
In the Beginning... (1859-1902)
The 1st Lanarkshire Military Engineers were raised in Glasgow on 5 December 1859. The Regiment was formally registered with the War Office on 27 February 1860. In 1863 the Regiment adopted the uniform of the Royal Engineers. In 1864 the Regiment had its first association with Jardine Street. The location was to become the 'Corps Training Ground' beside the River Kelvin. In 1894 a Telegraph Company was added to the Regiment. In the same year the mock Tudor Drill Hall in Jardine Street was opened. In 1900 the Regiment was chosen to be the first operational use of the TA and a Company of 2 Officers and 99 Other Ranks were sent to the Boer War. The Regiment undertook its first Annual Camp at Dunoon in 1902.
World War I
Under the reorganisation of the reserves in 1908 (Haldane Reforms) the Regiment became the Glasgow Group RE Telegraph. Wireless and Cable & Airline Company were added and the Regiment was established for a Field Company to support 1/1st Highland Division. After the outbreak of World War I in 1914 the Glasgow Group RE was disbanded and the Regiment was sent as part of IV Corps and the BEF to France. The Regiment saw action at the 1st Battle of Ypres and had the distinction of being the first reserve regiment to take part in active service in the campaign.
World War II
On reforming the TA in 1920, 52nd Lowland Division Signal Company reformed at Jardine Street. On 28 June that year the R SIGNALS was formed and the Regiment changed uniform and capbadge. During World War II the Regiment again saw active service in support of both 51st Highland and 52nd Lowland Divisions in Europe. On reforming the TA in 1947 the Regiment returned once again to Jardine Street as the 51st/52nd (Scottish) Infantry Division Signal Regiment. A small part of the Regiment became the 82nd Army Emergency Reserve (AER). The Regiment was retitled 52nd Lowland Infantry Division Signal Regiment in 1948.
The Modern Day (1965-Present)
Under the reorganisation of the TA in 1967 the Regiment was retitled 32nd (Scottish) Signal Regiment (Volunteers). At this time the Regiment consisted of RHQ, 51, 52, 61, 69 (NIH), HQ and 82 (AER) Signal Squadrons. The Regiment was given responsibility for Home Defence Communications in Northern Ireland and the addition of 69 (NIH) Signal Squadron was a welcome arrangement. 82 AER was disbanded in the early 70s. The Regiment adopted the Grant Tartan on retiring (pictured).
Under Options for Change and the TA Review the Regiment transferred 69 (NIH) Signal Squadron to 40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment on 1 April 1995.
The Regiment has 2 distinct operational roles:
- UK Operations - We provide information, communication systems along with information management and agreed command support to SJC(UK) in order to enable him to exercise command authority over his assigned forces and provision of military assistance to civil authorities (MACA).
- Expeditionary Operations - The Regiment constantly provides individual and groups of augmentees to Regular units on operational tours worldwide, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Cyprus.
The Regiment has been involved in a number of ICP operations recently, including the firefighters' strike in 2002-2003 and the G8 Summit in Gleneagles in 2005.
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| 61 SQN PIPE BANNER |
Pipe Major J Frame and the CO Lt Col Bruce Beattie tying on pipe banner presented by the Hon Col Sir Harold Mitchell in 1963. |
| 61 Squadron's History » |
| TARTAN-TASTIC |
Female members of the Sergeants' Mess in full tartan dress, ready for a dinner night in the early 1980s. |
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Honorary Colonels
| 1967 |
Maj Gen A M W Whistler CB, CBE |
| 1972 |
Col I M Wotherspoon TD, ADC |
| 1977 |
Col K F Lloyd |
| 1983 |
Col D J Macintyre |
| 1988 |
Col Sir David McNee Q.P.M. |
| 1992 |
Col J A Sherriff |
| 1994 |
Col A S Petrie OStJ, TD, JP |
| 1999 |
Col A C Cunningham TD |
Commanding Officers
| 1967 |
Lt Col G L Davies |
| 1969 |
Lt Col D G Cattermull |
| 1972 |
Lt Col R Goodwin-Jones |
| 1974 |
Lt Col R P Hills |
| 1976 |
Lt Col A S Petrie TD |
| 1979 |
Lt Col Cross |
| 1981 |
Lt Col J J Cullen |
| 1984 |
Lt Col Culley |
| 1986 |
Lt Col D P Hughes |
| 1989 |
Lt Col M J Anderson |
| 1992 |
Lt Col W Brewin |
| 1994 |
Lt Col J O Robertson |
| 1996 |
Lt Col A Lapsley TD |
| 1999 |
Lt Col J McKee MBE |
| 2002 |
Lt Col E M Blyth TD |
| 2004 |
Lt Col R Sutherland TD |
| 2007 |
Lt Col H A Jenkins |
Regimental Sergeant Majors
| 1987 |
WO1 S A May |
| 1989 |
WO1 T A Mortlock |
| 1991 |
WO1 W Heelan BEM |
| 1992 |
WO1 Patrickson |
| 1994 |
WO1 G G A Keith |
| 1997 |
WO1 J S McLachlan |
| 1999 |
WO1 A B Hilborn |
| 2001 |
WO1 S J Russell |
| 2003 |
WO1 J Greenwood |
| 2004 |
WO1 A Ironside |
| 2006 |
WO1 D P Wilson |
| 2007 |
WO1 J Watt |
| 2008 |
WO1 B Thornton |
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