12th Signal Brigade (United Kingdom)
| 12th Signal Group 12th Signal Brigade | |
|---|---|
 Cap badge of the Royal Corps of Signals | |
| Active | 1967–1992 2007–2009 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Role | Military communications |
| Size | Group & Brigade |
The 12th Signal Brigade, later 12th Signal Group was a military communications formation of the British Army commanding regiments of the Royal Corps of Signals. Initially formed in 1967, the brigade would provide rear defence communications for the British Army of the Rhine until its disbandment in 1992. In 2007, the group was reformed but disbanded a short time later in 2009 following reductions to the Royal Corps of Signals and Territorial Army.
History
First Formation
Before the 1966 Defence White Paper and subsequent wide-ranging reorganisation of the Army, signal formations larger than those controlled by a Lieutenant Colonel (ie: battalion (regiment in the RCS)) were rare, and usually only temporary regional formations.[citation needed] However, following that defence paper, eight new 'signal groups', commanded by a Colonel were formed to oversee specialist units with specific duties, including those tasked with supporting the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR).[1][2]
A year after the 1966 Defence White Paper, on 1 April 1967, the 12th Signal Group was formed with its headquarters at the Duke of York's Headquarters in Chelsea, London.[3][page needed] The regiments of the group were tasked with providing support to the logistic units in the rear area of supporting I (BR) Corps in West Germany.[citation needed] Additionally, the group providing rear area duties assistance to the corps.[citation needed] The role of the group was described as follows: "to establish and operate telecommunication connections in the Rear Combat Zone and the Communications Zone".[citation needed]
Following the 1981 Defence White Paper, the Territorial Army was given roles of increased priority,[citation needed] and more emphasis was placed on supporting BAOR.[citation needed] As a result of this paper, the 12th Signal Group was redesignated as the 12th Signal Brigade.[2][4][5][6]
According to the 1988 Staff Officers' handbook, each regiment had an established strength of appx. 600 personnel. The brigade headquarters totalled around 100 personnel, and 81 Squadron had 100 personnel, leaving a total of 2,000 personnel for the brigade.[7]
Following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union and subsequent End of the Cold War, the Options for Change defence review was announced. Among the massive changes was the wholescale disbandment of many units based in the United Kingdom. Under this review, the 12th Signal Brigade was disbanded on 13 November 1992.[2]
Second Formation
Following the Future Army Structure changes announced in 2004, as a supplement to the 2003 Defence White Paper, the 11th Signal Brigade would expand from just three regiments in 2004 to six regiments by 2007. By 2007, the regiments which joined the brigade (33rd (Lancashire & Cheshire), 34th (Northern), and 35th (South Midlands) Signal Regiments) were grouped into the 12th Signal Group. The group established its headquarters at Beacon Barracks in Stafford and oversaw the TA regiments within the brigade. The group's, and indeed the regiments, roles were now to provide support for CIS (Combat Information Systems), EW (Electronic Warfare), and ARRC rear support (12th Signal Group) to Land Forces (established in 2008). Because of their unique role, the group's regiments were equipped with the state-of-the-art, but expensive Ptarmigan communications system.[8][9]
The new group, however, was only short-lived as in 2009, a 'supplement' to the Future Army Structure was provided. In addition, a reorganisation of the Reserves was announced in 2009, and the Royal Corps of Signals would face the majority of the cuts. As a cost saving measure, the 12th Signal Group with its three regiments (33rd, 34th, and 35th), in addition to several other regiments: 31st, 36th, 38th, and 40th Signal Regiments would all disbanded. As a result, in late 2009, the group headquarters was disbanded and its regiments reduced to squadrons, and in turn their squadrons became signal troops. As part of the review, the 33rd, 34th, and 35th had their equipment 're-allocated [those resources to] higher defence priorities".[10][11]
Organisation
The independent signal squadrons were removed following the brigade's initial disbandment.
