Queen's Gurkha Signals
Encyclopedia
The Queen's Gurkha Signals (QGS) is a regular unit of Royal Corps of Signals
, one of the combat support arms of British Army
. Together with the Queen's Gurkha Engineers, the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment and the Royal Gurkha Rifles
they form part of the Brigade of Gurkhas
. QGS was formed during The Malayan Emergency
to support the 17th Gurkha Division
.
The second Gurkha Signals unit was created during The Malayan Emergency
. The unit was raised to support the Gurkha Infantry involved in battle against communist sponsored guerilla organization Malayan Races Liberation Army
. This unit was fully composed of Gurkhas unlike the previous incarnation. On 18 December 1959, the newly formed unit was christened 48th Gurkha Brigade Signal Squadron with its commander Major L H Gregory MBE and 110 men. The regimental title went through many different names during the short period, before settling on the name Gurkha Signals in 1955.
presented her pipe banner to the Pipes and Drums. Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal is also the Colonel-in-Chief of QGS as she is of Royal Corps of Signals
.
As a part of Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations 1977, the Regiment regained its Royal title, along with the Gurkha Engineers, becoming Queen's Gurkha Signals. The Royal title and Royal crown were officially adapted on 20 April 1977.
During its formation year all the men were titled Gurkha Royal Signals and wore the badge of the Royal Corps of Signals, 'Jimmy'. On 23 September 1954, Maj Gen LECM Perowne CBE presented the unit with their own cap badge and since that day the regiment celebrates its birthday on 23 september.
The regiment were also given permission to adapt Grant tartan and thus began affiliation with Scottish Regiment.
The Squadron is fully equipped with the new Royal Signals state-of-the-art CORMORANT digital communications systems since 2004. 246 Squadron is one of the first to receive another new military satellite system, REACHER which replaces the Talon and Mitral. 246 GSS has completed Operation Tour in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan recently and deployed on numerous major exercises in the UK and overseas.
The Squadron was fully equipped with the Royal Signals PTARMIGAN trunk communications system but this system has now been placed out of service. Currently, the Squadron is equipped with state-of-the-art RICHELIEU digital communications systems, primarily used to support the NATO ARRC Headquarters. As part of the re-organising of Royal Signals units within the Corps, 22 Signal Regiment is now being equipped with REACHER and MITRAL satellite systems and will be receiving FALCON and further RICHELIEU and Satellite equipment in the near future. The Squadron has been busy over the last 4 years: moving from Colerne to Stafford, deploying to Iraq on Op TELIC, had the honour to carry out Ceremonial Public Duties in London and augmented 22 Signal Regiment on tour to Afghanistan recently.
Their main objective is to provide command Support to the Joint Rapid Reaction Force when deployed in order to enable the Command and Control (C2) of joint Task Forces at the small and medium scale. They are also responsible for the introduction of Falcon into service.
including secure message services in support of the garrison.
and its units, GWS and ACWs across Nepal.
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
, one of the combat support arms of British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. Together with the Queen's Gurkha Engineers, the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment and the Royal Gurkha Rifles
Royal Gurkha Rifles
The Royal Gurkha Rifles is a regiment of the British Army, forming part of the Brigade of Gurkhas. The Royal Gurkha Rifles are now the sole infantry regiment of the British Army Gurkhas...
they form part of the Brigade of Gurkhas
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...
. QGS was formed during The Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
to support the 17th Gurkha Division
17th Gurkha Division
The 17th Gurkha Division was a British military formation that saw active service during Malayan Emergency.-History:The Division was formed in 1952 in response to the Malayan Emergency. It pepetuated the traditions of the former 17th Indian Infantry Division which had used a Black Cat as its emblem...
.
Origins
The history of Queen's Gurkha Signals dates back to 1911 when Gurkha Signallers were employed in the three Indian Corps of Sappers and Miners (Bombay, Bengal, and Madras). It wasn't until the First World War the whole companies of Gurkha signallers existed within these three Corps. Eventually at the end of 1928 these corps were phased out of service due to an insufficient work force.The second Gurkha Signals unit was created during The Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
. The unit was raised to support the Gurkha Infantry involved in battle against communist sponsored guerilla organization Malayan Races Liberation Army
Malayan Races Liberation Army
The Malayan Races Liberation Army was the name given by British security forces to a combatant in the Malayan Emergency, an insurrection and guerrilla war against the British and Malayan administration from 1948-1960 in what is now Malaysia....
. This unit was fully composed of Gurkhas unlike the previous incarnation. On 18 December 1959, the newly formed unit was christened 48th Gurkha Brigade Signal Squadron with its commander Major L H Gregory MBE and 110 men. The regimental title went through many different names during the short period, before settling on the name Gurkha Signals in 1955.
Royal warrant and Title
On 21 April 1956 a honour was bestowed upon the Regiment when Her Royal Highness the Princess RoyalAnne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
presented her pipe banner to the Pipes and Drums. Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal is also the Colonel-in-Chief of QGS as she is of Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
.
