2nd Signal Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 2nd Signal Brigade (later 2nd Signal Group), was a military formation of the British Army composed of Royal Corps of Signals units. The brigade was first formed following the reorganisation of the old Territorial Army in 1967, and was disbanded in 2012 under the Army 2020 programme. However, later the 2nd Signal Group was formed continuing the lineage of the old brigade, before it was disbanded in 2018.

2nd Signal Group
2nd (National Communications) Signal Brigade
2nd Signal Group (SCN)
Cap badge of the Royal Corps of Signals
Active1968–2018
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeSignals formation
SizeOriginally Group, later expanded to Brigade
Part of
Brigade HQBasil Hill Barracks, Corsham
Insignia
Former brigade formation badge

Background

Before the 1966 Defence White Paper and subsequent wide-ranging reorganisation of the Army, signal formations larger than those controlled by a Lieutenant Colonel (ie: battalion (regiment in the RCS)) were rare, and usually only temporary regional formations. However, following that defence paper, eight new 'signal groups', commanded by a Colonel were formed to oversee specialist units with specific duties, including those tasked with supporting the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR).[1]

Formation

On 1 April 1968, Headquarters, 2nd Signal Group (Static Communications Network) was stood up at Aldershot Garrison to command the squadrons which provided fixed communications assets within the United Kingdom. It also oversaw the strategic reserve signal regiment, 10 Signal Regiment. The group, though having changed names and units several times, maintained this role till its disbandment as a group in 2018.[2] Therefore, on formation the group oversaw the following units:[2]

Cold War

In 1972, 13th Signal Group (Volunteers) HQ was disbanded, and its three regiments transferred to 2nd Signal Group. The group now oversaw the TA units which had the same roles as their regular counterparts, that of providing fix communications within the United Kingdom. Following 13 Signal Group's integration into 2 Signal Group, the command held the rank of Brigadier.[11][12] In addition the group was given responsibility for the NATO ACE HIGH early warning system, and strategic communication links.[2] The new group now included the above units plus the following:[2][11]

In 1982, as part of the 1981 Defence White Paper and 'Notts Review', the group was redesignated as 2nd Signal Brigade. In 1987, 1st Signal Group was disbanded and most of its responsibilities transferred to 2nd Signal Brigade. The brigade's area of responsibility subsequently expanded that year, including direct communications support for HQ UKLF and oversaw much of the Salisbury Plain and Wiltshire District areas. That year, brigade HQ moved from Aldershot Garrison to Basil Hill Barracks, Corsham.[2] In 1989, just before the end of the Cold War, the brigade formed part of United Kingdom Land Forces and was organised as follows:[2][13]

  • Headquarters, 2nd Signal Brigade, at Basil Hill Barracks, Corsham
  • 244 Signal Squadron (Air Support), Royal Corps of Signals, at RAF Brize Norton[14] – provides static communications for UK-based RAF bases[15][16]
  • 55 (West Lancashire) Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals (V), in Liverpool[17]
  • 32nd (Scottish) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), in Glasgow
  • 37th (Wessex and Welsh) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), in Bristol
  • 38th Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), in Sheffield
  • 71st (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (V), in Bromley
    • 348 (Inns of Court & City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals (Home Service Force)[18] – formed in 1987
  • National Defence Communications
  • Communications and Security Group (United Kingdom), at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth[19][20]

Post Cold War

Following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union and subsequent end to the Cold War, the British Army was reorganised, seeing a 1/3 of its strength being lost. However, luckily for the 2nd Signal Brigade, now known as 2nd (National Communications) Signal Brigade, very few changes occurred, and those changes mostly being expansions. As part of the reductions, the 12th Signal Groups (Volunteers) was disbanded and its units moved under the 2nd or 11th Signal Brigades. By now, the brigade was organised as follows [by 1996]:

Modern Day

The brigade was once again relieved from any major cuts after the Strategic Defence Review and the Future Army Structure (FAS) programme shortly afterwards. However, the later would become the last expansion of size for the regiment. Changes brought upon the brigade were dramatic, with the regional affiliations being completely dropped, the brigade now forming part of HQ Theatre Troops, and all TA regional units brought under its command. This included the soon to be reformed 10th Signal Regiment. The group's priority also switch to that of national defence, with each regiment providing at-least one (though most had 2) signal squadrons to support the regional brigades.[21][22] Therefore, by 2009 the brigade was organised as follows:[23][24]

Following the effects of the Great Recession, a further 'chapter' was added to the FAS, which saw (at-least for the Royal Corps of Signals) a large reduction in those units still using the old PTARMIGAN communications system. Thereby freeing up funds which would have converted these units to the system. Then, in 2009, as part of the reorganisation of the entire Territorial Army, wholesale mergers and disbandments took place. Under this re-structuring, the brigade was significantly reduced in size, with 1 Sqn disbanding and being absorbed as 801 Signal Troop in 299 Signal Squadron (1 Signal Brigade), 43 Signal Sqn joining 21 Signal Regiment full-time, and the largest changes: 31 (City of London), 36 (Eastern), 38 (City of Sheffield), and 40 (Ulster) Signal Regiments all disbanding by 2009/2010 shortly thereafter.[26][27]

Army 2020

In 2013, following the Army 2020 re-organisation, the brigade was disbanded and subsequently reorganised as the 2nd Signal Group. Now forming part of the 11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands, the group held the same role as the former brigade, as a national communications and regional support formation. The group's structure was very similar to that of the former brigade:[28][29]

In 2016, a further Army 2020 Refine was published, and in 2018, 2nd Signal Group was disbanded and its units were dispersed into the two remaining signal brigades (1st and 11th).