First Formation
- 12th Signal Group/Brigade[2][4][5][12][13]
- Group Headquarters, at the Duke of York's Headquarters, Chelsea, London[4]
- 34th (Northern) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), RHQ in Middlesbrough – on mobilisation to provide communications between the Channel Ports and the rear boundary of 1st British Corps[14]
- 36th (Eastern) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), RHQ in Wanstead – providing communications support to 1st British Corps[15]
- 40th (Ulster) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), RHQ in Belfast – providing communication support to 1st British Corps[16]
- 81 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals (V), in Middlesbrough – initially known as 81 (Northern Ireland) Signal Squadron until 1972, then transferred to Middlesbrough from Belfast under 40th Signal Regiment and made independent. providing air formation signal communications support in the 1st British Corps.[17]
Second Formation
- 12th Signal Group[8][18][19][20]
- Group Headquarters, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford
- 33rd (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), RHQ in Huyton, Liverpool[21][22] – providing communications support for the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps[23]
- 34th (Northern) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), RHQ in Middlesbrough[24] – provides theatre-level communications support for the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps[14]
- 35th (South Midland) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), RHQ in Coventry[25] – provides rear area communications in Europe, supporting Allied Rapid Reaction Corps[15]
Commanders
Commanders of the brigade/group have included:[26]
- April 1967 – December 1968: Brigadier Peter D. Vaigncourt-Strallen[3]
- December 1968 – June 1971: Brigadier Arthur J. Jackson[27]
- June 1971 – August 1972: Brigadier Henry Arthur John Sturge
- August 1972 – October 1974: Brigadier Oliver J. Peck
- October 1974 – January 1978: Brigadier William A. Sykes
- January 1978 – February 1981: Brigadier Ronald L. Stonham
- February 1981 – July 1984: Brigadier John R. Burrows
- July 1984 – May 1988: Brigadier Thomas H. Wheawell
- May 1988 – October 1990: Brigadier Stanley G. McK. Gordon
- October 1990 – November 1992: Brigadier K. P. Burke
Footnotes
- ^ Lord & Watson, p. 136
- ^ a b c d Lord & Watson, pp. 131–132
- ^ a b Royal Corps of Signals Association, The Wire The Royal Signals Magazine for 1968. Corps Headquarters, Royal Corps of Signals. Catterick, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Vieux-Bill, Louis (May 2021). "British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989" (PDF). 1985 Orders of Battle. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ a b British Army, 1991 Master Order of Battle, Ministry of Defence, London. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ Fritz, Alter (October 2018). "British Army of the Rhine & Royal Air Force Germany 1989: Organisation and stationing of the British Armed Forces in Germany in 1989" (PDF). Relics in Upper Saxony & Bremen. Retrieved 15 December 2021 .
- ^ Staff Officers' Handbook for 1988, p. 47
- ^ a b "11th Signal Brigade". 2007-06-10. Archived from the original on 2007-06-10. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ "Digital Communications". 2007-06-26. Archived from the original on 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ "Reserves (Review) - Tuesday 28 April 2009 - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
- ^ Royal Corps of Signals, The Wire for October 2009: The Journal of the Royal Corps of Signals. Retrieved 15 December 2021
- ^ Lord & Watson, pp. 152–186
- ^ Lord & Watson, pp. 207–208
- ^ a b Lord & Watson, p. 141
- ^ a b Lord & Watson, p. 142
- ^ Lord & Watson, p. 145
- ^ Lord & Watson, pp. 182–183
- ^ Lord & Watson, pp. 152–186
- ^ Lord & Watson, pp. 207–208
- ^ "United Kingdom". 2007-10-06. Archived from the original on 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ "33 Signal Regiment (Volunteers)". 2008-01-01. Archived from the original on 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ "55 (Merseyside) HQ Signal Squadron". 2007-10-09. Archived from the original on 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ Lord & Watson, p. 140
- ^ "Squadron Locations". 2008-10-13. Archived from the original on 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ "35 Signal Regiment - How to find us". 2007-10-22. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ Mackie, Colin (26 June 2020). "Directorates of the British Armed Forces (1860–Present), Volume III: Senior Army Appointments 1860–Present" (PDF). Gulabin. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ Royal Corps of Signals Association, The Wire The Royal Signals Magazine for 1969. Corps Headquarters, Royal Corps of Signals. Catterick, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
References
- Lord, Cliff; Watson, Graham (2004). The Royal Corps of Signals : unit histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and its antecedents. Solihull, West Midlands, England: Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1-874622-92-5. OCLC 184820114.
- Staff Officers' Handbook. Army Code No. 71030, D/DAT/13/35/54. Whitehall, London, United Kingdom: Ministry of Defence. September 1988.