32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 32nd Signal Regiment is a British
Territorial Army regiment
of the Royal Corps of Signals
.
on 5 December 1859 as part of the Volunteer Force
. The regiment was formally registered with the War Office
on 27 February 1860. In 1863 the regiment adopted the uniform of the Royal Engineers
. In 1864 the "Corps Training Ground" was established in Maryhill
. In 1894 a Telegraph Company was added to the regiment. In 1900 the regiment was chosen to be part of the first operational use of the Volunteer Force and a company of two officers and 99 Other Ranks were sent to the Second Boer War
. The regiment undertook its first Annual Camp at Dunoon
in 1902.
, which created the TA, the regiment became the Glasgow Telegraph Group Royal Engineers. A Wireless, Cable and Airline Company were added and the regiment was established as a Field Company to support 51st Highland Division
. After the outbreak of World War I
in 1914 the Glasgow Group RE was disbanded and the regiment was sent as part of IV Corps and the British Expeditionary Force to France. The regiment saw action at the 1st Battle of Ypres and had the distinction of being the first reserve regiment to take part in active service in the campaign.
. During World War II
the regiment again saw active service in support of both 51st Highland
and 52nd Lowland Divisions in the European theatre
. On reforming the TA in 1947, the regiment returned once again to Maryhill as the 51st/52nd (Scottish) Infantry Division Signal Regiment. A small part of the regiment became the 82nd Army Emergency Reserve (AER). The regiment was retitled 52nd Lowland Infantry Division Signal Regiment in 1948.
, a major reorganisation of the Army took place, caused by the end of National Service
, with the TA being disbanded and the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) formed. Instead of forming large reserve formations, the role of the new TAVR was to provide individual and unit-sized reinforcements for the Regular Army.
The 32nd (Scottish) Signal Regiment was created as a TAVR II being formed on 1 April 1967. The new regiment was composed of five squadrons, amalgamating the four Signals Regiments in Scotland. They were:
The regiment gained a sixth squadron in 1969, when the North Irish Horse
became 69 (North Irish Horse) Signal Squadron. The regiment was reduced to five squadrons in the early 1970s upon the disbandment of 82 Squadron. Due to Options for Change
, 69 Squadron transferred to 40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment
in 1995. In 1999, due to the reforms implemented by the Strategic Defence Review
, 52nd Squadron was re-titled as 52 (Lanarkshire and Glasgow Yeomanry) Signal Squadron due to the disbandment of B (Lanarkshire and Queen's Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) Squadron, The Scottish Yeomanry, which became part of the Queen's Own Yeomanry
; This title however did not achieve popular use, and the traditional title of 52nd (Lowland) Signal Squadron was used up to restructuring in 2008.
At this point the title of 52 (Lowland) was transferred to the existing Headquarters Squadron to form 52 (Lowland) Support Squadron, this completed a journey of 9 years between 99 and 2008 when the 52 (Lowland) Squadron was away from its home of Jardine Street on the banks of the River Kelvin. The existing infrastructure and personnel were renamed 852 (Lanarkshire) Signal Troop and 863 (Lothian) Signal Troop becoming part of the new 51st (Scottish) Signal Squadron based upon the Squadron Headquarters of the former 61st (City of Edinburgh) Signal Squadron.
Another journey was completed in October 2010 when 69 (North Irish Horse) Signal Squadron returned to the Regiment after a 15 year hiatus. The Squadron rejoined as 40 Signal Squadron.
, Glasgow
and after re-organisation in 2008 the regiment currently has five squadrons based throughout Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England:
The regiment is part of 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade
, and has the following Mission:
Commander 2 Signal Brigade is to deliver specialist Information Communication Services at readiness in order to enable effective command and control of Expeditionary, Other Government Department (OGD) and UK Operations
The Regiment provides UK Operations Communications Support to the Commanders of the 2nd Division Regional Brigades:
With secure Command and Control
communications facilities to execute their regional Integrated Communications Planning (ICP) responsibilities in Scotland. The main capabilities for this are provided by Deployable Communications Detachments for Key Points and the Brigade Main HQs using the REEBOK LAN
system, Mobile Signal Detachments, Brigade Tactical HQs using BOWMAN
and Liaison Officers and Airwave
Gateway Vehicles to extend or replace the Airwave system sites.
