Royal Corps of Signals

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Royal Signals
Royal Signals Working Web.jpg
Cap Badge of the Royal Corps of Signals
Active 1920 – Present
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Part of Commander Land Forces
Garrison/HQ Blandford Camp, Dorset
Motto Certa Cito (Swift and Sure)
March Begone Dull Care
Commanders
Current
commander		 Brigadier TJP Watts
Colonel-in-Chief HRH The Princess Royal
British Army Arms and Services
Flag of the British Army.svg
Combat Arms
Royal Armoured Corps
Infantry
Army Air Corps
Combat Support Arms
Royal Artillery
Royal Engineers
Royal Corps of Signals
Intelligence Corps
Combat Services
Royal Army Chaplains Department
Royal Logistic Corps
Army Medical Services
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Adjutant General's Corps
Small Arms School Corps
Royal Army Physical Training Corps
General Service Corps
Corps of Army Music

The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals - abbreviated to R SIGNALS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communications and information systems essential to all operations. Royal Signals units provide the full telecommunications infrastructure for the Army wherever they operate in the world. The Corps has its own engineers, logistics experts and systems operators to run radio and area networks in the field.[1] It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems, providing command support to commanders and their headquarters, and conducting electronic warfare against enemy communications.

Contents

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Training & trades

Main article: Royal Signals Trades

Royal Signals officers receive a general military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, followed by specialist communications training at the Royal School of Signals, Blandford Camp, Dorset. Officers are not differentiated into trade groups - their training covers the whole range of their future employment.

Other ranks are trained both as field soldiers and tradesmen. Their basic military training is delivered at the Army Training Regiment Winchester before undergoing trade training at 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment. There are currently six different trades available to other ranks,[2] each of which is open to both men and women:

  • Communication Systems Operator: trained in military radio and trunk communications systems
  • Communication Systems Engineer: trained in data communications and computer networks
  • Communication Electrician: trained in maintaining and repairing generators and providing electrical power
  • Communication Logistic Specialist: trained in driving and accounting for communications equipment
  • Installation Technician: trained in installing and repairing fibreoptics and telephone systems
  • Electronic Warfare Systems Operator: trained in intercepting and jamming enemy communications

Staff sergeants and warrant officers work in one of five supervisory rosters:

  • Yeoman of Signals - trained in the planning and deployment and management of military tactical/strategic communications networks;
  • Yeoman of Signals (Electronic Warfare) - trained in the planning, deployment and management of military tactical/strategic electronic warfare assets;
  • Foreman of Signals - trained in the installation, maintenance, repair and interoperability of military tactical/strategic communications assets;
  • Foreman of Signals (Information Systems) - trained in the installation, maintenance, repair and interoperability of military tactical/strategic Information Systems;
  • Regimental Duty - trained in the daily routine and running of a unit.

Whilst SSgts are generally regarded as being Regimental Duty, this rosta does not start until WO2 and therefore all SSgts in the Royal Signals who are not supervisory are still employed "in trade".

[edit] History

[edit] Origins

In 1870, 'C' Telegraph Troop, Royal Engineers, was founded under Captain Montague Lambert. The Troop was the first formal professional body of signallers in the British Army and its duty was to provide communications for a field army by means of visual signalling, mounted orderlies and telegraph. By 1871, 'C' Troop had expanded in size from 2 officers and 133 other ranks to 5 officers and 245 other ranks. In 1879, 'C' Troop first saw action during the Anglo-Zulu War. On 1 May 1884, 'C' Troop was amalgamated with the 22nd and 34th Companies, Royal Engineers, to form the Telegraph Battalion Royal Engineers; 'C' Troop formed the 1st Division (Field Force, based at Aldershot) while the two Royal Engineers companies formed the 2nd Division (Postal and Telegraph, based in London). Signalling was the responsibility of the Telegraph Battalion until 1908, when the Royal Engineers Signal Service was formed. As such it provided communications during World War I. It was about this time that motorcycle despatch riders and wireless sets were introduced into service.

