Welcome to the April 2003 edition of the Royal Signals Newsletter.

Readers can now get this newsletter in two ways, either by collection (Downloading a pdf version for off-line reading/printing) from the newsletter distribution service, and from same they will get regular notification of the availability in same by a brief e-mail, or now thanks to the efforts of Keith Drummond this newsletter has also been made available on-line within the main RSO site. Which also resulted in a major redesign of the RSO site being necessary to accommodate full width representation on all pages.
The newsletter distribution service (a Yahoo group) can be subscribed to under

The on-line version can be found in the RSO site in the newly created Newsletter Archive under… Royal Signals. org Web Site We will need your participation submissions and feedback, so please send us your stories, concerns and wishes, and please recommend us to your friends and enemies

This Month's Contents

I want to say thank you to our readers and our contributors, also in the name of Brian Streetly and Keith Drummond

Mrs. Petra Henderson (Royal Signals 1971-1976)

Royal Signals .. People and Places (Personal stories).

John E.G. March's Story

John Writes:

My army no. was 23008275 J. March, Dispatch rider, Royal Signals Corp. I was called up on the 5th March 1954 and went to Catterick Camp where I did my basic training, billeted in VIMY LINES.

After 4 or was it 6 weeks? I was transferred to Ripon for despatch rider training. (My ambition was to get into the Signals Motor Cycle Display Team but unfortunately they had discontinued selection of N/S men two weeks earlier). But I had a great time training on M/Cs, Land Rovers, 15 cwt Bedford's and 3 Tonners.

Having been posted to Egypt I went on 10 days leave to return to Ripon to be informed I was now being posted to War Office, billeted at Connaught Barracks, Woolwich; which as you know is opposite the Royal Artillery Barracks on Woolwich Common.

I spent the remainder of my N/S first as a dispatch rider/courier based at Northumberland House, near Trafalgar Square, spending time riding round the Capital. Courier to The Hague, Holland and Dispatch Office Northern Ireland, going from Stranraer to Larne.

After a year I was promoted to Lance Corp. and made OC's driver until my demob in May '56. The date was delayed because of the oil crisis 55/56 in the Middle East,so what's new?

My memory, like yours is fading; however I do remember my troop training Sgt KINSELLAR at Catterick, quite a hard man! Also our RSM at Connaught Barracks was nick-named "THE MEKON" because of his small stature and large head! Also Lt.Col. Winterbottom, who in 1955, was transferred complete with the R/Signals Regt. to Gloucester. The remainder at Woolwich was commanded by Major RAMSAY. I became his staff-car driver.

The only signals operator that I remember was Sig. Phillip White (Pip), who had trained as a teacher prior to call-up. He was deployed in the basement of the War Office, as a code decipherer on teleprinters.

My other mates were D/R Ronny HAVELOCK, D/R Jock LEIPER and Bill SPEER.

Do you remember the signalman who was asked by the OC if he could re-upholster a settee and two armchairs merely because it was mentioned on his file that prior to call-up he was a chair maker. Yes, that was me...and it meant for four weeks in January 1955, I was nice and warm and dry in the basement.

Yours sincerely
John E.G. March

Petra writes;

Thanks John, Anyone else want to share their service details and memories with us?

Help Needed to find…

Seeking Details about Alfred Joseph Wilson,

RCCS Member who served and died in Europe.

Janet Potter, who lives in a small rural town of Bombay, New York just miles from the Canadian border in Northern New York State, Wrote:

My uncle, Alfred Joseph Wilson, was born 9/29/1911 in Warwickshire, Birmingham, England. He joined the RCCS on 1/20/42. SES Wing (Toronto, Canada). He was assigned to the CSTC Unit in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. On November 24, 1943, he was on the SOS Canada and Reported to the L Canadian Signals Rein Unit on 12/2/43 UK. He arrived in France on 7/27/44. He was killed in 12/17/44 and is buried in Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian Military Cemetery- Bergen-Op-Zoom, Holland at the age of 33.

