48 (South Midland) Signal Regiment was a
Territorial Army (TA) unit 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 ...
's
Royal Corps of Signals from 1920. It had its origins in a
Volunteer
Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve ...
unit of the
Royal Engineers formed in 1861 and provided the communications for several infantry divisions during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. Postwar it went through a number of reorganisations. Its successor still serves as a squadron in today's
Army Reserve
A military reserve force is a military organization whose members have military and civilian occupations. They are not normally kept under arms, and their main role is to be available when their military requires additional manpower. Reserve ...
.
Royal Engineers
When the old
Volunteer Force
The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement throughout the British Empire in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated ...
was subsumed into the
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was a part-time volunteer component of the British Army, created in 1908 to augment British land forces without resorting to conscription. The new organisation consolidated the 19th-century Volunteer Force and yeomanry ...
(TF) after the
Haldane reforms in 1908, the
(originally formed at
Bristol
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
on 10 April 1861 by employees of the
Bristol and Exeter Railway) provided the
Royal Engineers (RE) components of the TF's
South Midland Division, including the South Midland Divisional Telegraph Company, with the following organisation:
[Lord & Watson, p. 159.][Nalder, pp. 616–7.][''Monthly Army List'', various dates.][''London Gazette'', 20 March 1908.]
/ref>[Becke, Pt 2a, pp. 77–83.]
* Company Headquarters (HQ) at 32 Park Row, Bristol
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
* No 1 Section at 32 Park Row
* No 2 (Warwickshire) Section at Warwick
Warwick ( ) is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Warwickshire in the Warwick District in England, adjacent to the River Avon. It is south of Coventry, and south-east of Birmingham. It is adjoined with Leamington Spa and Whi ...
, attached to the Warwickshire Brigade
* No 3 (Gloucester & Worcester) Section at Cheltenham, attached to the Gloucester & Worcester Brigade
* No 4 (South Midland) Section at Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
, attached to the South Midland Brigade
Nos 2–4 Sections were largely manned by the three infantry brigades to which they were attached. The Telegraph Company was redesignated a Signal Company in 1911.
The South Midland Division mobilised on the outbreak of World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
in August 1914, and went to its war stations round Chelmsford
Chelmsford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Southend-on-Sea and Colchester. It ...
in Essex
Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and Grea ...
.[ Shortly after mobilisation, the TF was invited to volunteer for overseas service and the formation of a reserve or 2nd Line unit was authorised for each unit where 60 per cent or more of the men had volunteered. The titles of these 2nd Line units were distinguished by a '2/' prefix, including the 2/1st South Midland Divisional Signal Company in the ]61st (2nd South Midland) Division
The 61st (2nd South Midland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army raised in 1915 during the Great War as a second-line reserve for the first-line battalions of the 48th (South Midland) Division. The division was sent to the We ...
.[Becke, Pt 2b, pp. 33–9.]
48th (South Midland) Divisional Signals, RE
The 1st South Midland Division embarked for France at the end of March 1915 to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and took its place in the line of the Western Front. It was designated the 48th (South Midland) Division in May. For the 'Big Push' of 1916, (the Battle of the Somme) all signal companies spent three months in preparing new cable communications; the Division fought through the Somme until November. During periods of action signal lines were constantly cut by shellfire, and any advance required the rapid installation of additional lines. The German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line (German: , Siegfried Position) was a German defensive position built during the winter of 1916–1917 on the Western Front during the First World War. The line ran from Arras to Laffaux, near Soissons on the Aisne. In 1916 ...
(Operation Alberich
Operation Alberich (german: Unternehmen Alberich) was the code name of a German military operation in France during the First World War. Two salients had been formed during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 between Arras and Saint-Quentin a ...
) in Spring 1917 created a devastated area over which new communications had to be installed, and the divisional cable wagons came into their own. Later in the year 48th (SM) Division took part in several phases of the Third Battle of Ypres
The Third Battle of Ypres (german: link=no, Dritte Flandernschlacht; french: link=no, Troisième Bataille des Flandres; nl, Derde Slag om Ieper), also known as the Battle of Passchendaele (), was a campaign of the First World War, fought by t ...
. By now divisional signal companies had added a section for the Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...
