The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920 - 2001) and its Antecedents: Supplementary Volume

By Cliff Lord

With the interest shown in "The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit History (1920-2001) and their Antecedents", it was decided to extend the work to include some of the principal Commonwealth Signal Corps, and to provide supplemental data regarding British Signals that has come to light since the original volume was published.

The book concentrates on Commonwealth signal corps unit histories for the following countries: Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rhodesia, Singapore, and South Africa. The emphasis is post Second World War so as not to rewrite the official histories already published. A brief overview is also given of each countries Corps history, and illustrations of many of the units distinctive insignia are shown. Supplementary information is included on Ceylon in the Second World War, and British Signal units that served in Northern and Southern Russia after the end of the First World War, Royal Engineer Signal Service Volunteers in 1918, and Air Formation Signals. The reader will note that Royal Signals has strongly influenced most of the Corps, but each has evolved in its own way to suit its geopolitical considerations. With the advent of the computer-age and the move away from torn-tape relay systems it is interesting to see how each country comes to its own decision in providing a solution to its Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence. Electronic Warfare is covered to a limited extent. At times it was difficult to distinguish between what was tactical Electronic Warfare and quasi-governmental Signal Intelligence gathering from fixed communication stations.

Canada proved a particularly difficult country to write about due to having combined the three services into one military organization and correspondingly merged their communicators and equipment.

The book is Army-centric and thus air force and naval assets and philosophies have been kept to a minimum. This collection of individual signal unit histories will not only be of interest to those that served in them and their families, but will assist researchers of military history. Signals provide the nervous system of any army, and without good communications there can be no success on the battlefield. Signals not only provide tactical communications within their formation but strategic communications linking Headquarters with Headquarters around the world, and with allies. More and more technology is determining the outcome of conflict. More and more the importance of Signals is being understood. Today the close liaison between headquarters, intelligence and signals is ever more obvious, while the boundaries between the Staff, Intelligence Corps and Signals is ever more blurred. The challenge of Information Technology is being accepted and integrated into the way signals do business, and in progressive Corps it is having a profound effect on the way they operate and think. They are the silent elite.

Key sales points: Follow-up volume to our highly-successful volume covering the history of the Royal Corps of Signals and other Commonwealth Signals units / Includes data covering the Signal Corps units of Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rhodesia, Singapore and South Africa / Supplementary data relating to the Royal Corps of Signals and its antecedents includes Signals units in Russia 1918-21, Royal Engineer Signal Service Volunteers 1918, and Air Formation Signals / Features a large number of photographs covering insignia and badges.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Helion and Company
• Release date: Jan 24, 2008
• ISBN: 9781908916310

Cliff Lord

Cliff Lord served in Britain’s Royal Signals during the 1960s as a cipher operator in England, Germany and on active service in Aden and the East Aden Protectorate. After the Army, Cliff worked in Paris for the Washington Post and later moved to New Zealand working as a computer operator, a communications network controller for Air New Zealand, and Team Leader International Operations for the Southern Cross fibre optics trans pacific cable before retiring. He is Honorary Historian for Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals. Cliff has written nine books on military history and insignia.

Book preview

Part One

Unit Histories

Royal Australian Corps of Signals

Both States of Victoria and New South Wales had their own Torpedo and Signalling Corps from 1869 until 1882, when the units were disbanded. South Australia had a Signalling Corps consisting of 1 officer and 12 other ranks from 1885 until 1901. The Australian Corps of Signals was formed on 12 January 1906. It was merged into the Royal Australian Engineers on 12 July 1912, as Signal Engineers.

A Divisional Signal Company was raised at Broadmeadows on the outbreak of war in 1914 and on 19 October, with three Light Horse Brigade Signal Troops, sailed for the Middle East. The Signal Engineers served at Gallipoli, and in Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia and France. During the course of the War five Divisional Signal Engineer Companies, a Mounted Division Squadron, a Corps Company, and the ANZAC Wireless Squadron were formed.

