6th Airborne Divisional Signals
The 6th Airborne Divisional Signals was established in May 1943 and was to be the signalling unit for the 6th Airborne. The unit was formed with members from the 1st Airborne Divisional Signals. The units' job was provide communications between the 6th Airborne HQ and to units within the division, with signallers being attached to various units under the 6th Airborne Division and also with signallers training other units how to use the signalling equipment, a crucial factor. Much like Divisional Signal Squadrons of today; the unit was attached to the HQ of the 6th Airborne and was to provide communications between the Divsional HQ to Brigade HQs (both Parachute & Airlanding brigades), Brigade HQs and their battalions within the brigade, and to higher command. As well as communicating with the parts of the division, its job was also to provide communications to other divisions and units such as the Artillery within the non-airborne divisions, to maintain communications with the Allied Air Forces and to maintain communications with the divisional HQ in the U.K.
Within the unit, there were various sections that had different tasks. Some of these sections were; the Artillery Signal Section (Both forward and rear echelon, this unit was to provide communications to the 'gunners' who would provide artillery support), Signal Security Section (this unit would 'scramble' and intercept enemy communications and would sometimes provide false information to the enemy via morse code - these worked closely with the Intelligence Corps within the 6th Airborne) and finally both Parachute & Airlanding Signal Sections (these were signallers who provided communications for the brigades - 3rd Parachute Brigade, 5th Parachute Brigade and so on). The unit was both Parachute and Airlanding.
The unit wore the maroon beret with the Royal Signals capbadge with the 'Jimmy' in the middle of an oval with the motto on, officers wore a bronzed version or a bullion one on cloth (Ordinary Ranks and Bronzed capbadges were replaced in 1947 with the 'Jimmy' on a globe with the regiments' motto, the same as the bullion badge but metal). Royal Corps of Signals shoulder titles with white writing on a dark blue background were worn alongside the Pegasus and Airborne flashes. The title was changed in 1944 to just 'Royal Signals' however some continued to wear the full title (RCoS). While in Normandy, the Commanding officer of the regiment told the men to plait a lanyard from the parachute cords and rigging lines, so each man would have a length of strong cord in his possesion which would be useful if captured. Every man carried out this task and the lanyard was worn by the unit on both service and battle dress. This tradition was continued after the CO's death in accordance with is wishes and is still continued today. The Olive Drab lanyard is still worn by airborne signallers.
The 6th Airborne Divisional Signals was established in May 1943 and was to be the signalling unit for the 6th Airborne. The unit was formed with members from the 1st Airborne Divisional Signals. The units' job was provide communications between the 6th Airborne HQ and to units within the division, with signallers being attached to various units under the 6th Airborne Division and also with signallers training other units how to use the signalling equipment, a crucial factor. Much like Divisional Signal Squadrons of today; the unit was attached to the HQ of the 6th Airborne and was to provide communications between the Divsional HQ to Brigade HQs (both Parachute & Airlanding brigades), Brigade HQs and their battalions within the brigade, and to higher command. As well as communicating with the parts of the division, its job was also to provide communications to other divisions and units such as the Artillery within the non-airborne divisions, to maintain communications with the Allied Air Forces and to maintain communications with the divisional HQ in the U.K.
Within the unit, there were various sections that had different tasks. Some of these sections were; the Artillery Signal Section (Both forward and rear echelon, this unit was to provide communications to the 'gunners' who would provide artillery support), Signal Security Section (this unit would 'scramble' and intercept enemy communications and would sometimes provide false information to the enemy via morse code - these worked closely with the Intelligence Corps within the 6th Airborne) and finally both Parachute & Airlanding Signal Sections (these were signallers who provided communications for the brigades - 3rd Parachute Brigade, 5th Parachute Brigade and so on). The unit was both Parachute and Airlanding.
The unit wore the maroon beret with the Royal Signals capbadge with the 'Jimmy' in the middle of an oval with the motto on, officers wore a bronzed version or a bullion one on cloth (Ordinary Ranks and Bronzed capbadges were replaced in 1947 with the 'Jimmy' on a globe with the regiments' motto, the same as the bullion badge but metal). Royal Corps of Signals shoulder titles with white writing on a dark blue background were worn alongside the Pegasus and Airborne flashes. The title was changed in 1944 to just 'Royal Signals' however some continued to wear the full title (RCoS). While in Normandy, the Commanding officer of the regiment told the men to plait a lanyard from the parachute cords and rigging lines, so each man would have a length of strong cord in his possesion which would be useful if captured. Every man carried out this task and the lanyard was worn by the unit on both service and battle dress. This tradition was continued after the CO's death in accordance with is wishes and is still continued today. The Olive Drab lanyard is still worn by airborne signallers.
The unit was based at Beacon Barracks in Bulford, Wiltshire (the division was based in Bulford) and was commanded by Lt. Col 'Pigmy' Smallman-Tew, who had previously commanded the 1st Airborne Divisional Signals. In late June, Smallman-Tew was injured by shrapnel but elected to remain at duty. On the 22nd of July, he elected to take a new officer, Lieutenant Mutch to to his brigade signal section (K). Along with another airborne Jeep they headed off to the section but a mortar shell hit their vehicle and killed Lt. Mutch, the driver and Smallman-Tew. He was extremely popular amongst the men and was aged 34 when he was killed, he is buried at Ranville War Cemetery. The units command was given to Lt. Col ES Cole and then being commanded by Lt. Col PEM Bradley DSO who commanded the unit up until Palestine when it was re-named, it was later taken over by Lt. Col DA Pringle in December 1946 (who had previously commanded the Indian Airborne Divisional Signals).
The unit comprised of 540 men, three companies and a headquarters, prior to the Normandy invasion. It supported the division throughout its involvements in Normandy, Holland, the Ardennes, the Rhine Crossing in N.W. Germany and through its advance to the Baltic and eventually deployed to Palestine with the division in 1945, arriving in September. A year later in 1946, the unit was re-designated the 6th Airborne Divisional Signal Regiment; with its companies redesignated as 'squadrons' and its sections as 'troops'. The 1st Airborne Divisional Signals were disbanding and many members joined the 6th. While in Palestine, the brigades within the division began to disband along with their signal sections and in 1948 on return to Blandford camp, the regiment began preparations to disband, which was finalised on the 30th August 1948. Some men of the regiment made their way into the new 16th Airborne Division Signal Regiment (47 Middlesex Yeomanry). The regiment had disbanded but it was not the end for the airborne signals, as with every airborne brigade (both regular & territorial) within the army, each needed a signals squadron. The history of the airborne signals is now currently continued with 216th Parachute Signals Squadron, 16th Air Assault Brigade and lots of history of the unit is at the Royal Signals museum at the home of the signals at Blandford Garrison.