Dexter ‘Dex’ Barratt

Dexter Spicer Barratt

b. 14 Nov 1920 (NZ)
d. 28 May 1996, aged 75 (NZ)

Former manager Wellington Radio ZLW

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Home
General Information
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- History of NZ spark stations
- Radio callsigns list
- Recruitment advertising
- NZPO Radio Section
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- Multi-channel radio links
- Radio regulation in NZ
- 1900 – 1909
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- 1910 – 1919
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- 1920 – 1929
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- 1930 – 1939
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  - 1934: Changes to radio callsigns
  - 1935: Government upgrades wireless stations
- 1940 – 1949
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  - Marconi DFG24/2 Direction Finders
  - World War 2 ZC1 transceiver
- 1950 – 1959
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  - 1958: NZPO Report on Overseas Radio Services
- 1960 – 1969
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- 1970 – 1979
- 1980 – 1989
- 1990 – 1996
- 2018 Commemorations
- Little mysteries
Auckland Radio
Awanui Radio
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- Awanui Radio Managers
- Awanui Radio 1911-1913: Planning & Construction
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- Awanui Radio 1913-1919
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- Awanui Radio 1920-1930
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- Awanui Radio 1931-Now
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Awarua Radio
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- Awarua Radio Staff
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  - Radio amateurs at ZLB
- Awarua Radio 1908-1913: Planning and Construction
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- Awarua Radio 1913-1919
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  - 1913: Awarua Radio opens
  - 1918: Wizard lighting system a success
- Awarua Radio 1920-1929
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  - 1929: AW Head to take command at Awarua Radio
- Awarua Radio 1930-1939
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- Awarua Radio 1940-1949
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- Awarua Radio 1950-1959
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  - 1953: Green fingers at Awarua Radio
  - 1956: The Awarua Radio story
- Awarua Radio 1960-1969
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- Awarua Radio 1970-1979
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- Awarua Radio 1980-1991
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- Awarua Radio 1991-Now
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- Awarua Communications Museum
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Chatham Islands Radio
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- Chathams Radio Staff
- Chatham Islands Radio 1902-1913: Construction
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- Chatham Islands Radio 1913-1929
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- Chatham Islands Radio 1930-1949
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- Chatham Islands Radio 1950-1969
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  - 1956: A radio operator’s life on the Chatham Islands
  - Jack Ryan remembers ZLC 1957-1966, part 1
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- Chatham Islands Radio 1970-1979
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  - Remembering Chatham Islands radiotelegraph
- Chatham Islands Radio 1980-1991
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  - 1988: 75th anniversary of Chatham Islands Radio
Taupo Maritime Radio
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- Transmitter site
- Receiver site
- MEOSAR earth station
- Taupo Radio 2000-2009
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  - 2003: When trouble strikes, Taupo Radio is listening
- Taupo Radio 2010-2019
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  - 2016: Tongan radio op trains at Taupo Radio
  - 2016: Taupo Radio antennas damaged by ice
Wellington Radio
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- Wellington Radio Staff
- Wellington Radio 1911-19
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- Wellington Radio 1920-29
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- Wellington Radio 1930-39
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  - 1934: Extension at ZLW receiving station
- Wellington Radio 1940-49
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  - 1941: RT service for small ships at ZLW Wellington
  - 1945: Access to Tinakori Hill under review
- Wellington Radio 1950-59
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  - 1954: Clyde Williams returns to ZLW
  - 1958: Clyde Williams returns to ZLW for last time
- Wellington Radio 1960-69
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- Wellington Radio 1970-79
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  - Mysterious misbehaving Navy transmitter
