48 (South Midland) Signal Regiment was a Territorial Army (TA) unit of the British Army's

Royal Corps of Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...

from 1920. It had its origins in a Volunteer unit of the

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

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 opposin ...

. Postwar it went through a number of reorganisations. Its successor still serves as a squadron in today's Army 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 i ...

(TF) after the

Haldane reforms The Haldane Reforms were a series of far-ranging reforms of the British Army made from 1906 to 1912, and named after the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane. They were the first major reforms since the " Childers Reforms" of the ...

in 1908, the

2nd Gloucestershire (The Bristol Engineer Volunteer Corps) Royal Engineers The Bristol Engineer Volunteer Corps was a part-time unit of Britain's Royal Engineers, first raised in 1861. It went on to provide the Sappers for the 48th (South Midland) Division of the Territorial Force, serving in both World Wars and postwar ...

(originally formed at Bristol on 10 April 1861 by employees of the

Bristol and Exeter Railway The Bristol & Exeter Railway (B&ER) was an English railway company formed to connect Bristol and Exeter. It was built on the broad gauge and its engineer was Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It opened in stages between 1841 and 1844. It was allied with ...

) provided the

(RE) components of the TF's

South Midland Division The 48th (South Midland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army. Part of the Territorial Force (TF) and raised in 1908, the division was originally called the South Midland Division, and was redesignated as the 48th (South Midlan ...

, 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. The_Battle_of_the_Somme,_July-november_1916_Q1396

The_Battle_of_the_Somme,_July-november_1916_Q1396

* Company Headquarters (HQ) at 32 Park Row, Bristol * 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 Cheltenham (), also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a spa town and borough on the edge of the Cotswolds in the county of Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort, following the discovery of mineral s ...

, 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 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 G ...

. 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.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 Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...

. It was designated the 48th (South Midland) Division in May. For the 'Big Push' of 1916, (the

Battle of the Somme The Battle of the Somme ( French: Bataille de la Somme), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place bet ...

) 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 (

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 and f ...

) 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, 48th (SM) Division led the pursuit into Austrian territory until the Armistice of Villa Giusti 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 The Attack at Fromelles (, Battle of Fromelles, Battle of Fleurbaix or ) 19–20 July 1916, was a military operation on the Western Front during the First World War. The attack was carried out by British and Australian troops and was subsidiary ...

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 Saint Quentin ( la, Quintinus; died 287 AD) also known as Quentin of Amiens, was an early Christian saint. Hagiography Martyrdom The legend of his life has him as a Roman citizen who was martyred in Gaul. He is said to have been the son of a ...

. 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. 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 A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

(18 April). The Allies launched their

Hundred Days Offensive The Hundred Days Offensive (8 August to 11 November 1918) was a series of massive Allies of World War I, Allied offensives that ended the First World War. Beginning with the Battle of Amiens (1918), Battle of Amiens (8–12 August) on the Wester ...

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 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 on 11 November.

Southern Command Signals

British Army Morse signalers Battle of the Somme July 1916 Q128

The other component of the future signal regiment was the RE Signal Companies raised in Birmingham 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

the Southern Signal Companies were formed into the RE Signals Depot at Fenny Stratford. 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

(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, 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

: 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: * 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 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

The_British_Army_in_the_United_Kingdom_1939-45_H8164

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

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 A plan is typically any diagram or list of steps with details of timing and resources, used to achieve an objective to do something. It is commonly understood as a temporal set of intended actions through which one expects to achieve a goal. F ...

, and soon its leading divisions were in place on the River Dyle. However, the Germans had broken through in the

Ardennes The Ardennes (french: Ardenne ; nl, Ardennen ; german: Ardennen; wa, Årdene ; lb, Ardennen ), also known as the Ardennes Forest or Forest of Ardennes, is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges primarily in Be ...

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. The British Army in France 1940 F3159

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– Cassel– Hazebrouck area covering the approaches to

Dunkirk Dunkirk (french: Dunkerque ; vls, label=French Flemish, Duunkerke; nl, Duinkerke(n) ; , ;) is a commune in the department of Nord in northern France.Dunkirk Dunkirk (french: Dunkerque ; vls, label=French Flemish, Duunkerke; nl, Duinkerke(n) ; , ;) is a commune in the department of Nord in northern France.Operation Dynamo), 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 and was slowly re-equipped. It remained training in VIII Corps in South West England until late 1941 when it transferred to Lincolnshire 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, which had already been sent to Norway. The rest of 61st Division never served outside the United Kingdom. It was sent to Northern Ireland in June 1940 during the post-Dunkirk invasion crisis, remaining there until February 1943. 61st Division did appear in

21st Army Group The 21st Army Group was a British headquarters formation formed during the Second World War. It controlled two field armies and other supporting units, consisting primarily of the British Second Army and the First Canadian Army. Established in ...

'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 Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allies of World War II, Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Front (World War II), Western Europe during World War II. The operat ...

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 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

, 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 Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – Run for Tunis, 16 November 1942) was an Allies of World War II, Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. Torch was a compromise operation that met the British objective of secu ...

