"Go One Better"
A History of the
42nd (City of Manchester) Signal Squadron (Volunteers)
By Major I
G Kelly TD KINGS
Squadron Commander 1998-2000
42nd Signal Squadron (Volunteers) is a Territorial Army unit based
at Norman Road, Rusholme - about 2 miles due South of Manchester city centre.
The title ‘Go One Better’ has been the motto of the unit since 1st
March 1918. This is a working draft of its history with compilation beginning in
March 1998. I took command of 42 Signal Squadron on attachment from the
King's Regiment. I do not regard myself as an historian, my
background is infantry, where history is used to develop unit identity, cohesion
and pride. I started to compile this history because I was amazed no-one
had done so before, and was rewarded by a fascinating tale of one of the oldest
Royal Signals units in the army. There are still some gaps - perhaps now
lost forever in the mists of time, but if you feel that you can make this
history more complete, please contact me via my web site http://www.KellyBadge.co.uk
In addition to the quoted references, many individuals have been of help
directly or indirectly by recommending knowledgeable contacts. In particular I
would like to acknowledge and thank the following:
The late Major Ken Hart whose gift of unit documentation from the 1950s
inspired me to start the current research,
Colonel Pat Jolliffe who donated the considerable results of a similar
research done during the mid 1970s,
Captain Mike Smith who produced several rare and long-forgotten publications
which were invaluable in this work,
Mr Tim Stankus of the Royal
Signals Museum who kindly provided information on phonetic alphabets.
I am also indebted to Mr Bill Franks and Major
Paul Laycock for research and guidance regarding Royal Engineers personnel
and medal records.
Major IG
Kelly TD KINGS
42 Signal Squadron (Volunteers), TA Centre, Norman Road, Rusholme, Manchester
M14 5LH
Contents
Diagrams and Illustrations
Figure 1 - East Lancashire Divisional
Signal Company, Royal Engineers - 1913 Organization
Figure 2 - 42nd (East
Lancashire) Divisional Signals (TA) - 1930 Organization
Figure 3 - 42nd (Lancashire)
Infantry Divisional Signal Regiment, TA - 1950 Organization
Figure 4 - 42nd (Lancashire)
Signal Regiment, TA - 1961 Organization
Figure 5 - 42nd Signal Squadron (Volunteers) - 1967 Organization
Figure 6 - 42nd Signal Squadron (Volunteers) - 1998 Organization
Figure 7 - Diagrammatic History of No.3
Squadron, 42nd (Lancashire) Infantry Divisional Signal Regiment, TA
Figure 8 - Diagrammatic History of the
Militia, Special Reserve and Supplementary Reserve
Figure 9 - Diagrammatic History of Rusholme's
Royal Artillery Units
Figure 10 - Royal Engineers cap badge
pre-1920
Figure 11 - Royal Corps of Signals cap
badge 1920 - 1947
Figure 12 - Royal Corps of Signals cap
badge 1947 - 1953
Figure 13 - Royal Corps of Signals cap
badge 1953 onwards
Figure 14 - Royal Army Chaplains’
Department cap badge 1940 -1953
Figure 15 - Royal Army Chaplains’
Department cap badge 1953 onwards
Figure 16 - Royal Army Medical Corps cap
badge 1950 -1953
Figure 17 - Royal Army Medical Corps cap
badge 1953 onwards
Figure 18 - Royal Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers cap badge 1947 - 1953
Figure 19 - Royal Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers cap badge1953 onwards
Figure 20 - Royal Army Pay Corps cap
badge 1929 - 1953
Figure 21 - Royal Army Pay Corps cap
badge 1953 onwards
Figure 22 - Army Catering Corps cap badge
1940 - 1953
Figure 23 - Army Catering Corps cap badge
1953 - 1973
Figure 24 - Army Catering Corps cap badge
1973 - 1993
Figure 25 - Women’s Royal Army Corps
cap badge 1949-1953
Figure 26 - Women’s Royal Army Corps
cap badge 1953 - 1992
Figure 27 - Adjutant General’s Corps
cap badge. Formed 6 April 1992
Figure 28 - Royal Logistic Corps cap
badge. Formed 5 April 1993
Figure 29 - 42nd Division arm
badge - WW1
Figure 30 - 42nd Division arm
badge 1940 - 1943
Figure 31 - Royal Signals Arm-of-Service
strip - WW2
Figure 32 - 42nd Division arm
badge 1947 - 1967
Figure 33 - 11 Signal Brigade arm badge
1995 onwards
Figure 34 - 33rd Signal
Regiment arm badge 1998 onwards
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