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Royal Signals
Cap Badge of the Royal Corps of Signals
Active	1920 – present
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Part of	Commander Land Forces
Garrison/HQ	Blandford Camp, Dorset
Motto(s)	Certa Cito (Swift and Sure)
March	Begone Dull Care (Quick); HRH The Princess Royal (Slow)
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief	The Princess Royal
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash

Arms of the British Army
Combat Arms
Royal Armoured Corps Infantry Guards Division Scottish, Welsh and Irish Division King's Division Queen's Division Parachute Regiment Royal Gurkha Rifles The Rifles Special Air Service Army Air Corps Special Reconnaissance Regiment
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 Army Medical Corps Royal Army Dental Corps Royal Army Veterinary Corps Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Adjutant General's Corps Educational and Training Services Branch Army Legal Services Branch Provost Branch (Royal Military Police Military Provost Staff Military Provost Guard Service) Small Arms School Corps Royal Army Physical Training Corps General Service Corps Corps of Army Music
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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. Colloquially referred to by some as "Siggies", 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.

History

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.^[2] On 1 May 1884, 'C' Troop was amalgamated with the 22nd and 34th Companies, Royal Engineers, to form the Telegraph Battalion Royal Engineers;^[2] '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.^[3] As such, it provided communications during the First World War. It was about this time that motorcycle despatch riders and wireless sets were introduced into service.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

Throughout the Second World War (1939–45), members of the Royal Corps of Signals had served in every theatre of war. By the end of the war the strength of the Corps was 8,518 officers and 142,472 other ranks. In one famous episode, Corporal Thomas Waters of the 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 during the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 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 Soviet 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 (Army Reserve) 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.

In 1999, 9 Signal Regiment merged with 33 Signal Unit RAF in Cyprus. Both units were carrying out electronic intelligence gathering, and became the new Joint Services Signal Unit (Cyprus).

In late 2012, 2nd (National Communications) Signal Brigade was disbanded.^[6] The Brigade Headquarters was previously located at Corsham and the brigade comprised 10, 32, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 71 Signal Regiments, plus 299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications), Specialist Group Royal Signals with 81 Signal Squadron, Land Information and Communications Services Group (LICSG), Land Information Assurance Group (LIAG) and the Central Volunteer Headquarters (CVHQ) Royal Signals.

Personnel

Training and trades

Royal Signals officers receive general military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, followed by specialist communications training at the Royal School of Signals, Blandford Camp, Dorset. Other ranks are trained both as field soldiers and tradesmen. Their basic military training is delivered at the Army Training Regiment at Winchester before undergoing trade training at 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment. There are currently six different trades available to other ranks,^[7] 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


• Royal Signals 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 Sergeant & 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 roster does not start until WO2 and therefore all SSgts in the Royal Signals who are not supervisory are still employed "in trade".

Museum

The Royal Signals Museum is based at Blandford Camp in Dorset.^[8]

Dress and ceremonial

Tactical Recognition flash

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

Airborne 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 War, Signal elements adopted the Airborne Bridges Headquarters DZ Flash but this changed back to its original colours in the mid 1980s.

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 Mercury was based on the late mediaeval bronze statue by the Italian sculptor Giambologna, and 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. The corps are also nicknamed 'Interflora's' due to close resemblance of the symbols.

Lanyard

On Nos 2, 4 and 14 Dress, the Corps wears a dark blue lanyard on the right side signifying its early links with the Royal Engineers. The Airborne Signals Unit wears a drab green lanyard made from parachute cord. This dates back to the Second World War, when, following a parachute drop into France, the unit's Commanding Officer ordered all Signal personnel to cut a length of para-cord from their chutes in the event they may need it later in the fighting.

Motto

The Corps motto is "certa cito", often translated from Latin as Swift but Sure . It is easily seen on any of the Corps Badges.

Appointments

The Colonel in Chief is currently the Princess Royal.

Equipment

The Corps deploys and operates a broad range of specialist military and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) communications systems.^[9] The main categories are as follows:

• Satellite ground terminals


• Terrestrial trunk radio systems


• Combat net radio systems


• Computer networks


• Specialist military applications (computer programs)

Royal Corps of Signals units

Brigades

There are now two signal brigades:

• 
  1st Signal Brigade: The Brigade Headquarters is co-located with HQ ARRC at Gloucester and the ARRC Support Battalion. The Brigade is made up of four specialist units, each trained to carry out a unique and challenging role in support of the overall brigade mission and is prepared to deploy at short notice anywhere in the world. The Brigade consists of ARRC Sp Bn, 16 Sig Regt, 22 Sig Regt, 30 Sig Regt, 32 Sig Regt, 39 Sig Regt and 299 (SC) Sig Sqn.^[10]


