Royal Canadian Corps Sigs

Baor(CIB)surfers,
Installment No. 27 Canadian Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron R.C. Sigs
The following sources were used to support the research for this summary:
1. Historical Report No. 51
2. National Defence and the Canadian Forces - History
Reference Historical Report No. 51
Page 6, para 16 re: Recruiting R.C. Sigs - to form 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade
Signal Squadron, 79th Field Regiment Signal Troop, and replacements
Page 9, Para 25(a) the following were designated as ''Battle Units,'' 27th Canadian
Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron R.C. Sigs and
79th Field Regiment Signal Troop, R.C. Sigs
Page 16, Para 48, ''During 1952 various small parties of reinforcements have been
sent to join the Brigade. In addition No.2 Base Signal Troop, R.C. Sigs was
formed in Canada in January and sent overseas in March. Its functions are to
provide signal communications, in conjunction with those of British formations, for
intercommunication between 27 Cdn Inf Bde Gp, Canadian Base Units in Europe
and Canada.''
Reference:
National Defence and the Canadian Forces - History
'' Commencing 4 May 1951, 27 Canadian Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron formed
at Kingston, Ont. where it trained and later embarked for service with 27
Canadian Infantry Brigade in Germany. The unit opened for business in
Hannover, Germany on 7 November 1951. Also formed at the same time was 27
Field Regiment Signal Troop which provided artillery communications. On 9 Oct
1952, General Order 312 authorized formation of 1st Canadian Signal Regiment.
It was established at Camp Borden, Ont. As a result, 27Canadian Infantry
Brigade Signal Squadron in Germany became J Troop and 27 Field Regiment
Signal Troop became E troop both within 1st Canadian Signal Regiment.
In the fall of 1952 the first RC Sigs Motorcycle Display Team was formed.
Patterned after the Royal Signals team which had performed since 1930 the 26
members used unmodified standard motorcycles to provide an action packed half
hour show.''
Equipment used by R.C. Sigs in Germany

The No 19 Wireless set was originally designed in Britain in 1940 by the British
War Office's Signals Experimental Establishment and Pye Radio and was adopted
by the Canadian army for use during WW11 where it was installed in tanks,
carriers, as well as wheeled vehicles.


Reference: National Defence and the Canadian forces - History
"In 1951 the C/PRC - 26 man pack radio was issued. Designed by the Canadian Signals research and Development Establishment and manufactured by Rodgers Majestic, this was the first Canadian developed and built post World War 11 military radio. It was unique for its time having, despite the tube technology of the day, replaceable modules.''


The Royal C. C. Sigs badge has its centre piece the Greek God Hermes, usually depicted wearing sandals with wings and carrying a lyre. Because of his legendary supersonic speed, he was the messenger of the Greek Gods. The badge is capped by the Tudor Crown which was replaced in 1952 with the Crown of St. Edward.
Next Installment: Canadian Postal Corps

The 19 Set went out of use in 1961, though it was retained for awhile at the School of Signals in Vimy Barracks in 62 for teaching Voice Procedure to Officer Cadets. It was replaced by the 42 set. In Germany the 45 set was used by the artillery both in the RCHA and SSM Bty. The 42 set was used for the Bde. Command Net only. Meaning one 42 set in the RCHA and one in the SSM Bty. The rest of the Bde. had 42 sets. The 45 set was on the very lower part of the VHF so making it a crap radio for VHF comms. The 52 set was replaced by the C11. Not a bad radio, I last saw one in use in Cyprus in 76. The 52 set in Canada was still in use up to 69 and was replaced by the the Yank 106 set.

Fine looking young Signalman 1963 in Shilo.

Or this fine looking picture. Note the red 1st Div patch, putties, battle dress and spit shone boots.
Feb 15 1965 Fort Henry Germany. Going on parade for the unvieling of the new Canadian Flag. I was up there on course.