I remember seeing him in uniform when I was little (I am now 65 years old). He was my Mom, Gladys Joan Wilson McCleave's brother. My Mom passed away in 1976 and I am interested in finding out more about my uncle. He was married to Kathleen and had two children, Kenneth and Doreen Wilson. I have also lost track of them. He lived in Cornwall when he signed up and operated a Radio Repair shop. His Dad, Joseph Wilson died after WWII...he returned to Birmingham and his Mom, Constance Wilson died in 1939. If you knew of Alfred or served with him at one time...please let me know...I wish I had had a chance to know him more...thank you....

Anyone with information which may be of help, no matter how small, please contact Janet under following e-mail address:

The King's Corporal (RSM William George Brain)

There is an unusual rank that not many people know about, the so-called King's (or before 1901, Queen's) Corporal or Sergeant, and a rank that was rumoured to be "unbreakable!"

4730 Regimental-Sergeant-Major William George Brain - Who was awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette 28 Dec. 1917) during World War 1, was a trouble maker who made good, and when he wasn't in trouble he was, as he proved at least twice, a very brave man.

He enlisted in 1895 and served in Boer War with the 61st. He was a signaller with the 14th Mounted Infantry and during the disaster at Holland's Spruit he remained behind alone to heliograph for reinforcements. For his heroism he was awarded the King's Corporal in December 1901 only months after Queen Victoria's death, or he would have been a "Queen's Corporal!"

For his gallantry he was promoted to "King's Corporal." and then to Sergeant in 1903. From 1908 to 1911 he was drill instructor at RMA Woolwich. He became Colour-Sgt. "B" Coy. 28th Regt. in 1911 and their RSM in 1914. and as said above he was also awarded the MC in 1917. He was severely wounded on the Somme in WWI. In 1920 he was allotted a new number, as 5172002. He retired in 1922 and became the custodian of the Conservative Club at Gloucester until 1944. After this he lived in Stroud until his death on 9th of December 1962.

From the "Back Badge" (Issue: Winter 1947): Comes the following Article about this unusual rank and also about this particular soldier

"There has been considerable correspondence in the Press about King's Corporals. Though the rank was never an official one or recognized by the War Office, it held, nevertheless, and quite rightly, a position of honour in the Army after the South African War. It was often, though wrongly, reputed that a King's Corporal (or Sergeant) was "unbreakable", except with His Majesty's consent. Actually the promotion was awarded for gallantry in the field, and the NCO ranked as all others in the unit. Our best known King's Corporal was RSM W.G. Brain, MC, who, when a private, was promoted corporal on 19th December 1901, for distinguished gallantry during the disaster to the 14th M.I. at Holland's Spruit. Here he remained behind, alone and exposed to enemy fire, to heliograph for reinforcements. He was given the choice by his then CO of promotion or DCM. After a deal of persuasion, Brain decided on the rank of corporal. His record of service shows that, unlike some King's Corporals, he made good, being promoted sergeant in 1903. He was employed as a drill instructor at the RMA, Woolwich, from 1908 to 1911, made colour-sergeant in 1911, RSM in 1914. He was one of the first warrant officers to be awarded the Military Cross in the First World War."

Memorial Info for those fallen in Northern Ireland and Falkland Islands

Albert, Memorial Custodian Writes…Please take a moment to see the Royal Signals Memorial page which is dedicated to those men of the Royal Signals who were killed in Northern Ireland (and also the Falkland Islands conflict). Link to .. Palace Barracks Memorialgarden.org

Please visit the site, the list of names and pictures, and if you new any of these men please let me know. I also arrange free visits for Families of those who died to the Memorial Garden to see the Royal Signals Memorial Stone, Accommodation , Transport, food is etc is free.

