794, the first test of the Paris-Lille.
- August 30, 1794, the first dispatch announcing the capture of Condé-sur-Escaut "Condé returned to being a republic, surrendered this morning 6:00.
- On October 3, 1974, decision to build the Paris-Landau.
- In April 1795, extending the line north to Brussels.
- In August 1798, commissioning of the Paris-Brest.
- In July 1801, between test nights Menilmontant and Saint-Martin-du-Tertre without relay.
- In 1805, creation of the Paris and Turin.
- In 1810, the line goes north to Amsterdam and the line south to Venice.
- May 3, 1837 Monopoly Law of communication in France.
- In 1844, 534 towers crisscross the French territory connecting more than 5000 km of the most important cities.
- In 1845, the first electric telegraph line was installed in France between Paris and Rouen, ringing the bell towers Chappe.
- In 1855, abandoning the last line of telegraph air.

Disconnection Letter Of Telephone

Memories or telegraphy

Mr Michel Baudoin

I was born in 1930. After years of primary education from 1935 to 1944, I left school at 14 years, as many of my classmates at that time and I went immediately into the workforce as a laborer.

At 18, I was obviously unqualified. Dad dreamed of making me go to school to become a radio store "you can be like Mr. B.. Is an interesting job," he said. B. Mr. Was the wireless convenience store on the corner.

Yes, but how? Pay studies were not possible, then? The solution: enlist in the transmissions of the Army for example.

Thus until June 1948, at age 18, I am committed to 118th Battalion Signals in Nancy .

It was not so easy to make this dream become a radio store and I had no training in radio engineering. And then, engaged at that time, we do not ask you your wishes.

I was first posted to the wire, as telephone lineman. Climb poles, it does not please me. After a few weeks, I had the audacity (yes boldness, because we do not allow too much demand at this time) to request to be paid to the radio section.

At this point I started to learn playing the sound of Morse.

He had to train many wireless operators and is probably why he gave me was so easy to change specialty. I was already thinking about audio Morse in 1948, several months before I was 18. I looked for signs of Morse in the dictionary.

I figured (silly idea) that one could write in shorthand Morse. I learned, along with graphic signs dots and dashes of Morse, the shorthand method Delaunay. When I went to work every morning, I recited Morse code in my head. But, of course, I do not recite the sound, I had no idea what it was. I vaguely heard the sound of A was "didah" but as to recognize and ears on shortwave portable radio, I still was not at that stage.

On the portable radio family, I heard some sounds, maybe the Walrus? It was incomprehensible to me anyway.

When I was posted to the 118th Radio BT Nancy , learning Morse is obviously nothing like the idea (false) that I had made.

Sappers wireless operators of the radio section (we called them again as it was then) had started learning Morse four months earlier. He had, somehow, I packed my tardiness. For my debut

learning Morse, I had a sergeant instructor all to myself for several weeks. Then came two others involved. Of course, we did not radio, we were also following the course of military instruction.

The first readings to the sound, I thought that I would never be able to decrypt the audio Morse. (I precise audio to make the difference Morse with the optical, where we read lines and points, while for the Morse audio you should listen only to the sound of each character).
The first day I heard a sequence of sounds, without distinguishing words (points) of roselle (lines).
Then I had the instructor Sergeant Valentin and I began to recognize the sounds of characters letters, numbers, etc. ..
From that moment, everything was very fast. I memorized the sound of each character in a short time. After eight to fifteen days, I was reading VMH 600 (10 wpm). The milestone of 800, 900 words per hour was reached after two to three months.
But not manipulation!

We learned also to use the position of VCC 399 campaign which included: a BC 610 transmitter with a power of 400 watts in spelling, receptors BC 342, BC 312 and numerous accessories. He also had to learn the procedure radiotelegraph codes.

After two months of service, I passed a first review technical radio and got the Diploma No. 151 / Trans (operator position Radiotelegraph Campaign) in Nancy, August 18, 1948.

We were very proud, holders of this Award! We were allowed to wear leg slipped on the shoulder of the khaki jacket, badge black cloth with red letters TSF.
The same badge was gold in color. But to be allowed to wear it, you had to have passed the tests CERTIFICATE No. 251 / TRANS. I should get the certificate until much later, during my stay in Cambodia in February 1951.

During our learning to read to the sound of Morse, we also had workouts with the handling of Morse, with the only vertical type manipulator PTT. The instructor listened to our handling and assigned a rating of 20.

And thus, probably with insufficient training duration, one day of autumn 1948, I was a radio operator in a shelter equipped with an SCR 399 with a sergeant to police chief. We were posted for radio connections between Lille and Nancy.

Our GMC was parked in the park of "Great Offices of Mines" in Lille for the radio link with Nancy.

One evening, while the Sergeant was on leave from the show, I was of service to the radio in the shelter. I had to provide only for the first time, liaising with Nancy. QRU was (that is, without traffic) to each appointment with Nancy for several days. It's pretty excited that I put the devices on, for an appointment with Nancy at the scheduled time.
I had no experience of traffic on the airwaves.
Operator QTC Nancy told me (I have a message for you). With a hesitant
handling and trembling, I gave him: "QRV" (I'm ready to copy). He sent me a message handled quickly, so fast that I have not copied. I asked him to repeat the QTC (message): "QRS" (please handle more slowly). Then he sent me, repeated several Once a code at the time that meant: "Change of operator, put a qualified operator."
I was very panicked. Finally, I stopped to answer him and waited for the Sergeant returned from leave to 23 hours.
When he arrived, I told him what had happened, he had no comment. He called the operator and Nancy began to tamper with it at high speed. I did not understand trade and I was wondering if I could manipulate a day?

