The Cycle Turns

The two year cycle has come round and this heralds in this Brigade a change-over of both key appointments and nationalities. The two that effect us intimately are those of the Brigade Commander and OC. Brigadier TDH McMeeking, OBE has left to take up his new appointment as DPR in Whitehall and has been relieved by Brigadier PL Tancred, OBE whom we welcome from Australia. In the OC appointment we have changed from "Digger" to a "Pommy" once more. Major DJ Commerford, Royal Australian Signals, left us on 1^st February for leave in Australia prior to taking up a Staff appointment with HQ Australian Force, Vietnam. We wish him the very best of luck and thank him and his wife for all they have done for the Unit in their two and a half year tour. His relief, Major CJ Gilbert, having winged his way from Whitehall, just managed to arrive in time for a five day hand over (including a weekend). We hope that both he and his wife enjoy his tour in Terendak.

We also say farewell to Lt. B. Willis, Royal Australian Signals, and his wife who have returned to Australia and wish them success in their new posting.

In the sporting field we continue to compete in most events with varied success. Congratulations to Captain (QM) SG Barnes and WO1 (RSM) Lawry who were selected to umpire in both the Major and Minor Units finals in the 17^th Division/Malaya District Hockey Championships.

No truth in this rumour!

There has been a slight lull in the exercise commitment since just before Christmas and by the time this goes to print we will have completed two Major Brigade exercises. The first has had many changes of name, the current one being "Carnivorous". There is no truth in the rumour that this was so called because the new Commander was accustomed to eating Staff (and Signals) Officers before breakfast.

Two contingents from this Unit have been on "Change of Air" to the Cameron Highlands and whilst in this balmy climate have been subjected to much physical exertion with PE tests, patrolling and fieldcraft for , continually harassed by ambushes from our D&E Platoon.

Alpha Troop under Lt. Willis, disappeared from sight in the middle of February for adventure training at Marang on the east coast of Malaya. This involved a road move of 300 miles through some of the most beautiful countryside of Malaya. The journey was punctuated by the usual vehicle breakdowns and the odd contretemps with a wandering water buffalo. It is thought that the latter were intentional attempts to supplement the meat ration.

How wrong can they get!

The weather pundits forecast a "a sun that would fry you to a crisp during the day" and a "cold night that would freeze you to the marrow". How wrong they were. Apart from the first morning when Sgt. Stewart put the troop through PT which every one thought was physical training and turned out to be physical torture, the sun never shone. A brief synopsis of the weather and events follows:-

Monday – Overcast, Force 5 wind, huge waves no fishing.

Tuesday – Overcast, Rain, Force 5 wind, gigantic waves, no fishing.

Wednesday – Overcast, torrential rain, Force 6 wind. OC "A" Troop attempts to launch assault craft!

Thursday – Black, torrential rain, Force 6 wind and rising. Decision to return to Terendak.

However it would be unfair to end this diary of misfortunes without one note of success. The C15 link to Terendak worked all the time.

The fortunate few go to Bangkok for SEATO exercise

A rebroadcasting site is established at 4,000 feet.

Brigade Week – a very successful affair

Envy for the fortunate few

Since last appearing in The Wire the Squadron has taken part in three major exercises. A fortunate few were able to go to Bangkok for SEATO exercise "Aurora", much to the envy of the remainder of the Squadron.

Our second was a Nerve Centre CPX which was a warm up for the major Divisional Exercise "Gedgely" in June. An innovation here was the formation of a Joint Signal Squadron comprising elements of our own Squadron, 17^th Divisional Regiment, 19^th Air Formation Regiment, 249 Squadron and RAF Signals which took over all rearguard communications for the Brigade. The rest of the Squadron was concentrated on providing forward communications for the battalions. The distances to be covered were a challenge to VHF since Brigade HQ was one side of a large range of hills and battalion operations were some 30 to 40 miles the other. This involved establishing a rebroadcasting site on a feature 4,000 ft up in the Kuala Pilah hills, a lift of some 10 Scout loads. This is the first time any of our detachments have complained of being cold in Malaya.

Brigade Week

On returning from the field we concentrated on training for Brigade Week. This opened with a Skill at Arms competition in which we did not particularly shine. However, we made up for this in the sporting field. Our record showed first places in the Minor Units athletics and swimming, and first in the inter Unit Golf, not without some help from the Brigade Staff. In the Inter-Unit 100 stone tug-of-war we were runners up to A Company 1 RNZI, in the Inter-Unit sailing second to 4RAR, and in tennis, basket ball and volley ball we reached the semi finals. The award for the best all round sports man of the year has been made jointly to Cpl. Friend and Private Kelly. All in all it was a very successful week in which the highlight of the side shows was the free-fall parachuting where the FAC detachment from 249 Squadron provided the ground to air communications. Two stray jumpers landed in the Airportable Store and the Foreman’s Workshop. This was due entirely to wind conditions and is no reflection on the RAC detachment communications.

We are now embarked on a period of trade training under Y of S Leech prior to our next exercise in which we are providing umpire communications for a change.

Personnel

We welcome our first Australian RSM, WO1 Rooney, who is now firmly entrenched. Other arrivals include two other Australian, Sgts. Bywater (Line), and Judd (Radio OP) and Sgt Poindestre from the Greenjackets Signal Troop. Back to their respective homelands have gone WO1 Lawry and Sgts. Brierty, Stewart and Elford. 

Another month of athletic successes

Keeping up with the Marines

We look back on August as yet another month of successes in athletics. In the 17^th Division Championships, we finished as winners of the Minor Units Trophy and the 100 stone tug-of-war. In the individual events, L/Cpl Steers gained first place in the discus and second in the shot, and Sig. Alexander obtained the third place in the 1500 metres.

Intensive five week refresher course

On the military side September saw the end of the intensive five week refresher course for all operating trades, prior to the Squadron going out into the field on Exercise "Celto". Here for a change, we provided umpire controlled communications, whilst 3 Commando Brigade did the "fighting". Nevertheless, some of our operators now know what it is like humping an A41 in the jungle and trying to keep up with the Marines.

Off to Australia

Two of NCO’s, Sgt. Hamilton and Cpl Friend, were fortunate to be attached to 1 KSLI when they went to Australia for an exercise. They will be persuaded to write about their experiences as a special feature on their return. (We shall look forward to this – Editor)

Although the weather seems to change little here, apparently somebody manages to change the sporting seasons and we are now playing rugby and football; the former with not a great deal of success, but the latter team has so far only lost to 3 Squadron RCT.

The squadron was reduced to one bachelor officer on the 1^st October when Lt. Bob Smith RA Signals, married Captian Julia Day, QARANC at Holy Trinity Terendak. There was a full Squadron turn out and the wedding was made a particular pleasant occasion as the bride’s parents, Colonel (Rtd) and Mrs. RW Day flew out from the UK a week before.

This month our Second in Command departs to take a course in, and later instruct, on ADPS at the School. We wish Captain and Mrs. Cornforth all good fortune at Blandford.