The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS) is one of the combat support arms of the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communications and information systems essential to all operations. Royal Signals units provide the full telecommunications infrastructure for the Army wherever they operate in the world. The Corps has its own engineers, logistics experts and systems operators to run radio and area networks in the field. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of

telecommunications Telecommunication, often used in its plural form or abbreviated as telecom, is the transmission of information over a distance using electronic means, typically through cables, radio waves, or other communication technologies. These means of ...

equipment and

information Information is an Abstraction, abstract concept that refers to something which has the power Communication, to inform. At the most fundamental level, it pertains to the Interpretation (philosophy), interpretation (perhaps Interpretation (log ...

systems, providing command support to commanders and their headquarters, and conducting electronic warfare against enemy communications.

History

Origins

In 1870, 'C' Telegraph Troop,

Royal Engineers The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is the engineering arm of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces ...

, was founded under Captain Montague Lambert. The

Troop A troop is a military sub-subunit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron. In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section or platoon. Exceptions are the US Cavalry and the King's Troo ...

was the first formal professional body of signallers in the British Army and its duty was to provide communications for a field army by means of visual

signalling A signal is both the process and the result of transmission of data over some media accomplished by embedding some variation. Signals are important in multiple subject fields including signal processing, information theory and biology. In ...

, mounted orderlies and

telegraph Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages where the sender uses symbolic codes, known to the recipient, rather than a physical exchange of an object bearing the message. Thus flag semaphore is a method of telegraphy, whereas ...

. By 1871, 'C' Troop had expanded in size from 2 officers and 133 other ranks to 5 officers and 245 other ranks. In 1879, 'C' Troop first saw action during the

Anglo-Zulu War The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in present-day South Africa from January to early July 1879 between forces of the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. Two famous battles of the war were the Zulu victory at Battle of Isandlwana, Isandlwana and th ...

.The Royal Signals Museum: Telegraph TP & Boer War On 1 May 1884, 'C' Troop was amalgamated with the 22nd and 34th Companies, Royal Engineers, to form the Telegraph Battalion Royal Engineers; 'C' Troop formed the 1st Division (Field Force, based at

Aldershot Aldershot ( ) is a town in the Rushmoor district, Hampshire, England. It lies on heathland in the extreme north-east corner of the county, south-west of London. The town has a population of 37,131, while the Farnborough/Aldershot built-up are ...

) while the two Royal Engineers companies formed the 2nd Division (Postal and Telegraph, based in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

). Signalling was the responsibility of the Telegraph

Battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...

until 1908, when the Royal Engineers Signal Service was formed.The Royal Signals Museum: Corps History As such, it provided communications during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. It was about this time that

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike; uni (if one-wheeled); trike (if three-wheeled); quad (if four-wheeled)) is a lightweight private 1-to-2 passenger personal motor vehicle Steering, steered by a Motorcycle handlebar, handlebar from a saddle-style ...

despatch rider A despatch rider (or dispatch) is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle (and occasionally in Egypt during World War I, on camels). In the UK 'despatch rider' is also a term used for a motorcycle courier. Despatch riders were use ...

s and

wireless Wireless communication (or just wireless, when the context allows) is the transfer of information (''telecommunication'') between two or more points without the use of an electrical conductor, optical fiber or other continuous guided transm ...

sets were introduced into service.

Royal Warrant

A Royal Warrant for the creation of a Corps of Signals was signed by the

Secretary of State for War The secretary of state for war, commonly called the war secretary, was a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, which existed from 1794 to 1801 and from 1854 to 1964. The secretary of state for war headed the War Offic ...

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...

, on 28 June 1920. Six weeks later, King

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. George w ...

conferred the title Royal Corps of Signals.