- Wellington Radio 1980-1993
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  - 1985: Description of ZLW site and buildings
  - 1993: Wellington Radio ZLW closes
- Wellington Radio 1993-Now
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Himatangi-Makara
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- Himatangi Radio
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- Makara Radio
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- Radiotelephone Terminal Services
- Radiotelegraph and Cable Terminal, Wellington
Lighthouses and radio beacons
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- 1917: Wireless for lighthouses
- Baring Head
- Brothers Islands
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  - Brothers Islands Radio
- Cape Campbell
- Cape Reinga
- Centre Island (Raratoka)
- Cuvier Island
- Dog Island
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  - 1983: Dog Island Lighthouse profile
- East Cape
- Farewill Spit
- Kahurangi Point
- Pencarrow
- Portland Island (Waikawa)
- Puysegur Point
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  - 1925: Wireless at Puysegur Point Lighthouse
  - 1942: Fire destroys Puysegur Point lighthouse
- Stephens Island
- Tiritiri Matangi
Other Stations
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- Apia Radio (Samoa)
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  - Apia Radio Managers
  - 1913: Materials arriving
  - 1914: NZ asked to seize Apia wireless station
  - 1914: Samoa surrenders
  - 1914: Samoa occupation
  - 1919: Telefunken news (original German)
  - 1919: Telefunken news (English translation)
- Campbell Island
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  - 1963-1964: Observing the ionosphere from Campbell Island
- Caswell Sound
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  - Caswell Sound Radio – Part 2
- Christchurch Radio
- Fiji
- Gisborne Harbour Board Radio ZMQ
- Macquarie Island
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  - 1915: Wireless operator describes life on Macquarie
  - 1915: Macquarie Island radio station closed
- Milford Sound
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  - 1946: Frank Barlow at Milford Sound Radio
  - 1952: Clyde Williams at Milford Sound Radio
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  - 1968: VHF radio testing on the Milford Track
- Milford Sound Aeradio
- New Caledonia
- Niue Radio
- Nuku’alofa Radio (Tonga)
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  - 1920: New wireless station in Tonga
  - 2016: Tongan radio op trains at Taupo Radio
- Papua New Guinea
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  - Port Moresby Radio
- Pennant Hills (Australia)
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  - 1910: Change of location raises cost and questions
  - 1911: Pennant Hills official testing
  - 1912: Pennant Hills model for Awanui and Awarua
- Pitcairn Island Radio
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  - 1938: Modern radio equipment for Pitcairn Island
- Quartz Hill (NZBS)
- Raoul Island (Kermadecs)
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  - Raoul Island: 1939-1949
  - Raoul Island: 1950-Present
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- Rarotonga Radio (Cook Islands)
- Rotoroa Island
- Roviana (Solomon Islands)
- Satellite earth stations of the NZ Post Office
- Scott Base (Antarctica)
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  - Scott Base: 1956-1960
  - Scott Base: 1960-1970
  - Scott Base: 1970-1980
  - Scott Base: 1980-1992
  - Vanda Station (Antarctica)
- Tabuaeran (Fanning Island)
- Tahiti
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  - 1915: Papeete radio opens
- Wellington Dominion Observatory
- Other marine radio stations
Ships
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- 1995: Final morse signals from Cook Strait ferries
- Abel Tasman VLKT
- Arahanga ZMBN
- Arahura ZMBS
- Aramoana ZMRD
- Aratika ZMFL
- Awatea ZMBJ
- Canberra GBVC
- Capitaine Cook III FNBW
- Capitaine Wallis FNUD
- Coastal Trader ZMSF
- Dominion Monarch GRGG
- ER Sterling
- Erne GHWQ
- Flinders Bay GYSA
- Gothic MAUQ
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  - 1953-1954: SS Gothic as royal yacht
- Hinakura GDVS
- Holmburn ZMFV
- Holmlea ZMJH
- John Wilson
- Kaimiro ZMEC
- Kaitawa ZMVC
- Kaitoa ZMGC
- Kawatiri ZMKX
- Kokiri
- Manapouri GWLU
- Maranui ZMLA
- Maui Pomare
- Ngahere
- Oriana GVSN
- Pamir ZMKG
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  - 1941: New Zealand seizes barque Pamir
- Persic GDRZ
- Port Waikato ZMJN
- Rangitane GDBV
- Tainui
- Talune
- Tamahine
- Tarihiko ZMLP
- Tofua ZMLI
- Tutanekai
- Wahine ZMGW
- Waikare ZMCT
- Waimea ZMRU
- Waiotahi ZMJW
- Fiction: The last Radio Officer
Distress
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- 1924: Ripple founders
- 1926: Manaia strands
- 1930: Tahiti sinks
- 1934: Barque Favell
- 1939: Waikouaiti wrecked
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  - Waikouaiti aground near Bluff [PDF]
  - Underwriters abandon stranded Waikouaiti
  - Inquiry: Waikouaiti captain’s error of judgment
- 1940: Niagara sunk by German mine
- 1940: Holmwood sunk by German raider
