Gurkha Signals rare slip on.

[gurkharifles]

I've never seen one of these before and it can be dated to a very specific and short period. 23rd Sept 1954 > the unit that was to become the Queens Gurkha Signals and which had been formed in Oct 1948 and had had several titles became the GURKHA ROYAL SIGNALS by Sept 1955 the title had changed again to GURKHA SIGNALS . So this slip on was probably in use for only about 12 months. - a rare thing indeed.

[mike_vee]

Some sites appear to have interpreted the "formation" date differently.

Wiki

Titles of the regiment and its predecessor are as follows:

Gurkha Signals (1948–1949)
Gurkha Royal Signals (1949–1954)
Gurkha Signals (1954–1977)
Queen's Gurkha Signals (1977–present)

Regiments.org

1948.11 Gurkha Signals and Training Wing
formed in Malaya in the British Army

Royal Signals Gurkha
1949.05.01 Gurkha Royal Signals
1954.09.24 Gurkha Signals
1977.02.02 Queen's Gurkha Signals

Royal Signals Association

This first intake of 102 soldiers’ training was completed at the new Gurkha Signals Training and Support Wing on the 1 Aug 50. These Gurkha tradesmen were passed across to Major Lionel Gregory and Second Lieutenant Hamish Patterson who were forming the first Brigade Signal Squadron, with its detachments named after towns and districts in Nepal. Thus Gurkha Royal Signals was born. On 18 Dec 50 the first Gurkha Royal Signals squadron was declared fully trained

MOD Royal Corps of Signals

On the 16th August 1949 the now 102 trainees (8 were rejected at the end of the education course) began their trade training as Gurkha Royal Signals at the Gurkha Signals Training and Holding Wing.

The training for this first batch lasted until 1st August 1950 and they were then posted to the newly formed 48th Gurkha Brigade Signal Squadron commanded by Major L H Gregory MBE, which was launched on the 18th December 1950 at an inspection by Major General R C 0 Hedly CB CBE DSO.

All the men were titled Gurkha Royal Signals and wore the badge of the Royal Corps of Signals, 'Jimmy'. Certain dress differences were soon established to set both British and Gurkha ranks of the Gurkha Royal Signals apart from their counterparts.

The first two are using the date "initial" training started but this was not Signals training :

On the 1st May 1949 the 110 trainees began instruction in reading, writing, English, mathematics and map reading to bring themselves up to a suitable educational standard to be Royal Signals tradesmen.

Others are using the date that Signals training ended but perhaps the most accurate is when the 48th Gurkha Brigade Signal Squadron was launched in December 1950.

No matter , the slip on a wonderful item that was clearly in use for a very short period of time.

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[gurkharifles]

Hi Mike - I took my information from the Gurkha Museum's book "The Lineages and Composition of Gurkha Regiments in British Service" by Field Marshall John Chapple. He gives the raising date as:

Oct 1948 "small cadre attached to Malaya District Signal Regiment under establishment X Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron to begin raising Gurkha Signals Training Wing
Nov 1948 First cadre of Gurkha instructors posted in Two establishments written: Gurkha Signals Training Wing
Independent Brigade Signal Squadron
ROYAL SIGNALS GURKHA

There are various designations for the units ( see attached photo ) before on 23 Sept 1954 becoming GURKHA ROYAL SIGNALS before becoming GURKHA SIGNALS on 28 Sept 1955. It wasn't until 1977 that they became the QUEEN'S GURKHA SIGNALS .
It may well have been presumptuous to have "Royal" in their title so early on and I suspect that it was "borrowed" from the Royal Signals - and whilst still a fairly small cadre it probably went under the radar - once they became a more substantive body in their own rights and were incorporated into the Brigade of Gurkhas the "unearned" Royal was dropped altogether.

[mike_vee]

Thanks !

I was sure you would have a reference but just wanted to point out how the different "sources" could cause confusion.

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