Subsequent history

Before the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Royal Signals recruits were required to be at least 5 feet 2 inches tall. They initially enlisted for eight years with the colours and a further four years with the reserve. They trained at the Signal Training Centre at

Catterick Camp Catterick Garrison is a major garrison and military town south of Richmond, North Yorkshire, England. It is the largest British Army garrison in the world, with a population of around 14,000 in 2021 and covering over 2,400 acres (about 10& ...

and all personnel were taught to ride. During the Second World War (1939–45), members of the Royal Corps of Signals served in every

theatre of war In warfare, a theater or theatre is an area in which important military events occur or are in progress. A theater can include the entirety of the airspace, land, and sea area that is—or that may potentially become—involved in war operations ...

. In one notable action,

Corporal Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corr ...

Thomas Waters of the

5th Parachute Brigade The 5th Parachute Brigade was an airborne forces formation of brigade strength, raised by the British Army during the Second World War. Created during 1943, the brigade was assigned to the 6th Airborne Division, serving alongside the 3rd Parachut ...

Signal Section was awarded the

Military Medal The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the British Armed Forces, armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth countries, below commissioned o ...

for laying and maintaining the field telephone line under heavy enemy fire across the Caen Canal Bridge during the Allied

invasion of Normandy Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful liberation of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 ( D-Day) with the ...

in June 1944. In the immediate post-war period, the Corps played a full and active part in numerous campaigns including

Palestine Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by International recognition of Palestine, 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and th ...

, the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, Malaya and the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

. Until the end of the

Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...

, the main body of the Corps was deployed with the

British Army of the Rhine British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) was the name given to British Army occupation forces in the Rhineland, West Germany, after the First and Second World Wars, and during the Cold War, becoming part of NATO's Northern Army Group (NORTHAG) tasked ...

confronting

Soviet Bloc The Eastern Bloc, also known as the Communist Bloc (Combloc), the Socialist Bloc, the Workers Bloc, and the Soviet Bloc, was an unofficial coalition of communist states of Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America that were a ...

forces, providing the British Forces' contribution to

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...

with its communications

infrastructure Infrastructure is the set of facilities and systems that serve a country, city, or other area, and encompasses the services and facilities necessary for its economy, households and firms to function. Infrastructure is composed of public and pri ...

. Soldiers from the Royal Signals delivered communications in the

Falklands War The Falklands War () was a ten-week undeclared war between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982 over two British Overseas Territories, British dependent territories in the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands and Falkland Islands Dependenci ...

in 1982 and the

first Gulf War The Gulf War (1990–1991) was an armed conflict between Iraq and a multinational military coalition led by the United States, triggered by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. Persian Gulf War may also refer to: * Shatt al-Arab conflict ...

in 1991. In 1994, The Royal Corps of Signals moved its training regiments, 11th Signal Regiment (the Recruit Training Regiment) and 8th Signal Regiment (the Trade Training School), from Catterick Garrison to

Blandford Camp Blandford Camp is a military base comprising some 390 hectares of downland lying 2 miles (3 km) north-east of Blandford Forum in the county of Dorset in southern England. Significant areas of the camp are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (S ...

. In late 2012, 2nd (National Communications) Signal Brigade was disbanded.THE SIGNAL OFFICER IN CHIEF'S MESSAGE ON CHANGE FOR THE CORPS, dated 19 Sep 11 Soldiers from the Royal Corps of Signals saw extensive service during the eight years of the

Iraq War The Iraq War (), also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq lasting from 2003 to 2011. It began with 2003 invasion of Iraq, the invasion by a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition, which ...

before withdrawal of troops in 2011, and the 13 years of the

War in Afghanistan War in Afghanistan, Afghan war, or Afghan civil war may refer to: *Conquest of Afghanistan by Alexander the Great (330 BC – 327 BC), the conquest of Afghanistan by the Macedonian Empire * Muslim conquests of Afghanistan, a series of campaigns in ...

before it ended in 2014. Under

Army 2020 Refine Army 2020 Refine was the name given to the restructuring of the British Army in the mid-to-late 2010s, in light of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. As its name suggests, it was a "refinement" of Army 2020, an early 2010s reorganisa ...

