34 (Northern) Signal Regiment - Regiments History - Regimental History - The Early Years

The Early Years

1967-1977

In this factual record of names and appointments (shown in Section 4), lie the bare bones of the story of the 34th's first ten years. But, as already stated, the story must record the people in relation to each other and to outside influences. The following account cannot be entirely objective, being written from the inside, nor can it claim to be comprehensive; inevitably it is written from the Officer's point of view, and further restriction from a vantage point that has not always given an equally clear view of all of the Regiment. But so be it.

1967

This was a year of disarray. It began for the new Regiment on 1 April - fittingly as some said at the time Annual Camp was to be Crowborough in Sussex in July and in the meantime there was a vast amount of administration to be done - vehicles, equipment, uniforms to be sorted and issued, documentation to be completed, while at the same time the new Squadrons had to find out who was who, who was to do what, who required training in what, and so on. By the time of Camp, considerable progress had been made, and by the time the last vehicles pulled into Crowborough much had been learned. The logistics of the move to Camp had, in themselves, been a major exercise, and the experience laid a useful foundation on which future, more complex movement plans could be built.

Camp was the first time that the Regiment had assembled. It was the first time that the officers and soldiers of the old 40th and 50th Regiments had come together, and inevitably, there was much comparing of habits, traditions and experiences. It was, too, for the ex AER volunteers their first experience of the more relaxed TA ways, while for the ex TA people it brought the realisation of how high the professional standards of the AER had been.

Operationally the first exercise was a challenging experience for all. The concept of static communication centres, linked by radio relay, seemed straightforward enough but the reality threw out problems which were not fully solved for several years - in particular that of centralised technical control which was foreign to the old TA Regiments. The influence of the Group Commander, Brig Vaigncourt-Strallen was forbidding. His vision of the potential of the system took many of the officers by surprise and the results of the exercise left considerable food for thought. However, the new equipment proved that it could work, and the ultimate success of the exercise left the Regiment with increased confidence in its abilities.

Following Camp, training continued. An exercise later in the year was the first of many attempts to link the main centres. It was unsuccessful - indeed it was many years before this project was satisfactorily accomplished, but at the end of the Year, Lt Col Irwin could be satisfied that the Regiment was shaping up, and that he could hand over in the spring of 1968 with a job well started.

1968

This was a year of steady improvement, in numbers, as the urgent recruiting efforts began to bear fruit, in trade training, as increasing numbers qualified as a result of intensive work and in familiarity with the techniques of the new role. There were few changes in Regiment and Squadron appointments, giving stability to the system and allowing the process of building up group esprit to continue. The only major change was that Major JR Smiles took over HQ Squadron from Major SH Knight who retired after over 40 years with the Corps.

Annual Camp was again at Crowborough, but the difference in performance was noticeable. The concept of centralised technical control was becoming accepted and valiant work of improvisation by the TOT, Maj Gordon Smith, and his team began to make up for some of the inadequacies of the equipment.

In this year too, the new Commanding Officer, Lt Col PJ Evans, began to lay the foundation of the close liaison with the local authorities of the town and cities where the Regiment was based, which have been a valuable and continuing feature of the Regiment at times.

Under Lt Col Evan's inspiration, the Regiment began its continued association with the Signals Training Centre at Scarborough. Regular use of Burniston Barracks as a weekend training centre, or as a base for exercises, began in the autumn of 1968.

1969

Dominating 1969 was Annual Camp in BAOR. This was the Regiment's first venture into its mobilisation territory, and from the beginning of the year preparations for Germany was the theme running through all activities. Much of the preparation was administration, training of drivers in continental highway code, writing and rewriting lists of air parties and road parties and recces on the ground by key officers.

The success of the move to BAOR was encouraging and all parties successfully arrived in Bradbury Barracks in Krefeld where 16 Signal Regiment were the host unit. Owing to the lack of space in Krefeld, 40 Squadron were accommodated with 28 Signal Regiment in St Tonis, which made for some complications, but both host Regiments gave generously of time and effort in making the fortnight worthwhile. In particular, the WRAC commcen operators received valuable training in the Krefeld TRC.

On the operational side, the Regiment carried out a limited simulation of its mobilisation role, though not in the actual locations and with no staff participation. Places later to become familiar; Eggelsberg, Leloh, Leuth and Bracht, were used as locations with the main control in Bradbury Barracks. Much experience was gained in operating and in the necessity for good camouflage and concealment, the latter aided by photo reconnaissance sorties by the RAF. Other activities included the traditional Honorary Colonel's parade on the square at Bradbury Barracks and Beating Retreat by the band in the presence of civic dignitaries from Krefeld.

Also in 1969, Lt Col Evan's policy of involvement with local authorities bore fruit when the Regiment was granted the Freedom of the new County Borough of Teesside in May. The Regiment exercised its right by marching through Middlesbrough in September with 'drums beating, flags flying and bayonets fixed'.

Another innovation in 1969 was the 'second camp'. The Regiment ran a camp at Scarborough in the autumn, on behalf of the whole Group, with an emphasis on recruit training. This camp set the pattern for subsequent similar ventures. Later in the year various changes took place in the command appointments, Maj CWW Smith, who had been Second-in-Command from the beginning, retired as a Brevet Lt Col and Major RM Stewart took over. Major RW Fawcett took over 90 Squadron and Major GC Beadle, who had left the Regular Army a year or more previously following his time as Training Major, replaced him as OC 50 Squadron in Darlington.

1970

After the excitement of 1969, this was another year of consolidation. Recruiting was good and the moral of the Regiment was high. Major Stewart had been nominated to take over command from Lt Col Evans in the autumn and the arrival of the first Volunteer CO was awaited with interest. Both within the Regiment and outside.

The Teesside Freedom had been the first honour awarded to 34 (Northern) Signal Regiment (Volunteers); in 1970 another first was recorded - the first piece of Regimental silver commissioned by the Regiment. Its story is well worth recording. Both 49th and 50th Regiments had various pieces of older silver either damaged or otherwise insurable, and it was felt that it would be worthwhile to use these to produce a centrepiece for the new Regiment. Major Richard Crosthwaite, a former officer of the 50th Regiment, produced a magnificent statuette of a Signalman of silver-plated epoxy resin, which was completed and handed over at a small ceremony. This unusual and distinctive work of art has attracted attention ever since and was included in an exhibition of military silver held in York in 1973.

Camp in 1970 was held at Lydd, a very good barracks, unfortunately unavailable to the TAVR until then. It followed the usual pattern of in-camp training during the first week followed by an exercise. From a technical standpoint the exercise was more challenging than before and again the command and control techniques were improved. But, like its predecessors, it did not fully stretch the whole of the Regiment for the engineering phase lasted so long that the message handling had to be curtailed.

During the autumn Lt Col Evans left the Regiment and Lt Col Stewart took over. Major Fawcett became Second in Command and Major GC Mitchell took over 90 Squadron.