As a part of Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations 1977, the Regiment regained its Royal title, along with the Gurkha Engineers, becoming Queen's Gurkha Signals. The Royal title and Royal crown were officially adapted on 20 April 1977.
Titles of the Regiment and its Predecessor
- Gurkha Signals (1948–1949)
- Gurkha Royal Signals (1949–1954)
- Gurkha Signals (1954–1977)
- Queen's Gurkha Signals(1977–present)
Cap badge and colours
Emblem
Two Khukuris point upwards, the hands crossed in saltire, the cutting edges of the blades inwards, between the blades the figure of Mercury on a globe, the latter supported above by a scroll bearing the motto 'Certa Cito' and below by nine laurel leaves, the whole surmounted by Saint Edward's Crown.The regiment were also given permission to adapt Grant tartan and thus began affiliation with Scottish Regiment.
246 Gurkha Signal Squadron (2nd Signal Regiment)
246 Gurkha Signal Squadron is one of the field squadrons under 2 Signal Regiment based in York. The Squadron comprises three troops, namely Kowloon, Island and Sek Kong. Supporting these troops are the Squadron Headquarters, Technical workshop and Motor Transport Departments. Among the three troops, one has always been in some form of readiness to deploy overseas at short notice since Cormorant arrived in the Squadron.The Squadron is fully equipped with the new Royal Signals state-of-the-art CORMORANT digital communications systems since 2004. 246 Squadron is one of the first to receive another new military satellite system, REACHER which replaces the Talon and Mitral. 246 GSS has completed Operation Tour in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan recently and deployed on numerous major exercises in the UK and overseas.
248 Gurkha Signal Squadron (22nd Signal Regiment)
248 Gurkha Signal Squadron is one of the field squadrons serving with 22 Signal Regiment based in Stafford, West Midlands. The Squadron comprises three troops: Lima, November and Oscar. Supporting these troops are: the Squadron Headquarters, Technical workshop, Squadron Quartermasters and Motor Transport department.The Squadron was fully equipped with the Royal Signals PTARMIGAN trunk communications system but this system has now been placed out of service. Currently, the Squadron is equipped with state-of-the-art RICHELIEU digital communications systems, primarily used to support the NATO ARRC Headquarters. As part of the re-organising of Royal Signals units within the Corps, 22 Signal Regiment is now being equipped with REACHER and MITRAL satellite systems and will be receiving FALCON and further RICHELIEU and Satellite equipment in the near future. The Squadron has been busy over the last 4 years: moving from Colerne to Stafford, deploying to Iraq on Op TELIC, had the honour to carry out Ceremonial Public Duties in London and augmented 22 Signal Regiment on tour to Afghanistan recently.
250 Gurkha Signal Squadron (30th Signal Regiment)
The Squadron consists of:- 2 Falcon troops, Victor and Whisky.
- X Ray Troop providing ICS support to SLE and ABTF.
- Support troop, comprising a MT Section and SQMS department.
- Squadron Headquarters.
Their main objective is to provide command Support to the Joint Rapid Reaction Force when deployed in order to enable the Command and Control (C2) of joint Task Forces at the small and medium scale. They are also responsible for the introduction of Falcon into service.
Brunei Signal Troop
Provides CIS support to British Forces BruneiBritish Military Garrison Brunei
The British Military Garrison Brunei is the name given to the British armed forces presence in Brunei. Since the handover ceremony of Hong Kong in 1997, the garrison in Brunei is the only remaining British military base in the Far East, and along with Diego Garcia one of only two East of Suez...
including secure message services in support of the garrison.
Nepal Signal Troop
Provides CIS support to HQ BGN(British Gurkhas Nepal)British Gurkhas Nepal
British Gurkhas Nepal is an administrative organisation of the British Army that forms part of the Brigade of Gurkhas. The mission of BGN is to organise and facilitate the recruitment, transit and welfare of Gurkhas recruited into the British Army, to ensure that all Gurkha units are manned fully...
and its units, GWS and ACWs across Nepal.
247 Squadron(Inactive)
| Unit Name | Location | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| K Troop, 17th Gurkha Infantry Divisional Signal Regiment | Malaya: Johar Baru | Nov 1951 - 1959 | Supporting 63 Gurkha Infantry Brigade |
| 247 Gurkha Signal Squadron | Malaya | 1959 - 1962 | |
| 247 Gurkha Signal Squadron | England: Tidworth | 1962 - Mar 1963 | |
| 247 Gurkha Signal Squadron | Germany: Llanelly Barracks, Hubbelrath | March 1963 - Sept 1963 | |
| 247 Gurkha Signal Squadron | England | Sept 1963 - Feb 1964 | |
| 247 Gurkha Signal Squadron | Borneo | Feb 1964 - 15 Jan 1967 | Disbanded |
| 247 Gurkha Signal Squadron | Hong Kong | 1983 - 1994 | Reformed: Amalgamated into Hong Kong Gurkha Signal Sqn |