, which previously handled its own communications, and the number of infantry signallers attached to brigade signal sections was increased.[
In November 1917, 48th (SM) Division was ordered to the Italian Front. At first the British forces in Italy were dependent on the local civil telephone system, which had been badly disrupted by the war. In June 1918 the division was closely engaged in the fighting on the Asiago Plateau, where cables were difficult to install and wireless was more widely used than on the Western Front. At the conclusion of the ]Battle of Vittorio Veneto
The Battle of Vittorio Veneto was fought from 24 October to 3 November 1918 (with an armistice taking effect 24 hours later) near Vittorio Veneto on the Italian Front during World War I. After having thoroughly defeated Austro-Hungarian troop ...
, 48th (SM) Division led the pursuit into Austrian territory until the Armistice of Villa Giusti
The Armistice of Villa Giusti or Padua ended warfare between Italy and Austria-Hungary on the Italian Front during World War I. The armistice was signed on 3 November 1918 in the Villa Giusti, outside Padua in the Veneto, Northern Italy, a ...
came into effect on 3 November.[
]
61st (2nd South Midland) Divisional Signals, RE
Training for 61st (2nd South Midland) Division was badly delayed by lack of equipment. The division embarked for France during May 1916. Unlike its 1st Line, which had a year's experience of trench warfare before its first major action, 61st (2nd SM) Division was thrown into the disastrous Battle of Fromelles just seven weeks after arrival. It later served during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the Third Battle of Ypres. In December 1917 it helped to fight off the German counter-attacks after the Battle of Cambrai.[
The opening of the German spring offensive on 21 March found 61st (2nd SM) Division holding the line in front of St Quentin. The BEF had introduced a new system of defence in depth, but this was still incomplete, particularly the essential buried cable communications, and surface lines were quickly cut by the massive German bombardment. The forward positions were quickly cut off, and morning mist made visual communication impossible. However, though heavily attacked, 61st Division managed to keep its 'battle zone' intact for most of the day. But by the next day, 61st (2nd SM) Division was being pushed south-westwards away from its neighbouring division, the RE field companies were destroying bridges and the signals company was extemporising communications with whatever cable was left. The division fell back to the defences of the 'Green Line', which were barely started. By 23 March the badly mauled 61st (2nd SM) Division was in reserve during the actions at the Somme Crossings, though individual units were still engaged.][ The division was withdrawn and sent to the quiet area of the Lys front. This sector was where the second phase of the German offensive, the Battle of the Lys fell on 9 April, and 61st (2nd SM) Division came into action on 11 April (the ]Battle of Estaires
The Battle of the Lys, also known as the Fourth Battle of Ypres, was fought from 7 to 29 April 1918 and was part of the German spring offensive in Flanders during the First World War. It was originally planned by General Erich Ludendorff as O ...
. It was committed piecemeal, and command had to be improvised. It fought on through the Battle of Hazebrouck (12–15 April) and the Battle of Béthune (18 April).[
The ]Allies
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
launched their Hundred Days Offensive on 8 August, but 61st (2nd SM) Division did not return to the fighting until its final stages, joining the pursuit on 2 October and participating in the Battle of the Selle
The Battle of the Selle (17–25 October 1918) was a battle between Allied forces and the German Army, fought during the Hundred Days Offensive of World War I.
Prelude
After the Second Battle of Cambrai, the Allies advanced almost and liber ...
on 24–25 October, and the Battle of Valenciennes on 1–2 November. In this phase of mobile warfare, divisional signals had to rely on vulnerable cables strung from by cable wagons (which had hardly been used during static trench warfare), or small cable barrows over the shell holes of the old battlefields, and infantry brigade communications were especially hampered. Much re-use of captured German cable and poles was employed, and corps cavalry and bicycle units had to be used to supplement the limited number of dispatch riders. Wireless sections had been increased in August, allowing signal companies to man stations as far forward as battalion HQs.[ Hostilities on the Western Front ended with the ]Armistice with Germany
The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was the armistice signed at Le Francport near Compiègne that ended fighting on land, sea, and air in World War I between the Entente and their last remaining opponent, Germany. Previous armistices ...
on 11 November.