Commanding officers

Commanding officers of the group/brigade included:[12]

  • –15 October 1969, Colonel G. Peat, OBE (died at home while in command)[10]
  • 1970, Colonel F. M. S. Winter[3]
  • Brigadier John C. Clinch, 1 January 1972[11]–March 1974
  • Brigadier Peter A. C. Baldwin, March 1974–January 1976
  • Brigadier Patrick H. F. Webb, January 1976–March 1978
  • Brigadier Arthur L. Dowell, March 1978–April 1980
  • Brigadier J. P. Hart, April 1980–May 1983
  • Brigadier Keith H. Olds, May 1983–June 1986
  • Brigadier J. A. P. Russell, June 1986 – 1987
  • [Between 1987 and 1992, Commander, Communications, United Kingdom Land Forces held the position commanding officer of the brigade]
  • Brigadier Colin A. Brown, 1992–May 1993
  • Brigadier John E. Neeve, May 1993–June 1996
  • Brigadier S. Mervyn A. Lee, June 1996–June 1997
  • Brigadier S. Gordon Hughes, June 1997–June 2000
  • Brigadier Nigel C. Jackson, June 2000–August 2002
  • Brigadier John E. Thomas, August 2002–September 2004
  • Brigadier Michael Lithgow, September 2004–October 2006
  • Brigadier David A. Hargreaves, November 2006–March 2010
  • Brigadier Stephen J. Vickery, March 2010 – 2012

Footnotes
  1. Lord & Watson, p. 136
  2. Lord & Watson, pp. 128–130
  3. Royal Corps of Signals Association, Royal Corps of Signals Journal: The Wire for 1970. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  4. "British Army units from 1945 on - 230 to 233 Squadrons". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  5. Royal Corps of Signals Association, Royal Corps of Signals Journal: The Wire 1970, Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  6. "British Army units from 1945 on - 240 to 243 Squadrons". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  7. "New location of University's Business School". 4 March 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  8. "The River Dee and Grosvenor Park". Chester Walls. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  9. "British Army units from 1945 on - 10 Regiment". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  10. Royal Corps of Signals Association, Royal Corps of Signals Journal: The Wire for 1969. Retrieved 25 June 2021
  11. Royal Corps of Signals Association, Royal Corps of Signals Journal: The Wire 1972, Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  12. Mackie, Colin (26 June 2020). "Directorates of the British Armed Forces (1860–Present), Volume III: Senior Army Appointments 1860–Present" (PDF). Gulabin. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  13. 1988 Staff Officer's Handbook, p. 47
  14. "British Army units from 1945 on - 244 to 246 Squadrons". British Army units from 1945 on. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  15. Lord & Watson, p. 99.
  16. Lord & Watson, p. 128.
  17. Lord & Watson, pp. 167–168
  18. Lord & Watson, p. 206.
  19. "British Army units from 1945 on - 224 to 226 Squadrons". British Army units from 1945 on. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  20. Lord & Watson, p. 132.
  21. "Mission". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  22. "2 (NC) Sig Bde Location". 7 March 2008. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  23. "Units". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  24. "Royal Signals Units in the United Kingdom". 9 February 2008. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  25. "43 Signal Squadron - Home Page". 23 January 2008. Archived from the original on 23 January 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  26. "Reserves (Review) - Tuesday 28 April 2009 - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  27. Royal Corps of Signals, The Wire for October 2009: The Journal of the Royal Corps of Signals. Retrieved 28 June 2021
  28. Wall, General Sir Peter (July 2013). "Transforming the British Army: An Update" (PDF). United Kingdom Parliamentary Publishings. p. 12. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  29. "Regular Army basing Matrix by Formation and Unit" (PDF). Army Family Federation. 29 July 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  30. Brooke-Holland & Rutherford, p. 26
  31. Brooke-Holland & Rutherford, p. 10

References
  • Lord, Cliff (2004). The Royal Corps of Signals : unit histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and its antecedents. Solihull, West Midlands, England: Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1-874622-92-5. OCLC 184820114.
  • Wienand Drenth, The Territorial Army 1967–2000, 2000, Einhoven, Kingdom of the Netherlands.
  • Brooke-Holland, Louisa; Rutherford, Tom (2012). Ministry of Defence and International Affairs and Defence report on Army 2020. London, United Kingdom: United Kingdom House of Commons Publications.

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