8th Signal Regiment (Australia)
| 8th Signal Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1966 - 1975 1987 - Present |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army Reserve |
| Type | Royal Australian Corps of Signals |
| Role | Military communications |
| Size | 6 Signal Squadrons and Operational Support Squadron |
| Garrison/HQ | Randwick Barracks, New South Wales |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Certa Cito Swift and Sure |
| Anniversaries | 10 November - Corps Day 18 January - Unit Birthday |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | The Princess Royal |
| Commanding Officer | Lieutenant Colonel Geoff Crossie |
| Regimental Sergeant Major | Warrant Officer Class One Michael Joliffe |
| Insignia | |
| Unit Colour Patch |  |
8th Signal Regiment (8 Sig Regt) is an Australian Army Reserve (Ares) unit which comprises six Signal Squadrons and an Operational Support Squadron. The 8th Signal Regiment is the largest Regiment in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RA Sigs) and provides Specialist Communication and Information Services (CIS) support to the Australian Army's 2nd Division.[1]
The National Signal Regiment[edit]
A review of CIS capabilities in the Australian Army's 2nd Division prompted the formation of a National Signal Regiment under 8th Signal Regimental Headquarters. The National Signal Regiment structure was established on 18 January 2021, integrating 8th Signal Regiment with 2nd Division's independent Signal Squadron's across the nation. Prior to the establishment of the National structure, 8th Signal Regiment comprised of the Regimental Headquarters, 142nd Signal Squadron in New South Wales and 143rd Signal Squadron located in the Australian Capital Territory. The new structure has seen the amalgamation into the Regiment of 141st Signal Squadron in Queensland, 144th Signal Squadron in South Australia and Tasmania, 108th Signal Squadron in Victoria and 109th Signal Squadron in Western Australia. Whilst the Squadrons are now under the command of 8th Signal Regiment, they are responsible for providing direct support to Reserve Brigades located within their respective States and Territories.[1]
History[edit]
The Regiments heritage was established in the shadow of the pyramids of Egypt, and was originally known as the 2nd Divisional Signal Company, in July 1915.[2] The role then was to provide communications to the Headquarters of the 2nd Division; a task that the 8th Signal Regiment still maintains today, as well as a number of other tasks that evolved out of the increasingly more active reserve.[1]
The 2nd Divisional Signal Company[edit]
Upon its formation, the 2nd Divisional Signal Company had strength of 152 personnel all ranks. The first Commanding Officer was Captain R.H. Goold, and the Second in Command was Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Colonel) Stanley Watson,[3] who would afterwards give his name to the famous Watson's Pier in Anzac Cove. The company consisted of a headquarters, a dispatch riders group, signallers group and four sections.[4] The 2nd Divisional Signal Company was raised as a relief for the 1st Divisional Signal Company at Gallipoli and remained there until the withdrawal. It was the 2nd Divisional Signal Company who designed and executed the communications plan for the withdrawal from Gallipoli.[5] In such ways as this the company began to forge a reputation that would only be expanded upon. For their actions at Gallipoli many members of the unit were decorated for their devotion to duty and the methodology with which they approached their mission. Upon their deployment to the Western Front the unit was to garner many further decorations, including Mentions-in-Dispatches and bars to medals. Sadly however, the unit was to lose 56 members, more than a third of its original number.
The 2nd Divisional Signal Company was highly spoken of for their abilities and dedication. General Haig, himself lionized in countless biographies, said of the Company before the Battle of the Somme that they were "A fine body of men, professional, knowledgeable and better than any other British Signals Unit." Such high praise was not without merit. At the Battle of the Somme the Company distinguished itself by never losing sight of their mission and showing the "Fight for Comms" attitude that became a byword for communications throughout the army. Members of the unit maintained the cable communications between the 2nd Division and its sub-units despite a high rate of casualties and the continual damage wrought to the cable system by enemy fire. Upon returning to Australia, now under the command of Major Stanley Watson, who had been highly decorated, the Company numbered over one hundred medals, of which ten had bars. The unit also had earned nineteen Mention-in-Dispatches. A very large number for such a small unit, indicating that almost every member had been decorated in some form. The 2nd Divisional Signal Company was redesigned and became the 2nd Divisional Signal Regiment, and the first Commanding Officer was Lieutenant Colonel J.E. Fraser.
Between the Wars[edit]
Between the two world wars, the 2nd Division headed up the Citizens Military Force (CMF), the precursor to the modern Ares. The 2nd Divisional Signal Regiment was at the forefront of the CMF signals advances, a position it was to maintain even into the current era.