a number of changes planned for the Corps were made public in 2013-14. A presentation by the Master of Signals indicated that 16 Signal Regiment would shift from 11 Signal Brigade to 1 Signal Brigade and focus on supporting communications for logistic headquarters. Similarly, 32 and 39 Signal Regiments were planned to shift to 1 Signal Brigade. 15 Signal Regiment would no longer be focused on Information Systems but would support 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade, while 21 and 2 Signal Regiments were planned to support the

1st First most commonly refers to: * First, the ordinal form of the number 1 First or 1st may also refer to: Acronyms * Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-Centimeters, an astronomical survey carried out by the Very Large Array * Far Infrared a ...

and second Strike Brigades respectively. Furthermore, a new regiment, 13th Signal Regiment, was planned to form up under

1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade The Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group is a formation of the British Army that commands the Army's miniature UAS, tactical UAS, counter-intelligence and reach back intelligence capabilities, the Specialist Group Military Intell ...

and work with 14th Signal Regiment on cyber and electromagnetic activity. In 2017 the

Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team The Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team (RSMDT), also known as the White Helmets, was a group of serving soldiers from the Royal Corps of Signals of the British Army, who gave public displays of motorcycling skills, acrobatics and stunt riding. ...

, then in its 90th year, was disbanded; senior officers had complained that it "failed to reflect the modern-day cyber communication skills in which the Royal Signals are trained". On 28 June 2020, the Royal Corps of Signals marked the 100th anniversary of its foundation. Constrained by COVID-19 rules, many Royal Signals 100 celebrations were organised online, including the #100for100 challenge that involved hundreds of members of the Corps running 100 km for the Royal Signals Charity. The Princess Royal, the Colonel-In-Chief of the Corps, delivered a video message of congratulations, and the Foreman of Signals Course students successfully took a photograph of the Royal Signals 100 badge in space, completing a challenge that was set for them.

Personnel

Training and trades

Royal Signals officers receive general military training at the

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS or RMA Sandhurst), commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is one of several military academy, military academies of the United Kingdom and is the British Army's initial Commissioned officer, officer train ...

, followed by specialist communications training at the Royal School of Signals,

Dorset Dorset ( ; Archaism, archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north and the north-east, Hampshire to the east, t ...

. Other ranks are trained both as field soldiers and tradesmen. Their basic military training is delivered at the Army Training Regiment at

Winchester Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...

or Army Training Centre Pirbright before undergoing trade training at 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment. There are currently six different trades available to other ranks, each of which is open to both men and women: * Cyber Information Services Engineer: trained in programming, database, web and app development, data communications and computer networks * Cyber Networks Engineer: trained in data communications, computer networks, military radio and trunk communications systems * Cyber Infrastructure Engineer: trained in installing and repairing fibre optic and copper voice and data networks in both internal and external environments * Power Engineer: trained to prepare, engineer and maintain complex Power Distribution Systems worldwide * Supply Chain Operative: trained in all aspects of logistics, including driving, warehouse management and accounting * Electronic Warfare & Signals Intelligence Operative: trained to intercept voice and data communications, to provide tactical electro-magnetic, cyber and signals intelligence on the battlefield and close tactical support to and advice to bomb disposal units On selection for promotion to Sergeant, soldiers may choose to volunteer for selection to a Supervisory roster. Currently there are 4 Supervisor roles: * Yeoman of Signals – trained in the planning and deployment and management of military tactical/strategic communications networks; *Yeoman of Signals (Electronic Warfare) – trained in the planning, deployment and management of military tactical/strategic electronic warfare assets; * Foreman of Signals – trained in the installation, maintenance, repair and interoperability of military tactical/strategic communications assets; *Foreman of Signals (Information Systems) – trained in the installation, maintenance, repair and interoperability of military tactical/strategic Information Systems If a soldier chooses not to follow the Supervisor route, they will remain employed 'in trade' until promoted to Warrant Officer, where they will then be classed as on the Regimental Duty (RD) roster and will oversee the daily routine, and administration of a unit's personnel and equipment.