[edit] Royal Warrant

A Royal Warrant for the creation of a Corps of Signals was signed by the Secretary of State for War, Winston Churchill, on 28 June 1920. Six weeks later, King George V conferred the title Royal Corps of Signals. It was given precedence immediately after the Corps of Royal Engineers.

[edit] Subsequent history

Before the Second World War, Royal Signals recruits were required to be at least 5 feet 2 inches tall. They initially enlisted for eight years with the colours and a further four years with the reserve. They trained at the Signal Training Centre at Catterick Camp. All personnel were taught to ride.[3]

Throughout World War II, members of the Corps served in every theatre of war. By the end of the war the strength of the Corps was 8,518 officers and 142,472 men. In one famous episode, Corporal Thomas Waters of 5th Parachute Brigade Signal Section was awarded the Military Medal for laying and maintaining the field telephone line under heavy enemy fire across the Caen Canal Bridge on D Day 1944.

In the immediate post-war period, the Corps played a full and active part in numerous campaigns, including Palestine, Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, Malaya and the Korean War. Until the end of the Cold War, the main body of the Corps was deployed with the British Army of the Rhine confronting the former Communist Bloc forces, providing the British Forces' contribution to NATO with its communications infrastructure. Soldiers from the Royal Signals delivered communications in the Falklands War, the first Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone , East Timor and the second Gulf War. They are currently deployed in Cyprus (TA) and Afghanistan.

In 1994, The Royal Corps of Signals relocated its training regiments: 11th Signal Regiment (the Recruit Training Regiment) and 8th Signal Regiment (the Trade Training School), from Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire to Blandford Camp in Dorset, where the Royal School of Signals was already based.

[edit] Dress and ceremonial

[edit] Tactical Recognition flash

Tactical Recognition Flash of the Royal Signals

The Corps wears a blue and white tactical recognition flash. This is worn horizontally on the right arm with the blue half charging forward.

Aiborne elements of the Royal Signals wear a Drop Zone (DZ) flash on the right arm of their combat jacket. It is square in shape with its top half white and the bottom half blue. When 5 Airborne Brigade was re-formed for the Falklands Crisis, Signal elements adopted the Airborne Bridges Headquarters DZ Flash but this changed back to its original colours in the mid 1980s.

[edit] Cap badge

The flag and cap badge feature Mercury (Latin: Mercurius) , the winged messenger of the gods, who is referred to by members of the corps as "Jimmy". The origins of this nickname are unclear. According to one explanation, the badge is referred to as "Jimmy" because the image of (the ancient Roman god) Mercury was based on the late mediaeval bronze statue of that 'divine' being by the Italian sculptor Giambologna (this is usually referred to as "Giambologna's Mercury" - shortening over time reduced the name Giambologna to "Jimmy". The most widely accepted theory of where the name Jimmy comes from is a Royal Signals boxer, called Jimmy Emblem, who was the British Army Champion in 1924 and represented the Royal Corps of Signals from 1921 to 1924. It is one of the eight chalk hill figure military badges carved at Fovant, Wiltshire. It is the latest one to be made, as it was placed in 1970 following the Corp's 50th anniversary.

[edit] Lanyard

On Nos 2, 4 and 14 Dress the Corps wears a dark blue lanyard signifying its early links with the Royal Engineers. The colour is royal blue, and thus much lighter than that worn by the Engineers, and the knotting is identical[citation needed]. It is worn on the right shoulder, signifying the Corps as cavalry[citation needed]. The Airborne Signals Unit wears a drab green lanyard made out of parachute cord which dates back to the Second World War. Following a parachute drop in to France the unit's Commanding Officer ordered all Signal personnel to cut a length of para-chord from their chutes in the event they may need it later in the fighting.

