TRAFFIC CONTROL BOARD

a large cork board divided up into the different areas to which we communicate. Its purpose is to display message cycles clearly. Messages are displayed for two reasons, to keep people informed and to permit traffic control. Traffic control is the action of reviewing all telex traffic and seeing which cycles have not completed and forcing them to get completed swiftly and correctly. The board is arranged so that the first telex of a cycle is posted over to the left-hand side of the correct area of the board. On a very good board a card is posted to the left of the first message stating in one or two words what that message cycle is about, such as the name of the mission or ship it concerns. To the right of the first message is placed the second message of this cycle, when it comes in. To the right of this is placed the third, etc., until the cycle is complete. When the message cycle is complete, it is removed off the board. (FO 2528)