). 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 Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...

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 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) 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 (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 (31 July–3 August) and then fought its way past the west end of

Mount Etna Mount Etna, or simply Etna ( it, Etna or ; scn, Muncibbeḍḍu or ; la, Aetna; grc, Αἴτνα and ), is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, between the cities of Messina a ...

. 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 Bari ( , ; nap, label= Barese, Bare ; lat, Barium) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy a ...

on 22 September. It took part in the fighting at the crossings of the Trigno in October and the Sangro in November. After rest, the division was switched to the western side of Italy to join the fighting round Monte Cassino. 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 ...

, 11–18 May 1944) and the subsequent fighting in the

Liri The Liri (Latin Liris or Lyris, previously, Clanis; Greek: ) is one of the principal rivers of central Italy, flowing into the Tyrrhenian Sea a little below Minturno under the name Garigliano. Source and route The Liri's source is in the Mon ...

Valley as far as Alatri. It then participated in the pursuit to Lake Trasimene. Allied Armies in Italy (AAI) had a policy of rotating British divisions from Italy to

Middle East Command Middle East Command, later Middle East Land Forces, was a British Army Command established prior to the Second World War in Egypt. Its primary role was to command British land forces and co-ordinate with the relevant naval and air commands to ...

for extended rest and reorganisation. 78th Division embarked on 18 July 1944 and landed in Egypt 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 and pushed towards the Santerno. When the

Spring 1945 offensive in Italy The spring 1945 offensive in Italy, codenamed Operation Grapeshot, was the final Allied attack during the Italian Campaign in the final stages of the Second World War. The attack into the Lombard Plain by the 15th Allied Army Group started on 6 ...

(Operation Grapeshot) was launched on 9 April, 78th Division took part in the fighting on the Santerno and Senio rivers, and then carried out the breakout on 13 April that seized the

Argenta Gap The Battle of the Argenta Gap was an engagement which formed part of the Allied spring 1945 offensive during the Italian campaign in the final stages of the Second World War. It took place in northern Italy from 12 to 19 April 1945 between tr ...

. In the subsequent pursuit it crossed the Po. Hostilities on the Italian front ended on 2 May with the

Surrender of Caserta Surrender may refer to: * Surrender (law), the early relinquishment of a tenancy * Surrender (military), the relinquishment of territory, combatants, facilities, or armaments to another power Film and television * ''Surrender'' (1927 film), an ...

, 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, 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 (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 (AGRA) Signal Squadron, Reading, Berkshire – ''disbanded October 1956'' * 91 (Field) AGRA Signal Squadron, Taunton – ''disbanded August 1950'' * 100 (Anti-Aircraft) AGRA Signals, Southampton – ''transferred to Anti-Aircraft Command September 1948'' * 4 Armoured Replacement Group Signals, Bristol – ''transferred to Army Emergency Reserve 1950'' * 26 Engineer Brigade Signal Troop, Salisbury – ''disbanded in 1961'' * 15 Wireless Squadron, Devonport, Plymouth – ''became 325 Signal Squadron'' * (possibly) 17 Wireless Squadron, Portsmouth – ''became 327 Signal Squadron'' * 10 Air Support Signal Unit (ASSU), Eastleigh – ''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 Bournemouth () is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area of Dorset, England. At the 2011 census, the town had a population of 183,491, making it the largest town in Dorset. It is situated on the Southern ...

– ''redesignated 4 United Kingdom Land Forces Reserve Signal Squadron 1954; moved to Reading by 1958'' * 2 Squadron, Southampton * 3 Squadron, Windsor, Berkshire and

Basingstoke Basingstoke ( ) is the largest town in the county of Hampshire. It is situated in south-central England and lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon, at the far western edge of The North Downs. It is located north-east of Southa ...

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 (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, Birmingham, and 48 (City of Birmingham) Signal Squadron at Small Heath, 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 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 Brigadier-General Sir Robert Chaine Alexander McCalmont (29 August 1881 – 4 November 1953) was a Northern Irish unionist politician and British Army officer. Macalmont was born in Merrion Square East in Dublin, the son of Colonel and MP Ja ...

CVO CVO may refer to: Science and technology * Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, Washington, US * Chief veterinary officer, the head of a veterinary authority * Circumventricular organs, positioned around the ventricular system of the brain * Co ...

, 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 1950–57Nalder, 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 John Basil Collier (1908–1983) was a British writer of books of military history, particularly military aviation, World War II and military and political strategy. Collier became a full-time professional writer in 1932. Before the war he was a ...

''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 Brigadier (United Kingdom), Brigadier-General Sir James Edward Edmonds (25 December 1861 – 2 August 1956) was an commissioned officer, officer of the Royal Engineers in the late-Victorian era British Army who worked in the Intelligence Corps ...

, ''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 Major-General Ian Stanley Ord Playfair, (10 April 1894 – 21 March 1972) was a British Army officer. Military career Born the son of Colonel F.H.G. Playfair of the Hampshire Regiment and educated at Cheltenham College, Playfair joined the Roya ...

& 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