Royal Signals in BAOR

The RMP's weren't to friendly and hated our NATO trucks cos they couldn't catch them......those DAF trucks were bloody quick....

Anyone got pics of the Blue Pool in the summer, we were pulling pool duty for that, life guards.............fantastic inthe sun and the bikinis...........lol

I was in the 7 Armourd Brigade Royal Signals in 510 Signal Troop Attached to !st BN Royal Irish Fusiliers and then 1st the Anglian Regt. in Celle.Never seen or heard from any of the 10+ that were stationed there between 1964 to 1968.The first afv 432 petrol ( very Dodgey) was tested there with the Irish Fusiliers, we had 2 call signed 95A and 99R.Good memories of Celle great place to be

When I was posted to 1 ADOC (Soltau) we shared Bournemouth barracks with the scaleys. Initially the sig squadron was known as TFA (Task force alpha) it then became 207 Sig Sqn. In fact the correct title was, 7th Armoured Brigade, HQ & Sig Sqn. This was from Jan 1980 to Jan 1983. Of course, Bournemouth Barracks like so many barracks no longer exists.

Some loved BAOR and some hated it, me I just hated serving in the UK.
I find the funny thing is that I had two postings to 4 Div in Herford which everyone seemed to think was a "punishment".  I loved it there, mind you most guy's couldn't stand the SSM but I thought he was great, I always knew where I stood. There were times when I thought that one tape meant C**t and wasn't quite sure how deep the shite was but I always knew where I stood !.   Second time though I had a nondescript SSM who impressed me so much I can't recall his name, I daresay the feeling was mutual as I never hid my opinions.  I have only been back once but I am considering another trip soon while there is still a unit left to visit.

my first posting was with the 12th l.a.a.ra to celle which I didn't know much about as I was only there one week when the regt moved to harwood bks herford jan 56 and I can say it was agreat place,the herford people were great,and the local bars welcomed us and there was no trouble,in 57 an American fighter jet crash landed just on the outskirts of herford,the pilot was killed,i was told by our r.s.m to get 15 men and go with a American sgt and put a corden around the aircraft,i found out later the people of herford awarded the pilots family,with some order for flying the plane from the town centre,,that was the sort of place herford was in the 50s

Published in 2012, Amazon says the book is out of stock,   but this could be a handy source of clarification for, and  records of which unit was where and when

http://www.worldcat.org/title/royal-corps-of-signals-unit-histories-of-the-corps-1920-2001-and-its-antecedents/oclc/184820114/viewport

"Synopsis - The purpose of this book is to bring into focus one of the cornerstones of the success of the British Army, and to provide an insight into the complexity and diversity of the Royal Corps of Signals. This is done, not by narrative, but by delving into unit history rather than campaign history, thus offering a different perspective for the historian.  
Before the independent Corps of Signals was formed in 1920, Royal Engineers provided communications for much of the Army. Details of their signal units are included.  
Other specialist Signal units were created for Air Support, Para Signals, Commandos, Interception, Fixed Communications, Peace-keeping and a multitude of other reasons."

eg
217 Signal Squadron was formed in 1950 from 5 AGRA Signals    at Hubblerath  Düsseldorf.

With respect despite being a very useful resource, I have the hardback version published in 2003 but have found the book has many BAOR errors, a supplementary book with updates has been produced and both are available through eBay sellers

The 200 series Signal Squadrons did not happen until Sep 59, prior to this depended on the higher formation they served under, all formations were known as Signals until Jun 46, then troop/squadron/regiment thereafter

Feb 51 – HQ 5th Army Group Royal Artillery (Anti-Aircraft) from UK – HQ Delmenhorst to Crerar Barracks Oldenburg

Royal Signals in BAOR and Germany.

Are there any UK Army Royal Signal units still in Germany at this time (2015)?

20th Armoured Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (200) based in Paderborn appears to be the last unit but HQ British Forces Germany in Bielefeld will probably have some Royal Signals personnel located with them

Was in St Tonis from 73 to 76 - anybody there around that time? Was in Bravo Troop.

This might be a long shot but has anyone got any memories of St.David's Barracks Hilden in 1955/1956.which at the time was HQ 2nd.Inf Div.
 I was called up in October '54 and did basic training at Baghdad Lines  Catterick and  trade training  at 1TR  before being  posted as a radio tech.X3 to M troop 2 Inf.Div Signals at Hilden in July '55. Having been told by the Foreman of Signals that I was fairly useless at that trade I spent the rest of my time working shifts in the battery charging shop 
 BAOR was another world compared  with the grimness and austerity of life at Catterick.The ex- Wehrmacht barracks were luxurious  compared with the  old "spiders" back in  the UK.
Hilden was well located with easy access to Dusseldorf and the night life of the Altstadt. Plenty of bars there where, if you had a 24 hour pass,you could spend the  time until the first tram back in the morning.There was a good trad jazz club the New Orleans in Konigs- Str, just off the Konigsalle.
Our TOT was a keen amateur racing driver.  He organised a 3 tonner, a trailer  and working party of few OR's  to go to the Nurburgring to collect a BMW Veritas racing car which had been involved in an accident during a race in which a number of spectators were killed. We managed  with some difficulty to get the car back to Hilden where it was restored by various  Sigs. and REME  technicians to racing condition which the TOT tested by driving round the barrack roads at high speed.
 Swapping UK Christmas leave '55 with a mate and staying in barracks over the holiday.Guard duty on Xmas eve was a fairly alcoholic affair as was Xmas day.It probably would have been a good time for the Russians to invade.The festivities continued over the New Year followed by further celebrations when the MSO contingent  had their Eastern Orthodox Christmas  on 6th January.
Out on exercises which seemed like organised chaos.Hours on the autobahn in the back of a 3 tonner not knowing where you were going.Heating up washing water by putting  brick in bottom of dixie,mess tin on top of brick, filling dixie with water and then connecting mess tin handle and dixie handle to the 250v output of  a P95 generator.Hot water in a couple of minutes a bit scummy due to reaction between mess tin and dixie but what luxury. One of the little perks of being in  R.Signals but a health and safety nightmare by today's standards.
Sometime in the spring of 1956 a number of us more "untidy" individuals were sent on a drill course at  the guards depot  at  Dusseldorf Ratingen to smarten  us up and to our amazement we were all made up to L/Cpl, acting and unpaid when the course finished.Not being  happy with the extra responsablity  which went with this rank it didn't take long to  be reverted to Signalman for the rest of my time there.
During the summer  of '56 I remember  many hours spent at the Waldschwimmbad in the woods opposite the barracks.On the horizon loomed the impending Suez operation which looked as if it would delay demob but by the end of October it was back to the depot regt. at Saighton Camp Chester for a week and then into civvy street.A real shock to get back to reality
I still look back with nostalgia to  the good and bad times of National Service . Even though it's been over 65 years since demob  I'm glad I had the opportunity to serve  in Royal Signals in BAOR.It was a bit like an extended holiday into which the army intruded occasionally with parades and guard duties.

Brian

Welcome Brian,

I am off now to get some Kerosene and lamps for our current Sigs members. Maybe a few Reme and RA guys will tell a few stories as well.

Nice to have some new members on board.

Just in case. I have changed the Kero order to 5 Galls.

Regards
Alan

Which part of Oz are you in?  I have a mate Steve Bailes, RS. He was with a RS Unit in Melbourne. Followed by running the local Cadets.

Hi Alan

Thanks for your interest.I'm located in sub-tropical Queensland, North of Brisbane

Regards

Brian