Southern Command Signals
The other component of the future signal regiment was the RE Signal Companies raised 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 in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
for Southern Command in 1908:[
* Southern Command Signal Companies at The Barracks, Great Brook Street, Birmingham
* Southern Wireless Signal Company
* Southern Cable Signal Company
* Southern Airline Signal Company
On the outbreak of ]World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
the Southern Signal Companies were formed into the RE Signals Depot at Fenny Stratford
Fenny Stratford is a constituent town of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England and in the Civil Parish of Bletchley and Fenny Stratford. Originally an independent town, it was included in the Milton Keynes " designated area" in 1967. From 189 ...
. Although the companies did not see active service themselves, they raised a number of new signal units that served in various theatres of the war,[ beginning with a Southern Motor Airline Section that embarked for the Western Front on 10 November 1914.
]
Royal Corps of Signals
In 1920 the RE Signal Service became the independent Royal Corps of Signals (RCS) and 48th (South Midland) Divisional Signals was formed in the new corps as part of the Territorial Army (TA), which replaced the TF in 1921. It was established at The Barracks, Great Brook Street, Birmingham, moving in the 1930s to Cateswell House, Stratford Road, in Hall Green
Hall Green is an area in southeast Birmingham, England, synonymous with the B28 postcode. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee. Historically it lay within the county of Worcestershire.
Politics
Hall Green i ...
, Birmingham.[
The Worcestershire Cadet Signal Company of the RCS was affiliated to the unit.][
48th (SM) Divisional Signals comprised Nos 1–3 Companies with Nos 2 and 3 Wireless Sections attached. The RCS also carried out some signal functions for the ]Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...
: by 1927 the unit had a number of these sections attached to it at Great Brook Street:[
* 228th Field Artillery Signal Section
* 229th Field Artillery Signal Section
* 209th Medium Artillery Signal Section
By the 1930s it also had two attached Supplementary Reserve sections providing communications for the ]Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
:[
* No 2 (South Midland) Air Wing Signal Section
* No 1 (South Midland) Air Force Port Depot Signal Section
The unit was mechanised by 1932.][
]
World War II
Mobilisation
When the TA was doubled in size in early 1939 after the Munich Crisis
The Munich Agreement ( cs, Mnichovská dohoda; sk, Mníchovská dohoda; german: Münchner Abkommen) was an agreement concluded at Munich on 30 September 1938, by Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. It provided "cession to Germany ...
, the division once again formed a duplicate, 61st Division, for which the signals split to form 61st Divisional Signals.[ The TA mobilised on 1 September 1939, just before the outbreak of war, with 48th (SM) Division and 61st Division both in Southern Command.][Southern Command 3 September 1939 at Patriot Files.]
/ref>[Joslen, pp. 77–8.][Joslen, pp. 95–6.]
Organisation
In 1939, the organisation of an infantry divisional signal unit and the attachments of its subunits were as follows:[Lord & Watson, pp. 262, 314.]
* HQ Company
** Q Section – quartermasters
** M Section – maintenance
* No 1 Company – Divisional HQ
** A & C Sections – wireless
** B Section – cable
** D Section – despatch riders and cipher section
** O Section – operating
* No 2 Company – divisional artillery
** E, F & G Sections – individual artillery regiments
** H Section – HQ divisional artillery
* No 3 Company – infantry, reconnaissance and RE
** R Section – reconnaissance battalion
** J, K & L Sections – individual infantry brigades
48th (South Midland) Divisional Signals
![48 inf div -vector](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/48_inf_div_-vector.svg)
Battle of France
48th (SM) Division moved to France in January 1940 to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). When the German offensive began with the invasion of the Low Countries on 10 May, the BEF advanced into Belgium under Plan D, and soon its leading divisions were in place on the River Dyle
The Dyle (french: Dyle ; nl, Dijle ) is a river in central Belgium, left tributary of the Rupel. It is long. It flows through the Belgian provinces of Walloon Brabant, Flemish Brabant and Antwerp. Its source is in Houtain-le-Val, near Nivelles ...
. However, the Germans had broken through in the Ardennes and the BEF was forced to retreat back to the line of the Escaut. The division was heavily engaged on 21 May, holding back German attempts o cross the river.[Nalder, pp. 280–4.]
However, the German breakthrough from the Ardennes had reached the sea and the BEF was cut off. The division was among the forces pulled out of the east-facing Escaut line to form a west-facing line along a series of canals in the Bergues
Bergues (; nl, Sint-Winoksbergen; vls, Bergn) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.
It is situated to the south of Dunkirk and from the Belgian border. Locally it is referred to as "the other Bruges in Flanders". Bergues ...