Hardration,
Thanks for the update on the evolution of the Sig equipment following the long used No 19 Wireless Set. When I returned to Canada after my tour with the 27th in 1952, I started my teaching career in Huron County. I was hired sight unseen probably because the principal was looking for an officer to take over the School Cadet Corps. I was immediately promoted to Chief Instructor. I had a very good cadre of instructors; my sigs officer had been a Navigator with a RCAF Squadron. He flew 30 missions over Germany in the Halifax, Wellington, and Lancaster bombers and was awarded the D.F.C. Had another veteran who was in the Yugoslavian army and was a POW in Germany. He taught Morse telegraphy and got a respectable number of
cadets up to 6 words per minute as well as a couple up to 10 words. Also had a former naval veteran on staff. The sigs officer and I set up a network with the No 19 wireless among the five secondary schools in our County, Wingham, Clinton, Goderich, Seaforth and Exeter. One afternoon when we were on the air one of the cadets told us that he had been told to get off the frequency in a very hostile manner. It originated from a freighter out in Lake Huron; Wingham to the Lake shore about 20 miles and the ship was probably another 10 -20 miles further out. My Sigs officer checked our frequency and it was right on. We didn't think much about it until the principal got a warning letter from the Dept. of Transport.
Thanks for the pictures ; I agree that you were very smartly turned out and an obvious selection as a 'walking out man' on a changing of the guard.
Cheers
BobR

Fine body of men - the RCS. Came across them in Korea when I was out there. Used to go on scrounging exercises down to 25 Brigade. Alternatevl, we would 'visit' the Yanks, bartering our spirits for tinned fruit, fresh milk and other items.

Back to BAOR, our Wives Club of 6 Inf Bde HQ would organise trips to the Canadian Maple Leaf Shop near Soest in around 1962-3. They used to come back with large sides of steak and items we hadn't seen before.

Any of you guy's over there in Canada able to track down old mates, I'd very much like to find out what happened to a couple of Newfies I met in
Cyprus (1973) Tony Walsh and John Joseph Kennedy. They were great darts players after having been taught the mathematics of the game, sadly my other old mate Herbie D Elhorn has passed. These were all R C Signals guys who served in 644 Signal Troop. I don't think Opsec applies to old farts like us so if you were there in 73 lets hear from you.

Daveb
re: Search for "old Farts" RCCsigs, 1973 era
Saw your search post; I am not a Sigs "old fart''
Try searching by Googling "Canada411" which is a Canadian telephone search site

This a very long shot.
Found one John J. Kennedy listed at 5 Hillcrest Rd, Corner Brook NL, 709-637-7592
There were 7 other J. Kennedys listed
For T. Walsh, no listings found
If you are on FaceBook give that a try.
Will scout the RCCsigs association site if there is one.
Good luck,
BobR

Hardration & Friend
Sorry i am unable to find the message which you sent me in regard to Daveb's message; i think that I am losing it. Just wanted to say thanks for doing a follow up on his request.
Cheers
BobR

ritter wrote:

Hardration & Friend
Sorry i am unable to find the message which you sent me in regard to Daveb's message; i think that I am losing it. Just wanted to say thanks for doing a follow up on his request.
Cheers
BobR

Hi Bob

I posted the names and reason for them off to the Signaler. Hopefully it'll be out this Monday.

ritter wrote:

Daveb
re: Search for "old Farts" RCCsigs, 1973 era
Saw your search post; I am not a Sigs "old fart''
Try searching by Googling "Canada411" which is a Canadian telephone search site

This a very long shot.
Found one John J. Kennedy listed at 5 Hillcrest Rd, Corner Brook NL, 709-637-7592

I gave that number a call gents, not the Kennedy we want, he was Cdn. Army but not RC Sigs

Blimey Boy's, you've got a rapid reaction force over there, so many replies in such a short time.
Would be nice to hear from any of those 644 lads again, I must sort out the time difference in my head and arrange to call the numbers I've been given at what is a reasonable hour both sides of the water.
Thanks to you all

Swift & Sure to the RC Sigs. Talking about comms, had an excellent Canadian 52 Set in Korea (1954). Think it had the remote receiver with it which I believe was not an option with R Sigs sets.

