40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment
Encyclopedia
40 Signal Regiment (Volunteers) is a Territorial Army regiment in the Royal Corps of Signals
in the British Army
. The regiment forms part of 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade
, providing military communications for national operations. The regiment does not have an internal security role in Northern Ireland
.
HQ Squadron at Clonaver Park, Belfast
.
66 (City of Belfast) Signal Squadron at Clonaver Park, Belfast
.
81 (Northern Ireland) Signal Squadron at Belfast
.
85 (Ulster) Signal Squadron at Clonaver Park, Belfast
and Lurgan
. This Squadron was later to raise a Troop in Larne
, but then consolidated in Belfast
before subsequently moving to Newtownards
, then Bangor
and finally Lisburn
.
Current Structure
66 (City of Belfast) Support Squadron at Clonaver Park, Belfast
.
69 (North Irish Horse
) Signal Squadron at Belfast
and Limavady
.
85 (Ulster and Antrim Artillery) Signal Squadron at Lisburn
.
by the amalgamation of 66 Signal Regiment (TA), 81 Signal Regiment (AER) and 302 Signal Squadron.
In 1969 81 Signal Squadron at Belfast
was disbanded. This Squadron number is now used by an independent specialist TA Squadron, based at Colerne
in England.
On 1 April 1995, due to Options for Change
, 69 (North Irish Horse
) Signal Squadron, based at Limavady
, transferred from 32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment (Volunteers)
.
On 1 July 1999 85 (Ulster) Squadron moved to Bangor
and was subtitled '(Ulster and Antrim Artillery)'. This was done in recognition of the loss of 74 (Antrim Artillery) Squadron Royal Engineers
(Volunteers). The Squadron became custodian of the Antrim Artillery property as a result of this. With the re-raising of TA Royal Engineers in Bangor
, in the form of 591 (Independent) Field Squadron Royal Engineers (Volunteers) the Squadron moved to Thiepval Barracks
in Lisburn
.
in Iraq
, on Operation HERRICK
in Afghanistan
, on Operation TOSCA in Cyprus
and on Operation OCULUS in the Balkans.
. It is based in Belfast
and Derry
.
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. The regiment forms part of 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade
2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade
2 Signal Brigade is an operational Brigade of the Royal Corps of Signals with a Regular HQ, 1 Regular Regiment, 8 TA Regiments and a number of specialist sub-units...
, providing military communications for national operations. The regiment does not have an internal security role in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Structure
Initial StructureHQ Squadron at Clonaver Park, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
66 (City of Belfast) Signal Squadron at Clonaver Park, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
81 (Northern Ireland) Signal Squadron at Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
85 (Ulster) Signal Squadron at Clonaver Park, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Lurgan
Lurgan
Lurgan is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town is near the southern shore of Lough Neagh and in the north-eastern corner of the county. Part of the Craigavon Borough Council area, Lurgan is about 18 miles south-west of Belfast and is linked to the city by both the M1 motorway...
. This Squadron was later to raise a Troop in Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
, but then consolidated in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
before subsequently moving to Newtownards
Newtownards
Newtownards is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is the largest town in the Borough of Ards. According to the 2001 Census, it has a population of 27,821 people in...
, then Bangor
Bangor, County Down
Bangor is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a seaside resort on the southern side of Belfast Lough and within the Belfast Metropolitan Area. Bangor Marina is one of the largest in Ireland, and holds Blue Flag status...
and finally Lisburn
Lisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
.
Current Structure
66 (City of Belfast) Support Squadron at Clonaver Park, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
69 (North Irish Horse
North Irish Horse
The North Irish Horse is a yeomanry unit of the British Territorial Army raised in the northern counties of Ireland in the aftermath of the Second Boer War...
) Signal Squadron at Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Limavady
Limavady
Limavady is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. It lies east of Derry and south west of Coleraine. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of some 17% compared to 1991...
.
85 (Ulster and Antrim Artillery) Signal Squadron at Lisburn
Lisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
.
History
The Regiment was formed 1 April 1967 in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
by the amalgamation of 66 Signal Regiment (TA), 81 Signal Regiment (AER) and 302 Signal Squadron.
In 1969 81 Signal Squadron at Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
was disbanded. This Squadron number is now used by an independent specialist TA Squadron, based at Colerne
Colerne
Colerne is a village and civil parish in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, midway between Bath and Chippenham in Wiltshire, England. It has an elevated position above sea level and overlooks the Box Valley to the south...
in England.
On 1 April 1995, due to Options for Change
Options for Change
Options for Change was a restructuring of the British Armed Forces in 1990, aimed at cutting defence spending following the end of the Cold War....
, 69 (North Irish Horse
North Irish Horse
The North Irish Horse is a yeomanry unit of the British Territorial Army raised in the northern counties of Ireland in the aftermath of the Second Boer War...
) Signal Squadron, based at Limavady
Limavady
Limavady is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. It lies east of Derry and south west of Coleraine. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of some 17% compared to 1991...
, transferred from 32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment (Volunteers)
32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment
The 32nd Signal Regiment is a British Territorial Army regiment of the Royal Corps of Signals.- Regimental heritage :The 1st Lanarkshire Engineer Regiment were raised in Glasgow on 5 December 1859 as part of the Volunteer Force. The regiment was formally registered with the War Office on 27...
.
On 1 July 1999 85 (Ulster) Squadron moved to Bangor
Bangor, County Down
Bangor is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a seaside resort on the southern side of Belfast Lough and within the Belfast Metropolitan Area. Bangor Marina is one of the largest in Ireland, and holds Blue Flag status...
and was subtitled '(Ulster and Antrim Artillery)'. This was done in recognition of the loss of 74 (Antrim Artillery) Squadron Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
(Volunteers). The Squadron became custodian of the Antrim Artillery property as a result of this. With the re-raising of TA Royal Engineers in Bangor
Bangor, County Down
Bangor is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a seaside resort on the southern side of Belfast Lough and within the Belfast Metropolitan Area. Bangor Marina is one of the largest in Ireland, and holds Blue Flag status...
, in the form of 591 (Independent) Field Squadron Royal Engineers (Volunteers) the Squadron moved to Thiepval Barracks
Thiepval Barracks
Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn, County Antrim, is the headquarters of the British Army in Northern Ireland and its 38th Brigade. In August 2008, 19th Light Brigade moved into Thiepval Barracks from Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire...
in Lisburn
Lisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
.
Operational deployments
Territorial soldiers from the Regiment have served on operations supporting the Regular Army in the Balkans and on Operation TELICOperation Telic
Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, on Operation HERRICK
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, on Operation TOSCA in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and on Operation OCULUS in the Balkans.
Future
Due to the reduction in Territorial Army Royal Signals units, as a result of the Strategic Review of Reserves, 40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) disbanded on 31 March 2010. One Squadron remains, 40 Squadron, which is under the command of 32 Signal Regiment32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment
The 32nd Signal Regiment is a British Territorial Army regiment of the Royal Corps of Signals.- Regimental heritage :The 1st Lanarkshire Engineer Regiment were raised in Glasgow on 5 December 1859 as part of the Volunteer Force. The regiment was formally registered with the War Office on 27...
. It is based in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
.
External links
- 40th (Ulster) Signal Regiment Public Website - official
- 32nd Signal Regiment Public Website - official
- 81 Signal Squadron Public Website - official
- 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade Public Website - official