Sale Detachment, No.2 Squadron, 42^nd (Lancashire) Signal Regiment (TA)

The TA Centre, Britannia Road, Sale, Cheshire

After the major re-organization of the Territorial Army in 1961, seven Royal Signals Troops with roles supporting the seven Royal Artillery regiments of the 42^nd (Lancashire) Division were formed at the TA Centre, Britannia Road, Sale.

The seven Troops were formed from members of the former Royal Artillery unit based at Britannia Road and ‘I’ Troop 42^nd Signal Regiment. ‘I’ Troop had formerly been based at Glossop. The seven Troops supported: three Artillery Field Regiments, one Medium Artillery Regiment and three Light Air Defence Regiments.

The main function of the new Royal Signals Troops was to provide rear link radio communications, battery charging and light radio repair facilities for their parent Royal Artillery Regiment.

The Troops were small in size, each commanded by a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer. Officers were seconded from No.2 Squadron, 42^nd (Lancashire) Signal Regiment to supervise training and administration.

In the early 1960s this was a thriving detachment with a concentration of Despatch Riders. They paraded on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and most Sundays until the detachment closed in 1966 with remaining members moving to No.2 Squadron at Rusholme.

None of the military buildings at Britannia Road currently exist, but in its prime the set-up consisted of two large ‘gun-sheds’ and about 4-5 concrete pre-fabricated single storey huts which were used for stores, lecture rooms and messes. There was also a Nissen hut office and a prefabricated building for the caretaker. The ‘gun-sheds’ looked like large Nissen huts and had previously housed Cromwell and Comet tanks of the Cheshire Yeomanry, and later Royal Artillery L70 40mm anti-aircraft guns (up-dated versions of the Bofors anti-aircraft gun). The site also contained wooden huts for the Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps.

The Royal Artillery unit formerly based at Britannia Road had the lengthy title of :

G Troop, R (5^th N Staffs) Battery, 441^st Light Anti-Aircraft/ Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery (TA).

441^st LAA/SL Regiment Royal Artillery had been formed in 1955 as a result of cutbacks and amalgamations in the Territorial units of the Royal Artillery. G Troop at Sale was the post-1955 survivor of Q Battery, 349^th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA). Until disbandment in 1961, the Regimental Headquarters of 441^st LAA/SL Regiment was at Cobridge near Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.

Succession of Detachment Commanders