[edit] Motto

The Corps motto is "CERTA CITO", which freely translates as swift and sure It is easily seen on any of the Corps Badges (CERTA: Latin for sure, certain, etc. CITO: Latin for swift, quick, etc)

[edit] Appointments

The Colonel in Chief is currently HRH The Princess Royal. The Master of Signals is Lieutenant General Robert Baxter, CBE. The Signal Officer-in-Chief (Army) is Brigadier TJP Watts OBE ADC, and the Corps Regimental Sergeant Major is Warrant Officer Class One (CRSM) AP McBean.

[edit] Equipment

Main article: Army Communications and Information Systems (United Kingdom)

The Corps deploys and operates a broad range of specialist military and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) communications systems.[4] The main categories are as follows:

  • Satellite ground terminals
  • Terrestrial trunk radio systems
  • Combat net radio systems
  • Computer networks
  • Specialist military applications (computer programs)

[edit] Royal Corps of Signals units

[edit] Brigades

There are three signal brigades:

  • 1st Signal Brigade: 7(Disbanding mid 2012), 16 and 22 Signal Regiments plus Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Support Battalion. The Brigade Headquarters is now co-located with HQ ARRC at Gloucester, with one signal regiment at Stafford and 16 SR in Germany currently scheduled to move to Stafford in 2015.
  • 2nd Signal Brigade: (To be disbanded in late 2012[5]) The Brigade Headquarters is located at Corsham and comprises 10, 32, 37, 38, 39 and 71 Signal Regiments, plus 299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications), Specialist Group Royal Signals with 81 Signal Squadron, Land Information & Communications Services Group (LICSG), Land Information Assurance Group (LIAG) and the Central Volunteer Headquarters (CVHQ) Royal Signals.
  • 11th Signal Brigade: The Brigade Headquarters is located in Telford and comprises 2, 14(Electronic Warfare) and 30 Signal Regiments. It also has links to 1(UK)ADSR, 3(UK)DSR and 21 Sig Regt (Air Support).

[edit] Regular Army

  • 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment [Herford]
    • Headquarters Squadron
    • 201 Signal Squadron
    • 211 Signal Squadron
    • 212 Signal Squadron
  • 3rd (United Kingdom) Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment [Bulford]
    • Headquarters Squadron
    • 202 Signal Squadron
    • 206 Signal Squadron
    • 258 Signal Squadron
  • 7th Signal Regiment (To be disbanded in mid 2012[6]) [Elmpt]
    • Headquarters Squadron
    • 229 Signal Squadron
    • 231 Signal Squadron (Disbanded 31 Oct 2011)
    • 232 Signal Squadron (Disbanding Feb 2012)
  • 10th Signal Regiment [Corsham]
    • 225 Signal Squadron (ECM (FP)) - (Formerly Romeo Troop, 15 Sig Regt which disbanded May 2006)
    • 241 Signal Squadron
    • 243 Signal Squadron
    • 251 Signal Squadron
  • 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) [Haverfordwest]
    • Operations Support Squadron
    • 223 Signal Squadron (Electronic Warfare)
    • 226 Signal Squadron (Electronic Warfare)
    • 237 Signal Squadron (Electronic Warfare)
    • 245 Signal Squadron (Electronic Warfare)
  • 15th Signal Regiment (Information Support) [Blandford] Re-titled from Unified System Support Organisation (USSO)
  • 16th Signal Regiment [Elmpt]
    • Support Squadron
    • 230 Signal Squadron
    • 255 Signal Squadron
  • 18 (United Kingdom Special Forces) Signal Regiment [Hereford]
    • SBS Signal Squadron
    • 264 (Special Air Service) Signal Squadron
    • 267 (Special Reconnaissance Regiment) Signal Squadron
    • 268 (United Kingdom Special Forces) Signal Squadron
    • 63 (Special Air Service) Signal Squadron (Reserve)
  • 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support) [Colerne]
    • HQ Squadron
    • 220 Signal Squadron
    • 244 Signal Squadron
    • 43 (Wessex) Signal Squadron (Volunteers)
  • 299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications) [Bletchley]
  • HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade Headquarters and Signal Troop [Northern Ireland]
  • 600 Signal Troop - (Attached to 15 Signal Regiment (Information Support))
  • 628 Signal Troop (GBR DCM D) - 1st NATO Signal Battalion (Formerly 280 (UK) Signal Squadron Dec 04, formerly 28th Signal Regiment)
  • 643 Signal Troop (COMSEC) - (Attached to 10th Signal Regiment)
  • 660 Signal Troop (Attached to 11 EOD Regt RLC for support in ECM and communications)
  • Joint Communications Unit (Falkland Islands)
  • The Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team (RSMDT) [Known since the 1960s as the "White Helmets"]
  • Band of the Royal Corps of Signals (Corps Band)
  • Royal Corps of Signals Pipes and Drums (P&D)