Best Wishes to you all

In Memory Project on the Royal Signals Org website

Brian Streetly Wrote; "I would like to start a couple of pages on my site called In memory of or the like... What I would like from any of you is. Do you know of any one who served in the Corps no matter when or what rank or for how long, who you would like to see there details added that is so that they can be remembered ?? If so could you please send the details to me at Please include as much detail of the person as you possibly can. I don't think that these people should be forgotten. I mean women as well as men.
Thanks all.
Brian Streetly"

Recent Deaths…
Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley (1975 - 2003) 212 Signal Squadron

Figure 1 Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley

Shaun Brierley

Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley

(Who died in a RTA during Operation Telic. On 30th of March 2003 in Kuwait)

It was with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence recently confirmed the death of Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley, from 1(UK) Armoured Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment, Herford, who died in a road traffic accident on 30 March 2003 in Kuwait as part of the Preparations for Iraqi Freedom. Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley from Batley, West Yorkshire died from head injuries after his Land Rover was involved in a road accident in Kuwait on Sunday. He had been in the army for 10 years and served with the 212 Signals Squadron based at BFPO 15, Herford in Germany.

Figure 2 One of the coffins being unloaded from the flight home on 8th of April 2003

Arrived Back Home

His body was Flown back to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire onboard a C-17 cargo aircraft on Tuesday afternoon, 8th of April, landing at 1200 BST. His body was on a flight carrying the bodies of a further ten servicemen all killed recently in the Middle-east.

All 11 UK servicemen were honoured in a ceremony as they were flown home.

Family and friends of the servicemen gathered at the base for the repatriation ceremony attended by Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram, the Duke of Gloucester and senior officers. Inquests into their deaths were later opened and adjourned for 10 weeks.

Coroner Nicholas Gardiner said the servicemen's bodies would be released for burial within a week to 10 days.

Major Jim Wood, OC of the 1st (UK) Armoured Division Signal Regiment's Rear Party, gave the following statement:

"Lance Corporal Shaun Andrew Brierley, 28, was a member of 212 Signal Squadron which provides communications for HQ 1 (UK) Armoured Division. He was a Radio Systems Operator of nine years experience and was a highly regarded and well known member of the Squadron.

"Shaun Brierley had served in Germany for over four years, having seen service in the UK, Canada, the former Yugoslavia, Oman and Poland. He was unfortunately killed as a result of a road traffic accident that occurred whilst he was serving in Iraq. "Shaun's family live in West Yorkshire and he was the father of a 3 year old son. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. "It is intended to hold a military funeral for LCpl Brierley in England later this month."

Capt James Acton (1975 - 2003) of 7 Signal Regiment
Army officer Capt James Acton, age 27,dies in kayak accident in New Zealand

A British Army captain who passed out from Sandhurst three years ago as the top academic graduate has drowned on a kayaking holiday in New Zealand. Capt. James Acton was the second-in-command of 232 Signal Squadron, 7 Signal Regiment, based at Elmpt in Germany.

Originally of Frome, Somerset, he drowned while on a canoeing adventure holiday in New Zealand. He was an accomplished white water canoeist and was paddling down the Waikaia river on the South Island when he was forced under the water. Friends secured a rope to the stricken kayak but the line slipped off. His father, Robin, a director of an airline pilot training company, said: "We are devastated by this tragic accident. James lived for the Army and whitewater canoeing. He was a highly qualified canoe instructor and led several university and Army canoeing expeditions to the Alps and Norway. He had been planning this expedition for a year, in meticulous detail, paying particular attention to the dangers and difficulties of the different waters."

Capt Acton was awarded the Queen's Medal for the highest academic achievement in his course at Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Royal Signals regiment. He served in Bosnia and Kosovo before being made up to second in command of 232 Signals Squadron in Germany. He was on holiday with two university friends, Tony Roberts, of Surrey, and George Fell, of West Yorks. They hiked through bush and mountainous terrain to raise the alarm after the accident on Saturday 22nd of February 2003. Capt Acton's mother, Ann, 54, said her son was an "outdoorsman who loved to kayak from the age of 14".

