32nd Signal Regiment (United Kingdom)
| 32nd Signal Regiment | |
|---|---|
 Emblem for 32nd Signal Regiment | |
| Active | 1967 - Present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Royal Corps of Signals |
| Role | National Resilience Communications Regional RPOC Support |
| Size | Four squadrons |
| Part of | 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland |
| Garrison/HQ | RHQ 32 Signal Regiment - Glasgow 2 (City of Dundee) Signal Squadron - Dundee & Aberdeen 40 (North Irish Horse) Signal Squadron - Belfast 52nd (Support) Squadron - Glasgow 51st (Scottish) Signal Squadron - Edinburgh & East Kilbride |
| Motto(s) | Certa Cito (“Swift and Sure”) |
| Colors | Sky Blue, Navy and Green (Air, Sea and Land) |
| March | Quick - Begone Dull Care Slow - H.R.H. (Princess Royal) |
| Mascot(s) | Mercury (“Jimmy”) |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lt Col IA Davidson VR |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |  |
| Tartan | .png) |
The 32nd Signal Regiment is a British Army Reserve Regiment of the Royal Corps of Signals. The regiment forms part of 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, providing military communications for national operations.
History
Early history
The 1st Lanarkshire Voluntary Military Engineers were raised in Glasgow on 5 December 1859 as part of the Volunteer Force.[1] The 2nd Lanarkshire Voluntary Military Engineers and 3rd Lanarkshire Voluntary Military Engineers were raised in 1860 and 1862 respectively.[1] 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, the Telegraph Company, 2nd Lanarkshire Volunteer Military Engineers was added to the regiment.[2] 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.[1]
First World War
As part of the 1908 Haldane Reforms, which created the Territorial Force (renamed the Territorial Army in October 1921), the regiment became the Lowland Divisional Telegraph Company.[2] 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.[1]
Second World War
On reforming the Territorials in 1920, 52nd Lowland Division Signal Company reformed at Maryhill. On 28 June 1920, the Corps of Signals was formed - it was redesignated the Royal Corps of Signals on 5 August - and the regiment changed uniform and cap badge. During World War II, the regiment again saw active service in support of both 51st (Highland) Division 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.[2] The regiment was retitled 52nd Lowland Infantry Division Signal Regiment in 1948.[2]
Post War
As a result of the 1966 Defence White Paper, 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 formed on 1 April 1967 as a TAVR II unit (i.e. it was assigned a NATO support role). The new regiment was composed of five squadrons, amalgamating the four signals regiments in Scotland. They were:[3]
- Headquarters 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 61st (City of Edinburgh) Signal Regiment
- 82nd (Army Emergency Reserve) Signal Squadron - successor to 82 Signal Regiment (Army Emergency Reserve)
The regiment gained a sixth squadron in 1969, when a squadron of North Irish Horse became 69 (North Irish Horse) Signal Squadron.[3] The regiment was reduced to five squadrons in the early 1970s upon the disbandment of 82 Squadron.[3] Due to Options for Change, 69 Squadron transferred to 40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment in 1995.[3]
From 2009 to 2014 33 Lancashire Signal Squadron (from the disbanded 33 (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment) formed part of 32 Regiment before it was transferred to 37 Signal Regiment under the Army 2020 reorganisation.[4]
In October 2010, 69 (North Irish Horse) Signal Squadron returned to the regiment as 40 (North Irish Horse) Signal Squadron.[5] Then under the Army 2020 re-organisation, 2 (City of Dundee and Highland) Squadron was transferred from 38 Signal Regiment.[6]
Structure
The regimental headquarters is situated in the West End of Glasgow and has four squadrons based in Scotland and Northern Ireland:[7]
- 2 (City of Dundee & Highland) Signal Squadron - Dundee & Aberdeen
- 40 (North Irish Horse) Signal Squadron - Belfast
- 51 (Highland) Signal Squadron - Edinburgh & East Kilbride
- 52 (Lowland) Support Squadron - Glasgow & York
The regiment is part of 1 Signal Brigade.
References
- ^ a b c d Lord and Watson, p. 163
- ^ a b c d "Lowland Signals, Royal Corps of Signals". Regiments.org. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d "32nd (Scottish) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals". Regiments.org. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ^ "Explore the Reserves - Royal Corps of Signals". Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ "69 (North Irish Horse) Signal Squadron". Signals Badges. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ^ "Summary of Army 2020 Reserves structure and basing changes" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ^ "32nd Signal Regiment". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
Bibliography
- Lord, Chris; Watson, Graham (2004). The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and its Antecedents. Helion. ISBN 978-1874622925.
External links