After the First World War compulsory military training was instituted and five infantry and two cavalry divisions were formed, each with a divisional signal regiment. All signal units in the Royal Australian Engineers became the Australian Corps of Signals on 14 February 1925. With the termination of compulsory service in 1929, the Corps was run down, and military signalling was maintained by a small number of dedicated enthusiasts until preparations were made for the Second World War. 15

Royal Australian Signals wire wove beret badge (Cliff Lord Collection)

Australia WWI Wireless sleeve patch (Cliff Lord Collection)

During the Second World War the strength of the Corps grew to 24,000 under the leadership of Colonel (later Major-General) C.H. Simpson, the first Signals Officer in Chief. Signals 6 Division was the first Signals unit into battle participating in the defeat of the Italians in the Western Desert. Signals 6 Division was supported by Signals 1 Australia Corps, and both units served in Greece and Palestine before being recalled to Australia. Signals 7 Division and Signals 9 Division fought in the Middle East before being recalled to Australia in 1942, to meet the Japanese threat. Signals 8 Division participated in the defence of Malaya and Singapore. Signals 7 Division was the first to endure the hardships of the Kokoda Trail supported by Signals 1 Australia Corps. Both 6 and 9 Divisions, with their supporting Signal Units, saw action in New Guinea. The New Guinea Air Warning Wireless, known as The Spotters, was formed initially from any soldiers available to provide warning of enemy aircraft approaching Port Moresby. Later they were to work in single detachments, often within enemy territory, reporting enemy air, troop and shipping movements. Many smaller signal units were raised during the War.

WWI Australian bronze wireless badge (Cliff Lord Collection)

Royal Australian Signals equipment (Courtesy Directorate Digital Media)

Royal Australian Signals portable equipment (Courtesy Directorate Digital Media)

His Majesty King George VI recognised the achievements of the Corps by granting the Royal Warrant to the Corps on 10 November 1948, when the title became the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. Royal Australian Corps of Signals served in the Korean War. Two officers and 24 other ranks were included in 28 Commonwealth Independent Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron, which formed at Butterworth on 1 October 1955. Australia also provided the major contribution to 9 ANZUK Signal Regiment in Singapore between 1971 and 1973. The Royal Australian Corps of Signals was present in the Vietnam War between 1965 and 1972, and at its peak comprised some 16 percent of all Australian forces there.

Australian Signal units also served in many peacekeeping roles in the second half of the twentieth century. In 1992 and 1993, they provided the bulk of the Force Communications Unit in Cambodia for the United Nations Transitional Authority Cambodia (UNTAC), a task which was shared with Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals.

The Princess Anne Banner

On 10 September 1980, HRH, The Princess Anne (Colonel-In-Chief of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals) gave approval for the Corps to carry a banner bearing her cypher. On 29 November 1986, the Governor General, Sir Ninian Stephen, presented the Princess Anne Banner to the Corps.

Royal Visit by HRH Princess Anne to Royal Australian Signals (Courtesy Directorate Digital media)

Unit History

1947

1948 AMF formed, CMF re-activated.

School of Signals at Balcombe, Victoria

HQ Signal Regiment BCOF Japan, which was later known as British Commonwealth (BRITCOM) Base Signals Regiment, and returned back to Australia in 1956.

1 Independent Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron from 1953

1 Line Construction Project Squadron Woomera, disbanded in 1952

1 Signals Equipment Troop Melbourne

6 Communications Troops link to Army HQ Signals from each military command

Training cadres for Citizens Military Force (CMF) Signal Units

CMF

1 Corps Signals Melbourne disbanded July 1950

1 Air Support Signals Unit (ASSU)

1 Independent Armoured Brigade Signal Squadron Sydney

2 Independent Armoured Brigade Signal Squadron Sydney

6 Command Signal Squadrons in each state capital

2 HQ Army Group Royal Artillery (AGRA) Signal Squadrons

Signals Training Depot Moore Park

Wireless Carrier Troop

Line Carrier Troop 1 Armoured Brigade Signal Squadron Sydney

AGRA Signal squadron Georges Heights

Eastern Command Signal Squadron Georges Heights (later at Lidcombe)

1 Field Arty Regt Signal Troop Australian Regular Army (ARA)

1 AGRA Signal Squadron Lower Georges Heights Sydney 1956 and Upper Georges Heights Sydney 1957

Command Signal Units

1965 Reorganisation

+ Raised 1946

Notes

Commonwealth Contingent Korea Signal Squadron

This unit served in Korea during the period 1955 to 1957.