The regiment is supported in these roles by a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
(REME) Light Aid Detachment (LAD), responsible for maintaining and repairing the unit's vehicles and equipment, including Land Rovers
and the SA-80 A2 rifle. The regiment also maintains a long-standing affiliation with the Queen's Own Gurkha Signals
that began in 1967. In ceremonial duties, the regiment makes up the mainstay of The Royal Corps of Signals Pipes and Drums. Recent operational deployments as a unit have included Operation Giraffe - the Cumbrian floods of 2009 and the creation of Barkers Crossing, Operation Fresco
, Operation TOSCA - the UN Mission to Cyprus and the 31st G8 summit
at Gleneagles
. Many members have also served alongside their regular counterparts on operations all over the world, including on Operation Herrick
in Afghanistan
and Operation TELIC
in Iraq
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Territorial Army regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
.
Regimental heritage
The 1st Lanarkshire Engineer Regiment were raised in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
on 5 December 1859 as part of the Volunteer Force
Volunteer Force (Great Britain)
The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated with the British Army after the Childers Reforms in 1881, before forming part of the...
. The regiment was formally registered with the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
on 27 February 1860. In 1863 the regiment adopted the uniform of the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
. In 1864 the "Corps Training Ground" was established in Maryhill
Maryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...
. In 1894 a Telegraph Company was added to the regiment. In 1900 the regiment was chosen to be part of the first operational use of the Volunteer Force and a company of two officers and 99 Other Ranks were sent to the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. The regiment undertook its first Annual Camp at Dunoon
Dunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
in 1902.
World War I
As part of the 1908 Haldane ReformsHaldane 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...
, which created the TA, the regiment became the Glasgow Telegraph Group Royal Engineers. A Wireless, Cable and Airline Company were added and the regiment was established as a Field Company to support 51st Highland Division
British 51st (Highland) Division (World War I)
The 51st Division was a British Territorial Force division that fought on the Western Front in France during the First World War. The division's insignia was a stylised 'HD' inside a red circle. Early doubts about the division's performance earned it the nickname of "Harper's Duds" after the...
. After the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1914 the Glasgow Group RE was disbanded and the regiment was sent as part of IV Corps and the British Expeditionary Force to France. The regiment saw action at the 1st Battle of Ypres and had the distinction of being the first reserve regiment to take part in active service in the campaign.
World War II
On reforming the Territorial Army in 1920, 52nd Lowland Division Signal Company reformed at Maryhill. On 28 June that year the Royal Corps of Signals was formed and the regiment changed uniform and cap badgeCap badge
A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearer's nationality and/or organisation. The wearing of cap badges is a convention commonly found among military and police forces, as well as uniformed civilian groups such as the Boy...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the regiment again saw active service in support of both 51st Highland
British 51st (Highland) Infantry Division (World War II)
For the First World War unit, see 51st Division .The 51st Infantry Division was a British Territorial Army division that fought during the Second World War...
and 52nd Lowland Divisions in the European theatre
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
. On reforming the TA in 1947, the regiment returned once again to Maryhill as the 51st/52nd (Scottish) Infantry Division Signal Regiment. A small part of the regiment became the 82nd Army Emergency Reserve (AER). The regiment was retitled 52nd Lowland Infantry Division Signal Regiment in 1948.
Post War
As a result of the 1966 Defence White Paper1966 Defence White Paper
The 1966 Defence White Paper was a major review of the United Kingdom's defence policy brought about by the Labour Party government under the Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The main author was the then Secretary of State for Defence, Denis Healey...
, a major reorganisation of the Army took place, caused by the end of National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
, with the TA being disbanded and the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) formed. Instead of forming large reserve formations, the role of the new TAVR was to provide individual and unit-sized reinforcements for the Regular Army.
