7 Signal Regient, Herford

Thank you Gordon. Now you know - yes, "Jolly Jack"!

I found it on your stream on Flickr and sent an e mail requesting permission to download it. I also have a photo that Barry Stevenson sent me which I tried to put here but see that being a new member, I cannot do it for 7 days. I will put it up.

I thought i had got rid of Flickr.which i will do shortly.By all means download the pic and any others you want.You can also find it HEREshould i delete Flickr before you get it

No you can delete Flickr.

Thank you. Very much appreciated.

Looking at the Flickr photos brought back memories of both 7 Sig Regt in Herford & Singapore. The remember the mobile homes which were opposite my Troop Office ('S' Troop 1 Sqn). Also the top gymnasium which was used for a variety of uses. Remember the late Alan Crabtree (RSM) coming over Barnes bridge looking for the SSM of 1 Sqn, to arrange clearance of all the leaves lying around. He could'nt be found - Tee Hee !!!.
Shame its all gone but that's progress as they say. I spent nearly four happy years there from 1963-66 before being posted to Singapore - 249 (the happy Sqn) Sig Sqn. But that's another story.

Jimsigs.

PS Barbara, which one was you Dad.

She has already told us Jim

Your mate "Jolly Jack"

Gordon, is that you, with the Gregs, at the front of "The Beanie Boys?

Nah Shelldrake.I was never that good looking

Gordon. wrote:

She has already told us Jim

Your mate "Jolly Jack"

That sounds ominous! (Laughing..............)

At the time Barbara Jim was a S/NCO,so had to be a buddy.I on the other hand was a teenage (not much older than you) J/NCO,who`s main objective in life was to keep as much distance as possible between me and the great man.
Just as a matter of interest can you remember the name of the RSM before your dad?

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Just as a matter of interest can you remember the name of the RSM before your dad?[/quote]

Allan Stubbs as I recall

Thank you. Bin trying to remember that name for a long time..

I spent nearly six years in Herford with 4 Signals. When I got married in 1966 our first married quarter was a caravan in 7 Sigs - our 'first home'. Any of you members of the Herforder Association by any chance? If not, why not check the website out and join us on our twice yearly reunions, March and October. Keith

7th Signal Regt is being disbanded.

Correct Teabag,,,,Middle of 2012 i`m told.

Barbara Lake,

I remember you dad. Great RSM and a great man. I used to do quarter guard Sgt for him whenever there was some VIP visiting the Regiment.
I remember I was on local leave and in bed past parade time when there was a knock on the door. My wife answered the door and there stood the RSM. His first words were 'where is he'. Whilst this was going on and my wife was carrying out a delay tactic, I dressed in one minute, put my hand through my hair and charged out into the living room. He wipe each side of his moustoush and said 'I need you for quarter guard - be in my office within the hour'. I did the guard etc and he gave me two days extra leave for it.
Saw him for the last time when I was stationed in Catterick around 1969/70. He tapped my door window in the car patk in Richmond saying he was home on leave and was now an officer attached to some middle east army.
Great Memories

Jimsigs1

Jimsigs...Hope your memory is in good shape..
1) When did Alan Crabtree take over as RSM
2) When i left in Nov 65 it was from 5 Sqdn.I am now told that the Sqdn`s were re numbered sometime between then and March 66.Can you shed any light on this?

Hi Gordon,

I presume that Alan Crabtree was RSM at the time you left in 1965. I seem to remember he took over from Jack Gerrard around 1964/5. His younger brother Mo Crabtree was in my troop as a Sgt - 'S' Troop, one Squadron.

With regard to the squadrons being renumbered. I left in Feb 1966 and the Squadron numbers were still the same. One Squadron was in the north camp and was Radio-Relay. Two Squadron was in the South Camp and was the Line Squadron.The SSM was Packwood. Cannot remember details of 3 and 4 squadrons.
I will have to do a bit of research to fill in the gaps. Perhaps others who served with 7 Signal Regt might remember more.

Regards
Jimsigs1

This may be a good time for me to ask again about the many friends I had at 7 Sigs in the early 60s, especially Hugh McCabe, Andy McCulloch, "Scouse" Barry. Also Jock Nolan who was the butcher, Jimmy Ramsay and Danny McInally. We had some great times at the various watering holes in and around Herford.

I was in contact with Paddy Barnshaw about 20 years ago until I got a note from his wife to say he had died. I completely lost track of McCabe after he left the army in 1965 after a short tour in Singapore and the tragic loss of his daughter in 1966.

The last I saw of Andy McCulloch was when he was posted to Benghazi in 1964. Don't know what the Lybians ever did to deserve him and I wonder today if his presence had something to do with Khaddafi's rise to power. In case you never met him, he was the lad who, flushed with victory and beer, demonstrated how he kicked the winning points in a regimental rugby match by kicking an empty beer glass behind the bar at Companion's, causing more than a modicum of commotion and hasty exits.

Quote :

"Scouse" Barry

Think i might know of him..Will get back to you,,

Gordon. wrote:

Jimsigs...Hope your memory is in good shape..
1) When did Alan Crabtree take over as RSM
2) When i left in Nov 65 it was from 5 Sqdn.I am now told that the Sqdn`s were re numbered sometime between then and March 66.Can you shed any light on this?

Moin Gordon
Some detail for you from another group
"Steve, as I remember it when we got to 7 Sigs on 5 Jan 1967 this was pre Bruin the layout was I think 1Sqn and 2sqn were the Trc:s 3Sqn was the HQ comcem main and rear, 4 sqn did the rear radio links. Each Sqn had its own ed;s and linemen. On the arrival of Bruin 5sqn was formed mainly linemen to run the two commheads with 3Sqn. 4Sqn 7sigs swopped with a sqn from 22Sigs and a 6th Sqn was formed, this along with the Bruin trials sqn gave us I think the largest Regiment in the british army at the time. I returned to 7 in nov 71 and the sqn s had not changed that much but bruin trials had intergrated into the sqns"
Hope this helps
Steve

That was long after i had gone Steve..I have now got answers to my question from another site..Never known a regiment to have so many changes.lol

The photo was taken in the year I was posted there from Catterick Camp after Trade Training as a Radio Relay Op. Ended up as a Lineman Driver by 1970 there. During those boring 7 years, I had to do 2 years as a Regimental Policeman.
Founder member of Sub7Aqua Club and CSMI Dereck Dolphin was in charge, which was fun and had anual dives in Italy and France. Our first dive was at the Harewood Barracks on the Ring Strasse's open air pool with ice on it.
Have many photos of 7th Sigs etc.
Baz.

PS Was a member of the .22 Rifle Club in South Camp 7th Sigs & so was Lt Col Clarkson. I was Capt Ronnie Sampson's driver for a while and built a Caravan for him in a quarter tonne trailer. That was a good skive. Still in touch with Ronnie Sampson who goes all over the world by Ship given talks. He was Uk's Ambassodor to the Falkland Islands after the 'Conflict'
Now lives in Scotland.
Baz

Quote :

Capt Ronnie Sampson

I remember him.He was a good bloke..Sorted out my bolshie F of S at a summer camp at Eckernförde.

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

Capt Ronnie Sampson

I remember him.He was a good bloke..Sorted out my bolshie F of S at a summer camp at Eckernförde.