| 1st Signal Regiment 1st (UK) Divisional Signal Regiment | |
|---|---|
 Cap badge of the Royal Corps of Signals | |
| Active | 1885–June 1960 30 June 1960–present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army
|
| Type | Close Support (Armoured) Signal Regiment |
| Role | Communication and Information Support |
| Size | Regiment, 383 personnel[1] |
| Part of | 7th Signals Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Beacon Barracks, Stafford |
| Nickname(s) | "Rhino Signallers" |
| Engagements | World War I World War II Invasion of Egypt First Gulf War Second Gulf War Operation Herrick |
1st Signal Regiment (1 SIGNAL REGT) is a 'Communication and Information Support' regiment of the British Army's Royal Corps of Signals (RCS). The regiment is the oldest regular regiment in the corps, formed in 1885 as the 1st Divisional Telegraph Battalion in the Royal Engineers Signal Service and later redesignated as the 1st Divisional Signal Company. After an expansion to battalion (regiment in the RCS), the regiment became the divisional headquarters and communications unit for the 1st Infantry Division, 1st Armoured, and even later the 1st (UK) Armoured Division. However, following the Army 2020 and Army 2020 Refine changes in the 2010s, the regiment simply became the 1st Signal Regiment. The unit now provides direct communications support for the 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team and is organised in a headquarters along with two signal squadrons and a support squadron.
History[]
The regiment's antecedents date to the formation of the 1st Divisional Telegraph Battalion, Royal Engineers, in 1905. From 1905 - 1960 the regiment went by multiple names including 1st Divisional Signal Company and 1st Divisional Signal Regiment. After the 1957 Defence White Paper, the army was re-organised and the regiment became known as the 1st Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment, and moved to Verden in 1978.[2]
After 1st Armoured Division was disbanded, several months elapsed before 4th Armoured Division was redesignated 1st Armoured Division. In accordance with this change, the former 4th Armoured Division HQ and Signals Regiment was redesignated 1 (UK) Armoured Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment in late 1993.[2] After the regiment's reformation, it was then organised into:[2]
- Regimental Headquarters, at Hammersmith Barracks, Herford (supporting HQ 1st (UK) Armoured Division)
- 200 Signal Squadron, at Barker Barracks, Paderborn (supporting HQ 20th Armoured Brigade)
- 208 Signal Squadron (supporting HQ 1st (UK) Armoured Division)
- 211 Signal Squadron (supporting HQ 1st (UK) Armoured Division)
- 212 Signal Squadron (supporting HQ 4th Armoured Brigade)
Under the Army 2020 reforms announced in 2010 and later refined as the Army 2020 Refine in 2013, the regiment transitioned from a divisional to brigade communications unit. As such, the regiment left the renamed 1st (UK) Division to join the 11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands' 7th Signal Group. In the brigade, the regiment's changed to a 'Multi-Role Signal Regiment', providing communications support to the 1st (UK) Division's brigades.[3] As part of the change in role, and the British Army's move out of Germany, in 2015 the regiment moved to Beacon Barracks, part of MoD Stafford.[4][5][6]
In 2013, as part of the Army 2020 Refine changes, the regiment changed from form a multi-role mission to a brigade communications unit. In Spring 2014, the regiment shifted its focus to provide direct communications support for the 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade. At this point, the regiment consisted of a Headquarters along with 200, 211, and 212 Signal Squadrons and Support Squadron.[6][7] Later however, it was announced that the regiment would move to Swinton Barracks in Perham Down, a move which was completed by June 2020.[8]
In November 2021, as a result of the Government's Integrated Review, the Future Soldier reform was published, which saw the British Army once again further reduced and its units consolidated. As part of the reform, the regiment will remain part of 7th Signals Group, providing direct support to the renamed 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team with a reduced establishment. The regiment lost 211 and 212 Signal Squadrons, but gained 246 (Gurkha) Signal Squadron based at Imphal Barracks in York, previously of 2nd Signal Regiment. 200 Signal Squadron was subsequently renamed as 200 (Armoured) Signal Squadron as a result of the changes.[9] The regiment was restructured in June 2023.[10]