The 32nd (Scottish) Signal Regiment was created as a TAVR II being formed on 1 April 1967. The new regiment was composed of five squadrons, amalgamating the four Signals Regiments in Scotland. They were:
- Headquarter Squadron
- 51st (Highland) Signal Squadron - successor to 51 (Highland) Signal Regiment
- 52nd (Lowland) Signal Squadron - successor to 52 (Lowland) Signal Regiment
- 61st (City of Edinburgh) Signal Squadron - successor to 61 (City of Edinburgh) Signal Regiment61 (City of Edinburgh) Signal Regiment61st Signal Regiment was from 1939-67 a communications regiment of the British Army, part of the Royal Signals.-61st Signal Regiment:In 1939 orders were issued for 3rd Anti-Aircraft Divisional Signals TA to be raised in Edinburgh and Glasgow, as part of Anti-Aircraft Command, and in 1940-41 the...
- 82nd (Army Emergency Reserve) Signal Squadron - successor to 82 Signal Regiment (Army Emergency Reserve)
The regiment gained a sixth squadron in 1969, when the North Irish Horse
North Irish Horse
The North Irish Horse is a yeomanry unit of the British Territorial Army raised in the northern counties of Ireland in the aftermath of the Second Boer War...
became 69 (North Irish Horse) Signal Squadron. The regiment was reduced to five squadrons in the early 1970s upon the disbandment of 82 Squadron. Due to Options for Change
Options for Change
Options for Change was a restructuring of the British Armed Forces in 1990, aimed at cutting defence spending following the end of the Cold War....
, 69 Squadron transferred to 40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment
40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment
40 Signal Regiment is a Territorial Army regiment in the Royal Corps of Signals in the British Army. The regiment forms part of 2 Signal Brigade, providing military communications for national operations...
in 1995. In 1999, due to the reforms implemented by the Strategic Defence Review
Strategic Defence Review
The Strategic Defence Review was a British policy document produced by the Labour Government that came to power in 1997. Then Secretary of State for Defence, George Robertson, set out the initial defence policy of the new government, with a series of key decisions designed to enhance the United...
, 52nd Squadron was re-titled as 52 (Lanarkshire and Glasgow Yeomanry) Signal Squadron due to the disbandment of B (Lanarkshire and Queen's Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) Squadron, The Scottish Yeomanry, which became part of the Queen's Own Yeomanry
Queen's Own Yeomanry
The Queen's Own Yeomanry is an armoured regiment of the British Territorial Army. The Queen's Own Yeomanry is the only Yeomanry regiment that serves in the formation reconnaissance role, equipped with the CVR family of armoured reconnaissance vehicles, including Scimitar and Spartan.On...
; This title however did not achieve popular use, and the traditional title of 52nd (Lowland) Signal Squadron was used up to restructuring in 2008.
At this point the title of 52 (Lowland) was transferred to the existing Headquarters Squadron to form 52 (Lowland) Support Squadron, this completed a journey of 9 years between 99 and 2008 when the 52 (Lowland) Squadron was away from its home of Jardine Street on the banks of the River Kelvin. The existing infrastructure and personnel were renamed 852 (Lanarkshire) Signal Troop and 863 (Lothian) Signal Troop becoming part of the new 51st (Scottish) Signal Squadron based upon the Squadron Headquarters of the former 61st (City of Edinburgh) Signal Squadron.
Another journey was completed in October 2010 when 69 (North Irish Horse) Signal Squadron returned to the Regiment after a 15 year hiatus. The Squadron rejoined as 40 Signal Squadron.
Locations and operations
The Regimental Headquarters is situated in MaryhillMaryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and after re-organisation in 2008 the regiment currently has five squadrons based throughout Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England:
- 33 (Lancashire) Squadron - Liverpool & Manchester
- 40 Squadron - Belfast & Limavady
- 50 Squadron - Darlington & Hartlepool
- 51st (Scottish) Signal Squadron - Edinburgh & East Kilbride
- 52nd (Lowland) Support Squadron - Glasgow
The regiment is part of 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade
2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade
2 Signal Brigade is an operational Brigade of the Royal Corps of Signals with a Regular HQ, 1 Regular Regiment, 8 TA Regiments and a number of specialist sub-units...
, and has the following Mission:
Commander 2 Signal Brigade is to deliver specialist Information Communication Services at readiness in order to enable effective command and control of Expeditionary, Other Government Department (OGD) and UK Operations
The Regiment provides UK Operations Communications Support to the Commanders of the 2nd Division Regional Brigades:
- 15 (North East) BrigadeBritish 15th Infantry BrigadeThe 15th Infantry Brigade is a British Army brigade. It was part of the regular British 5th Infantry Division during the Second World War, and is now part of the British 2nd Infantry Division in the north of the United Kingdom, with specific responsibility for the areas of North East England and...
