Canadian Signal Troop assigned to HQ NORTHAG Rheindahlen

boatdoctor wrote:

We were our own shoulder patch of a gold norman axe on a blue background.

Did your patch look like this? It's the NORTHAG patch.

That's it.

At 3 Joint Operation Center we worked with Brits, Germans, Dutch and Belgians. These troops were air force. Once a year or so there would be an exercise and army HQ troops would come and man their respective offices. The highest rank I recall seeing was a Brit Brig. Only once during my tour do I remember American troops manning positions in the caves. Our jobs as communicators never changed except for the increase in traffic.
I encountered said Brig in the main washroom on his first time being there. (no rank segregation) The cement floor was always in puddles of water due to sweating pipes and poor ventilation. He asked me if it was always like this, to which I replied "no sir, it's usually worse but they cleaned it up for the exercise.

Dan M wrote:

Quote :

My father served with NORTHAG Signal Troop (Canadian) in Rheindahlen back in 1960-61. However, we lived in the married quarters, which were located in Wickrath.

Until I read your post, I never knew the Canadian MQs were located on Beethoven Strasse. I was only 3/4 years old at the time, so my memories are hazy, but there nonetheless.

Welcome Rick,

I look forward to any stories or photos you may wish to share about your or your father's time in Germany, north or south.

Were you serving with the Brigade signal squadron or with the strategic squadron?

Cheers,
Dan.

Thanks very much for the warm welcome, Dan. I felt extremely fortunate to have actually found a discussion forum that referenced the NORTHAG Signal Troop (Canadian).

I was very young, but I remember a few stories. I also have my late father's photo album, and I'll post a few photos from that a bit later. Reference the photos, should I post them here in this forum, or is there another forum specifically for photos?

Thanks again, Dan.

Rick

Rick,
If you have probs with posting the photos, I'll put them on for you.
You will need my email address. I'll PM you.

Don't scan too big! As the site has limited storage.

Alan

As I was saying to Allan, I feel very fortunate to have found this site. I was only 3 or 4 years old when we lived in Wickrath, but some memories are still there.

My father, John "Jack" Landry, initially went over to Soest, then came back to Canada, met and married my mother, and brought the family over to Wickrath when he was posted to NORTHAG Signals Troop (Canadian).

Here are some photos from Soest Signals Troop (Canadian) from my late father's photo collection. The first image is a unit photo of the Soest Signals Sqn. My father is in the fourth rank, sixth from the right. He is also in the forefront to the last image during a kit inspection.

The soldier in the rear rank, second from the right, is Wayne Marshall, who eventually became my SSM with the 1st Canadian Signals Regiment (1 CSR). More to follow, as I get the photos prepped.

Rick wrote:

My father, John "Jack" Landry, initially went over to Soest, then came back to Canada, met and married my mother, and brought the family over to Wickrath when he was posted to NORTHAG Signals Troop (Canadian).

Here are some photos from Soest Signals Troop (Canadian) from my late father's photo collection. The first image is a unit photo of the Soest Signals Sqn. My father is in the fourth rank, sixth from the right. He is also in the forefront to the last image during a kit inspection.

The soldier in the rear rank, second from the right, is Wayne Marshall, who eventually became my SSM with the 1st Canadian Signals Regiment (1 CSR). More to follow, as I get the photos prepped.

Rick,

What great photographs, especially to an Army nut like me. The group photo looks like it was taken pre-1958 as the Other Ranks are wearing berets rather than forage caps. The Signal Squadron, as you are more than likely aware, was located at Fort Henry. (Right across the road from the detention barracks.) Do you have any background to the barrack photos, like where and when?

Can't wait to see what else you have.

Cheers,
Dan.

PS: Not meant to be a criticism, but if you have a printer/scanner, scanning would you a much better reproduction than photographing them.

Dan M wrote:

Rick wrote:

My father, John "Jack" Landry, initially went over to Soest, then came back to Canada, met and married my mother, and brought the family over to Wickrath when he was posted to NORTHAG Signals Troop (Canadian).

Here are some photos from Soest Signals Troop (Canadian) from my late father's photo collection. The first image is a unit photo of the Soest Signals Sqn. My father is in the fourth rank, sixth from the right. He is also in the forefront to the last image during a kit inspection.