Current Organisation[]
The current organisation of the regiment, as of March 2024, is:[9][11][12]
- Regimental Headquarters, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford
- 200 (Armoured) Signal Squadron
- 246 (Gurkha) Signal Squadron
- Support Squadron
Commanding Officers[]
Commanding officers included;[13]
1st Divisional Signals
- 1919—1921 Major E N F Hitchins DSO MC
- 1921—1925 Major R H Willan DSO MC
- 1925—1929 Lieutenant Colonel R H Willan DSO MC
- 1929—1932 Lieutenant Colonel J P G Worlledge OBE
- 1932—1936 Lieutenant Colonel R E Barker
- 1936—1939 Lieutenant Colonel A L Harris MC
- 1939—1940 Lieutenant Colonel R F H Nalder
- 1940—1940 Lieutenant Colonel W G L Kennard
- 1940—1943 Lieutenant Colonel L C Boyd MC
- 1943—1944 Lieutenant Colonel L T Shawcross OBE
- 1944—1945 Lieutenant Colonel C H Stoneley OBE
- 1945—1946 Lieutenant Colonel H W C Stethem OBE
1st Infantry Divisional Signal Regiment
- 1946—1948 Lieutenant Colonel D M Rhind OBE
- 1948—1951 Lieutenant Colonel E D Good CBE
- 1951—1953 Lieutenant Colonel W A Purser
- 1953—1955 Lieutenant Colonel A C R Stead OBE
- 1955—1955 Major E N L Brown
Cyprus District Signal Regiment
- 1955—???? Lieutenant Colonel A C R Stead OBE
Alliances[]
Germany - Panzergrenadier Division Signal Regiment Fernmeldebataillon 1[2]- Canada - 1st Canadian Signal Regiment[2]
Footnotes[]
- ↑ "United Kingdom Parliament Question for the Ministry of Defense regarding the Order of Battle by Manpower and Basing Locations for the Army". 22 November 2018. https://qna.files.parliament.uk/qna-attachments/1012385/original/194616_Answer_Table_Order_Of_Battle.pdf.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 23–26, 67.
- ↑ Transforming the British Army, p. 12
- ↑ "United Kingdom Parliament Question for the Ministry of Defense regarding the Order of Battle by Manpower and Basing Locations for the Army". 22 November 2018. https://qna.files.parliament.uk/qna-attachments/1012385/original/194616_Answer_Table_Order_Of_Battle.pdf.
- ↑ "Regular Army Basing Announcement: Table Matrix by Formation and Unit". July 2013. http://www.aff.org.uk/linkedfiles/aff/latest_news_information/cregulararmybasingannouncementgridunclas.pdf.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Royal Signals Institution Journal". March 2014. pp. 39, 42. http://www.royalsignals.org/files/RSI/Journal/PDF/RSI%20Journal%20March%202014.pdf.
- ↑ "Royal Corps of Signals Structural Graphic". https://i.pinimg.com/originals/69/d1/4b/69d14b4613335e9739497c31f7bbb83f.jpg.
- ↑ "Freedom of Information Request regarding Army 2020 Refine changes since 2016". 18 July 2019. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/878632/20190717-FOI06365_Zacchi_Response_Letter-ArmySec.pdf.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "The Wire: The Magazine of The Royal Corps of Signals: Autumn 2022". Royal Corps of Signals Headquarters. Autumn 2022. https://royalsignals.org/royal-signals/wire-and-journal/93.
- ↑ "Future Soldier Guide". November 2021. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1037759/ADR010310-FutureSoldierGuide_30Nov.pdf.
- ↑ Royal Signals Interactive Map.
- ↑ "1 Signal Regiment" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-signals/1-signal-regiment/.
- ↑ Nalder, p. 586.
References[]
- Lord, Cliff; Watson, Graham (2004). The Royal Corps of Signals : unit histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and its antecedents. Solihull, West Midlands, England: Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1-874622-92-5. OCLC 184820114.
- Maj-Gen R.F.H. Nalder, The Royal Corps of Signals: A History of its Antecedents and Developments (Circa 1800–1955), London: Royal Signals Institution, 1958.
- Transforming the British Army: An Update. Army Headquarters, Andover, Hampshire, United Kingdom: Ministry of Defense. July 2013. http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2014-0042/20140110-PQ01968B-SOames-A2020-Update-Glossy-U.pdf.