From the earliest times, communication has been necessary in war and many of the present forms of signalling have some counterpart in the past. Twenty-two centuries ago the Carthaginians used torches arranged in groups of five, an early form of signalling code.

During the battles between the Greeks and Persians, a polished shield answered the purpose of a crude heliograph, and signals by flags or even smoke date from a remote period. Carrier pigeons were used to convey messages in the time of Solomon and by the Greeks at the ancient Olympic Games.

Up to the middle of the nineteenth century, the principal method of communication was undoubtedly the dispatch rider since even great battles like Waterloo were fought on fronts of three kilometres or less. Consequently the dashing and gallant ADC is an important and picturesque figure of those days. The Duke of Wellington gained great advantage from his mounted orderly officers, whose experience on the hunting field made them very quick across country.

The prototype of dispatch riders was Pheidippides the Athenian, the swiftest runner in all Greece.

Greece was engaged, in the sixth century BC, in a decisive struggle with the great oriental power of Persia. The victory of the latter would have been an overwhelming calamity to Western civilisation, but the small army of Greeks defeated the hordes of Persia at Marathon. It was desirable that the glad news be sent post-haste to Athens, 26 miles from the battlefield. Pheidippides was chosen and he made the journey with unheard of speed (and in full armour). So great had been his exertion that on delivering the message Rejoice, we have conquered', he fell dead.

Pheidippides was the greatest dispatch rider - the modern marathon race has its title from his journey - yet the type and pattern of the true signalman is undoubtedly 'Mercury' or 'Hermes'

Mercury was originally the Roman god of commerce and good fortune. When the Romans conquered Greece they adopted the god Hermes, and they, realising he had much in common with their own god of fortune, they brought him into their pantheon under the name of Mercurius.

Mercury possesses certain characteristics, such as a love of stealing, which are not commendable. Similarly he had duties, like the bringing of dreams and the conducting of the dead to Hades, which happily, signalmen are not expected to perform; but nevertheless in his swiftness, his sureness, his prudence and readiness in all situations, and, above all, his good humour when in difficulties, Mercury is no bad model.

Mercury came into the Corps because his statuette was carried on the staff of the drum major of the telegraph battalion of the Royal Engineers. He is often referred to as 'Jimmy' and his badge is worn with pride as the reward of athletic prowess.

There are a number of theories as to why 'Jimmy' was adopted as a term of endearment for the emblem. The most widely accepted in that it came from a very popular Royal Signals boxer, called Jimmy Emblem, who was the British Army Champion in 1924 and represented the Royal Signals from 1921 to 1924. Due to the close working relationship between the Royal Signals and the Royal Australia Corps of Signals, it seems logical the Australians would continue the tradition of nicknaming there corps emblem the same as their British brethren.

While Mercury well represents some of the signalman's characteristics, the ideal of the signalman is contained in the word 'THROUGH'. To realise this, it is necessary to consider the work signals perform on active service. Communications are vital to the conduct of modem warfare; without them the finest army is helpless, the finest battle plan unworkable. On the receipt or non - receipt of a single message may depend victory or defeat. The responsibility resting on the signalman in war may thus be enormous. The duty of members of the Corps is to get the message 'through' at whatever cost or difficulty, realising that the lives of their comrades and the success of the operations may depend on their determination.

Australia has the unique distinction of having had the first regular formed signal unit in the whole of the British Commonwealth.

In 1869 there existed in New South Wales and Victoria two small 'Torpedo and Signal Corps'. These continued until 1882, when they were disbanded. In 1885 a 'Signalling Corps' composed of one officer and 12 other ranks existed in South Australia and remained active until 1901.

Before the advent of self-contained signal units the complement of signallers was on a regimental basis, each unit having on its establishment a proportion of regimental signallers. Great attention was paid to the training of these personnel; prizes and badges were awarded to those qualifying at what was known as a signaling school. Instruction was imparted by a staff officer designated 'Inspector of Signalling'. After the inception of the Commonwealth Forces an 'Australian Corps of Signallers' was formed on 12th January 1906.

The Corps then consisted of 11 Companies, which were located as follows:

The Corps remained as a self-contained unit until the introduction of universal training in 1911, when it merged with the Australian Engineers.

In 1912, signal troops and companies formed a portion of the Corps of Australian Engineers and were known by such names as '15th Engr (Sig Tp) or '23rd Sig Coy (Engr)'. These designations were retained until 1916, when the term (AE) was substituted for (Engrs) in the title.

