Royal Signals S/T order of issue/wear

[POMPEY621]

Guys is the attached picture the correct date order of wear? Westlake confirms 1 and 2 its the cloth embroidered titles I'm unsure of.

Thanks
Steve

[Postwarden]

interesting question.

The slip-on title came first - there are variations - although some ignored it and adopted Guards-style embroidered titles with serfi lettering. In 1943 the slip-on was superseded by a printed version of "Royal Corps of Signals". That was quickly replaced by the printed version "Royal Signals". In around 1947 an official embroidered version of "Royal Signals" was produced and that was worn until battledress was replaced in the 1960s.

But there is always a But.. Nobody liked the printed titles and unofficial embroidered versions of both "Royal Corps of Signals" and "Royal Signals" were made and worn. And when the full title was shortened some achieved the shortened version by cutting" Corps of" out of the full title.

And there are variations of the slip-on title too.

Hope that helps and does not confuse.

Jon

[Rob Miller]

That's a very good question Steve.

Here are a few more slip on variants.

Rob

[POMPEY621]

Thanks Jon/Rob, would you have a rough idea of when the Corps went from Royal Signals then abbreviated to R.SIGS then RCOS?

Steve

[Mike H]

Thought id add this. When i served,80-87. I was never issued any titles. I dont even recall ever seeing anybody wearing them. Yet they are plentiful.

[Mike Jackson]

More grist to the mill. the bottom one is less usual - the "full size" OF. There are also some interesting sub-titles; CINQUE PORTS, ULSTER , GLOSSOP. And BEACH SIGNALS of course.
R Signals Titles.01.jpg

[Mike_2817]

Originally Posted by Mike H

Thought id add this. When i served,80-87. I was never issued any titles. I dont even recall ever seeing anybody wearing them. Yet they are plentiful.

The printed titles went out of use with the introduction of No2 Dress Mike

[54Bty]

Originally Posted by Mike H

Thought id add this. When i served,80-87. I was never issued any titles. I dont even recall ever seeing anybody wearing them. Yet they are plentiful.

The majority of anodised aluminium titles 'R.SIGNALS' had the lugs and later pins on the ends, which meant they did not fit on the shoulder straps, and therefore not used. Later issues had the pins closer together.

My son has just reminded me that in some units the titles were placed on a Olive Green slip on.

Marc

[POMPEY621]

Originally Posted by Mike H

Thought id add this. When i served,80-87. I was never issued any titles. I dont even recall ever seeing anybody wearing them. Yet they are plentiful.

I agree with this, on enlistment I was issued two cap badges (Beret/No2 dress cap) a pair of collar dogs, and a lanyard no titles of any kind and I don't recall through out the late 80s until CS95 any Corps/brigade/division insignia of any kind being worn - Even wearing of stable belts wasn't allowed in working dress (Nylon plastic belt, buckle sprayed British racing green). Yet AA Titles are everywhere.

[Rob Miller]

Originally Posted by POMPEY621

Thanks Jon/Rob, would you have a rough idea of when the Corps went from Royal Signals then abbreviated to R.SIGS then RCOS?

Steve

Hi Steve

The "R.SIGS" judging from its material and colour is a Far East version so it would date from the middle to later part of the war? but doesn't really effect the dating of the others.

I don't know what era the "RCOS" version is, but I'm hoping someone may recognise the rear detail and have a guess.

Rob

[David Tremain]

I'd agree with Rob about R.Sigs being late war and Far East for the following reason: When I was a kid I used to have an R.Sigs slip-on that belonged to my grandfather who served in it in 1945-46 in India. Sadly, I don't know what happened to it.

David

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by Rob Miller

Hi Steve

The "R.SIGS" judging from its material and colour is a Far East version so it would date from the middle to later part of the war? but doesn't really effect the dating of the others.

I don't know what era the "RCOS" version is, but I'm hoping someone may recognise the rear detail and have a guess.

Rob

My identical example of the "Far East version" is stamped on the reverse IAMD 1944. I don't know the expansion of IAMD - India Army M..... Depot? Mike