–Cassel Cassel may refer to:
People
* Cassel (surname)
Places
;France
* Cassel, Nord, a town and commune in northern France
** Battle of Cassel (1071)
** Battle of Cassel (1328)
** Battle of Cassel (1677)
;Germany
* Cassel, Germany, a city in Hesse re ...
–Hazebrouck
Hazebrouck (, nl, Hazebroek, , vls, Oazebroeke) is a commune in the Nord department, Hauts-de-France. It was a small market town in Flanders until it became an important railway junction in the 1860s. West Flemish was the usual language until 1 ...
area covering the approaches to Dunkirk, where the division arrived on 25 May. Next day the decision was made to evacuate the BEF from Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo
Operation or Operations may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity
* Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory
* ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Ma ...
), and forces in the 'pocket' in which the BEF was now confined were progressively pulled into the Dunkirk perimeter. 48th (SM) Division held a series of delaying positions before moving into the bridgehead. Although most vehicles had to be destroyed, signal units were permitted to move their wireless vehicles and despatch riders into the perimeter to maintain communications, and a skeleton wireless service was maintained to the end. 48th (SM) Division was embarked on 30 May.[
]
Home Defence
On return to the UK 48th (SM) Division reformed in South West England
South West England, or the South West of England, is one of nine official regions of England. It consists of the counties of Bristol, Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly), Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. Cities ...
and was slowly re-equipped. It remained training in VIII Corps 8th Corps, Eighth Corps, or VIII Corps may refer to:
* VIII Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French army during the Napoleonic Wars
* VIII Army Corps (German Confederation)
* VIII Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Ar ...
in South West England until late 1941 when it transferred to Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a Counties of England, county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-we ...
in I Corps District.[Collier, Maps 17, 20, 27.] From November 1941 48th (SM) Division was placed on a lower establishment, indicating that it was no longer intended for overseas service. It did, however, supply trained units to other formations. 48th (SM) Divisional Signals provided the HQ, commanding officer (CO), and No 1 Company for a new 78th Divisional Signals.[Joslen, pp. 101–2.]
48th (SM) Division, including the remainder of its divisional signals, remained in Home Forces for the rest of the war.[
]
Commanders
The following officers commanded 48th (SM) Divisional Signals:[
* Lt-Col J.W. Danielson, DSO, TD, 1920
* Lt-Col P.H. Keeling, MC, TD, 1924
* Lt-Col W. Martineau, MC, TD, 1929
* Lt-Col M.E. Holdsworth, 1933
* Lt-Col P.H. Jones, MC, TD, 1937
* Lt-Col R.W. Morgan, 1941
* Lt-Col J.C. Rau, 1941
* Lt-Col R, Maguire, 1942
* Lt-Col J.L. Lilley, TD, 1944
* Lt-Col G.B. McKean, 1945
]
61st Divisional Signals
After the outbreak of war 61st Division trained in Southern Command. Suddenly, on 15 April 1940 the divisional commander and his staff were detached to form HQ ' Mauriceforce' for service in the Norwegian Campaign. However, communications for Mauriceforce were handled by a detachment of 49th (West Riding) Divisional Signals
"Thank God for Mississippi" is an adage used in the United States, particularly in the Southern United States, South, that is generally used when discussing rankings of U.S. states. Since the U.S. state of Mississippi commonly ranks at or near the ...
, which had already been sent to Norway.[ The rest of 61st Division never served outside the United Kingdom. It was sent to ]Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
in June 1940 during the post-Dunkirk invasion crisis, remaining there until February 1943.[
61st Division did appear in 21st Army Group's proposed order of battle in the summer of 1943, but it was later replaced by veteran formations brought back from the Mediterranean theatre before Operation Overlord was launched. It remained in reserve in the UK at full establishment.][
]
Commanders
The following officers commanded 61st Divisional Signals:[
* Lt-Col W.A. James, TD, 1939
* Lt-Col F.R. Booth, 1942
* Lt-Col J.E.S. Walford, 1944
* Lt-Col J.M.S. Tulloch, OBE, 1945
* Lt-Col J.E.S. Walford, 1945
]
78th Divisional Signals
78th 'Battleaxe' Division was a new formation created for the Allied invasion of North Africa ( Operation Torch). Divisional HQ began to form on 25 May 1942, and 78th Divisional Signals joined on 15 June 1942. The division consisted of three independent infantry brigades that had already been assigned to Force 110 (which became First Army in July 1942); the supporting arms were transferred from training divisions such as 48th (SM) Division.[
]
Tunisia
The division sailed on 16 October and 11th Infantry Brigade (including its HQ and signals) carried out the first 'Torch' landing near Algiers at 01.00 on 8 November. The rest of the division followed on 12 November, and it took part in the drive eastwards towards Tunisia. Communications were maintained by radio and by requisitioning the local civilian telephone system. By 24 November the division was fighting Axis
An axis (plural ''axes'') is an imaginary line around which an object rotates or is symmetrical. Axis may also refer to:
Mathematics
* Axis of rotation: see rotation around a fixed axis
* Axis (mathematics), a designator for a Cartesian-coordinat ...