1 Divisional Signal Regiment

1 Divisional Signal Regiment was raised in 1952, in Sydney as a CMF unit and redesignated as 1 Corps Signal Regiment in 1957. This in turn was disbanded in 1960.

1 Signal Regiment

1945 – 34 Infantry Brigade Signal Section

1953 – 1 Independent Infantry Brigade Signal Section

1960 – 1 Divisional Signal Regiment

1965 – 1 Signal Regiment

1997 – 1 Joint Support Unit

Taking a break. Royal Australian Signals MINURSO. (Courtesy Directorate Digital Media)

1 Joint Support Unit, Royal Australian Signals (Cliff Lord Collection)

1 Signal Regiment, Royal Australian Signals (Cliff Lord Collection)

The antecedents of the regiment lie with 34 Infantry Brigade Signal Section in Japan. The signal section was part of the Australian force for the occupation of Japan raised in 1945, and despatched to Japan in January 1946.

In 1948, the unit returned to Australia and the section was reformed as 1 Independent Infantry Brigade Signal Section, an ARA unit, at Puckapunyal in 1953. While at Puckapunyal, the unit was used as a training platoon for field signals, assisted in training battalion signal platoons for service in Korea, and was occupied in many communications and civil assistance tasks.

A move to Holsworthy commenced in 1958. 1 Divisional Signal Regiment was formed on 1 June 1960, under the command of HQ 1 Division and occupied the lines at G Block Ingleburn Military Camp. The Regimental title was changed in 1965, to 1 Signal Regiment, but retained its role as the Divisional Signal Regiment for 1 Division. Included in the unit’s sub units were:

101 Signal Squadron, formerly 1 (Command) Squadron, ARA 102 Signal Squadron, formerly 2 (Trunk) Squadron (paper unit in 1965)

103 Signal Squadron, formerly 3 (Combat) Squadron, ARA

104 Signal Squadron, formerly 4 (Arty) Squadron, ARA

When 1 Australian Task Force was sent to South Vietnam, 1 Signal Regiment sent 103 Signal Squadron for service there. Communications were provided in the Nui Dat area during the first year of Australian involvement. The unit returned to Ingleburn in May 1967, where it provided reinforcements from the Regiment for South Vietnam. On 10 November 1968, the Regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Campbelltown. The regiment moved to Enoggera Army Camp at Brisbane in 1980 and 1981. Support to divisional headquarters included all communications and information systems support as well as administrative and technical support.

On 1 July 1997, the regiment was restructured as 1 Joint Support Unit and included a military police company and 1 Intelligence Company. Both RAAF and RAN personnel served in the operations group. 1 Signal Regiment and 1 Joint Support Unit provided personnel for a number of overseas operations including Multi-National Force Observers to the Sinai (MFO, UN operations in Western Sahara (MINURSO), Somalia (UNISOM), former Yugoslavia (IFOR), Guatamala (MINUGUA), PNG Famine Relief operation (PLES DRAI), and the Bougainville Truce Keeping and peacekeeping Forces (BEL ISI). 1 Joint Support Unit deployed to East Timor in September 1999, until March 2000, as part of international Force, East Timor (INTERFET) and provided communications for the multi-national force which were responsible for restoring peace to the country. The mission of the unit was to provide Communications and Information Systems (CIS) support, and Combat Services Support (CSS), to enable the commander Deployable Joint Force Headquarters (DJFHQ) to command and control assigned forces. The structure of 1 JSU in 2004 was:

RHA

Regimental Operations

101 Signal Squadron

Support Squadron

Technical Squadron

Unit Crest

Green shield with black 1 with words SIGNAL REGIMENT and black lightning bolts. Later the patch was changed to a purple oblong superimposed with a white over blue oblong. JSU patch: black oblong with a white square superimposed.

q.v. 103 Signal Squadron and 104 Signal Squadron

2 Divisional Signal Regiment

2 Infantry Divisional Signal Regiment was raised as a CMF unit in 1948, at Sydney. A re-organisation in 1960, saw the disbandment of the regiment.