Museum

The

Royal Signals Museum The Royal Signals Museum is a military museum based at Blandford Camp in the civil parish of Tarrant Monkton, northwest of the town of Blandford Forum in Dorset, England. The museum traces the history of the British Army's battlefield communicati ...

is based at

Dress and ceremonial

Tactical Recognition flash

The Corps wears a blue and white

tactical recognition flash Tactical recognition flash (TRF) is the British military term for a coloured patch worn on the right arm of combat clothing by members of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. A TRF serves to quickly Combat identification, identify th ...

. This is worn horizontally on the right arm with the blue half charging forward.

Cap badge

The flag and cap badge feature Mercury (Latin: ''Mercurius''), the winged messenger of the gods, who is referred to by members of the corps as "Jimmy". The origins of this nickname are unclear. According to one explanation, the badge is referred to as "Jimmy" because the image of Mercury was based on the late mediaeval bronze statue by the Italian sculptor

Giambologna Giambologna (1529 – 13 August 1608), also known as Jean de Boulogne (French), Jehan Boulongne (Flemish) and Giovanni da Bologna (Italian), was the last significant Italian Renaissance sculptor, with a large workshop producing large and small ...

, and shortening his name over time reduced it to "Jimmy". The most widely accepted origin is a Royal Signals boxer, Jimmy Emblen, who was the British Army Champion in 1924 and represented the Royal Corps of Signals from 1921 to 1924. The first use so far recorded of "Jimmy" in this context is to be found in the (RE) Signal Service Training Camp magazine, The Wire, June 1920.

Lanyard

On No 2, No 4 and No 14 Dress, the Corps wears a dark blue lanyard on the right side signifying its early links with the Royal Engineers. The Airborne Signals Unit wears a drab green lanyard made from parachute cord.

Motto

The Corps

motto A motto (derived from the Latin language, Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian language, Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a Sentence (linguistics), sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of a ...

is "certa cito", often translated from Latin as ''Swift and Sure'' .

Appointments

The Colonel-in-Chief is currently The Princess Royal.

Equipment

The Corps deploys and operates a broad range of specialist military and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) communications systems. The main categories are as follows: *Satellite ground terminals *Terrestrial trunk radio systems *Combat net radio systems *Computer networks *Specialist military applications (computer programmes)

Units

Brigades

There are now two signal

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...

s: * 1st Signal Brigade: The Brigade Headquarters is co-located at

Imjin Barracks Imjin Barracks is a British Army installation situated near Innsworth in Gloucestershire, that is home to the headquarters of NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC). History Imjin Barracks is located at the site of the former RAF Innsworth, ...

, Innsworth, outside Gloucester, with HQ ARRC (NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps). * 7th Signals Group: The Group Headquarters is at Picton Barracks, Bulford. The group supports the 3rd Division. The structure of the Royal Signals changed under

Army 2020 Army 2020 is the restructuring of the British Army in the early and mid-2010s, in light of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010. The plan, as its name suggested, was intended to be completed by 2020, though most of its reorganisations ...

. The listing below shows the present location of units and their future location.

Regular Army

* 1st Signal Regiment – at

Swinton Barracks Swinton Barracks is a military installation accommodating two engineer regiments and two signals regiments at Perham Down in Wiltshire, England. The site is on the east edge of Salisbury Plain, about east of the garrison at Tidworth. The camp ...

.Royal Corps of Signals: The Wire, Spring 2021. **200 Signal Squadron **246 (Gurkha) Signal Squadron **Support Squadron * 2nd Signal Regiment – at

Imphal Barracks Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (officially known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the former Kingdom of Manipur, surrounded by a moat. ...