This continued until the divisional organisation was introduced in 1921, when the term 'Cac Div Sigs' and 'Div Sigs' were introduced for the first time. Coincident with this change in nomenclature, all signal units separated from the Australian Corps of Engineers and in 1925 the Australian Corps of Signals came into being.

Thus began the evolution of the 'Australian Corps of Signals', which reached a total strength of 24,000 all ranks in the Second World War, 1939-1945

RA Sigs regard 12th January 1906, the date on which raising instructions and the establishment for the 'Australian Corps of Signallers' were promulgated, as the birthday of the Corps

On 10 Nov 1948 His Majesty, King George VI conferred the title 'Royal' on the Australian Corps of Signals. This day is recognised as 'Corps Day' and commemorative functions are held as near as possible to 10 Nov each year.

The Corps Motto is 'Certa Cito" and is translated as 'Swift and Sure', signifying the aim of the signal service - that communication be carried out with maximum speed and certainty.

The Corps has two sets of colours, one utilised in battle (tactical colours) and one for domestic purposes.

White over Royal Blue. These colours are used for unit identification signs on vehicles, and the marking of communication centers and tactical installations. The white symbolises the white of the ribbons wound on the Caduceus of the god Hermes (the symbol of the messenger) and the blue represents the Royal Colours.

These colours combined make a striking contrast, suitable for easy identification for tactical purposes.

For all other purposes the colours of the Corps are:

These colours represent the three media of communications, through air, over sea and over land.

The Corps Flag consists of the Corps Colours, in the ratios shown above with the domestic colours, flown horizontally. In the centre is the Corps Badge in gold (deep chrome yellow). The overall height of the badge should be half the breadth of the flag. Mercury faces the hoist. The Corps Flag may be flown as approved by the Ceremonial Manual.

The Corps Tie consist of a series of the Corps colours superimposed on a dark blue background. The band of Corps colours slopes from the right shoulder to left hip.

An alternative tie consisting of multiple Corps Badge motifs in gold and silver upon a dark blue background may be worn. A third was produced recently, this design consists of a royal blue tie with a 'Jimmy' embroided in gold and silver.

The following Collect has been adopted by RA Sigs for use on unit church parades and other appropriate occasions where members of the Corps are gathered for religious purposes.

The following Grace has been adopted by the RA Sigs for use on Corps Dining In:

The Regimental Quick-March of the RA Sigs is a combination of the old English traditional air 'Begone Dull Care' and the Australian folk song 'Click go the Shears'. Thus the affiliation between Royal Signals, whose march is 'Begone Dull Care', and RA Sigs is perpetuated.

The Slow March is 'Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal'. This is a special march composed by the Royal Signals Director of Music in honour of the then Colonel-in-Chief the late Princess Mary.

At all Corps Dining nights it is customary for the following toasts to be proposed:

• The Loyal Toast
• Toast to our Colonel-in-Chief, and
• other toasts as appropriate

When the port has been passed the Dinning President calls the table to order by saying "Dining Vice-President". The Dining Vice-President will raise and say "Gentlemen" or "Ladies and Gentlemen". This indicates to the assembly that they should rise. Glasses should remain on the table.

When all have risen and everybody is silent, the Dining Vice-President then proposes the Loyal Toast "The Queen". If the band is in attendance the first four bars and the last four bars of the National Anthem are then played.

At its conclusion, or in response to the Dining Vice President if there is no band in attendance, all present will repeat "The Queen" raise their glasses from the table, drink to the toast and resume their seats.

Directly after all personal have resumed their seats after the Loyal Toast the Dining President will call "Dining Vice President". The Dining Vice-President will rise and say "Gentlemen" or "Ladies and Gentlemen".

When all have risen and everybody is silent, the Dining Vice-President then proposes the toast "Our Colonel-in-Chief, The Princess Royal", all present will repeat "Our Colonel-in-Chief, The Princess Royal" raise their glasses from the table, drink to the toast and resume their seats.

On special occasions other toasts may be offered. At annual Corps Dinners a toast may be proposed to "The Royal Australian Corps of Signals". This should be followed by a toast to "The Signal Corps of the Commonwealth and the United States of America".

These toasts follow the Loyal Toast and the toast to our Colonel-in-Chief. Traditionally at Corps Dinners the toast to the Corps is proposed by a guest RAE officer. This marks the close bond between the two Corps.