The 12th Signal Brigade, later 12th Signal Group was a military communications formation of the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

commanding regiments of the Royal Corps of Signals. Initially formed in 1967, the brigade would provide rear defence communications for the British Army of the Rhine until its disbandment in 1992. In 2004, the group was reformed to provide territorial army and rear support to the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Germany. However, in 2009 the group was disbanded following reductions to the Royal Corps of Signals and Territorial Army.

History

First Formation

Before the

1966 Defence White Paper The 1966 Defence White Paper (Command Papers 2592 and 2901) was a major review of the United Kingdom's defence policy initiated by the Labour government under Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The review was led by the Secretary of State for Defence, ...

and subsequent wide-ranging reorganisation of the Army, signal formations larger than those controlled by a Lieutenant Colonel (ie: battalion (regiment in the RCS)) were created. Within the Royal Corps of Signals, eight new 'signal groups', commanded by a

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

, were formed to oversee specialist units with specific duties, including those tasked with supporting the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR). Among these was the 12th Signal Group, which undertook rear area duties within the BAOR.Lord & Watson, pp. 131–132 A year after the 1966 Defence White Paper, on 1 April 1967, the 12th Signal Group (Volunteers) was formed with its headquarters initially at

Erskine Barracks Erskine Barracks was a military installation at Fugglestone St Peter, in Wilton parish some northwest of Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. History The site, which had been farmland until used for temporary army buildings during World War II, wa ...

in Wilton. The regiments of the group were tasked with providing support to the logistic units in the rear area of supporting I (BR) Corps in West Germany. Additionally, the group providing rear area duties assistance to the corps. The role of the group was described as follows: "to establish and operate telecommunication connections in the Rear Combat Zone and the Communications Zone". Eventually, the brigade's headquarters moved from Wilton to the

Duke of York's Headquarters The Duke of York's Headquarters is a building in Chelsea in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, England. In 1969 it was declared a listed building at Grade II*, due to its outstanding historic or architectural special interest. History ...

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, where it remained until the brigade's disbandment. Following the

1981 Defence White Paper The 1981 Defence White Paper (titled "The UK Defence Programme: The Way Forward" Cmnd 8288) was a major review of the United Kingdom's defence policy brought about by the Conservative government under the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The main ...

, the Territorial Army was given roles of increased priority, and more emphasis was placed on supporting BAOR. As a consequence of this announcement, the Army reorganised many of its old 'Field Forces' and 'Groups' (renamed as such under the 1975 Mason Review), as 'Brigades'. Thus, on 1 January 1982, 12th Signal Group (V) became 12th Signal Brigade (Volunteers).Vieux-Bill, Louis (May 2021).
British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989
(PDF). ''1985 Orders of Battle''. p. 86 Retrieved 15 December 2021.British Army, ''1991 Master Order of Battle'', Ministry of Defence, London. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 15 December 2021.Fritz, Alter (October 2018).
British Army of the Rhine & Royal Air Force Germany 1989: Organisation and stationing of the British Armed Forces in Germany in 1989
" (PDF). ''Relics in Upper Saxony & Bremen''. Retrieved 15 December 2021 . According to the 1988 Staff Officers' handbook, each regiment had an established strength of appx. 600 personnel. The brigade headquarters totalled around 100 personnel, and 81 Squadron had 100 personnel, leaving a total of 2,000 personnel for the brigade. Following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union and subsequent

End of the Cold War End, END, Ending, or variation, may refer to: End *In mathematics: **End (category theory) ** End (topology) ** End (graph theory) ** End (group theory) (a subcase of the previous) ** End (endomorphism) *In sports and games ** End (gridiron footb ...

, the

Options for Change Options for Change was a restructuring of the British Armed Forces in summer 1990 after the end of the Cold War. Until this point, UK military strategy had been almost entirely focused on defending Western Europe against the Soviet Armed Forces, ...

defence review was announced. Among the massive changes was the wholescale disbandment of many units based in the United Kingdom. Under this review, the 12th Signal Brigade was disbanded on 13 November 1992.

Second Formation

Following the Future Army Structure changes announced in 2004, as a supplement to the 2003 Defence White Paper, the

11th Signal Brigade 11 (eleven) is the natural number following 10 and preceding 12. It is the first repdigit. In English, it is the smallest positive integer whose name has three syllables. Name "Eleven" derives from the Old English ', which is first attested i ...

would expand from just three regiments in 2004 to six regiments by 2007. On 1 April 2004, the TA regiments equipped with the PTARMIGAN communications system of 11th Signal Brigade (33rd (Lancashire & Cheshire), 34th (Northern), and 35th (South Midlands) Signal Regiments) were grouped into the 12th Signal Group. 12th Signal Group's commander was the deputy commander of 11th Signal Brigade, and was first appointed in 2004. Shortly after formation, the group transferred to

1st (United Kingdom) Signal Brigade The 1st Signal Brigade, formerly known as the 1st Signal Group, is a brigade of the British Army. The group was first formed in 1968 as a result of the 1966 Defence White Paper which expanded support for NATO and the British Army of the Rhine. I ...