Sailosi Soqo, (aka "Sid Soqo") HQ Mess, Blandford
Mike Mitchell Reported in the Royal Signals Yahoo Group:

Sailosi Soqo, also known to all as Sid Soqo, ex-signals and long serving barman of the HQ Mess, passed away on Thursday evening, 26th of March, his funeral was held at the Blandford Garrison Church at 11:00am on Tuesday 8th April 2003, with the cremation at 12:30pm at the Poole Cremetorium. A wake was held in the HQ & Sgts' Mess, Blandford afterwards.

Sid will be very sadly missed by all who know him.

Again Brian's "In Memory" Project on the Royal Signals Org website

Anyone with any personal memories of any of the above are asked to put them together in a short e-mail and send them to Brain, who will collect them as a on-line memorial for signallers and related trades who have gone off the air!

DATASHEET NEWS…

Recently made available on the distribution service and/or Website

Keith has been working flat out to make an on-line viewable version of the first datasheets in a form that is identical in presentation under Netscape, Opera and Microsoft IE. This took some extensive and tricky programming work on his part to ensure that the style sheets all behaved the same to the three different platforms and coding options.

In order not to overload him I have slowed down the production and release of a couple of datasheets, but we have made the Heliography datasheet (which is very extensive and in two sections) and the Details of Cliff Lord's new book on the History of the Royal Signals available on both the distribution service and the RSO website. Once the basic code is finalised the creation of an on-line version of the later released datasheets will be easier and hopefully almost simultaneous to the PDF version on the distribution service.

RSO Web based version: See the datasheets_index

PDF version: Go the yahoo group "Royal-Signals"(then click on Files section and select file)

Also I have just made a new discussion group for discussing R.E. Telegraph Coy. / Royal Signals History (1850 to 1985) and any articles found here in the newsletters and/or datasheets, etc.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/royal-signals-history/

The Lyrics and some information to the Army song "Zulu Warrior"

I recently discovered (in a sudden and unexpected confession by Brian Streetly) that he has done the Zulu Warrior, after a vigorous interrogation of Keith Drummond, under the rules of investigation normally applied to Heavyweight Gangsters by our boys in the Met., I got him to confess that he too had done this, but claims alcoholic immunity for the parts of his memory that we were trying to get at!

So here as possibly part of a new series "(Signal-)Men behaving badly!" is an opportunity for any former Zulu Dancers to clear their consciences and give us the details of their "When and Where!" and any "Consequences" they had to deal with later… Maybe our readers know of other similar songs and games, or have anecdotes on this "sordid" practice?

I am reliably informed (not having had personal experience of this Dance) that it is not necessary to wear liberal a polishing of cherry blossom, or to carry a spear while performing, and in fact the only tools needed are liberal doses of Beer or Spirits and a willingness to strip naked in public!

To begin, song leader shuffles/dances in circle around fire (this is the pile of his clothes or even around the bottles on the table he is dancing on!), pretending to wave spear. After singing "chief, chief, chief, chief" turn and dance back in the other direction.

During "I zicka zimba" do the same, but with more vigorous actions; on "hey" jump up and turn in opposite direction. When this chorus ends, select a member of audience to join in dance; after each further chorus, each person dancing tries to select another audience member to join the dance.

It is wise to not get the "cavey" (Lookout for MPs or Police) to get too involved in the dance, unless holding all your kit under the arms and ready to run at all times!

It is difficult to do justice in writing to the chorus musically as it would be in song. It is far more effective when done as a chant, with a loud shout on the "Hey!" (imagine an Indian war dance from an old Western movie and you'll more or less have about the right idea!)

Lyrics to 'ZULU WARRIOR'

Olé zooma zooma zooma
Olé zooma zooma Hey !
Olé zooma zooma zooma
Olé zooma zooma chief !