2 Signal Regiment

1954 – 3 Army Signal Regiment (CMF)

1957 – Line of communication Signal Regiment

1965 – 2 Signal Regiment

1993 – Land Force Signal Unit

Originally raised in August 1954, as 3 Army Signal Regiment, a CMF unit. In August 1957, the unit was re-designated 3 Line of Communication Signal Regiment. Three years later on 1 July 1960, the unit was reorganized to include an ARA component and moved to Ivanhoe and West Garth. The regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Heidelberg on 19 August 1962. On 11 March 1965, the unit was re-designated 2 Signal Regiment, and reorganized into two ARA squadrons and one CMF squadron. The RHQ consisted of both ARA and CMF personnel. Throughout 1965, 1966 and 1967, the regiment prepared sub units for service in South Vietnam. The squadrons of the regiment were:

110 Signal Squadron, Comm Zone, ARA

111 Signal Squadron, Comm Zone, ARA

112 Signal Squadron, Comm Zone, CMF

145 Signal Squadron

709 Signal Troop and 527 Signal Troop performed valuable service in Saigon, and Bien Hoa, before they were incorporated into the newly arrived 145 Signal Squadron in 1966. In that year the regiment moved to Watsonia, Victoria.

During March 1967, 110 Signal Squadron replaced 145 Signal Squadron in South Vietnam. 145 Signal Squadron returned to the regiment while 110 Signal Squadron took over its equipment and role in South Vietnam. 110 Signal Squadron was operational in Vung Tau, Saigon and Nui Dat until February 1972. A small number of personnel served with the Australian Advisory Assistance Group, Vietnam Signal Detachment from February 1972, until December 1972. The CMF unit, 112 Signal Squadron, was disbanded in early 1975. This left 2 Signal Regiment totally comprised of ARA personnel from mid 1975. The regiment served in the communications zone role while located at Watsonia Barracks, Macleod, Melbourne, under direct command of HQ Field Force Command. The mission of the regiment was to provide command and control communications within the area of operations, including interfaces into the combat zone and the Defence Communications Network.

The regiment was changed and re-designated as Land Force Signal Unit (LFSU) in 1993, and located at Simpson Barracks, Macleod, Victoria. The unit was an integrated ARA/GRes communications unit and a direct command unit of Land Headquarters. The role of the LFSU was to provide communications support for the command and control of the Land Force external to the division. Organisation of the LFSU comprised:

Headquarters

145 Signal Squadron (ARA)

110 Signal Squadron (GRes)

High Command Link (HCL) Troop

Communications Systems Troop

Support Troop

In 1992, a significant number of the units personnel were deployed on peacekeeping operations with UNTAC in Cambodia. The LFSU relocated to Sydney in 1995.

Unit Crest

An unofficial unit identification badge was made in June 1983, consisting of a purple triangle, edged in black with a black 2 in the centre. The badge was designed from the distinguishing badges of Australian signal units during the Second World War. The purple represents the Signals from Engineer times, and the triangular shape indicated Corps or Communication Zone troops.

2 Signal Regiment, Royal Australian Signals (Cliff Lord Collection)

q.v. FCU

3 Signal Regiment

1916 – 3 Australian Divisional Signal Company

1921 – 3 Divisional Signals

1948 – 3 Infantry Division Signal Regiment

1965 – 3 Signal Regiment

1975 – Disbanded

Links go back to 3 Australian Division signal Company in March 1916, which served in France during the First World War. In 1921, signal engineer units were disbanded. New signal units were raised, and 3 Divisional Signals was one of them. During the Second World War 3 Divisional Signals served in New Guinea from 1943. 3 Infantry Division Signal Regiment was resident at Keswick Barracks, Melbourne, and had been raised in 1948, as a CMF unit. Sub units within the regiment were:

Administration Squadron

1 Command Squadron

2 Trunk Squadron

3 Combat Squadron

4 Artillery Squadron

In 1965, the unit became re-designated as 3 Signal Regiment. The new structure of the Regiment was:

105 Signal Squadron, former Admin Squadron, CMF

106 Signal Squadron, former Command Squadron, CMF

107 Signal Squadron, former Trunk Squadron, CMF

108 Signal Squadron, former Combat Squadron and later Independent Task Force Signal Squadron from 1969, CMF

109 Signal Squadron, former 4 (Arty) Squadron, and later HQ 2 TF, CMF

During 1975, 3 Division Signal Regiment was disbanded leaving 108 Signal Squadron to support units in 3 Division.

q.v. 105, 106, 107, 108 and 109 Signal Squadrons

4 Signal Regiment

1887 – 1878 Torpedo and Signalling Corps

1906 – 2 Companies, Brisbane, Australian Corps of Signallers

1912 – Part of Engineers

1914 – 3 Brigade Signal Section, 1 Divisional Signal Company Signals 1 Military District

1939 – Northern Command Signals

1942 – Signals Northern Command

1942 – 5 Divisional Signals

1948 – Northern Command Signals

1961 – 401 Signal Regiment

1964 – 4 Signal Regiment

1995 – 136 Signal Squadron

The Regiment traces its history back to the first recorded Signal unit, which was the Torpedo and Signalling Corps of 1877 to 1878. On 12 January 1906, two companies of the newly formed Australian Corps of Signallers were located in Brisbane, Five years later these companies were re-formed into Australian Engineers companies. From this unit came the initial Queensland contingent for 1 AIF. It was comprised of one officer and 30 signallers, and made up the 3 Brigade Signal Section of 1 Divisional Signal Company located at Broadmeadows, Melbourne. 3 Brigade Signal Section laid the first telephone line at Gallipoli from the naval shore station to 3 Infantry Brigade Headquarters. Signals training was suspended in Brisbane during the First World War.

The unit was re-established at Kelvin Grove after 1918. Several years later it was renamed Signals 1 Military District. By 1932, the unit consisted of a cable section, a wireless section and an infantry brigade signal section and E Troop of 1 Cavalry Division Signals, which was located at Ipswich. This troop was relocated by 1938, at Kelvin Grove. In 1939, the unit was re-designated Northern Command Signals. Brisbane Fortress Signals had been formed by the parent unit by this time. It was located in the South Brisbane town hall. Sub units were located at Fort Lytton and Fort Cowan Cowan, and a pigeon section was included in their complement.

Early in 1942, the unit was renamed Signals Northern Command and it formed two sub units i.e. Thursday Island Fortress Signals and Moresby Fortress Signals. The parent unit was renamed in April 1942, as 5 Divisional Signals.

After the end of the Second World War, Northern Command Signal Squadron at Kelvin Grove was formed, and in 1956, Northern Command Intercommunication Signals Troop (INTERCOMM TROOP) was raised from Regular Army cadre to provide communications to Army HQ Melbourne.

The unit was re-designated 401 Signal Regiment in 1961, and again 1964 it was re-named 4 Signal Regiment.

1 Squadron renamed 113 Signal Squadron

2 Squadron renamed 114 Signal Squadron

The regiment included CMF signal Squadrons in Brisbane, Toowoomba and Townsville by 1965. In 1969, the regiment was again restructured. The designation 4 Signal Regiment applied solely to the Regular Army component and left Kelvin Grove to go to Enoggera and later to Wacol. CMF members were transferred to 104 Signal Squadron, Brisbane and 141 Task Force Signal Squadron, Toowoomba. The regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Brisbane on 24 June 1975. Located at Victoria Barracks, Brisbane, in 1974, which was the Headquarters of 1 Military District, the role of the regiment was: The operation of a manual tape relay station at Victoria Barracks, the operation of an HF radio transmitting station at Acacia Ridge, and a HF radio receiving station at Green-bank. It was tasked with the operation of communication centres at various Army and Defence establishments throughout Queensland and the operation of a Signals Dispatch Service in the Brisbane metropolitan area. The commanding officer of the regiment was responsible to the Defence Communications System in Canberra for the operational control of fixed communications in the region. This included communications elements in RAN and RAAF establishments within Queensland.

