Sigs museum has scanned in 80+ years of The Wire. Well-Digitised & searchable. Only three war years. 39-41 Large files (entire year per file), so possibly work best with right click downloading. Finding multiple hits for grandad with very little effort. Wire Archive | Royal Signals Museum
That's a great resource, thanks! And O thank God, it's searchable... Found minor references to my grandfather (after 7 years as a footslogger he joined 5 Signals Coy RE in 1913, then was Royal Sigs until retirement in 1927; popped back for a year in 1939, too). Also a record of his oldest son, my uncle Den, joining 44th Div Signals in Feb 1939! Very pleased indeed, we're a family with almost no documentary history at all and this has made my dad a very happy man. Actually, I have a Jimmy-related query which Drew might be able to answer: what might '227th' mean in the context of a Signalman joining 44th Div Sigs in 1939? It's in brackets after a list of names including Den's, and Googling hasn't enlightened me any. Another bit in brackets after a couple of names is ("H" Section) so I'm assuming they refer to units of some kind. I know 44th (Home Counties) Div went to Framce with the BEF but as far as I know, Den didn't serve overseas in the war; he's thought to have been a PTI. Anyway, cheers again for this, Pat. Aha - should've read the whole page - it's referred to as '227th A.F.A.' earlier. Still no wiser though.
There's not much context alas, Drew. It's a short notice: 'Arrivals. - We take this opportunity to extend a hearty welcome to the following new recruits: Signalmen Green, Burt, Hyder, Atkins, Chipp, Kells, Clarke, Norman, Bailey, Peacock (227th), Sayers, ("H Section"), Banks, Smith and Virgo ("H" Section). We trust they are having a good time and will be a long time with the Company.' Reading it again, I'm not sure that the '227th' actually refers to my uncle: from the way the "H Section" men are identified I'd say it perhaps refers to Peacock only. But, I'm interested now! In passing, I note the peacetime 44th Div Signals seems a warm and welcoming place - bet that changed in the September. Anyway, I appreciate the help as always. Pat.
It appears to be stating what the soldiers previous unit was. I'd lean more towards all the men before Peacock were with the 227th but it may mean only Peacock like you say. Either way I can not find a mention of any unit called 227th Troop etc.
This was some time ago but in case it's still of interest, '227th' refers to 227th Battery RA at Hove, part of 57th (Home Counties) Field Brigade (later Regiment), RA, one of 44th's divisional artillery, the signal sections of which had Royal signals soldiers attached.
I would point out that there are some good 'retrospectives' on the war years in the early post-war editions. (And some great M.E.L.F. & FARELF material for me). If nothing else, what a great picture of Indian signals at work:
I had previously missed this thread and link and like CF above, will be searching through for relevant articles in regards the Burma Campaign.
Can't remember which (post-war '45 to '55), but there's one on Imphal. If anybody is finding that the files download extremely slowly, I have the (broken) run of 1939 to 1955 in one folder and can forward them by email attachment-link: 1.56GB Message me if required.
Thanks for the offer CF, but I'm nearly there now anyway. I'm picking up snippets, mostly high-ranking officers, but they are matching nicely to my Chindit Society master nominal roll.
Nominal roll? You taunt me! I have an enormous folder with a copy of every document I have naming an 1/4th Essex soldier, but I I've only got around to processing fewer than one hundred. Only 25-30 years until retirement and an opportunity to get it finished.
I have over the years built up the Longcloth Master Roll, (as you might expect) which now contains over 3000 entries of personnel involved. The Chindit Society has converted various membership listings and other rolls into something moving towards a full roll for ex-Chindits. It is now my job to clarify and confirm these, which will be a long road. However, the Burma Star membership cards now being available on line have helped massively.