13th Signal Regiment (United Kingdom)

The 13th Signal Regiment is a specialist signals unit of the Royal Corps of Signals of the British Army. Originally formed in 1934, the regiment had a long history of service before being disbanded in 1994 following the initial Options for Change reforms. The regiment was be reformed in June 2020 as part of 1st Signal Brigade.

1st Wireless Regiment
13th Signal Regiment
Active1934—1995
2020—
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
RoleCyber and Electromagnetic Signals Intelligence
SizeRegiment
Part of1st Signal Brigade
EngagementsWorld War II
Cold War

History

Formation

During the World War I, the Wireless Observation Groups of the Corps of Royal Engineers proven to be successful. As a result, a Royal Corps of Signals was planned to be formed in 1917 however, its formation was delayed until 1920.[1][2] The 4th Wireless Signal Company (War Office Signals) was formed in 1934 at Aldershot Garrison to provide signal intelligence activities under the command of the War Office.[1] In 1938, the company was re-titled as No. 2 Company, General Headquarters Signals. The company later expanded its responsibility to provide secure communications for the army.[1][2]

In September 1939, the unit was deployed to France as part of British Expeditionary Force.[1] It was later evacuated at Dunkirk and renamed as the 1st Special Wireless Group on 18 July 1940.[1][2] Following a short re-organisation, the group was deployed to the Middle East under the command of the 2nd Special Wireless Group.[1][2]

Cold War Years

During the Cold War years, the group was based in Minden and re-titled as the 1st Special Wireless Regiment. In August 1946, the regiment moved to Peterborough Barracks and in 1950 in Nelson Barracks in Münster.[1][2][3] By 1953, the regiment was moved as a result of an analysis of Soviet Forces in East Germany and by 1955, a brand new set of barracks was constructed in Birgelen based near the German-Dutch Border.[2][3] In 1959, as a result of the 1957 Defence White Paper reforms, the regiment was further renamed as 13th (Radio) Signal Regiment.

21st Century

As a result of the Army 2020 Refine reforms the regiment was reformed on 1 June 2020 under the command of 1st (UK) Signal Brigade.[4][5]

Structure

The sub-units under 13th Signal are as follows:[6][7]

  • 224 Signal Squadron, Colerne, Wiltshire - from 14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) Cyber Protection Teams
  • 233 Signal Squadron, Corsham, Wilshire, - from 15 Signal Regiment, absorbs 262 LSS Support Squadron.[8]
  • 259 Signal Squadron, Blandford Camp - from 15 Signal Regiment
  • 254 Signal Squadron, Blandford Camp - from 15 Signal Regiment

See also

References
  1. "History of the Royal Signals". Royal Signals Museum. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  2. Lord and Watson, Page 49
  3. "13 Regiment". British Army Units 1945 On. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  4. "Armed Forces announce launch of first Cyber Regiment in major modernisation". British Ministry of Defence. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  5. "The Caduceus Programme" (PDF). Master of Signals. 2019. pp. 8 and 14. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  6. "Soldier Magazine June 2020 Signal Regiment's new pulse page 44". Soldier Magazine. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  7. "British Army In Front Newsletter Issue 5" (PDF). British Army. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  8. "Royal Signals E-Wire Summer 2020 Edition, 13th Signal Regiment" (PDF). royalsignals.org/. Royal Signals. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020. so, the Logistic Services Support Sqn (262 (LSS) Sig Sqn) was subsumed by 233 (GCN) Sig Sqn.

Sources
  • Lord, Cliff, and Graham Watson. The Royal Corps of Signals Unit Histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and Its Antecedents. Helion and Company, 2003. ISBN 1874622922
  • "Royal Signals". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
  • Watson, Graham E. and Rinaldi, Richard A. The British Army in Germany (BAOR and After): An Organisational History 1947-2004 Tiger Lily Publications LLC 2005. ISBN 0-9720296-9-9
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