The regiment disbanded in 1995, and reformed as 136 Signal Squadron (DCE QUEENSLAND), located at Gallipoli Barracks. The units role was to control, co-ordinate and maintain Defence Strategic Communication assets in Queensland, and operate and maintain associated switching and trunking facilities.

Unit Crest

Red over green square with a white over blue oblong superimposed. The patch was taken over by 136 Signal Squadron in 1995.

q.v. 136 Signal Squadron

4 Signal Regiment, Royal Australian Signals (Cliff Lord Collection)

5 Signal Regiment

1948 – Eastern Command Signal Regiment

1961 – 402 Signal Regiment

1965 – 5 Signal Regiment

1979 – 134 Signal Squadron

In July 1960, the Eastern Command Signal Regiment moved within the Sydney metropolitan area from Lidcombe to Dundas. During the same period a squadron from the Army Headquarters Signal Regiment, together with the Canberra Signal Troop, also moved to Dundas to form part of the regiment. By late 1961, the high frequency transmitting station at Wallgrove and the receiving station at Bringelly were brought into operation. On 21 August 1961, the unit was renamed 402 Signal Regiment at Dundas. In 1964, the STRAD computer was commissioned. The unit was re-designated as 5 Signal Regiment in 1965.

1 Squadron renamed 115 Signal Squadron

2 Squadron renamed 116 Signal Squadron

In addition to controlling the major tape relay station at Dundas, it also manned the communication centres at Victoria Barracks Paddington, Sydney and the larger military areas in NSW such as Holsworthy, Ingleburn, Singleton, and later, Randwick. As part of the Defence Communications Rationalisation Plan for NSW, operational control of the receiving station at Bringelly was passed to the Royal Australian Air Force on 30 June 1976. Then followed the decommissioning of the transmitter station at Wallgrove on 5 July 1976, thus passing all transmitting responsibilities for the Sydney area to the RAAF station at Londonderry. Army equipment was removed and the station was passed to the RAAF on 5 May 1977. As the final phase of the rationalization plan for NSW the RAAF established the Defence Communications Automatic Relay Station (DEFCOMMARS) at Wallgrove to assume the responsibilities of 5 Signal Regiment. Cutover of circuits was completed on 30 June 1979. The 5 Signal Regiment Major Relay Station was maintained on standby until 12 February when de-installation was commenced. Following these changes, there was a reorganization of the unit, reducing it to squadron size, and subsequently 134 Signal Squadron was raised on 6 September 1979.

q.v. 134 Signal Squadron

6 Signal Regiment

1940 – Southern Command Signal Troop

1942 – AHQ Signals

1960 – 403 Signal Regiment

1964 – 6 Signal Regiment

1994 – Disbanded

1995 – 138 Signal Squadron

Southern Command Signals raised a Troop in 1940, to monitor enemy overseas press broadcasts, and forward the material to Army Headquarters. In 1942, the unit was split into AHQ Signals and Heavy Wireless. The unit moved in June 1948, to No.1 Area Albert Park as Army Headquarters Signal Regiment. In 1950, Diggers Rest and Rock Bank were taken over for the transmitting and receiving stations of the Regiment. AHQ Signal Regiment moved into new barracks in Watsonia Melbourne in 1960, and was renamed 403 Signal Regiment. In 1965, the unit became 6 Signal Regiment. The unit provided Defence Fixed Communication Network (DEFCOMMENT) facilities for the Military District and Inter-Service and Overseas Communication links. The following squadrons were a part of the regiment:

1 Squadron renamed 117 Engineering Squadron, ARA

2 Squadron renamed 118 Squadron, ARA/CMF

On 31 December 1994, 6 Signal Regiment ceased to exist, and was replaced by 138 Signal Squadron, which did not commence until 1 February 1995.

A Regimental partnership existed with the Queen’s Gurkha Signals.

q.v. 135 Signal Squadron, and 138 Signal Squadron.

