The Fire of March - 1943

As the Rugby GBR (16 kHz) transmitter was vital to the Admiralty’s war effort, the Government decided early in 1940 that a standby station ought to be built. A suitable site was found at Criggion on the Welsh border. Although Rugby Radio Station wasn’t actually bombed during the war, the building of the Criggion Station was fully justified on 30th March 1943, when there was a fire at the Main Building in Rugby. Within a matter of days the Criggion Station was able to take over the GBR (16 kHz) service, albeit at reduced power.