UNITED KINGDOM WVA BULLETIN MEMBERS’ EDITION

WVA Chronicle

WARTIME MARITIME MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION ISSUE DATE: 15 DECEMBER 2025 CUSTODIANS • VOLUNTEERS • SUPPORTERS

Week 3 — Communication & Signals

Calm voices, silent symbols, and the confidence to pass orders clearly when it matters most.

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Communication is seamanship. Morse, semaphore, and flag hoists all exist to stop confusion when the weather, engines, or distance make normal speech impossible. A clear signal keeps convoys together, passes warnings quickly, and helps every crew member stay safe and focused on their task.

Use the Sea Skills communication game to practise sending short wartime-style messages, then translate them back to plain language. Notice how the game rewards accuracy and steady timing — the same discipline that kept real convoys moving through blackout conditions.

Modern radios make talking easy, but voice procedure still matters. Speak slowly, repeat key details, and always confirm you have understood. Seamanship means mixing old and new methods so you can pass information whatever the situation.

THIS WEEK’S FOCUS

Morse and semaphore: steady timing, clear spacing, and simple codes.
Flag etiquette: hoists, meaning of common flags, and keeping halyards tangle-free.
Voice procedure: who speaks, what to say first, and how to acknowledge correctly.

FROM THE DIRECTORSHIP

“Signals are respect for your shipmates. Be clear, be calm, and give people time to copy you — that discipline keeps watchkeepers confident and safe.”

MORSE CODE

Morse turns each letter into short and long tones called dits and dahs. Tap them out evenly and leave a pause between letters so the message can be copied.

A ·−
B −···
C −·−·
D −··
E ·
F ··−·
G −−·
H ····
I ··
J ·−−−
K −·−
L ·−··
M −−
N −·
O −−−
P ·−−·
Q −−·−
R ·−·
S ···
T −
U ··−
V ···−
W ·−−
X −··−
Y −·−−
Z −−··

SEMAPHORE

Semaphore uses two flags held at set angles to spell words. Each letter is a different arm position, usually called out using numbers on a clock face.

Semaphore Numerals
Numerals
Semaphore 0
0
Semaphore 1
1
Semaphore 2
2
Semaphore 3
3
Semaphore 4
4
Semaphore 5
5
Semaphore 6
6
Semaphore 7
7
Semaphore 8
8
Semaphore 9
9
Semaphore Rest/space
Rest/space
Semaphore A
A
Semaphore B
B
Semaphore C
C
Semaphore D
D
Semaphore E
E
Semaphore F
F
Semaphore G
G
Semaphore H
H
Semaphore I
I
Semaphore J
J
Semaphore K
K
Semaphore L
L
Semaphore M
M
Semaphore N
N
Semaphore O
O
Semaphore P
P
Semaphore Q
Q
Semaphore R
R
Semaphore S
S
Semaphore T
T
Semaphore U
U
Semaphore V
V
Semaphore W
W
Semaphore X
X
Semaphore Y
Y
Semaphore Z
Z
Semaphore Cancel/annul
Cancel/annul
Semaphore Error/attention
Error/attention

INTERNATIONAL CODE FLAGS

Each signal flag represents a letter and often a standalone meaning at sea. Hoists are read from top to bottom, with spacers to separate words.

Signal lab – from your name to a wartime hoist

Try the tools below to see your name in Morse, semaphore, and international code flags. When you hit Send signal we will sketch all three systems, and you can even listen to the Morse. The same box can decode a WWII Royal Naval Patrol Service signal sent from HMS EUROPA at the bottom of this section.

Morse

Semaphore

International code flags

WWII RNPS message to decode

A wartime-inspired signal from HMS EUROPA (the RNPS headquarters in Lowestoft) has been disguised below. Try using the same box above to re-create or decode the RNPS dispatch. Type the message letter by letter and place a / between each word to confirm you copied every part correctly.

The full message to decode is shown in Morse, semaphore, and flags below — match each word in the inputs underneath.

Morse

Semaphore

International code flags

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