troops around Medjez el Bab
Majaz al Bab ( ar, مجاز الباب), also known as Medjez el Bab, or as Membressa under the Roman Empire, is a town in northern Tunisia. It is located at the intersection of roads GP5 and GP6, in the ''Plaine de la Medjerda''.
Commonwealth wa ...
and Tebourba
Tebourba ( aeb, طبربة ') is a town in Tunisia, located about 20 miles (30 km) from the capital Tunis, former ancient city (Thuburbo Minus) and bishopric, now a Latin Catholic titular see.
Thuburbo Minus
Historically Thuburbo Minus wa ...
. The enemy counter-attacked strongly at Tebourba Gap, and First Army was unable to take Tunis in 1942.[
After building up their forces during the winter, the Allies launched their offensive against Tunis in April with preparatory operations by 78th Division at Oued Zarga (7–15 April) including the assaults on Longstop Hill, followed by fighting in the Medjez Plain (23–30 April). The final attack (]Operation Vulcan
Operation Vulcan (22 April – 6 May 1943) and Operation Strike (6–12 May 1943) were the final ground attacks by the Allied forces against the Italian and German forces in Tunis, Cape Bon, and Bizerte, the last Axis toeholds in North Africa ...
) was launched on 5 May and the Axis forces in Tunisia surrendered on 12 May.[
]
Sicily
78th Division was in reserve for the Allied invasion of Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, also known as Operation Husky, was a major campaign of World War II in which the Allied forces invaded the island of Sicily in July 1943 and took it from the Axis powers ( Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany). It b ...
(Operation Husky), which began on 9/10 July; the division itself did not land until 26 July. It then went into action in the Battle of Centuripe
The Battle of Centuripe was fought from 2 to 4 August 1943, as part of the Allied invasion of Sicily during World War II. The 78th ''Battleaxe'' Division, of the British Eighth Army, was engaged in fierce fighting around the town of Centuripe in ...
(31 July–3 August) and then fought its way past the west end of Mount Etna. The Axis forces evacuated Sicily on 7 August.[
]
Italy
The Allies followed up with landings on mainland Italy, and had made good progress by the time 78th Division began disembarking at the captured port of Bari on 22 September. It took part in the fighting at the crossings of the Trigno
The Trigno (Latin ''Trinius'') is an Italian river. It originates in the Apennine Mountains, in the province of Isernia and flows into the Adriatic Sea near Vasto. It also forms the border between the regions Abruzzo and Molise.
See also
* Barb ...
in October and the Sangro
The Sangro is a river in eastern central Italy, known in ancient times as Sagrus from the Greek ''Sagros'' or ''Isagros'', ''Ισαγρος''.
It rises in the middle of Abruzzo National Park near Pescasseroli in the Apennine Mountains. It flows ...
in November. After rest, the division was switched to the western side of Italy to join the fighting round Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino (today usually spelled Montecassino) is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, in the Latin Valley, Italy, west of Cassino and at an elevation of . Site of the Roman town of Casinum, it is widely known for its abbey, the first ho ...
. It took part on the final Battle of Monte Cassino (Operation Diadem
Operation Diadem, also referred to as the Fourth Battle of Monte Cassino or, in Canada, the Battle of the Liri Valley, was an offensive operation undertaken by the Allies of World War II (U.S. Fifth Army and British Eighth Army) in May 1944, as p ...