The soldier in the rear rank, second from the right, is Wayne Marshall, who eventually became my SSM with the 1st Canadian Signals Regiment (1 CSR). More to follow, as I get the photos prepped.

Rick,

What great photographs, especially to an Army nut like me. The group photo looks like it was taken pre-1958 as the Other Ranks are wearing berets rather than forage caps. The Signal Squadron, as you are more than likely aware, was located at Fort Henry. (Right across the road from the detention barracks.) Do you have any background to the barrack photos, like where and when?

Can't wait to see what else you have.

Cheers,
Dan.

PS: Not meant to be a criticism, but if you have a printer/scanner, scanning would you a much better reproduction than photographing them.

Hello Dan,

Thanks very much for the kind words. Unfortunately, I don't own a scanner, and the only way I can do this is to photograph the pictures.

The squadron photo is from the Soest Signals Squadron, circa 1956(?), but I do not remember the name of the barracks. Each of these men in that photo had their own story. The signal squadron you referred to, that was located near Fort Henry, is the same unit I served with here in Kingston. I was only a young private when I served with the 1st Canadian Signal Regiment (1 CSR). Later, it was renamed the 1st Canadian Divisional Headquarters and Signal Regiment (1 CDHSR), until it was yet, again renamed, as the Canadian Forces Joint Signal Regiment (CFJSR). I served with all three versions of the unit.

Here are two more photos from my father's collection. The man with the accordion is Cpl Barney Mann. He was one of the older lads in the Soest Signal Squadron, and he took my father, who was only 17 at the time, under his wing. Barney was a good man, and according to my father he passed away from a heart attack while serving in Kingston.

The second photo is of a wireless vehicle kit inspection. I'm unsure as to why one photo is smaller than the other, but if you have administrator privileges, Dan, please amend as you see fit. I'll post some more pics through the week.

Rick wrote:

The squadron photo is from the Soest Signals Squadron, circa 1956(?), but I do not remember the name of the barracks. Each of these men in that photo had their own story. The signal squadron you referred to, that was located near Fort Henry, is the same unit I served with here in Kingston. I was only a young private when I served with the 1st Canadian Signal Regiment (1 CSR). Later, it was renamed the 1st Canadian Divisional Headquarters and Signal Regiment (1 CDHSR), until it was yet, again renamed, as the Canadian Forces Joint Signal Regiment (CFJSR). I served with all three versions of the unit.

Rick, great photographs again. Thanks for posting them.

In 1956, the Canadian Army's contribution to the NATO Integrated Force was 2 Canadian Infantry Brigade. It arrived in Germany during the Fall of 1955 and would remain until the Fall of 1957. There was more than one signal unit with the Brigade. The largest, 2 CIB Signal Troop, was located at Fort Henry outside of Soest with the Brigade Headquarters. 4 RCHA Signal Troop was attached to the artillery at Fort Prince of Wales in Deilinghofen (now Hemer). Finally there was 2 Base Signal Troop which handled communications for the Canadian force back to Canada and to other NATO headquarters. I think they were at Fort Henry as well.

My notes say that 2 CIB Signal Troop was built around "K" Troop of 1 Canadian Infantry Division Signal Regiment, "K" Troop being one of the three Brigade HQ signal troops in the Regiment. When the Canadian Army reorganized into independent Brigade Groups in 1958, Brigade signal troops became Brigade signal squadrons. (Sorry for pontificating.)

Don't be shy about talking about your own career either. It's all good stuff to us.

Cheers,
Dan.

Thanks very much, Dan. I never knew of Fort Henry in Soest, so your information fills in a lot of gaps.

I do remember the "K" troop reference, though. I saw the "K" Tp table at a Signal reunion in Kingston back in 2005. I possibly know of one soldier who is still around that may remember a lot more than I do. He's one of the soldiers in the squadron photo, and I'll try looking him up sometime this week.

As for my career, it really is unspectacular. i had two UN tours of duty, where I served with the British, and Japanese. Other than those deployments, and a 5-year posting to Germany, my career isn't all that colourful. I enjoyed every minute of it, though.

Thanks again, Dan. Cheers.