On the 10th of October 1918, just a month before the Armistice which ended World War 1 was signed, the RMS Leinster (call sign ‘MCV’) was sunk after being torpedoed by German submarine UB-123.

The Leinster was sunk 12.5 nautical Miles off the Irish coast while sailing from Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) near Dublin to Holyhead in Wales. The sinking resulted in the deaths of at least 567 of those on board, including the Radio Officer Arthur Jeffries. To add to the tragedy, two weeks later UB-123 was sunk with the loss of all 36 crew, the eldest of which was just 27 years old.

To commemorate this tragic event, Dragon Amateur Radio Club, from a Welsh village, are going to activate the special call sign GB100MCV and this will be activated periodically from the 1st until 28th October.

However a special effort using the call will be from the 10th until the 14th of October, when she will operating intensively from the TS Prince of Wales; the headquarters of the Sea Cadets in Holyhead. We shall be operating on all bands 80 – 10 as conditions allow on SSB, CW and AM. Plus we shall on VHF / UHF FM for local and across the Irish Sea contacts.

Similarly the National Maritime Museum of Ireland Radio Club will be active with the call sign EI100MCV and if you contact both stations between the 10th and 14th October, you can claim a special certificate. Details of both stations and how to claim the certificate can be found if you search either call sign on QRZ.COM.

Dragon ARC have also created a ‘GB100MCV’ Facebook group which you are welcome to join. We aim to use this to advertise occasional operating days, circulate operating frequencies during the 10th – 14th October, plus post pictures of the station.

Finally if any local amateur would like to come along and operate, please contact the Station Manager for GB100RSGB, Simon Taylor MW0NWM at m3set@yahoo.co.uk

RMS Leinster - https://rmsleinster100.com/the-tragedy/