, 11–18 May 1944) and the subsequent fighting in the Liri Valley as far as Alatri
Alatri ( la, Aletrium) is an Italian town and ''comune'' of the province of Frosinone in the region of Lazio, with c. 30,000 inhabitants. An ancient city of the Hernici,Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Hernici". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed. ...
. It then participated in the pursuit to Lake Trasimene
Lake Trasimeno ( , also ; it, Lago Trasimeno ; la, Trasumennus; ett, Tarśmina), also referred to as Trasimene ( ) or Thrasimene in English, is a lake in the province of Perugia, in the Umbria region of Italy on the border with Tuscany. Th ...
.[
]Allied Armies in Italy
The Allied Armies in Italy (AAI) was the title of the highest Allied field headquarters in Italy, during the middle part of the Italian campaign of World War II. In the early and later stages of the campaign the headquarters was known as the ...
(AAI) had a policy of rotating British divisions from Italy to Middle East Command for extended rest and reorganisation. 78th Division embarked on 18 July 1944 and landed in Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...
on 23 July. It returned to Italy on 15 September. The roads were in bad shape and it took a long time to travel up to the line for the winter fighting, in which it took the hills above Bologna
Bologna (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language, Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 1 ...
and pushed towards the Santerno
The Santerno is a river in Romagna in northern Italy. It is a major tributary of the river Reno. In Roman times, it was known as the ''Vatrenus'' (small ''Renus''), although, in the Tabula Peutingeriana, it was already identified as the ''Santer ...
.[
When the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy (Operation Grapeshot) was launched on 9 April, 78th Division took part in the fighting on the Santerno and ]Senio
The Senio is a river of Romagna in Italy, the final right-sided tributary of the river Reno. The source of the river is in the province of Florence in the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano mountains. The river flows northeast into the province of Ravenna ...
rivers, and then carried out the breakout on 13 April that seized the Argenta Gap. In the subsequent pursuit it crossed the Po. Hostilities on the Italian front ended on 2 May with the Surrender of Caserta, and 78th Division entered Austria on 8 May to begin occupation duties. [
]
Commanders
The following officers commanded 78th Divisional Signals:[
* Lt-Col J.C. Rau, 1942
* Lt-Col W.A. Purser, 1944
* Lt-Col J.F. Shearer, 1945
]
Postwar
I/20th (South Midland) Army Signal Regiment
When the TA was reconstituted on 1 January 1947, the 48th and 61st Divisional Signals were recombined and reorganised as 'X' Army Signal Regiment, designated from 1948 as I/20th (South Midland) Army Signal Regiment.[
]
Commanders
The following officers commanded 1/20th (South Midland) Army Signal Rgt:[
* Lt-Col D.G. Collins, ]MBE Mbe may refer to:
* Mbé, a town in the Republic of the Congo
* Mbe Mountains Community Forest, in Nigeria
* Mbe language, a language of Nigeria
* Mbe' language, language of Cameroon
* ''mbe'', ISO 639 code for the extinct Molala language
Molal ...
, TD
* Lt-Col E.R. Price, TD, 1950
* Lt-Col R.N. Houston, MBE, TD, 1954
48 (South Midland) Signal Regiment
In 1959 the regiment was redesignated 48 (South Midland) Signal Regiment, and from 1961 it assumed district responsibilities under 48th (SM) Divisional/District HQ.[
When the TA was reduced into the ]Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve
The Army Reserve is the active-duty volunteer reserve force of the British Army. It is separate from the Regular Reserve whose members are ex-Regular personnel who retain a statutory liability for service. The Army Reserve was known as the Ter ...
(TAVR) in 1967, the regiment was combined with 63 Signal Regiment to form a HQ and a single squadron.[
]
63 Signal Regiment
This regiment was formed at Wilton on 2 January 1947 to supervise a number of signal units in Southern Command:[Lord & Watson, pp. 197–200.]
* 90 (Field) Army Group Royal Artillery
An Army Group Royal Artillery (AGRA) was a British Commonwealth military formation during the Second World War and shortly thereafter. Generally assigned to Army corps, an AGRA provided the medium and heavy artillery to higher formations within the ...
(AGRA) Signal Squadron, Reading, Berkshire
Reading ( ) is a town and borough in Berkshire, Southeast England, southeast England. Located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the rivers River Thames, Thames and River Kennet, Kennet, the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 mot ...
