Here’s what I know about this Equipment/Unit does anyone know any more 4 Wireless Group originated from 4 Company, War Office Signals, and assumed responsibility for the training of high-speed operators and technicians for the W/T Sections type M & P in about 1943. The type M (mobile) sections were called Golden Arrow Sections. There were also P (permanent) sections. 4 Wireless Group took the best of the Royal Signals Operators, Wireless & Line (OWL) and Operators, Keyboard & Line and converted them into Operators Wireless & Keyboard (OWK) by teaching them either the wireless or keyboard skills, as required. In addition they were taught the equipment associated with “high-speed operating” – Perforators, Auto-heads and Undulators. They were also taught “slip reading” – reading of “wavy line” undulator tapes and typed out messages on Imperial 55 typewriters. The normal Morse transmission speed by auto head was 80 wpm but, in good conditions this could go up to 100wpm. The purpose of “M” sections was to pass large amounts of traffic very efficiently from anywhere in the world. A Golden Arrow section was completely self-contained, carrying its own collapsible mast gear, spare valves, power supply and administrative stores. Most “M” sections were sent to the Headquarters of the highest Arm formations around the world and/or to the traditional HQs at Cairo. Delhi etc. Further to this they sometimes did Press telegraphy particularly in the Far East. In North West Europe they were also employed to send intercepted enemy signals back to England. The Golden Arrow used commercial (Marconi?) SWB8 transmitters (3.5Kw output) which could transmit over large distances (2,500 miles?) and an AR88 receiver. The transmitter was carried in a large semi-articulated vehicle. The receiving vehicle was a similar shape to the transmitter vehicle but contained a complex air-conditioning installation as it also formed the traffic office in which the majority of the crew worked. There appear to have been about 25 to 30 M sections numbering from 1 upwards. Trailers were towed by Bedford OXC tractors and the unit also had 2 Bedford QL lorries generating trailer(s) and a light utility car. An example of the Golden Arrow work in NW Europe was that done by 20M W/T Section. After commencing operations in Normandy in 1944, they were placed with SHEAF FORWARD and became part of Special Liaison Unit No 8 (SLU8) where they worked with RAF personnel. The RAF were intercepting Enigma transmissions and enciphering them into British Cipher. 20M then sent the data to Bletchley. Information from Trux website; WS19 forum; extract from the book “Royal Corps of Signals – Unit histories 1920-2001
Noel..I have the two RCS history books (Royal Corps of Signals – Unit histories 1920-2001)<O:tongue:</O:tongue: and there will be no more info in there. Can I suggest an email to the RCS Museum - There is a volunteer there for a half day every wednesday so a reply may take some time. Regards Andy
A couple of updates after nearly four and a half years: - I recently found this Web page which has some good information on Golden Arrow http://goldbeach.org.uk/Y%20service/Golden%20Arrow.htm There are a couple of mentions of Golden Arrow in the on-line archive of Commercial Motor Magazine the better of which which can be found here http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/24th-march-1944/26/british-army-ng-large-mobile-wireless-stations
Skillen's Spies of the Airwaves has information on 1, 2, 3 and A Special Wireless Groups in the context of the Y Service. In the index, a Mobile Section is listed under each SWG but I'm not clear yet if these were found by the relevant SWG or attached to it (from 4 SWG?) There's no mention of 4 SWG or Golden Arrow, but Skillen follows the R Sigs line in Nalder that No.4 Wireless Coy begat 1 and 2 SWG (the only SWGs he identifies) via No.2 Coy GHQ Sigs.
Hello all............. I have just joined this 'group'. My interest is the role of the Golden Arrow groups during WWII. My late Father was in the Royal Signals as a Driver / Mech. and when I went through his possessions after his death, I found his 'Jimmy' badge but also an Intelligence Corps badge. He was not the sort of person to collect badges or WWII memorabilia, so I can only assume that he was in the Intelligence Corps. As a small boy, he told me that he drove a large lorry towing a large generator, which could fit in with the Golden Arrow group. I have sent an email to the Royal Signals museum for any information relating to my Father, but due to Covid, this is on hold. Maybe someone can answer this question...........were these Golden Arrow groups operating in the UK as well as abroad? To my knowledge he never went abroad, thus the question.