• 
  11th Signal Brigade: The Brigade Headquarters is located in MoD Donnington, near Telford. The Brigade is divided into one Signal Group: 7 Signal Group comprises 1 Sig Regt, 2 Sig Regt, 3 (UK) Div Sig Regt, 21 Sig Regt, 15 Sig Regt (IS), 37 Sig Regt, 38 Sig Regt, 71 Y Sig Regt. 2 Signal Group comprises 10 .^[11] 2 Signal Group however disbanded on 31 July 2018 as part of Army 2020 Refine.^[12]

The structure of the Royal Signals has changed under Army 2020.^[13]

Regular Army

• 1st Signal Regiment, Stafford
  
  • Headquarters Squadron
  
  
  • 200 Signal Squadron
  
  
  • 211 Signal Squadron
  
  
  • 201 Signal Squadron (merger of 201 and 212 Signal squadrons)^[14]
  
  
  • Support Squadron
  
  


• 2nd Signal Regiment, York
  
  • 214 Signal Squadron^[15]
    • Roman Troop
    
    
    • Saxon Troop
    
    
    • Viking Troop
    
    
  
  
  • 219 Signal Squadron^[16]
    • Eagle Troop
    
    
    • Falcon Troop
    
    
    • Phoenix Troop
    
    
  
  
  • 
    246 Gurkha Signal Squadron^[17]
    • Island Troop
    
    
    • Kowloon Troop
    
    
    • Sekkong Troop
    
    
  
  
  • Support Squadron
  
  


• 
  3rd (United Kingdom) Division Signal Regiment, Bulford
  
  • Support (Somme) Squadron
  
  
  • 202 Signal Squadron
  
  
  • 206 Signal Squadron
  
  
  • 228 Signal Squadron
  
  


• 10th Signal Regiment, Corsham
  
  • 225 Signal Squadron (ECM (FP))
  
  
  • 241 Signal Squadron
  
  
  • 243 Signal Squadron
  
  
  • 251 Signal Squadron
  
  
  • 81 Signal Squadron (R)
  
  


• 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment, Blandford
  
  • Royal School of Signals


• 
  14 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), Blandfold
  
  • 254 Signal Squadron (R) Formerly known as Land Information and Communications Services Group (LICSG)
  
  
  • 259 Signal Squadron - reformed and moved back to Blandford in 2015
  
  


• 16th Signal Regiment, Stafford
  
  • 207 (Jerboa) Signal Squadron
  
  
  • 230 (Malaya) Signal Squadron
    
    • Vampire Troop
    
    
    • Phantom Troop
    
    
    • Tornado Troop
    
    
  
  
  • 247 Gurkha Signal Squadron ^[18]
  
  
  • 255 (Bahrain) Signal Squadron
    
    • Hamal Troop
    
    
    • Muharraq Troop
    
    
    • Jafair Troop
    
    
  
  
  • Support 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
  
  
  • 299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications), Bletchley
  
  
  • 63 (UKSF) Signal Squadron (Reserve)
  
  


• 21st Signal Regiment, Colerne
  
  • HQ Squadron
  
  
  • 215 Signal Squadron^[19]
    • Bengal Troop
    
    
    • Caspian Troop
    
    
    • Sabre Troop
    
    
  
  
  • 220 Signal Squadron^[20]
    • Bost Troop
    
    
    • Pristina Troop
    
    
    • Shaibah Troop
    
    
  
  
  • Support Squadron
  
  


• 22nd Signal Regiment, Stafford
  
  • 217 Signal Squadron
    
    • A Troop
    
    
    • B Troop ^[21]
    
    
  
  
  • 222 Signal Squadron
  
  
  • 248 (Gurkha) Signal Squadron
  
  
  • 252 (Hong Kong) Signal Squadron (based at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth alongside HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
    
  
  
  • Support Squadron
  
  


• 30th Signal Regiment, Bramcote
  
  • 244 Signal Squadron (Air Support)
    
    • Romeo Troop (strategic communications Troop)
    
    
    • Sierra Troop (strategic communications Troop)
    
    
    • Tango Troop (strategic communications Troop)
    
    
    • Support Troop (SQMS department, Generator bay and MT section)
    
    
  
  
  • 
    250 Signal Squadron
    
    • Victor Troop (strategic communications Troop)
    
    
    • Whisky Troop (strategic communications Troop)
    
    
    • X-Ray Troop (strategic communications Troop, has supported 16 AA/AATF)^[22]
    
    
    • Support Troop (SQMS department, Generator bay and MT section)
    
    
  
  
  • 256 Signal Squadron^[23]
    • Alpha Troop (strategic communications Troop)
    
