Royal Signal units help reqd

Discussion in 'Royal Signals' started by annsamtree, May 5, 2010.

  1. annsamtree

    annsamtree Member

    I am trying to identify some Royal signal units from a war record and I am getting nowhere fast,they appear on the war record from May 1945 to Jan 1946, If anyone can help identify the units and what there role was and location I would be greatfull to know


    3 telecom spec b det

    3 multi channel sec

    17 L of c (line of communication) 3 coy hq .This appears on release docs

    I am not sure but these units may come under 2 WOS

    There is also a ref that he was being administered by 2 echelon 21 AG

    The above units were based in NWE

    Any info or help much appreciated
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    WOS is War Office Signals

    21 AG is 21st Army Group whcih was in North West Europe from 1944.

    I have 17 LoC under 21st Army Group.

    I've not been able to find the smaller formation you are enquiring about but to be fair a Det, Detachment would only consist of a small number of men and may not be listed in any books.

    Not to sure what you are looking for either. For example 17 LoC is a regiment in its own right.

    Info sourced from: The Royal Corps of Signals Unit Histories of the Corps (1920-2001)- Cliff Lord
     
  3. annsamtree

    annsamtree Member

    Thanks for your help, I am trying to establish what type of work he was doing after the war in europe was over was he rebuilding phone systems or something else as not sure what multi channel sections do?
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Ann,

    Do you know what his trade was in the Signals, it should be listed in his service records.

    Andy
     
  5. annsamtree

    annsamtree Member

    Trade in signals was lineman/mech AII from Aug 1944 from An AIII

    Also wondering where 17 L of c was based in Germany?
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Page 139

    At the begining of the war lineman was an even greater jack of all trades than any of the others, and remained so as long as rough-and-ready standards of construction and maintenance could be tolerated. Quite early in the war it became clear that a specialist was required to handle multi-channel equipment and the trade of line mechanic was introduced. The qualifications were necessarily stiff and there was always a shortage of line mechanics, which was aggravated by increases to establishments as more equipment becames available. To get the best use out of the improved supply of equipment it was also found essential to raise the standard of construction and maintenance, and this made it necessary to split the general trade of lineman into two, permanent lineman and field lineman. Later still a further split was effected by the introduction of the line test clerk.

    Page 238

    The successful use of all the above equipements was entirely dependent on a very high standard of skill on the part of the line mechanics who manned them. In the early days before this trade was created the manning was carried out by instrument mechanics. It was found, however, that the work required too much specialization and the new trade was approved in 1941. The initial training was long and stiff and the number of men who had requisite aptitude was extremely limited. The result was that even with the most parismonious establishments it was quite impossible to overtake the initial shortage right upto the end of the war. The situation in all theartres was often critical, and it is to th egreat credit of the line mechanics that, being forced to work so short-handed, they were able to achieve what they did. Steps were taken by the major theatres to ease the situation by retraining other selected tradesmen in theatre schools. It was not impossible, however, to cover the full curriculum and they could only be taught the manipulation of some of the simpler equipment. As a makeshift this policy did have a limited success, since it was possible to avoid posting the fully traine line mechanics to vacancies where they would not make full use of their qualifications. It was none the less only a makeshift and not a course to be recommended except in dire emergency.

    British Army Signals in the Second World War-Nalder.

    The A III to A II is moving up the trade bands if you like. Bsically today in the Royal Signals you start as a Class 3 after basic training and trade training and then Class 2 and finish at Class 1 being the highest class in a particular trade/skill.

    Sadly I have nothing on 17 L of C other than they were in Germany. The Corps Museum maybe able to help and failing that the units diaries at Kew will hopefully reveal all.

    If you want to get an idea of what Linemen were doing during the war I'd read through 'The Royal Signals' thread in this section. There's quite a few Lineman pictures and medal citations of Lineman which will give you a good understanding for the trade.

    Regards
    Andy
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  8. Noel Burgess

    Noel Burgess Senior Member

    The formation of 17 Line of Communications sub area was approved in March of 1945 and on 6 April it relieved 15 L of C sub area at Lille and was based in the Lille/StOmer ares. Line of Communication designations are rather unusual as they refer to the physical area and the headquaters (and attached units) - so 17 L of C Sub Area was administered by HQ 17 L of C Sub Area.
    Hope that helps, Noel
     
  9. annsamtree

    annsamtree Member

    Many thanks to you all for the replies, I picked this part of the service record to start with as I thought it would be simpler, I thought wrong.
    His service record starts in with his arrival in Nov1939 in Egypt with Egypt command signals

    1940 Western Desert Corps signals
    1941 Greece 13 gp sigs Crete may 41
    Sep 1941 26 CS Fiela?
    1942 10 Army group signal Iraq
    Apr 1943 India IEF
    Feb 1944 Army group signals
    May 1944 33 corps Sig India 77 l/m sec
    9 Sep 1944 To BGA placed on x(v) List (Any ideas?)
    Arrive uk Thirsk Depot Btn
    Feb 1945 Passes medical posted to 55 div sigs
    May1945 to 2 WOS b det 3 tss then 3 coy 2 wo sigs
    then as my first post

    Any info or thoughts greatfully appreciated
     

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