– ''disbanded October 1956''
* 91 (Field) AGRA Signal Squadron, Taunton
Taunton () is the county town of Somerset, England, with a 2011 population of 69,570. Its thousand-year history includes a 10th-century monastic foundation, Taunton Castle, which later became a priory. The Normans built a castle owned by the ...
– ''disbanded August 1950''
* 100 (Anti-Aircraft) AGRA Signals, Southampton
Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...
– ''transferred to Anti-Aircraft Command
Anti-Aircraft Command (AA Command, or "Ack-Ack Command") was a British Army command of the Second World War that controlled the Territorial Army anti-aircraft artillery and searchlight formations and units defending the United Kingdom.
Origin
...
September 1948''
* 4 Armoured Replacement Group Signals, Bristol – ''transferred to Army Emergency Reserve 1950''
* 26 Engineer Brigade Signal Troop, Salisbury
Salisbury ( ) is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers Avon, Nadder and Bourne. The city is approximately from Southampton and from Bath.
Salisbury is in the southeast of ...
– ''disbanded in 1961''
* 15 Wireless Squadron, Devonport, Plymouth
Devonport ( ), formerly named Plymouth Dock or just Dock, is a district of Plymouth in the English county of Devon, although it was, at one time, the more important settlement. It became a county borough in 1889. Devonport was originally one o ...
– ''became 325 Signal Squadron''
* (possibly) 17 Wireless Squadron, Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most dens ...
– ''became 327 Signal Squadron''
* 10 Air Support Signal Unit (ASSU), Eastleigh
Eastleigh is a town in Hampshire, England, between Southampton and Winchester. It is the largest town and the administrative seat of the Borough of Eastleigh, with a population of 24,011 at the 2011 census.
The town lies on the River Itchen, ...
– ''joined later in 1947; became 310 Signal Squadron''
The regiment was designated 63 HQ Line of Communication Signal Regiment in 1948. As its subordinate units disappeared, the regiment took on a more conventional organisation from 1950:[
* Regimental Headquarters (RHQ), Wilton – ''moved to Salisbury 11 October 1958''
* 1 Squadron, Bournemouth – ''redesignated 4 ]United Kingdom Land Forces
United Kingdom Land Forces was a command of the British Army responsible for generating and preparing forces for current and contingency operations. The commander of the forces was known as Commander-in-Chief, United Kingdom Land Forces, who in ...
Reserve Signal Squadron 1954; moved to Reading by 1958''
* 2 Squadron, Southampton
* 3 Squadron, Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is a historic market town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British monarch. The town is situated west ...
and Basingstoke
The regiment took over responsibility for the eastern part of Southern Command's area and was redesignated 63 Command (Mixed) Signal Regiment on 6 March 1957 ('Mixed' indicating that members of the Women's Royal Army Corps
The Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC; sometimes pronounced acronymically as , a term unpopular with its members) was the corps to which all women in the British Army belonged from 1949 to 1992, except medical, dental and veterinary officers and cha ...
(WRAC) were integrated into the unit), 63 (Mixed) Signal Regiment in 1959, and simply 63 Signal Regiment in 1961. By this time its organisation was:[
* RHQ
* 1 Sqn, Reading, Basingstoke and Windsor
* 2 Sqn, Southampton
* 3 Sqn with WRAC Band, Southampton and Portsmouth
* 310 (ASSU) Signal Squadron
* 314 (UKLFR) Signal Squadron, Bournemouth – ''formed from 4 UKLF Reserve Signals''
]
48 (City of Birmingham) Signal Squadron
On 1 April 1967 TAVR was formed: 48 and 63 Signal Regiments were amalgamated to form HQ Squadron at Sparkbrook
Sparkbrook is an inner-city area in south-east Birmingham, England. It is one of the four wards forming the Hall Green formal district within Birmingham City Council.
Etymology
The area receives its name from Spark Brook, a small stream that f ...
, Birmingham, and 48 (City of Birmingham) Signal Squadron at Small Heath
Small Heath is an area in south-east Birmingham, West Midlands, England situated on and around the Coventry Road about from the city centre.
History
Small Heath, which has been settled and used since Roman times, sits on top of a small hill. ...
, Birmingham, in the new 35th (South Midlands) Signal Regiment
The 35th (South Midlands) Signal Regiment was a British Territorial Army regiment of the Royal Corps of Signals.
