The Royal Corps of Signals

Whiff here I have a photo of my father in dress uniform with a white lanyard on his right shoulder what was this for? He served in 1st and 2nd air formation signals, in the UK and then on operation Torch in North Africa, then up through Italy with 8th Indian Signals ending up in Trieste June/July 1945.

 

Hi everyone,

I am currently looking for information on my dads whereabouts during World War Two. All I have is letters from dad to my grandmother with his details on;


Corporal Wilfred Lionel "Bunny" Austin 2588409
106 s/w section, no4 wireless coy
Royal signals


Can anyone enlighten me on his details above? These details were retrieved off letters dated 4th Nov 1942 from Egypt, and 21st Sept 1941 from mons barracks, aldershot.


I have applied for his war records, but I thought this site would give me some intel on what his particular roll would have been. Any ideas?

Many thanks


Mark

Pictures:

 

My Grandfather served as a dispatch rider in North Africa with the 5th (London) Corps of Signals as part of the 8th Army. He passed away a few years ago and I have inherited his medals and a collection of miscellaneous papers including leave passes, embarkation cards, equipment check lists, pay books.

Of the very few photographs I have the attached is from a photocopy that my Grandfather was sent in 2000 (he is in front row on the far right). I do not have any of the sender details. I would love to obtain a better copy of the original or other similar photographs. It's a long shot I know.

His details are:

Driver George Douglas from St. Andrews, Scotland.
No. 2592981
9 DR Section
Served from 10/5/40 to 16/3/46

 

I hope this is the right place to post this:

I belong to a group researching the British Resistance/Auxiliary Units. We have in our archives a stand down photograph of the Royal Signals contingent within Aux Units.

Their duties included the development, repair and maintenance of special radios at Coleshill. The erection of hidden aerials, maintaining them and recharging batteries at the secret radio stations.

The latter being done by two or three man teams sent out from Coleshill to coastal counties along the South and East coasts and up into Scotland.

There are more details on our website www.staybehinds.com

I am trying to get more information on this Royal Signals group. There are about 80 men in the stand down photograph.

Being part of a secret organisation which came under command of GHQ Home Forces and being regular soldiers (unlike most of Aux) would they have had to keep a War Diary? We have found no mention of their administration to date although there are Establishment levels in GHQ Aux Units records. They were controlled by GHQ Auxiilary Units which operated from Coleshill House, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire).

I would appreciate any advice you can me on where to search. Many thanks

 

I am looking for some WW2 photos to illustrate a Royal Signals Officers service record
Can anyone help me please looking for pictures of

Royal Signals OCTU Catterick (assume 150 OCTU 1941)
No. 1 Special Wireless Group at Rothamsted House, Harpenden
105 Special Wireless Section at Cardfields Farm near Hatfield Peveral

 

We are trying to help a lady learn about her father but don't know enough about Royal Signals so could do with your help please
I quote:

Capt E B Faulkner 186352 Royal Signals
Whilst I am writing this I have in front of me my Father’s Army Record, which states he was transferred from HQ Sigo to ISTC on 1.5.42 to report to Col Beyts, then transferred from ISTC GHQ Aux Units to GHQ Aux Units on the 4.5.42. He was then transferred to HQ W.O W/T Station M SU Forest Moor on the 12.11.43. Is there any way of finding out what he did.

Any help and suggestions appreciated

Thank you

 

If Aux Units means what it says, that's the Auxiliary Units which were the very secret 'stay behind' resistance groups that were set up in case of invasion. An equally secret, if not more so, comms system was set up to relay news and instructions, so he could have been involved in that. Have a look here for starters:
www.coleshillhouse.com

 

A bit of lateral thinking... if ISTC could be 1STC, that could be:
STC Lochailort - Cradle of Special Forces
The number's not mentioned, but it appears to have been the first. You will notice they had a Signals Wing that he could have attended as a student or instructor. A 3-month stint looks a bit long for a course, but a bit short for staff. Anyway, a possible lead to follow up...

 

I'm after some info on this local man for the Newark ROH if anyone can help ?
YARRINGTON , GEORGE THOMAS WILLIAM
Rank: Signalman
Service No: 2342751
Date of Death: 03/04/1942
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: Royal Corps of Signals attd. 11th Indian Div. Sigs, Indian Signal Corps
Grave Reference: 8. D. 11.
Cemetery: KRANJI WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of George and Annie May Yarrington, of Newark. I surmise he was a Japanese POW.