7 Signal Regiment (EW)

1940 – 1 Special Wireless Section

1940 – 4 Wireless Section

1942 – 5 Wireless Section

1942 – Australian Special Wireless Group

1947 – 101 Wireless Regiment

1964 – 7 Signal Regiment

1998 – 7 Signal Regiment (EW)

2003 – 7 Signal Regiment

A small group of signalmen was segregated into 1 Special Wireless Section during training at Seymour Victoria on 19 June 1940. After completion of training, they were deployed to the Middle East. There they became known as 4 Wireless Section and for the next twelve months served in Greece, Egypt, Crete, Syria and Lebanon. On returning to Australia in mid-1942, the unit was re-designated 5 Wireless Section and began to expand. Further training was conducted at Bonegilla and sections were also established in Darwin, Papua New Guinea, as well as Mornington Racecourse in Brisbane. The unit changed its title to Australian Special Wireless Group (ASWG) on 18 May 1942, and was primarily occupied with the War in the Pacific. Sections served in the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Dutch New Guinea, India and the Philippines. Also a section was established in Perth. After the Second World War the ASWG downsized and moved to Cabarlah, north of Toowoomba, and commenced operations on 3 February 1947, as 101 Wireless Regiment. 112 Wireless Troop was located at Melbourne from 1948. By the late 1950s, the following sub units existed:

Headquarters Squadron, Cabarlah

Operating Squadron, Cabarlah

Wireless Troop (Australia), Singapore (former Wireless Troop Type F)

112 Wireless Troop, Melbourne

Circa 1961, units were renumbered:

Headquarters Squadron,

200 Signal Squadron – ex Operating Squadron, Cabarlah

201 Signal Squadron (Australia) – ex Wireless Troop (Australia)

221 Signal Troop, CMF Reserve

222 Signal Troop, only formed for field exercises

201 Signal Squadron (Overseas) Singapore

201 Signal Detachment Penang (previously Sungei Patani)

693 Signal Troop, 201 Signal Squadron – Field deployable Troop

Sub units were deployed throughout South East Asia for many years. These included Singapore and Malaysia (1951–74), Hong Kong (1964–82), Borneo and Brunei (1964–86), Laos (1961–5), and Nui Dat, Vietnam (1966–71). The Detachment at Penang was quartered at Minden Barracks while its radio station was at Batu Uban. On 22 December 1964, the regiment was re-designated 7 Signal Regiment, and was granted the Freedom of the City of Toowoomba on 29 August 1975. A detachment of the regiment served in Darwin after 1974. The following squadrons existed within the regiment:

119 Signal Squadron, Cabarlah (HQ, logistics/admin) ex HQ Squadron, ARA

120 Signal Squadron, Cabarlah (operations) ex 200 Signal Squadron

121 Signal Squadron, Singapore ex 201 Signal Squadron

547 Signal Troop, overseas deployment Troop of 120 Signal Squadron

Training Troop, 120 Signal Squadron

121 Signal Squadron became a part of 9 ANZUK Signal Regiment, Singapore, for administration only, and remained a unit of 7 Signal Regiment. 121 Signal Detachment was located in Hong Kong. When the 121 Signal Squadron was ordered back to Australia in 1975, it was sent to Darwin and was re-designated as 71 Signal Squadron. An advance unit, Detachment 71 Signal Squadron, was deployed to Darwin 1974.

Circa 1973/4

Headquarters Squadron, ex 119 Signal Squadron

Operations Squadron, ex 120 Signal Squadron

121 Signal Squadron Disbanded

71 Signal Squadron, Darwin. Renamed 7 Signal Regiment Darwin Component, circa 1978–9

72 Signal Squadron, Paper unit only until 1976–7, when raised, Cabarlah

Contingency Troop – designated 547 Signal Troop in 2003

Training Squadron, 1977–86

There had always been some form of training troop organisation within the Operations Squadron at Cabarlah. The unit was the only trade training establishment for the trade of Operator Signals.

In the period 1978–9, the regiment’s unit in Melbourne became known