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  - 1941: Officers and passengers describe attack
  - 1941: Inquiry criticises Holmwood captain
- 1940: Rangitane sunk by German raider
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  - 1941: Rangitane prisoners describe their treatment
  - 1941: Captain Upton recalls attack on Rangitane
- 1943: Arahura strands
- 1951: Yacht Race Disaster
- 1954: Hauiti wrecked
- 1959: Holmglen sinks
- 1966: Monte Palomares
- 1966: Kaitawa lost with all hands
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  - Kaitawa news coverage
  - Kaitawa Inquiry
  - Kaitawa Inquiry Annex
  - Kaitawa memorials
- 1968: Wahine sinks
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  - 1968: Victims of the Wahine disaster
  - 1968: Wahine rescue
  - 1968: Salvaging Wahine
  - 1973: 5th anniversary of Wahine disaster (video)
  - 1988: 20th anniversary of Wahine disaster (video)
  - 2018: ZM50GW – 50th anniversary of Wahine disaster
  - 2018: News reports on the Wahine 50th anniversary
- 1968: Maranui sinks
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  - 2018: ZM50LA – 50th anniversary of Maranui sinking
- 1968: Gothic fire
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  - News: Seven die in fire at sea on liner SS Gothic
  - News: Damaged Gothic heads back to NZ
  - News: Mother died on Gothic trying to save family
  - Captain and crew sail crippled Gothic back to NZ
  - Radio communication with SS Gothic after the fire
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    - News: Morse signal XXX MAUQ told story of tragedy
  - Preliminary report: Fatal fire aboard SS Gothic
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  - Repairs after fire on liner SS Gothic
  - SS Gothic: The final chapter
  - 1991: Gothic fire, the night Judi will never forget
  - 2010: Letter from Charles Glennie about Gothic fire
  - Face-to-face with disaster: The Gothic fire
  - 2018: ZM50MAUQ – 50th anniversary of Gothic fire
  - 2018: Media coverage of SS Gothic fire anniversary
- 1971: Endeavour II
- 1973: Stina sinks
- 1981: Pacific Charger runs ashore
- 1986: Mikhail Lermontov sinks
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  - Testimony of radio officer Anatoliy Krutkov
  - Radio equipment aboard HMNZS Taupo
  - Report by radio operator David Hopgood, Arahura
  - Radio log from inter-island ferry Arahura
- 1991: Celtic Kiwi (ex Holmdale) sinks
- 2009: Princess Ashika
- 2018: Butiraoi capsizes
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  - Butiraoi a week overdue, NZ asked to search
  - NZ Air Force completes first day of ferry search
  - NZ Air Force finds seven survivors of Butiraoi
  - Australia, USA join search for Butiraoi survivors
  - Aerial search for Butiraoi survivors suspended
  - Official reports into the sinking of MV Butiraoi
Training
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- Radio technician training at Wellington East Post Office
- Radio technician training at Trentham
- Radio technician training at Rugby Street
- Radio technician training at New Zealand polytechs
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  - 1967: Typical training course information
  - 1985 Syllabus for Technicians Cert (Radio)
- Radio Officer training at Wellington Polytechnic
- Radio technician training at Post Office radio stations
- Memories of Post Office radio tech training
People
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- Barry Allison
- Ray Allsop
- George Askey
- Peter Baird
- FE (Frank) Barlow
- Dexter ‘Dex’ Barratt
- Frank H Bissmire
- JU (Jack) Bonisch
- LW (Pat) Bourke
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  - 1917: LW Bourke leaving Awanui wireless station
  - 1921: LW Bourke retires
- DC Boyes
- Paul D Burke
- Arthur Cheshire
- WRH (Harry) Clarke
- PJ (Joe) Collett
- Patrick J (Pat) Columb
- David J Currie
- John L Davies
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  - 1917: JL Davies moves from Awarua to Awanui
- James B Dolan
- Brian J Donaldson
- JT (Jim) Dudley
- John R Duncan
- EE (Dun) Dunwoodie
- Elvin (Ellie) Ellenden
- LJ (Les) Elliston
- Laurie G Emens
- Fred W Gates
- Tom Gates
- C Alan Glennie
- Tony Graham
- CN (Chas) Hair
- James H Hampton
- AW (Hec) Head
- AJ Helean
- JG (Jack) Hogan
- Dennis E Horan
- John Houlihan
- Frank Hunt
- George King
- EH Lawn
- George W Marston
- D McMahon
- H John Milne
- Reg Motion
- Joseph J Orchiston
- Alf Pellow
- Lester J Price
- Eugene Reinhard
- JF (Jack) Ryan
- L George Scull
- DC Shaw
- Raj Singh
- AF (Andy) Smith
- Palmer O Spry
- LH (Les) Steel
- Graham Turner
- KW Walford
- HW (Bill) Walker
- WA (Alec) Wallace
- Ralph S Wheeler
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  - 1916: RS Wheeler leaving Chatham Islands
- WFC (Frank) Whiteman
- R Clyde Williams
- ALM (Les) Willis
- CR Wyllie
Roll of Honour
Audio/Video – New Zealand
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- Audio/Video – Australia
- Audio/Video – Europe
- Audio/Video – Ships
- Audio/Video – General
Sources & References
Links
Radio room clocks and clock faces
Contact
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- Feedback