(moving to Catterick) **214 Signal Squadron **219 Signal Squadron **Support (Jorvik) Squadron * 3rd (United Kingdom) Division Signal Regiment – Supporting 3rd (UK) Division HQ at Picton Barracks,

Bulford Camp Bulford Camp is a military camp on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. Established in 1897, the site continues in use as a large British Army base. The camp is close to the village of Bulford and is about north-east of the town of Amesb ...

**202 Signal Squadron **228 (Armoured) Signal Squadron ** 249 (Gurkha) Signal Squadron **Support Squadron * 10th Signal Regiment – at Basil Hill Barracks,

Corsham Corsham is a historic market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in west Wiltshire, England. It is at the southwestern edge of the Cotswolds, just off the A4 road (England), A4 national route. It is southwest of Swindon, east of ...

** 81 Signal Squadron (Army Reserve) ** 225 Signal Squadron, at

Thiepval Barracks Thiepval Barracks is a British Army barracks and headquarters in Lisburn, County Antrim. It is also the site of the stone frigate HMS ''Hibernia'', Headquarters of the Royal Naval Reserve in Northern Ireland. History The barracks were built in 19 ...

Lisburn Lisburn ( ; ) is a city in Northern Ireland. It is southwest of Belfast city centre, on the River Lagan, which forms the boundary between County Antrim and County Down. First laid out in the 17th century by English and Welsh settlers, with t ...

** 241 Signal Squadron, at Saint George's Barracks, Bicester Garrison ** 251 (United Kingdom Operations) Signal Squadron, at St Omer Barracks,

Aldershot Garrison Aldershot Garrison is a major garrison in South East England, between Aldershot and Farnborough, Hampshire, Farnborough in Hampshire. The garrison was established when the War Department bought a large area of land near the village of Aldershot, ...

* 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment,

* 13th Signal Regiment, at

** 224 (Cyber Protection Team) Signal Squadron ** 233 (Global Communication Networks) Signal Squadron, at Basil Hill Barracks, MoD Corsham ***605 Signal Troop, at Marlborough Lines, Andover ** 254 (Specialist Group Information Services) Signal Squadron ** 259 (Global Information Services) Signal Squadron – Joint services ** Combat Information Systems (CIS) Trials and Development Unit (CISTDU) * 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), at Cawdor Barracks, Wales **223 Signal Squadron (EW) **226 Signal Squadron (EW) **235 Signal Squadron (EW) **245 Signal Squadron (EW) * 15th Signal Regiment, at

**207 (Armoured) Signal Squadron **243 (Gurkha) Signal Squadron **Support Squadron *16th Signal Regiment, at

MOD Stafford Ministry of Defence Stafford otherwise known as MOD Stafford, Stafford Station or Beacon Barracks is a Ministry of Defence site in Stafford, in England. It was formerly Royal Air Force Stafford or more simply RAF Stafford, a non-flying Royal Air ...

Stafford Stafford () is a market town and the county town of Staffordshire, England. It is located about south of Stoke-on-Trent, north of Wolverhampton, and northwest of Birmingham. The town had a population of 71,673 at the 2021–2022 United Kingd ...

** 230 (Malaya) Signal Squadron ** 247 (Gurkha) Squadron ** 262 Signal Squadron ** Support Squadron * 18th (United Kingdom Special Forces) Signal Regiment, at

Stirling Lines Stirling Lines is a British Army garrison in Credenhill, Herefordshire; the headquarters of the Special Air Service, 22 Special Air Service Regiment (22 SAS), Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) and 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment. The site was form ...

Hereford Hereford ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of the ceremonial county of Herefordshire, England. It is on the banks of the River Wye and lies east of the border with Wales, north-west of Gloucester and south-west of Worcester. With ...

**Special Boat Service Signal Squadron **264 (Special Air Service) Signal Squadron **267 (Special Reconnaissance Regiment) Signal Squadron **268 (United Kingdom Special Forces) Signal Squadron **63 (United Kingdom Special Forces) Signal Squadron (Army Reserve) **Several Light Electronic Warfare Teams (LEWTs) * 21st Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), at Azimghur Barracks, Colerne **215 Signal Squadron **234 Signal Squadron **Support Squadron *22nd Signal Regiment, at

**217 Signal Squadron **222 Signal Squadron ** 248 (Gurkha) Signal Squadron **252 Signal Squadron, at

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...