This you'll notice is 15 Feb. 1965. The day that the Red Ensign was no longer our Canadian Flag to be replaced by the Maple Leaf. These photo's were taken at Fort Henry in Sost, Brigade H.Q.'s for 4 CIBG. The parade was done by 4 Sigs Sqn. I was on course up from Fort Prince of Wales in Deilinghofen. I was part of the parade. First photo was of me in my best bib and tucker, second the Red Ensign is being lowered for the last time, third the Maple Leaf is being raised, having been presented by a Black Watch (Cdn) officer.


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[quote="Hardrations"]This you'll notice is 15 Feb. 1965. The day that the Red Ensign was no longer our Canadian Flag to be replaced by the Maple Leaf. These photo's were taken at Fort Henry in Sost, Brigade H.Q.'s for 4 CIBG. The parade was done by 4 Sigs Sqn. I was on course up from Fort Prince of Wales in Deilinghofen. I was part of the parade. First photo was of me in my best bib and tucker, second the Red Ensign is being lowered for the last time, third the Maple Leaf is being raised, having been presented by a Black Watch (Cdn) officer.


What's the story behind the officer throwing up a left-handed salute in the second picture, Hardrations ?

Quite a moment I'm sure for you Canuk's

[quote="brum"]

Hardrations wrote:

This you'll notice is 15 Feb. 1965. The day that the Red Ensign was no longer our Canadian Flag to be replaced by the Maple Leaf. These photo's were taken at Fort Henry in Sost, Brigade H.Q.'s for 4 CIBG. The parade was done by 4 Sigs Sqn. I was on course up from Fort Prince of Wales in Deilinghofen. I was part of the parade. First photo was of me in my best bib and tucker, second the Red Ensign is being lowered for the last time, third the Maple Leaf is being raised, having been presented by a Black Watch (Cdn) officer.


What's the story behind the officer throwing up a left-handed salute in the second picture, Hardrations ?

Probably printed by the Film Company responsible for "The Hill".

Printed from a 35mm slide methinks...

RSMs I have known would've had every flake of snow eradicated from that road and pathway, on such an auspicious occasion !

Re-the left hand salute - Could it be that the photo is back to front !!!

brum wrote:

RSMs I have known would've had every flake of snow eradicated from that road and pathway, on such an auspicious occasion !

Some RSMs wouldn't have allowed it to get there in the first place!

I know of one who got the fire piquet to wash it off the square.

T'iss my fault. Obviously I had the slide in wrong on the scanner. My apologies to the Black Watch. I noticed it after posting, and will attempt to in Photo Bucket to reverse it. Or I'll dig the slide out and re-do it.

And about the snow. That's a Canadian specialty, brought in by the RSM for the occasion.

Hardrations wrote:

T'iss my fault. Obviously I had the slide in wrong on the scanner. My apologies to the Black Watch. I noticed it after posting, and will attempt to in Photo Bucket to reverse it. Or I'll dig the slide out and re-do it.

And about the snow. That's a Canadian specialty, brought in by the RSM for the occasion.

[quote="Hardrations"]T'iss my fault. Obviously I had the slide in wrong on the scanner. My apologies to the Black Watch. I noticed it after posting, and will attempt to in Photo Bucket to reverse it. Or I'll dig the slide out and re-do it.

What a disappointment !

I thought that maybe the officer had an artificial arm.
Or maybe it was a Regimental tradition.

Hardrations wrote:

T'iss my fault. Obviously I had the slide in wrong on the scanner. My apologies to the Black Watch. I noticed it after posting, and will attempt to in Photo Bucket to reverse it. Or I'll dig the slide out and re-do it.

And about the snow. That's a Canadian specialty, brought in by the RSM for the occasion.

Y'know, I remain unconvinced.

Having had a closer look, I still think that the officer is actually saluting with his left hand !