Forum Rank Structure

Was that an amalgamation of comcen op and tg op?I ask because i have never come across it before.and trade names changed so often

Gordon. wrote:

Was that an amalgamation of comcen op and tg op?I ask because i have never come across it before.and trade names changed so often

I wasn't an Op so I stand to be corrected on this. I believe that Radio Telegraphist (RTG) was just a new name in the early '70s for the Telegraph Operator (TG Op). i.e. the all singing all dancing Op as opposed to the Comcen Op, Radio Op, Radio Relayman etc.

I think nearly all the R Signals trades were revamped and/or renamed very early in the '70s. I remember that for instance the Electrician Driver (ED) became a Combat Powerman (without the need to get changed in a phone box ) and Radio Op and Radio Relayman combined to become Combat Radio Op.

Cheers Mike

Teabag wrote:

What, drink with a Manc? Of course I would I was RTG, brother was Spec Op and another brother ED. We don't talk about the spec op because he was a real Captain. (eventually).

You'll be relieved to know that I am not actually a Manc. I have merely been exiled to this area.

Did the Spec Ops (Queenies) keep their name or did they become Combat Something?

I've also noticed that we Scaleys seem to have hijacked this thread.

Aye the "combat" trades came in after i left.Was it not to glamourise the trades to assist with recruiting or something like that,
?

Gordon. wrote:

Aye the "combat" trades came in after i left.Was it not to glamourise the trades to assist with recruiting or something like that,
?

Quite possibly Gordon. Or it may have been to give the impression that we actually fought as part of the Army as opposed to just fighting in the Harewood Club in Catterick

There was a Data telegraphist who did mainly Comcen work plus switchboards etc. Radio Telegraphists were an A trade and as mjm puts it an all singing all dancing operator (allegedly).

I started as a Combat Radioman i.e. voice and radio delay but was persuaded to retrain. Year at TTS Catterick being brainwashed with Morse and Keyboard skills. Daft thing was that I did more or less the same work once I did retrain. Got more money though!

Spec Ops (special operators or spies as I called them) became Special Telegraphists.

RC Sigs had the RTG Op come in in the early sixties over from the the OWL trade. I was in the School taking my RTG Op in 62 and saw many an old Snr NCO in for retraining to the RTG Op trade. Incidentally they also started to train us in Tele Op procedure as the Tel Ops in the Congo were useless when the RTT side of the Angries broke down and the Det Comanders who were usually Sgt. OWL or RTG Ops had to do CW on a steady basis as the CW side rarely failed. The Tele Op trade is now discontinued. Mind when it came to the crunch during the FLQ Crises here in Canada every body but cooks were infantry.

I do NOT like the new rank structure; as it will be many years until I am promoted to a rank that I can rest on my laurels or is it arse? Being a new boy; I shall accept the comments of my peers and post what I can; being patient; watching and listening; paying attention to my shape; shine; shadow; silhouette and silence!

Thank you for letting me join your site; that I find of great interest,
snaijper

Becoming adjusted to the rank structure and it does appear to work: Some people on this site must have spent many hour's of research and pleasure; to attain rank!
snaijper

I myself am waiting for my LE Commission to arrive, the heights of which I never achieved.

snaijper wrote:

I do NOT like the new rank structure; as it will be many years until I am promoted to a rank that I can rest on my laurels or is it arse? Being a new boy; I shall accept the comments of my peers and post what I can; being patient; watching and listening; paying attention to my shape; shine; shadow; silhouette and silence!

Thank you for letting me join your site; that I find of great interest,
snaijper

Hi Snaijper
Well if I've read some of your previous posts correctly it will certainly take quite some time to achieve your Army rank. Some of us have already surpassed ours

Cheers
Mike

snaijper wrote:

Becoming adjusted to the rank structure and it does appear to work: Some people on this site must have spent many hour's of research and pleasure; to attain rank!
snaijper

snaijper

Belated welcome to the forum by starting research on the British Army in Iserlohn from 1945 to 1994 (there was a short time 1968 to 1990 when not here) found this website and it has very useful but for myself nothing to do with the rank structure just enjoy finding out about the places I served in

Know little about the Royal Green Jackets except that 3 Bn were here 1967/1968 before moving on to Celle enjoyed reading your story have a question do you recall a Rod Le Coulliard in the Royal Green Jackets he would be now circa 64 years looking forward to hearing from you here or as a private message

Best regards from a wet Iserlohn
Steve

Now that's interesting Steve. I've been looking for a lad in the 3rd Btn Green Jackets who was in Iserlohn at that time. He married a girl from Deilinghofen. I think his name was John White. His wifes name was Utta Stimpf.

Hardrations wrote:

Now that's interesting Steve. I've been looking for a lad in the 3rd Btn Green Jackets who was in Iserlohn at that time. He married a girl from Deilinghofen. I think his name was John White. His wifes name was Utta Stimpf.

The world is VERY small have known a John White here in Iserlohn for many years but have not been in touch for some time just checked the phone book and no longer listed will do my best to find him for you
Cheers
Steve

Liked it until it transferred me from REME into the Royal Artillery can I go back to my own Corps please!

Mike_2817 wrote:

Mikey wrote:

What a coincedence my Forum Rank is what my service rank was!

AND REME as well!

all ways was don't remember transferring to the RA!

I liked mine as it was same rank i had when serving but it shows me as a REEM whereas in fact i was Army Air Corps so can i have that shoulder flash pretty please

Not as easy as that I am sorry to say! Looking for a set of ranks without the Shoulder Titles at the moment.

OK, This is the image set Paul used to create the Forum Ranks.



Its not as easy as it looks to amend the files, so for now I'm not!

A couple of ranks shown that i am not familiar with..WO class 3?The badge shown is WO2

The badge shown as WO2 is WO2 but normally with an appointment RQMS.Y of S.F of S etc.

Staff sergeant major????Would this be a Garrison Sergeant Major or similar?

I'm afraid I wish I could change my "yes" vote, despite being most generously elevated in rank. Somehow it complicates the appearance of the forums, and no one seems to enjoy being transferred out of their chosen units if the comments above are any indication.

Let's stick with the avatars...they're fun!

Nice to have the web site back!

SSM is what I was in the RAOC, it's Staff Sergeant Major and is the appointment below Conductor.

How do you get the REME and stuff badges on the rank picture?

jim wrote:

SSM is what I was in the RAOC, it's Staff Sergeant Major and is the appointment below Conductor.

How do you get the REME and stuff badges on the rank picture?

Oh yes! I remember now, a couple of the WOI ATOs at 321 EOD were SSMs. I always wondered.

Mike

Yes LOL, you'd thin anyone with Sergeant Major in their title would be all drill pig wouldn't you. LOL

far from it in my case, and all RAOC SSM's were trade not RD.