[edit] Territorial Army

  • 32nd Signal Regiment (Volunteers) [RHQ Glasgow]
    • 52 (Lowland) Support Squadron (Volunteers) [Glasgow]
    • 33 (Lancashire) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Liverpool/Manchester]
    • 50 (Northern) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Darlington/Hartlepool]
    • 51 (Scottish) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Edinburgh/East Kilbride]
    • 40 Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Belfast/Limavady]
    • Royal Signals (Northern) Band (Volunteers) [Darlington]
  • 37th Signal Regiment (Volunteers) [RHQ Redditch]
    • 54 (Worcestershire) Support Squadron (Volunteers) [Redditch]
    • 36 (Eastern) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Colchester/Cambridge]
    • 48 (City of Birmingham) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Birmingham/Coventry]
    • 53 (Wales and Western) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Cardiff/Stratford on Avon]
  • 38th (Strategic Communications) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) [RHQ Sheffield]
    • 46 (Hallamshire) Support Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Sheffield]
    • 1 Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Bletchley/Rugby/Banbury]
    • 2 (Dundee and Highland) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Dundee/Aberdeen]
    • 41 (Princess Louise's Kensington) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Coulsdon/Kingston-Upon-Thames]
    • 64 (City of Sheffield) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Sheffield/Nottingham/Leeds]
  • 43 (Wessex) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) [Bath] - (Part of 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support))
  • 63 (Special Air Service) Signal Squadron (Reserve) [Thorney Island] - (Part of 18th (United Kingdom Special Forces) Signal Regiment)
  • Royal Signals (Northern Band) (Volunteers) [Darlington] - Attached to 32nd Signal Regiment (Volunteers)

[edit] Cadet Forces

The Royal Corps of Signals is the sponsoring Corps for several Army Cadet Force and Combined Cadet Force units.[8] They also, quite unusually, sponsor small groups of signals trained cadets in cadet detachments which are affiliated to a different Regiment or Corps.

[edit] Order of precedence

Preceded by
Corps of Royal Engineers		 Order of Precedence Succeeded by
Foot Guards

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Royal Corps of Signals

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Career paths
  2. ^ Royal Signals Careers - Soldier Trades
  3. ^ War Office, His Majesty's Army, 1938
  4. ^ Royal Signals Equipment
  5. ^ THE SIGNAL OFFICER IN CHIEF'S MESSAGE ON CHANGE FOR THE CORPS, dated 19 Sep 11
  6. ^ THE SIGNAL OFFICER IN CHIEF'S MESSAGE ON CHANGE FOR THE CORPS, dated 19 Sep 11
  7. ^ THE SIGNAL OFFICER IN CHIEF'S MESSAGE ON CHANGE FOR THE CORPS, dated 19 Sep 11
  8. ^ "Homepage of ACF/CCF Signals Training". http://www.acfccfsignals.org.uk/main.php. Retrieved 2008-10-28. 

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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