The Cadet Signaller

Reliable communications and the swift accurate passage of important information has always been vital to the conduct of successful military operations.

The Greek armies had the Torch Telegraph and the Water Telegraph, and the Roman Army used coloured smoke as a means of communication. In England, during the 16th century, beacons were used and, in 1796, the Admiralty adopted a shutter-type machine, known as the 'Murray Lettering Telegraph'. Morse Code and electric telegraph were used for the first time in the Crimean War (1835-1837) and, following the Abyssinian War of 1867, a Signal Wing was formed by the Royal Engineers at Chatham.

THE 19TH CENTURY

In 1884, the Telegraph Battalion Royal Engineers was formed and took part in the Nile Campaign, later playing a prominent role in the Ashanti Campaign of 1895-1896. It was during this campaign that men of the telegraph Battalion hacked a path for an overhead line from the Cape coast to Prahsu, covering 72 miles through jungle. It was in this campaign that as members of the Telegraph Battalion staggered out of the jungle then confronted King Prempeh who so surprised by their action then offered the surrender of his Army. King Prempeh's throne is now displayed in the Royal Signals Museum at Blandford.

THE 20TH CENTURY

Signalling remained the responsibility of the Telegraph Battalion during the Boer War and until 1908, when the Royal Engineer Signals Service was formed and provided communications during World War One. At this time, the Despatch Rider came into prominence and 'wireless sets' were introduced into service. Wireless communications were provided in France and Flanders and also in the campaigns in Salonika, Palestine and Mesopotamia.

The first official agreement to form a separate Signal Corps was made in 1918, before the end of World War One. Due to various policy delays, the formation of the 'Corps' was delayed until 1920. A Royal Warrant was signed by the Secretary of State for War, the Rt. Hon Winston S Churchill, who gave the Sovereign's approval for the formation of a 'Corps of Signals' on 28th June 1920. Six weeks later, His Majesty the King conferred the title 'Royal Corps of Signals'.

During the 1920s and 1930s, the Corps increased its strength and had personnel serving in overseas stations such as Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ceylon, Egypt, Jamaica and many other 'out-posts of the Empire'. The largest portion of the Corps was overseas, one third being concentrated in India. Throughout World War Two, members of the Corps served in every theatre of war and, at the end, the Corps had a serving strength of 8,518 officers and 142,472 soldiers. In the immediate post-war period, the Corps played a full and active part in numerous campaigns including: Palestine (1945-1948); the long campaign in Malaya (1949-1960); the Korean War (1950-1953); the Suez Canal Zone (1956); the various operations in Cyprus, Borneo, Aden, the Arabian Peninsula, Kenya and Belize. Throughout this time, until the end of the Cold War, the main body of the Corps was deployed with the British Army of the Rhine confronting the former Communist Block forces, providing the British Forces' contribution to NATO with its communications infrastructure.

THE 21ST CENTURY

Most recently, members of the Corps have spearheaded operations, including: the Falkland Island campaign; the peace-keeping force in the Lebanon; supervising the peaceful transition of Namibia to independence; and 3,000 members of the Corps joined Operation Granby in the Persian Gulf. Since then, members of the Corps have been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor, Kurdistan, to the states of Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo, the Western Sahara, Cambodia, Rwanda, Angola Zaire and Sierra Leone.

Today's Corps, built on a fine tradition, now moves into the developing Information Warfare era of the future. It strives to live up to its motto, 'Certa Cito', which freely translated means 'Swift and Sure'.

THE CADET CAREER IN SIGNALS

BASIC RADIO USER COURSE
This is the first course over one weekend and gives a basic understanding of how to use military radios. Once you have passed this course you are qualified to use the UK/PRC349 radio under supervision. You are now a radio operator and become an important part of the section when on exercise. You can be asked to attend public events and County activities as a radio operator. You must be Star 1, have served for one year in the ACF and have a knowledge of the Phonetic alphabet.

CLASSIFICATION COURSE
This course is a week during summer half term. A very demanding course that covers all sorts of radios, radio masts, telephones, codes and once qualified you are allowed to wear the Crossed Signals Flags on your brassard. You are now a fully qualified signaller and may have to operate the Company radio when on exercise. You can now take part in the National Radio Net competitions and will be instructing the new Star 1 cadets on their Radio User Course. The course is run by Gwent ACF and you will be working alongside cadets from all over the country.

POST CLASSIFICATION COURSE
This course is run at Royal School of Signals at Blandford near Salisbury. The course lasts a week and during the course you will be able to use all sorts of equipment. You must complete this course before applying for the Advanced Signals Course. The course is open to cadets from all over the country.

ADVANCED SIGNALS COURSE
This is the final step to becoming a Cadet Assistant Signals Instructor (CASI). This course is run twice a year at Blandford Camp, home of the Royal Corps of Signals. You will need to demonstrate GCSEs in Science and Maths as this is a very advanced course. You will also need to have completed your JCIC booked through your Company.

CADET ASSISTANT SIGNALS INSTRUCTOR
In order to be awarded the CASI Qualification you will be assessed at teaching on a signals course. You will need to produce lesson plans and deliver at least one lesson against which you will be marked. You will need to have passed the SCIC (or JCIC in extrordinary circumstances). You will need to have shown commitment throughout the year by attending National Radio Net Competitions and other signals courses or events.

COURSE DATES 2009/2009

Brigade Signals Course, Fri 23 to Sat 31 May 2008

Radio User Course, Fri 17 to Sun 19 Oct 2008

Radio User Course/Ex Christmas Cracker, Fri 21 to Sun 23 Nov 2008

Radio User Course, Fri 5 to Sun 7 Dec 2008

Historical photos by kind courtesy of the Royal Signals website

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The Cadet Signaller

SIGNALS - THE EARLY YEARS

THE 19TH CENTURY

THE 20TH CENTURY

THE 21ST CENTURY

THE CADET CAREER IN SIGNALS

COURSE DATES 2009/2009

SIGNALS - THE EARLY YEARS

THE 19TH CENTURY

THE 20TH CENTURY

THE 21ST CENTURY

THE CADET CAREER IN SIGNALS

COURSE DATES 2009/2009