History
The Regiment was formed at Sparkbrook in 1967. It consisted of five squadrons:
*Support Squadron
* 48 (City of Birmingham ...
. (The number 63 was reassigned to the former 322 SAS Signal Squadron.)[
35 (South Midland) Signal Regiment was disbanded in 2009 but 48 (City of Birmingham) Signal Squadron continues in the ]Army Reserve
A military reserve force is a military organization whose members have military and civilian occupations. They are not normally kept under arms, and their main role is to be available when their military requires additional manpower. Reserve ...
as part of 37 Signal Regiment.
Honorary Colonels
The following served as Honorary Colonel of the unit:[
* G.H. Verity, MIEE
* Col J.W. Danielson, DSO, TD, former CO, appointed 16 July 1927
* Maj B.J.T. Ford, TD, appointed 16 July 1932
* Brig-Gen Sir Robert McCalmont, CVO, DSO, appointed 16 July 1937
* Brig Edward Antrobus, OBE, TD, served with 48th (SM) Divisional Signals) 1920–39 and 61st Divisional Signals 1939-44, Hon Col 1950–57][Nalder, p. 537.]
Footnotes
Notes
References
* Maj A.F. Becke,''History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2a: The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56)'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1935/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-39-8.
* Maj A.F. Becke,''History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2b: The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th), with the Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions,'' London: HM Stationery Office, 1937/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-39-8.
* Basil Collier
''History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Defence of the United Kingdom'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1957/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004.
* Brig-Gen Sir James E. Edmonds, ''History of the Great War: Military Operations, France and Belgium 1918'', Vol I, ''The German March Offensive and its Preliminaries'', London: Macmillan, 1935/Imperial War Museum and Battery Press, 1995, ISBN 0-89839-219-5/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2009, ISBN 978-1-84574-725-1.
* Brig-Gen Sir James E. Edmonds, ''History of the Great War: Military Operations, France and Belgium 1918'', Vol II, ''March–April: Continuation of the German Offensives'', London: Macmillan, 1937/Imperial War Museum and Battery Press, 1995, ISBN 1-87042394-1/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2009, ISBN 978-1-84574-726-8.
* Brig-Gen Sir James E. Edmonds & Lt-Col R. Maxwell-Hyslop, ''History of the Great War: Military Operations, France and Belgium 1918'', Vol V, ''26th September–11th November, The Advance to Victory'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1947/Imperial War Museum and Battery Press, 1993, ISBN 1-870423-06-2/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2021, ISBN 978-1-78331-624-3.
* Maj L.F. Ellis
''History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1954/Uckfield: Naval &
* Gen Sir William Jackson, ''History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East'', Vol VI: ''Victory in the Mediterranean, Part I, : June to October 1944'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1987/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-71-8.
* Gen Sir William Jackson, ''History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East'', Vol VI: ''Victory in the Mediterranean, Part I, I: November 1944 to May 1945'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1988/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-72-6.
* Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, ''Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/London: London Stamp Exchange, 1990, ISBN 0-948130-03-2/ Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-843424-74-6.
* Cliff Lord & Graham Watson, ''Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920–2001) and its Antecedents'', Solihull: Helion, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-92-2.
* Brig C.J.C. Molony, ''History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East'', Vol V: ''The Campaign in Sicily 1943 and the Campaign in Italy 3rd September 1943 to 31st March 1944'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1973/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-69-6.
* Brig C.J.C. Molony, ''History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East'', Vol VI: ''Victory in the Mediterranean, Part I: 1st April to 4th June 1944'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1987/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-70-X.
* 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.
* Maj-Gen I.S.O. Playfair & Brig C.J.C. Molony, ''History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East'', Vol IV: ''The Destruction of the Axis forces in Africa'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1966/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-68-8.
* Maj Raymond E. Priestley, ''Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War 1914–1918: The Signal Service in the European War of 1914 to 1918 (France)'', Chatham: Institution of Royal Engineers, 1921/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2006, .
* War Office, ''Titles and Designations of Formations and Units of the Territorial Army'', London: War Office, 7 November 1927.
External sources
Orders of Battle at Patriot Files
MoD site
{{refend
Regiments of the Royal Corps of Signals
Military units and formations established in 1959
Military units and formations disestablished in 1967
Military units and formations in Warwickshire
Military units and formations in Birmingham