Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals (sometimes referred to incorrectly as the Royal Signal Corps and often known simply as the Royal Signals or R Sigs) is one of the 'arms' (combat support corps) of the British Army. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment.
The Corps motto is Certa Cito, which freely translates as Swift and Sure.
History
In 1884, the Telegraph Battalion Royal Engineers was formed. 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 One. It was about this time that motorcycle despatch riders and wireless sets were introduced into service.
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 Royal Engineers.
Throughout World War Two, 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 the immediate post-war period, the Corps played a full and active part in numerous campaigns, including Palestine , 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. Today's Corps has now moved into the developing Information warfare era of the future.
Personnel
Soldiers join the Royal Corps of Signals in one of nine trades, all of which are open to both men and women:
- Area Systems Operator
- Driver
- Information Systems Engineer
- Installation Technician
- Radio Systems Operator
- Signals Electrician
- Special Operator (Electronic Warfare)
- Systems Engineering Technician
- Technical Supply Specialist
All recruits do their basic military training at an Army Training Regiment. Special-to-arm training is carried out with 11 Signal Regiment at Blandford Camp in Dorset.
Royal Corps of Signals Units
Brigades
There are three signal brigades in the British Army:
- 1 Signal Brigade (Germany) (7 and 16 Signal Regiments)
- 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade (10, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39 and 71 Signal Regiments, plus 1, 2 and 81 Signal Squadrons and LIAG)
- 11 Signal Brigade (2, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 40 Signal Regiments)
Regular Army
- 2 Signal Regiment
- 214 Signal Squadron
- 219 Signal Squadron
- 246 Gurkha Signal Squadron
- 7 (Allied Rapid Reaction Corps) Signal Regiment
- 10 Signal Regiment
- 238 (London) Signal Squadron
- 241 Signal Squadron
- 242 Signal Squadron
- 243 Signal Squadron
- 251 Signal Squadron
- 14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)
- Headquarters Squadron
- 226 Signal Squadron (Electronic Warfare)
- 237 Signal Squadron (Electronic Warfare)
- 245 Signal Squadron (Electronic Warfare)
- 15 Signal Regiment (Northern Ireland)
- 16 Signal Regiment
- Headquarters Squadron
- 230 Signal Squadron
- 252 Signal Squadron
- 255 Signal Squadron
- 21 Signal Regiment (Air Support)
- 30 Signal Regiment
- Support Squadron
- 250 Gurkha Signal Squadron
- 256 Signal Squadron
- 258 Signal Squadron
- 1 (UK) Armoured Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment
- Headquarters Squadron
- 20 Armoured Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (200)
- 4 Armoured Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (204)
- 7 Armoured Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (207)
- 3 (UK) Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment
- Headquarters (Somme) Squadron
- 202 Signal Squadron
- 206 Signal Squadron
- 222 Signal Squadron
