41 Signal Squadron
41 (Princess Louise's Kensington) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) can trace back its history over 199 years to 1798 when the Corps of the Kensington Volunteer Association was enrolled in answer to the threat from France. The squadron's motto "Quid Nobis Ardui" meaning "Nothing is too hard for us." In 1908 Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll consented to the use of her name by the Regiment and thereafter became known as THE KENSINGTONS. During the First World War, the KENSINGTONS grew in size to 3 Battalions, the 1st Battalion of the Kensingtons served in France, seeing action in Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Somme, Arras, Ypres and Cambrai. The 2nd Battalion served in the Middle East in the Palestine campaign, seeing action in Doiran 1917, Gaza, Jerusalem and Sharon. The 3rd Battalion remained in the UK as a training unit.
During the Second World War, the Kensingtons became the first TA unit to guard the Tower, including the ceremony of the Keys. It also changed its role from Infantry to Heavy Support equipped with Mortars, Medium Machine Guns and Oerlikon Anti Aircraft Guns. The 1st Kensingtons served with the British Expeditionary Force in France, and later deployed to North Africa to be part of 1st Army to prepare for the Sicilian Campaign. The 2nd Kensingtons served first in Iceland and were to see action from Normandy to Arnhem.
In 1945 the Regiment became part of the Royal Corps of Signals with the Army Phantom Signal Regiment (Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment). The Regiment reformed as 41 (PLK) Signal Regiment TA in 1961 and became a trunk communications Signal Regiment with squadrons in Portsmouth, Coulsdon and Hammersmith.
In 1967, with the reorganisation of the TA, 41 Signal Regiment became a Squadron of 31 Signal Regiment. The Regiment is made up of three Radio Squadrons and a HQ Squadron. Each Radio Squadron is made up of a number of Radio detachments. A detachment consists of four soldiers and are Land Rover based, to provide high mobility, although there are some detachments that use 4 tonne vehicles. Detachments can be deployed as part of a squadron or independently to other locations. HQ Squadron provides all the support elements, such as fuel and equipment, which enable the Regiment to function as well as a small number of discrete radio detachments The Squadron still retains it links with the PLK and proudly wears the Kensington badges and buttons on its uniform.
The squadron was reassigned from 31 (City of London) Signal Regiment to 38 (City of Sheffield) Signal Regiment in 2010.
Read more about this topic: 38 (City Of Sheffield) Signal Regiment
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