, supporting

Allied Rapid Reaction Corps The Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) is a rapid reaction force maintained by NATO. It is capable of deploying a High Readiness Force (Land) Headquarters at short notice for operations and crisis response. History The ARRC was created on 1 ...

**Support Squadron *30th Signal Regiment, at

Gamecock Barracks Gamecock Barracks is a British Army installation located at Bramcote, south-east of Nuneaton in Warwickshire. History The barracks was established on the site of the former RAF Bramcote airbase in 1959. It was named after HMS ''Gamecock'', the ...

Bramcote Bramcote (, ) is a suburban village and former civil parish in the Borough of Broxtowe, Broxtowe district of Nottinghamshire, England, between Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, Stapleford and Beeston, Nottinghamshire, Beeston. It is in the parliame ...

– doubles as RHQ,

Queen's Gurkha Signals The Queen's Gurkha Signals (QG SIGNALS) is a regular unit of Royal Corps of Signals, one of the combat support arms of British Army. Together with the Queen's Gurkha Engineers, the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, and ...

(Supporting the Joint Helicopter Command and Permanent Joint Headquarters) **244 Signal Squadron (Air Support) **250 (Gurkha) Signal Squadron **256 (JFHQ) Signal Squadron **258 Signal Squadron **Support Squadron *299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications), at John Howard Barracks,

Bletchley Bletchley is a constituent town of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England, in the south-west of the city, split between the civil parishes in England, civil parishes of Bletchley and Fenny Stratford and West Bletchley, which In 2011 had a com ...

*255 (Special Operations) Signal Squadron, at Aldershot Garrison supporting the Army Special Operations Brigade * 216 Parachute Signal Squadron,

16th Air Assault Brigade 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, known simply as 16 Air Assault Brigade from 1999–2021, is a formation of the British Army predominantly based in Colchester, Essex. It makes up the Air Assault Task Force, a battlegroup held at high readines ...

Headquarters and 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron,

Colchester Colchester ( ) is a city in northeastern Essex, England. It is the second-largest settlement in the county, with a population of 130,245 at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 Census. The demonym is ''Colcestrian''. Colchester occupies the ...

*280 Signal Squadron, Blandford Camp, part of 1st NATO Signal Battalion (formerly 628 Signal Troop) *660 Signal Troop, at

Carver Barracks Carver Barracks is a British Army base on the former site of RAF Debden, approximately 1 mile north of the village of Debden, in Essex. The nearest town is Saffron Walden. It is occupied by explosive ordnance disposal & search regiments of the ...

– supports 29 EOD Support Group and Support Unit, reformed in 2021 *Joint Service Signal Unit, Cyprus (

Ayios Nikolaos Station Ayios Nikolaos Station (also spelled ''Agios Nikolaos''; , lit. "Saint Nicholas") is a British military station and part of the British Sovereign Base Area of Dhekelia in Cyprus. It is a former village (Ayios Nikolaos, SBA) connected by a road ...

, Cyprus) (electronic intelligence gathering) ** Regimental Headquarters ** 840 Signal Squadron RAF ** Engineering Squadron ** Support Squadron *Cyprus Communications Unit (

British Forces Cyprus British Forces Cyprus (BFC) is the name given to the British Armed Forces stationed in the UK Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia on the island of Cyprus and at a number of related 'retained sites' in the Republic of Cyprus. The United ...

