CORPS MEMORANDUM NO 1
THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONS OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN CORPS OF SIGNALS
- HISTORY OF SIGNALLING -
sGeneral
Introduction
101. 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.
102. 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.
103. 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.
104. The prototype of dispatch riders was Pheidippides the Athenian, the swiftest runner in all Greece.
105. 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.
106. 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'.
107. 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.
108. Mercury, or rather Hermes, is a versatile and loveable god. He is lord of the wise - of the power that brings good luck to man. Above all, he is the messenger of the gods, as his dress proclaims; on his head is the petasus, or felt hat worn by travellers; in his hand is the caduceus or herald's staff. This staff was the symbol of a message and was wound about with white ribbons, signifying peace. The intertwined serpents are a later interpretation of the same idea. The staff conferred immunity, that is, the bearer of the message was sacred. He is completed by his golden sandals, which are winged, denoting swiftness.
109. 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.
110. 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. Why 'Jimmy', however, is not known.
111. 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.
112. 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.
THE BIRTH OF AUSTRALIAN ARMY SIGNALS
The Background History
113. Australia has the unique distinction of having had the first regularly formed signal unit in the whole of the British Commonwealth.
114. 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.
115. 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 signalling 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.
116. The Corps then consisted of 11 Companies, which were located as follows:
117. The Corps remained as a self-contained unit until the introduction of universal training in 191 1, when it was merged with the Australian Engineers.
118. In 1912, signal troops and companies formed a portion of the Corps of Australian Engineer and were known by such names as '15th Engr (Sig Tp) or '23rd Engr Sig Coy (Engrs)'. These designations were retained until 1916, when the term (AE) was substituted for (Engrs) in the title.
119. This continued until the divisional organisation was introduced in 192 1, when the terms 'Cav 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.
120. 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.
121. 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.
122. The full title of the Corps is: 'Royal Australian Corps of Signals'.
123. The short title is: 'Royal Australian Signals'.
124. The abbreviated title for all uses is: 'RA Sigs'.
125. On 10 Nov 48 His Majesty, King George VI conferred the title 'Royal' on the Australian Corps of Signals.
126. This day is recognised as 'Corps Day' and commemorative functions should be held as near as possible to 10 Nov each year.
127. The Corps Badge, approved in 1946, is described as:
'The figure of Mercury on a globe, the latter supported above by a scroll bearing the motto "Certa Cito", and a boomerang below bearing the inscription "Australia". The whole is surmounted by a crown, detached. Mercury faces his right.'
128. The badge, as described, is approved for wear on all types of military head-dress.
129. The badge, as described, is also produced with Mercury facing his left. Two badges, one left, one right, less crowns are approved for wear as collar badges on various forms of dress. Mercury faces inwards when so worn.
130. The Corps Motto is 'Certa Cito' and is translated as 'Swift and Sure', signifying the aim of the signal service - that communications be carried out with maximum speed and certainty.
131. The Corps has two sets of colours, one utilised in battle (tactical colours) and one for domestic purposes:
a. Tactical Colours. WHITE OVER ROYAL BLUE. These colours are used for unit identification signs on vehicles, and the marking of communication centres and tactical installations. The WHITE symbolises the white of the ribbons wound on the Caduceus of the god IHERMES (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.
b. Domestic Colours. For all other purposes the colours of the Corps are:
| light blue | - | 3/7 of depth |
| over | ||
| dark blue | - | 1/7 of depth |
|
over |
||
| dark green | - | 3/7 of depth |
These colours represent the three media of communications, through the air, over sea and overland.
132. The Corps Flag consists of the Corps Colours, in the ratios shown in paragraph 131, 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 by units as approved by the Ceremonial Manual.
133. The Corps tie consists of a series of the Corps colours superimposed on a dark blue Background. The band of Corps colours slopes from right shoulder to left hip.
134. An alternative tie consisting of multiple Corps Badge motifs in gold and silver upon a dark blue background may be worn.
135. A third design was produced recently. This design consisted of a royal blue tie with a 'Jimmy' embroided in gold and silver.
136. 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:
'Almighty God, whose messengers go forth in every age, giving light and
understanding, grant that we of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, who speed the word of man to man, may be swift and sure in sending the message of Thy Truth into all the world. May we serve Thee faithfully, and with the help of Thy Holy Spirit make such success of our soldierly duties on this Earth, that we may be found worthy to receive the Crown of Life hereafter, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.'
137. The following Grace has been adopted by the RA Sigs for use on Corps Dining In:
'Lord, You are the giver and sustainer of life. Help us to communicate this reality as we share these gifts together, in friendship and service, through Jesus Christ, our Lord Amen'.
138. 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.
139. Most British regimental marches have a story behind their selection for the particular regiment. A story concerning the selection of the RA Sigs march has been perpetuated and, although no foundation of fact can be found to substantiate it, it is at least appropriate. Signals are invariably associated with commanders of units or Army formations. The mere fact of their close association with senior officers and the problems of providing them with good communications when required, naturally makes the signalman a worried man. The signalman allegedly drops his cares and worries as he marches on parade to the tune of his regimental march.
140. 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.
141. RA Sigs is one of the few Corps in the Armed Services privileged to possess two toasts, which are honoured on all formal occasions. See Corps Memorandum No11 for details and procedures.
142. Corps Memoranda are the means by which Corps domestic policy and other matters of enduring interest to the Corps are promulgated. These memoranda are not intended in any way to take the place of any current Army instructions. They are intended as a guide to matters of Corps interest not dealt with under other Army instructions, or in amplification of the Corps aspects of these instructions.
143. Corps memoranda are approved by the Director of Signals - Army, in consultation with the Corps Committee.