The 2nd Divisional Signal Regiment (1939 - 1960)[edit]
As part of the Division, 2nd Divisional Signal Regiment was deployed during WWII as part of the defence of Sydney and in communications offices in Western Australia. Members of the unit were also deployed to New Britain for the provision of telecommunications between 9th Brigade (Southside) and 36th Battalion (Northside). Over the duration of WWII, the 2nd Divisional Signal Regiment lost five members. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Allan Campbell, was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)[6] and a mention-in-dispatches. Four other members of the 2nd Divisional Signal Regiment were also awarded a mention-in-dispatches. On 4 March 1948, the CMF was re-activated and the 2nd Division Signal Regiment was re-raised at Moore Park. In 1955, Lieutenant Colonel Henry James Trick, OBE, raised Eastern Command Signal Regiment at Lidcombe. It existed until 1960, when another Army reorganisation saw the disbandment of all RA Sigs CMF units in New South Wales.
The 8th Signal Regiment (1966 - 1975)[edit]
On the 18 January 1966, Lieutenant Colonel Trick raised 8th Signal Regiment, and all CMF personnel in Eastern Command, less those in 5th Signal Regiment and 130th Signal Squadron, were transferred to the 8th Signal Regiment. In 1970, 155th Signal Squadron was raised from the CMF elements of 130th Signal Squadron and was placed under command of 8th Signal Regiment. On 1 July 1975, as a result of the Miller Report, 8th Signal Regiment was disbanded and was replaced by 142nd Signal Squadron, which in May 1980 became an Ares Signal Squadron.
Re-Raising The 8th Signal Regiment (1987 - 2019)[edit]
thumb|Unit Colour Patch
Following a review of the role and organisation of the Ares, 8th Signal Regiment was re-raised on 1 December 1987 under command of Lieutenant Colonel Paul Irving, RFD. In 1989, the Regiment received approval to wear the colour patch of its predecessor, 2nd Division Signal Regiment. The Regiment was located at Lidcombe with Trunk Squadron, Operational Support Squadron and Administration Squadron. In addition, one squadron was raised at Penrith, (Rear Divisional Signal Squadron) and one in Canberra (Main Divisional Signal Squadron).
Later, the unit was to relocate to Randwick barracks and once again adopted the role of providing support to Headquarters 2nd Division, this time in an administrative role. 155th Signal Squadron was re-raised from elements of 8th Signal Regiment to provide support to 8th Brigade at Timor Barracks in Dundas. Main Divisional Signal Squadron, located in Canberra, was to undergo a change as well. First, its name was changed to reflect its revised role, and it became Communications Information Systems Squadron.
In November 2006, 142nd and 155th Signal Squadron were allocated as sub-units within 8th Signal Regiment and the CIS Squadron was re-named 143rd Signal Squadron. In 2018, 155th Signal Squadron was amalgamated into 142nd Signal Squadron as a Signal Troop which was subsequently relocated to Bullecourt Barracks in Adamstown. In its time as the CMF and Ares representative Signals Unit, 8th Signal Regiment had established itself as a premier force in the training and administration of Ares soldiers. Nearly all Ares soldiers in the RA Sigs are trained and deployed under the aegis of the 8th Signal Regiment.
The 8th Signal Regiment (2020 - Present)[edit]
Throughout 2020 the regiment deployed signallers as part of overseas operations in the Middle East, reinforced Regular Army communicators as part of International Engagement in the South West Pacific and provided specialist CIS effects in support of Operation Bushfire Assist and Operation COVID-19 Assist.[1]
The domestic response options provided by the 2nd Division has also enabled the Regiment the unique opportunity to be equipped with modern commercial CIS capabilities in additional to the in-service tactical radios and deployable Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Networks. This has enabled the unit to harness advances in commercial technology and where required overlay military capabilities to provide additional redundancy and resilience in support of disaster relief. Additionally, the use of modern commercial CIS within select profiles enables the Regiment to harness the expertise of the civilian skill sets of reserve signallers, many of whom have professional ICT backgrounds in their civilian employment.[7]
As an Army in Motion, it is necessary that forces continuously adapt to ever-changing environments, a review of CIS capability in 2nd Division identified that the best effect would be achieved through a new National structure. The 8th Signal Regiment, now established as the National Signals Regiment will further enhance the delivery of CIS capability to the 2nd Division of the Australian Army[1].