    
    • Bravo Troop (strategic communications Troop)
    
    
    • Charlie Troop (strategic communications Troop)
    
    
    • Support Troop (MT Section and Technical workshop)
    
    
  
  
  • 258 Signal Squadron(early entry squadron)^[24]
    • Delta Troop (Early Entry Headquarters’ (EEHQ) Troop)
    
    
    • Foxtrot Troop (Early Entry Headquarters’ (EEHQ) Troop)
    
    
    • Echo Troop (Operational Liaison Reconnaissance Troop (OLRT))
    
    
    • Support troop, comprising an MT Section and SQMS Department
    
    
  
  
  • Support Squadron
  
  


• 
  16 Air Assault Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (216), Colchester
  


• 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 4 Dec, 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 Service Signal Unit (Ayios Nikolaos Station, Cyprus) (electronic intelligence gathering)


• Cyprus Communications Unit (British Forces Cyprus)


• 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)

Army Reserve

• 
  32 Signal Regiment [RHQ Glasgow]
  
  • 2 (Dundee and Highland) Signal Squadron [Dundee/Aberdeen]
  
  
  • 40 (North Irish Horse) Signal Squadron [Belfast/Londonderry]
  
  
  • 50 (Northern) Signal Squadron (Darlington)
  
  
  • 51 (Scottish) Signal Squadron [Edinburgh/East Kilbride]
  
  
  • 52 Support Squadron [Glasgow/York]
  
  


• 
  37 Signal Regiment [RHQ Redditch]
  
  • 54 (Worcestershire) Support Squadron [Redditch]
  
  
  • 33 (Lancashire) Signal Squadron [Liverpool]
  
  
  • 48 (City of Birmingham) Signal Squadron [Birmingham/Coventry]
  
  
  • 50 (Northern) Signal Squadron [Darlington]
  
  
  • 64 (City of Sheffield) Signal Squadron [Sheffield]
  
  


• 
  39 Signal Regiment [RHQ Bristol]
  
  • 93 (North Somerset Yeomanry) Support Squadron [Bristol]
  
  
  • 43 (Wessex) Signal Squadron [Bath]
  
  
  • 53 (Wales and Western) Signal Squadron]] [Cardiff]
  
  
  • 94 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron [Windsor]
  
  


• 
  71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment [RHQ Bexleyheath]
  
  • 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)) Support Squadron [Bexleyheath]
  
  
  • 31 (Middlesex Yeomanry and Princess Louise's Kensington) Signal Squadron [Uxbridge/Coulsdon]
  
  
  • 36 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron [Colchester/Chelmsford]
  
  
  • 68 (Inns of Court & City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron [City of London/Whipps Cross]
  
  


• Central Volunteer Headquarters Royal Signals (CVHQ Royal Signals) [Corsham]


• 63 (UKSF) Signal Squadron (Reserve) [Thorney Island] - (Part of 18th (United Kingdom Special Forces) Signal Regiment)


• Royal Signals (Northern) Band [Darlington] - Attached to 32 Signal Regiment


• 
  Joint Forces Command
  
  • 
    Land Information Assurance Group (LIAG) [Corsham], as part of Joint Force Cyber Group

Corps changes under Army 2020 Refine

The future structure of the Royal Signals will change under Army 2020 Refine.^[25][26] A presentation by the Masters of Signals indicates that 16 Signal Regiment will shift from 11 Signal Brigade to 1 Signal Brigade and focus on supporting communications for logistic headquarters. Similarly, 32 and 39 Signal Regiments will shift to 1 Signal Brigade. 15 Signal Regiment will no longer be focused on Information Systems but will support 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade while 21 and 2 Signal Regiments will support the 1st and 2nd Strike Brigades respectively. Furthermore, a new regiment, 13th Signal Regiment, will form up under 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade and work with 14th Signal Regiment on Cyber and Electromagnetic Activitiy.^[27]

Cadet Forces

The Royal Corps of Signals is the sponsoring Corps for several Army Cadet Force and Combined Cadet Force units, such as in Blandford Forum, home to the Royal School of Signals.^[28]

Order of precedence

See also

• CIS Corps (Ireland)


• Bermuda Volunteer Engineers


• 97 Signal Squadron (Volunteers)

References

Further reading

• 
  Lord, Cliff; Watson, Graham (2012). The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and Its Antecedents. Helion & Company Limited. ISBN 9781874622925.
  

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Corps of Signals.

• The Royal Corps of Signals official website


• Royal Corps of Signals RSTL


• Royal Signals Museum


• Royal Signals Association


• Royal Signals ACF and CCF


• Royal Engineers Museum - Origins of Army Signals Services


• 32 Signal Regiment