- 38 (Irish) Brigade
- 42 (North West) BrigadeBritish 42nd Infantry BrigadeThe British Army's 42nd Infantry Brigade was originally a brigade of the 14th Division in World War I. It was re-formed during the Second World War as a security force to protect Lines of Communication in North Africa....
- 51st (Scottish) BrigadeBritish 51st Infantry BrigadeThe British 51st Infantry Brigade is currently known as 51 Brigade, part of the 2nd Division. It is currently the regional administrative formation responsible for all the units of the Territorial Army based in Scotland. It is the largest Regional Brigade in the United Kingdom in terms of...
With secure Command and Control
C4ISTAR
In military usage, a number of abbreviations in the format C followed by additional letters are used, based on expanded versions of the abbreviation C2 - command and control.C2I stands for command, control, and intelligence....
communications facilities to execute their regional Integrated Communications Planning (ICP) responsibilities in Scotland. The main capabilities for this are provided by Deployable Communications Detachments for Key Points and the Brigade Main HQs using the REEBOK LAN
Local area network
A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building...
system, Mobile Signal Detachments, Brigade Tactical HQs using BOWMAN
Bowman
-Places:Antarctica* Bowman Island* Bowman PeninsulaAustralia* Bowman Park, South Australia* Division of Bowman, an electoral district in the Australian House of RepresentativesCanada* Bowman, Quebec* Bowman BayUnited States* Bowman, Chicot County, Arkansas...
and Liaison Officers and Airwave
Terrestrial Trunked Radio
Terrestrial Trunked Radio is a professional mobile radio and two-way transceiver specification...
Gateway Vehicles to extend or replace the Airwave system sites.
The regiment is supported in these roles by a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...
(REME) Light Aid Detachment (LAD), responsible for maintaining and repairing the unit's vehicles and equipment, including Land Rovers
Land Rover Wolf
The Land Rover Wolf is a military utility vehicle in service with UK Armed Forces and the Dutch Marine Corps. The vehicle is famous for being the primary utility vehicle of the British Army....
and the SA-80 A2 rifle. The regiment also maintains a long-standing affiliation with the Queen's Own Gurkha Signals
Brigade of Gurkhas
The Brigade of Gurkhas is the collective term for units of the current British Army that are composed of Nepalese soldiers. The brigade, which is 3,640 strong, draws its heritage from Gurkha units that originally served in the British Indian Army prior to Indian independence, and prior to that of...
that began in 1967. In ceremonial duties, the regiment makes up the mainstay of The Royal Corps of Signals Pipes and Drums. Recent operational deployments as a unit have included Operation Giraffe - the Cumbrian floods of 2009 and the creation of Barkers Crossing, Operation Fresco
Operation Fresco
Operation Fresco or Op FRESCO was the codename for the provision of basic emergency cover during the UK firefighter dispute 2002-2003 by civilian firefighters in the United Kingdom, in late 2002 and early 2003. The response to the industrial action was coordinated by the Office of the Deputy Prime...
, Operation TOSCA - the UN Mission to Cyprus and the 31st G8 summit
31st G8 summit
The 31st G8 summit was held from July 6 to July 8, 2005 at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland, United Kingdom and hosted by British Prime Minister Tony Blair...
at Gleneagles
Gleneagles Hotel
The Gleneagles Hotel is a luxury hotel near Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross, Scotland.- History :The hotel was built by the former Caledonian Railway Company and opened in 1924, originally with its own railway station...
. Many members have also served alongside their regular counterparts on operations all over the world, including on Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Operation TELIC
Operation Telic
Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
External links
- Official website: http://www.army.mod.uk/signals/organisation/8184.aspx
- Comprehensive history of 32nd Signal Regiment: http://www2.army.mod.uk/linkedfiles/royalsignals/32sigregt/history/32sigregthistory.pdf
- 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade: http://www.army.mod.uk/signals/organisation/9393.aspx