 

Hi Noggin,

Its not stated what he died from, just states "Died Changi on Good Friday 1942. Buried Changi Cemetery 03.04.42 in grave AB 6"

Mike

 

Thank you.

 

Another local if anymore info :
CLAYTON, JOHN WILLIAM

Rank: Corporal

Service No: 4799151

Date of Death: 05/05/1942

Age: 33

Regiment/Service: Royal Corps of Signals 4 Air Form. Sigs. (The North Somerset Yeomanry)

Grave Reference: 1. A. 15.

Cemetery: TOBRUK WAR CEMETERY

Additional Information: Son of Arthur and Nellie Clayton; husband of Evelyn Verna Clayton, of New Ollerton, Nottinghamshire.

 

While doing my National Service in REME in 1962 I was attached to the 30th Signal Regt, at Blandford. One day there was great consternation, when I asked what was going on they replied "The Bear is Coming" too much Scrumpy thinks me? No in the back of a Bedford RL was this stone Bear Beating a drum, Its the Berlin Cable Bear, shouts one. so my Question is what the Hell was it?

 

Found this:

THE BERLIN CABLE BEAR (BRUNO) In 1945, amongst the ruins of Berlin, outside the headquarters of the Deutsche Femkabel Geselischaft (German Cable Company) in Rognitzstrasse, stood the imposing statue of a Bear (the mascot of Berlin to this day) with its arms embracing a drum of cable. Not wishing to see this prize fall into the hands of the Russians, it was loaded onto the back of a truck, concealed as signal equipment and whisked away through zone check points and arrived at Harewood Barracks in Herford. The intention was, originally, to ship the statue back to the UK, to the Signals Headquarters Mess; however the statue never got any further than the Hook of Holland. In the spring of 1948, the bear was hoisted atop a column which originally carried the Nazi eagle in Kray Barracks, Essen. It was at Essen that a visiting engineer from Seimens saw and recognised 'Bruno' for what it was and thereby started off the negotiations, which eventually resulted in the return of 'Bruno' to the original company. On the 28th November 1957, with full military honours, the statue was handed back to the Managing Director of the firm, Herr Friedrich Muhi - 'Bruno' had finally arrived back home! As a result and as an expression of gratitude and generosity, the Company had a replica made and in May 1958, amid much press and radio coverage, Herr Muhi presented 'Bruno' to 10th Signal Regiment. The statue was moved back to the UK when the Regiment relocated to Hounslow and latterly to Erskine Barracks, Wilton, where it stood for 20 years. 'Bruno' now commands pride of place in Basil Hill Site, Corsham, outside the entrance to Regimental Headquarters. Over the years, every element of 10th Signal Regiment, somewhere in its organisations, has carried the logo of this much ventured mascot.

 

How did I dream that up ?

 

I am researching Auxiliary Units (The secret British Resistance) that had a Special Duties Branch which was the Signals side of the organisation. I have just read a document that states radio Hams that were serving in other regiments were transferred over into the SDB Royal Signals because of their prewar radio skills but instructed to keep up their existing insignia and not put up RS.
Was the order ever recinded?.

However there were ATS radio operators and they proudly wore the 'Jimmy' coller dog badges.

 

One of the founder officers of Aux Special Duties Branch was Captain Ken Ward. Prior to joining he served he as a training officer in serveral places:
4 Div Signals (organised as a branch of the School of Signals), later renamed 18 Div Sigs; then became 2nd Army Signals but were to continue as a training unit.
He was at Canterbury Cavalry Barracks with signals then moved to a camp at or near Frant in East Sussex close to Tunbridge Wells.
I am looking for a photograph so to illustrate his career
Any help appreciated

 

What R Sigs trades would have been needed in Home Forces:

1. To design, manufacture, service & repair radios (Voice only not morse).

2. Select suitable sites to establish a Radio Network

3. Erect aerials up trees, church towers & the like.

4. maintain and service radios (in secret bunkers) - charge batteries

5. be radio operators in bunkers

6. Drivers

Is there a list of WW2 Royal Signals trades

Thank you

 

have been collecting photos of RCS for some time now, must have quite a few now, is it possible to access your gallery to see if you have any I dont have.
that is headstone photos