The Royal Corps of Signals – 100 Years

28th June 2020 marks the 100th birthday of The Royal Corps of Signals.

The Not Forgotten and The Royal Corps of Signals have got a few things in common. Not only do we both turn 100 this year, but we are also both lucky enough to have the support of HRH The Princess Royal – She is their Colonel-in-Chief and our beloved Patron. Most significantly, both of us represent a remarkable band of men and women who selflessly serve their country.

One such veteran is Keith Moxon, who joined The Royal Signals in 1954. Following his training at Caterick, Keith was posted to Germany where he spent almost 2 years at the East-West Border:

“We were staying in tents in -25 degrees. The Russians were watching our every move – as we were theirs – and so nobody wore any insignia or saluted. I can’t tell you any more though!”

The Royal Signals are still a huge part of Keith’s life through The Royal Signals Association. Not only is he Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of the Sheffield Branch, Keith is one of four committee members for The Royal Signals Day.

Keith is also very involved with The Not Forgotten and has attended many of our events, including our Battlefield Tour to Normandy and the Garden Party.

“Being involved with the Royal Signals and The Not Forgotten makes such a big difference. I lost my wife 10 years ago, but I get so much enjoyment from being around fellow servicemen and women at events. The Not Forgotten brings so much happiness in to people’s lives, it’s marvellous.”

History of The Royal Signals

Prior to 1920, the corps was known as Royal Engineers Signal Service. 28 June 2020 marks 100 years since Winston Churchill – then Secretary of State for War – officially named the regiment The Corps of Signals. King George V conferred the title Royal Corps of Signals 6 weeks later.

Since its inception, the corps has been deployed to almost every campaign in which the British Army has been involved. During WWII, the regiment served in every theatre of war. In the years that followed they were instrumental in Palestine, the Malaya, the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and the Korean War. They also delivered communications during the Cold War, the Falklands War, the first Gulf War, Operation Telic and Operation Herrick.

We salute all those have served – and are still serving – with The Royal Corps of Signals!

You can learn a lot more about the corps on the Royal Signals Museum website.