Hi all! I'm trying to find out information on Wireless Operator in an infantry platoon. I know he didn't belong to the Royal Signals, but Regimental cap-badged individual (Infantryman) so after the training, I guess became a tradesman. How would it be stated in his Army Service Book? Would the entries in the attached picture (from this forum, but can't remember the author) refer to that trade? Which is the meaning of the entries?As a tradesman, did he wear any badge? Can anyone help me with this? Thanks a lot, Gonzalo
The wireless operator in an infantry platoon was just a Private soldier from the Battalion to which he belonged. He had no formal qualifications. Formal qualifications only started when he transferred to the Signal Platoon and, in my day, there were three levels. The lowest level was a Standard 2 which was a course run by the Signal Platoon, then there was a Standard 1 which was run by the Signal Wing at the School of Infantry and the Regimental Signals Instructors, also run by the Signals Wing at the School of Infantry. Regards Frank
Presumably his main task was to lug a "walky talky" pack for the platoon commander to use and he had no need to master skills like Morse etc?
I think the entries in your file refer to an 'Operator (Wireless and Line)', which was a Royal Signals trade. As indicated above, the signallers in an Infantry unit were infantrymen, who were trained to operate both wireless and line equipment. The allocation of wireless equipment to an Infantry Battalion underwent numerous changes during the war and there was never a fully fledged post of a Wireless Operator in a Rifle Platoon. A Rifle Company had an allocation of No.38 sets, initially enough for one per Platoon and one for the Company commander. By mid 1943 this was pared back to just two No.38 sets per Rifle Company in the standard Infantry Battalion. The actual allocation could be amended by units as required, so a full Rifle Company could still be kitted out. The signallers of the Signal Platoon were responsible for the No.18 sets, used to link Company and Battalion Headquarters and also Platoons of Support Company. No.38 sets were handled by the sub-unit they were issued to, the Signal Platoon wasn't large enough to provide wireless operators to each Platoon. The No.38 was only capable of voice communication so there was no need for Morse training. The No.18 was capable of both voice and Morse (also known as continuous wave, or CW). Gary
The Signal Platoon did have a Royal Signals Sergeant and four Signalman in it. Their job was to establish and maintain the radio link from Battalion to back Brigade. Frank
Gary. I noticed on www.bayonetstrength.uk that, for Nov 44, you showed an Inf Bn as having four Rifle Companies. This may have applied to NW Europe but for Italy, from Aug 44 onwards, every Inf Bn dropped down to just three Rifle Companies for the rest of the war. Regards Frank
Previous thread on WW2Talk. From: The Infantry Signaller: A Tribute Infantry signals platoon signallers were not as Royal Corps of Signallers but infantrymen, trained to use the rifle and Bren machine-gun, prepared to fix bayonet in close combat, throw Mills 36 grenades and dig slit-trenches. Their unique training and skills ensured they could operate and maintain wireless sets, lay and repair cables lines, send and read Morse code signals and map-read their way across country. Because of these additional skills they were inevitably in the forefront of the fight and near to those who had the responsibility to command and lead in the battle. [Extracts from an Infantry Battalion's Signal Platoon, www.lawlerbrown.com] Tim
Tim. Members of the Signal Platoon were ‘not in the fore front of the fight’ other than laying line. At a Company level, the Regimental Signals Instructor Corporal and his two assistants, were detached from the Signal Platoon to man the Company radio nets. These were at Company HQ some way behind the ‘forefront of the fight’. Only the Company Commander’s signaller, also provided by the Signal Platoon, could be deemed to be at the forefront because he went wherever the Company Commander went as he moved between Rifle Platoons given out instructions. The rest of the Signal Platoon ran Battle Group HQ which was further back behind the Rifle Companies. Nowhere near the ‘forefront of the fight’. Indeed, if the Signal Platoon ever had to fire its weapons, the enemy would have broken through and the Battalion position in great peril. Whilst every member of the Signal Platoon started life in a Rifle Platoon and was a trained infantryman, their primary role was to keep the radios on the road so that Officers could issue directions, rather than to fight. Regards Frank
Frank, I know nothing about the Infantry being more RA orientated. I was just quoting from the thread by a late Forum Veteran member in 2013. I've just looked at the WW2 link above The Infantry Signaller: A Tribute and it contains a link to Second World War Memoirs of JOE BROWN which has a section on the Signals Platoon. Tim
Tim. Absolutely no criticism meant. I commanded a Signal Platoon in my youth and am sad enough to remember most of it! Regards Frank
I didn't take it as criticism, was merely pointing to the late Joe Brown's thread and his memoirs which contain a lot of info on the training and role of an Infantry Battalion's Signal Platoon. Second World War Memoirs of JOE BROWN Tim