Back to Nancy, prices rebounded in radio room.

A short leave At Christmas and on my return, I learned that I was nominated for a stay in Indochina.

From that moment, I miss classes on certain days, I was more often to watch and listen to manipulate a professional radio operator in civilian life. The latter was doing his military service and completed his classes, he now assured traffic radio stations scattered throughout the region. I often went in the room where radio traffic there was very rarely visits to authorities. I never tired of listening to the traffic exchanged and look to the operator.

few weeks after I left in Indochina.
I learned some things, certain behaviors: for example a copy of the quiet part of the operator .. But I still did not practice.

Early in my stay in Cambodia, I was incorporated into a team that ensured the continuous monitoring of a frequency. Each turn we made sure the day shift or night. We had to respond to any calls from stations scattered in nature, which we list, stations may call, especially in case of danger of rebel attacks .. urgent messages ..

December 14, 1949 - Phnom Penh - Mr Michael Baldwin to the radio security

One day, after midnight, calls for a station, QTC (message) encrypted very urgent. I send
QRV (I'm ready to copy) and, as in LILLE last fall, the message ended, I had almost nothing is copied, it was much too fast for the operator that I was young. I asked for repetition of message and two codes: "Please handle more slowly and repeat the word or group twice.
My correspondent began to handle more slowly repeating groups twice. It was all very important ways, the message is received. I read back the message, as it should be .... in the end everything was good. I was happy and it gave me confidence for the first time. It was the beginning of many other messages sent or received over the months and years.

It should be noted that traffic in Morse, in regions like the Far East, is much harder to intercept than in Europe because there are almost always weather disturbances, resulting in spitting at reception .

Imagine, when there a storm in Europe! In the Far East, it was every day that he had read the Morse spitting in the air.

During the stay of 29 months, I improved by numerous contacts and traffic Morse. First, traveling by foot operation, (we walked all day with only 2 to 3 hour break at night) transceiver, an SCR 284 backpack and hand generator. We were two radio operators, one wearing the transceiver, the other generator. The whole thing was very heavy, more U.S. 17 rifle or a submachine gun sten ..... Weapon safer for radios that really effective because it would have been hard to use in case of danger kit with everything so heavy.

My baptism of fire took place during an operation in 1949, this time I was asked to implement the radio link .. by voice this time.

These operations in the rice fields or forest, radio operator on secondment to the Foreign Legion or the infantry, lasted half of my stay of 30 months. The other part of the stay, I was assigned to a wireless operator post in Takeo in Cambodia. That's where I learned to fend for food station on lead-acid batteries that were recharged by a small group that I can not remember the name. Maybe it was a group BRIBAN?

In 1951, it was back in France.

Confirmed in my specialty operator wireless operator by obtaining multiple certificates and diplomas, I have been an instructor radio during my two-year stay in the French forces in Germany.

In 1954, I was sent again to act in Indo-China for two years.

From 1956 to 1959, was a stay in Algeria.

1957 - Dra El Mizan - Algeria - Establishment of a link to the back of a dodge.

After again serving in the French forces in Germany and, finally, stationed in France from 1964 to 1966. During all my trips outside France, it was always the Radio Operations.

In 1966 I left the Army and spent a contest Agent transmissions. Thus I continued to work in radio until 1982.

In 1982, I left with regret the radio, assigned to another job that had nothing to do with radio, until I retired in 1990.

Period Due Instead Clear Discharge

lived from 1992 to 1993 - The 18RT Phnom Penh (Cambodia)

24 years later, the 18th RT amounts in the footsteps of Mr Michel Baudoin the communications center of Phnom Penh.

accordance with the Paris Agreements of 1991, from May 1992 to September 1993, the UN mission was to disarm the various factions to demobilize their troops and to organize election Free. Only this last mission was really satisfied. UNTAC's mandate ended in September 1993 with the promulgation of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the formation of a new government.

of 18 personnel to the communications center from the left:

1st row: Sgt Sistel, Cpl Sculier, Lt. LEMERDY (head center), Cch BUTEZ

2nd row: WO Guy Albu, Cpl Pattey, WO Peylet Agnes, Cal Brandalise, Sch DUPONT Emmanuel

Email exchanged between Military 18RT Phnom Penh and Epinal

(By memorandum dated July 21, 1992, the Central Post Office armed with granting the franchise to the French military post of UNTAC to correspondence weighing less than 10 grams and folds at 5 per person per week. This franchise was evidenced by the affixing of a stamp dater corerspondances special double circle, 41 mm in diameter, with words "UNITED NATIONS - UNITED UNTAC / UNTAC.")

Witty Invitation Wording -birthday

Keeping sapper telegrapher 18th Engineer Regiment

Held blue horizon model 1914-1918 18th Engineer Regiment, comprising pants, a jacket, a pair of leggings and a pair of leather boots, a belt and a helmet ( Ownership of the museum of the 18th RT).

fabric collar insignia 18th RG

Insignia Specialty telegrapher

Trims embroidered on the sleeve

add Guêtres of

January 22, 1925 - Parade Apers surrender flag in the 18th RG Nancy.