providing rear trunk communications. The group established its headquarters at Beacon Barracks in Stafford and oversaw the TA regiments within the brigade. The group's, and its regiments roles were now to provide support for CIS (Combat Information Systems), EW (Electronic Warfare), and ARRC rear support to Land Forces (established in 2008). Because of their unique role, the group's regiments were equipped with the state-of-the-art, but expensive Ptarmigan communications system. The new group, however, was only short-lived as in 2009, a 'supplement' to the Future Army Structure was provided. In addition, a reorganisation of the Reserves was announced in 2009, and the Royal Corps of Signals would face the majority of the cuts. As a cost saving measure, the 12th Signal Group with its three regiments (33rd, 34th, and 35th), in addition to several other regiments: 31st, 36th, 38th, and 40th Signal Regiments would all disbanded. As a result, in late 2009, the group headquarters was disbanded and its regiments reduced to squadrons, and in turn their squadrons became signal troops. As part of the review, the 33rd, 34th, and 35th had their equipment 're-allocated hose resources tohigher defence priorities".Royal Corps of Signals, ''The Wire for October 2009: The Journal of the Royal Corps of Signals''. Retrieved 15 December 2021

Organisation

First Formation

Following the reorganisation of the Army under the 1966 Defence White Paper, each regiment in the group consisted of a regimental headquarters, headquarter(s) squadron, three signal squadrons, and an attach light aid detachment (LAD) – company sized, commanded by a Major – provided by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). initially, all the regiments were equipped with the C41/R222 communications system, however in 1987 these regiments were re-equipped with the new EUROMUX system. 56 Signal Squadron meanwhile was equipped with the VRC333/BID860 RATT communications system and would be based in the Lines of Communications (between the Channel Ports & Belgium). 81 Signal Squadron provided maintenance work and installation of the STARNET system at RAF airfields in Germany alongside 16th and 21st Signal Regiments. * 12th Signal Group/BrigadeLord & Watson, pp. 152–186Lord & Watson, pp. 207–208 ** Group Headquarters, at the

** 34th (Northern) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), RHQ in

Middlesbrough Middlesbrough ( ) is a town on the southern bank of the River Tees in North Yorkshire, England. It is near the North York Moors national park. It is the namesake and main town of its local borough council area. Until the early 1800s, the a ...

– on mobilisation to provide communications between the

Channel Ports The Channel Ports are seaports in southern England and the facing continent, which allow for short crossings of the English Channel. There is no formal definition, but there is a general understanding of the term. Some ferry companies divide thei ...

and the rear boundary of 1st British CorpsLord & Watson, p. 141 ** 36th (Eastern) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), RHQ in Wanstead – providing communications support to 1st British CorpsLord & Watson, p. 142 ** 40th (Ulster) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), RHQ in

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom ...

– providing communication support to 1st British Corps ** 56 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals (V), in

Eastbourne Eastbourne () is a town and seaside resort in East Sussex, on the south coast of England, east of Brighton and south of London. Eastbourne is immediately east of Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Great Britain and part of the la ...

– providing communications between the Channel Ports and the Belgium. **81 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals (V), in Middlesbrough – initially known as 81 (Northern Ireland) Signal Squadron until 1972, then transferred to Middlesbrough from Belfast under 40th Signal Regiment and made independent. providing air formation signal communications support at RAF Airfields in Germany.

Second Formation

Following the 2003 Defence White Paper, the 33rd, 34th, and 35th Signal Regiments were all equipped with the PTARMIGAN communications system, which their regular counterparts had been equipped with in Germany. * 12th Signal Group ** Group Headquarters, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford ** 33rd (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), RHQ in

Huyton Huyton ( ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, England. Part of the Liverpool Urban Area, it borders the Liverpool suburbs of Dovecot, Knotty Ash and Belle Vale, and the neighbouring village of Roby, with which ...

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...

– providing communications support for the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps ** 34th (Northern) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), RHQ in Middlesbrough – provides theatre-level communications support for the Allied Rapid Reaction CorpsLord & Watson, p. 141 ** 35th (South Midland) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), RHQ in

Coventry Coventry ( or ) is a city in the West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its city status until the Middle Ages. The city is governed b ...

– provides rear area communications in Europe, supporting Allied Rapid Reaction CorpsLord & Watson, p. 142

Commanders

Commanders of the brigade/group have included: * April 1967 – December 1968: Brigadier Peter D. Vaigncourt-Strallen * December 1968 – June 1971: Brigadier Arthur J. Jackson * June 1971 – August 1972: Brigadier Henry Arthur John Sturge * August 1972 – October 1974: Brigadier Oliver J. Peck * October 1974 – January 1978: Brigadier William A. Sykes * January 1978 – February 1981: Brigadier Ronald L. Stonham * February 1981 – July 1984: Brigadier John R. Burrows * July 1984 – May 1988: Brigadier Thomas H. Wheawell * May 1988 – October 1990: Brigadier Stanley G. McK. Gordon * October 1990 – November 1992: Brigadier K. P. Burke

Footnotes

References

* * *{{Cite book, title=Staff Officers' Handbook, publisher=Ministry of Defence, date=September 1988, series=Army Code No. 71030, D/DAT/13/35/54, location=Whitehall, London, United Kingdom Military units and formations established in 1981 Military units and formations disestablished in 1992 Signal brigades of the British Army 1981 establishments in the United Kingdom 1992 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Units and formations of the Royal Corps of Signals __FORCETOC__