) *Joint Communications Unit (Falkland Islands) **303 Signals Unit RAF *British Forces South Atlantic Islands Radio Communications Unit (Joint Services) *Royal Corps of Signals Pipes and Drums *Brunei Signal Troop, QGS – at Seria, Brunei *Nepal Signal Troop, QGS – at Jāwalākhel, Nepal

Army Reserve

The Royal Corps of Signals reserve component was severely reduced after the 2009 Review of Reserve Forces, losing many full regiments, with their respective squadrons mostly reduced to troops. * Central Volunteer Headquarters, Royal Corps of Signals, at Basil Hill Barracks, Corsham ** 254 (Specialist Group Information Services) Signal Squadron ** Royal Corps of Signals Specialist Pool ** Royal Corps of Signals Full Time Reserve Service * 32nd Signal Regiment ** Regimental Headquarters, in

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

*** Northern Band of the Royal Corps of Signals, in

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...

** 2 (City of Dundee & Highland) Signal Squadron, in

Dundee Dundee (; ; or , ) is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, fourth-largest city in Scotland. The mid-year population estimate for the locality was . It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firt ...

** 40 (Northern Irish Horse) Squadron, in

Belfast Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...

** 51 (Scottish) Signal Squadron, in

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

** 52 (Lowland) Support Squadron,

* 37th Signal Regiment ** Regimental Headquarters, in

Redditch Redditch is a town and non-metropolitan district with borough status in Worcestershire, England. It is located south of Birmingham, east of Bromsgrove, north-west of Alcester and north-east of Worcester. In 2021, the town had a population of ...

** 33 (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Squadron, in

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

** 48 (City of Birmingham) Signal Squadron, in

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...

** 64 (City of Sheffield) Signal Squadron, in

Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...

** 54 (Queen's Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry) Support Squadron, in Redditch * 39th Signal Regiment (The Skinners) ** Regimental Headquarters, in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

** 43 (Wessex and City & County of Bristol) Signal Squadron, in

Bath Bath may refer to: * Bathing, immersion in a fluid ** Bathtub, a large open container for water, in which a person may wash their body ** Public bathing, a public place where people bathe * Thermae, ancient Roman public bathing facilities Plac ...

** 53 (Wales and Western) Signal Squadron, in

Cardiff Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...

** 94 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, in Windsor *

71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment 71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment is an Army Reserve (United Kingdom), Army Reserve regiment in the Royal Corps of Signals in the British Army. The regiment forms part of 7th Signals Group (British Army), 7th Signal Group, providing ...

** Regimental Headquarters, in

Bexleyheath Bexleyheath is a town in southeast London, England, in the London Borough of Bexley. It had a population of approximately 15,600 in 2021 and is southeast of Charing Cross. It is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in London ...

** 31 (Middlesex Yeomanry and Princess Louises's Kensington) Signal Squadron, in

Uxbridge Uxbridge () is a suburban town in west London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon, northwest of Charing Cross. Uxbridge formed part of the parish of Hillingdon in the county of Middlesex. As part ...

** 36 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, in

** 68 (Inns of Court & City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, in

Whipps Cross Whipps Cross is an area of the districts of Leytonstone and Walthamstow in the London Borough of Waltham Forest in East London, England. It is most famous for Whipps Cross University Hospital. Prior to 1965, it was located in the historic count ...

** 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)) Support Squadron, in

Cadet Forces

The Royal Corps of Signals is the sponsoring Corps for several

Army Cadet Force The Army Cadet Force (ACF), generally shortened to Army Cadets, is a national Youth organisations in the United Kingdom, youth organisation sponsored by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Ministry of Defence and the Bri ...

and

Combined Cadet Force The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a youth organisation in the United Kingdom, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), which operates in schools, sub divided into Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force sections. Its aim is to ...

units, such as in Blandford Forum, home to the Royal School of Signals.

Order of precedence

References

External links

The Royal Corps of Signals official website

Royal Corps of Signals RSTL

Royal Signals Museum

Royal Signals Association

Royal Signals ACF and CCF

32 Signal Regiment
{{DEFAULTSORT:Royal Corps Of Signals British administrative corps Military communications corps Military units and formations established in 1920 1920 establishments in the United Kingdom