Drink it down you Zulu warrior
Drink it down you Zulu chief
Drink it down you Zulu warrior
Drink it down you Zulu chief, chief, chief!

(repeat with one side singing the verse and the other side chanting chief)

Ach-a-zimba-zimba-zimba
Ach-a-zimba-zimba-Hey
Ach-a-zimba-zimba-zimba
Ach-a-zimba-zimba-zoo

Hold it down you zulu warrior
Hold it down you zulu chief chief, chief, chief
Hold it down you zulu warrior
Hold it down you zulu chief chief, chief, chief

I zicka zimba, zimba, zimba
I zicka zimba, zimba, hey
I zicka zimba, zimba, zimba
I zicka zimba, zimba, hey

Hold him down, you Zulu Warrior
Hold him down, you Zulu chief, chief, chief, chief (Repeat)

UK Signals Reunion Info (and an Opportunity to do a "Zulu!"?)

Who,All the boys and girls who served in 4 div Herford, Germany, during the mid 1980s
When, Saturday 7th of June 2003 at 12am.
Where The Castle Gates, Scotland
(More details direct by e-mail from Geordie Bilcliffe)
Contact details Geordie Bilcliffe writes:

Following the immense success of Trafalgar Square in 1995 and Blackpool
2000.The Scotland visit will soon be upon on us. I look forward to seeing all
the old faces and hopefully some new ones. I'm going to take a whole week
of work this time around.

My kidneys stopped working for a week last reunion. See you all first Saturday
June 12am at the castle gates. Take care boys and girls see you soon.

So if you wish to be informed of details please send
Geordie Bilcliffe your details and/or queries by

If you are planning a reunion, please tell us "who, where, when and the relevant contact info".

Update on the New Royal Corps of Signals Book

Last month I mentioned that Cliff Lord and Graham Watson, wrote a book that is due to be published by Helion Books in June or July… The advance details can be found in the RSO website as a datasheet, on the new book on the History of the Royal Signals

Alternatively you can download a PDF version of the advance info, and read it offline from the
"Royal-Signals" (newsletter distribution service) yahoo group, then click on Files section and select appropriate file)

Update on the Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals history Story

Last month I published an Article from Cliff Lord, Honorary Corps Historian for the Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals. I have since got together a set of Cap badges for this story, and from Cliff a picture of the "Princess Anne Banner of the Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals."

Figure 3 Various versions of the Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals Cap Badges over the years,
(left to right; WW1 with flags, 1921 to 1946, 1946 to 1953, 1953 till today.)

four RNSC Capbadges

Figure 4 Princess Anne Banner
Princess Anne Flag

The Princess Anne Banner of the Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals was presented to the Corps on behalf of the Colonel-in-Chief, H.R.H. The Princess Royal, by the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency, The Right Honourable Sir Michael Hardie Boys GNZM, GCMG at the Corps Banner Parade on 12 October 1996.

© 2003 Cliff Lord Hon. Hist. RNZSigs

Cliff Lord was a cipher operator in Britain's Royal Signals during the 1960s. He served in England and Germany, and saw active service in Aden. He is Honorary Corps Historian for the Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals.

Your RSO needs you!

Figure 5 Kitcheners appeal to this RSO newsletter readers to send us stories and info comments,
wishes and general feedback for the next newsletter and/or datasheets

Kitchener

New Yahoo Group Created (For Royal Signals History)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/royal-signals-history

Established to discuss history of (R.E.-) Royal Signals, WRAC, Gurkha and Commonwealth Signals from 1850 to about 1985, and to act as a feedback tool for datasheets and newsletters.

Contact Us

If you have any comments, inputs or events for this Newsletter, please Contact Brian, Keith or myself via the respective royal-signals.org.uk email addresses below. Thank you (also to all our content contributors) , and until till next Month


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