Unit Locations[edit]
- 8th Signal Regiment Headquarters – Randwick Barracks, Sydney, NSW. Direct Support to 2nd Division Headquarters
- 141st Signal Squadron - Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane and Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, QLD. Supporting the 11th Brigade
- 142nd Signal Squadron - Holsworthy Barracks in Liverpool and Bullecourt Barracks, Adamstown, NSW. Supporting the 5th Brigade
- 143rd Signal Squadron - HMAS Harman, Canberra, ACT. Supporting the 5th Brigade and 2nd Division
- 144th Signal Squadron - Keswick Barracks, Adelaide, SA and Derwent Barracks, Hobart, TAS. Supporting the 9th Brigade
- 108th Signal Squadron - Simpson Barracks, Melbourne, VIC. Supporting the 4th Brigade
- 109th Signals Squadron - Irwin Barracks, Perth, WA. Supporting the 13th Brigade
- Operational Support Squadron - Co-located with RHQ at Randwick Barracks. Supporting the 2nd Division
Commanding Officers[edit]
| From | To | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1967 | COL | H.J. Trick, OBE, ED |
| 1967 | 1970 | LTCOL | A.W. Ballantine, ED |
| 1971 | 1973 | LTCOL | R.G. Osborn, ED |
| 1974 | 1975 | LTCOL | R.G. McIntyre, RFD, ED |
| From | To | Rank | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1991 | LTCOL | R.P. Irving, AM, PSM, RFD | Later MAJGEN and COMD 2 Div |
| 1991 | 1994 | LTCOL | P. Emery | |
| 1995 | 1996 | LTCOL | D.G. Freeman | |
| 1997 | 1998 | LTCOL | M.J. Brennan | |
| 1999 | 2000 | LTCOL | J. Costello, RFD | |
| 2001 | 2002 | LTCOL | A.J. Wyman | |
| 2003 | 2005 | LTCOL | A.R. Butler | |
| 2006 | 2007 | LTCOL | J.I. Rutups | |
| 2008 | 2010 | LTCOL | P.E. Hummerston, RFD | |
| 2011 | 2013 | LTCOL | D.J. Glen | |
| 2014 | 2016 | LTCOL | D.G. Jenkins, CSM | |
| 2016 | 2018 | LTCOL | R.G. Mills | |
| 2019 | 2020 | LTCOL | R. Bunn | |
| 2021 | Current | LTCOL | G.E.W. Crossie | ARA Appointed CO |
Regimental Sergeant Majors[edit]
| From | To | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1967 | WO1 | J.C. Hugha |
| 1967 | 1970 | WO1 | B. Fern |
| 1971 | 1973 | WO1 | C. Howe |
| 1974 | WO1 | B. Steadman | |
| 1975 | WO1 | P. Buckley | |
| From | To | Rank | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1991 | WO1 | H.L. Jones | |
| 1991 | 1993 | WO1 | J.A. Edwards | |
| 1994 | 1996 | WO1 | J.C. Morgan, CSM | |
| 1997 | 1998 | WO1 | H.G. Worboys | |
| 1999 | 2000 | WO1 | W.J. Foster | |
| 2002 | WO1 | L. Iseppi, OAM, CSM | RA Sigs Corps RSM 2005-2006 | |
| 2003 | WO1 | M. Ruane | ||
| 2004 | 2005 | WO1 | S. Paulson, OAM | RAInf |
| 2006 | WO1 | C.J. Rogers | ||
| 2007 Jan-Aug | WO1 | D.Q. Foreman, CSM | ||
| 2007 Sep-Dec | WO1 | A.B. Harriden | ||
| 2008 | 2009 | WO1 | D.T. McGarry | RAA |
| 2010 | 2012 | WO1 | D.M. Martin | |
| 2013 | 2015 | WO1 | S.P. Cheers | |
| 2016 | 2017 | WO1 | J.J. Wilson | |
| 2018 | 2019 | WO1 | J.C. Rubie | |
| 2020 | Current | WO1 | M.I. Joliffe | RAAC |
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "A New National Structure for 8th Signal Regiment". THE SIGNALLER. 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-01-07. Retrieved 7 January 2022. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Mallett, Ross (3 March 2005). "First AIF Order of Battle 1914-1918 - Second Division - Narrative". The AIF Project. University of New South Wales, Canberra. Archived from the original on 2018-03-19. Retrieved 7 January 2022. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Australian Imperial Force War Diaries, 1914-1918 War - Signals - 2nd Australian Division Signals Company" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-07. Retrieved 7 January 2022. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Larkins, Steve (November 2014). "2nd Divisional Signal Company". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved 7 January 2022. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Fielding, Jean (1990). "Watson, Stanley Holm (1887–1985)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 7 January 2022. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Allan John Campbell". Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 2021-09-11. Retrieved 10 September 2021. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Hawke, Sarah. "A time of change in communication". Army Newspaper. p. 5. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
External links[edit]
- 1st Divisional Signal Company, Virtual War Memorial Australia
- 2nd Divisional Signal Company, Virtual War Memorial Australia
- Army in Motion, Australian Army
- Bullecourt Barracks, Department of Defence
- Citizen Military Force - WA Military Digital Library
- Operation Bushfire Assist, Australian Government, Department of Defence
- Operation COVID-19 Assist,Australian Government, Department of Defence
- Royal Australian Corps of Signals, Australian Army
- Royal Australian Signals Association
- Watsons Pier, Australian War Memorial
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