260 Signal Squadron (SAM) although an independent unit in it's own right formed part of a much larger Regiment.

36 Heavy Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery.
The Regiment was supported by several sub units and illustrated here by their Cap Badges.

36 Heavy A.D. Regt R.A. formed part of 7th Artillery Brigade providing Air Defence Cover within the British Sector known as BAOR British Army of the Rhine. The Regiment formed part of the Air Defence Shield in Europe during the Cold War using English Electric medium range surface to air guided missiles .

The Air Defence shield stretched from Norway down through Denmark Germany and the Low Countries to Turkey. The shield consisted of static as well as mobile Air Defence Systems. In those early days the Thunderbird Mk II was the only mobile medium range air defence system in BAOR and could have been deployed anywhere in Europe.

The Brigade consisted of three Light Air Defence Regiments 12, 16 and 22. These units were equipped with the 40/70 Light Ack Ack Guns. 34 Regiment joined the Brigade sometime later. 7th Artillery Brigade, 36 Heavy Air Defence Regiment R.A. and 260 Signal Squadron (SAM) were all disbanded in 1977. The fate of the other sub units which supported the Regiment is not known to me.

Webmaster Notes:

It is not my intention to outline the entire history of 36 Heavy Air Defence Regiment R.A. on this web site or indeed duplicate the excellent work carried out by Keith Holderness on his website. These pages are simply here to illustrate the connections our Squadron had with 36 Heavy Air Defence Regiment R.A. and the sub units which formed part of that Regiment.

These pages form part of a work-in-progress to research and record the history of 260 Signal Squadron (SAM) and the genealogy of the units which carried out the Trails on the SR B70 and the R&D on the CST 1+4 Carrier Equipment at SRDE in the early 1960s. Illistrate the connection that 653, 654 and 655 Signals Troops (SAGW) , 217 Signal Troop and 36 Heavy AD Signal Troop RA had with the Squadron.

Visitors to this website should note that these history pages are by no means complete or indeed supported by hard documentary evidence. The facts contained on these pages are by and large the personal accounts of individuals who served in the Regiment, Squadron, Signal Troops and other sub-units. Documentary evidence is very scarce and I am most grateful to the individuals who have donated photographs and their memories to enable me to compile this potted history. You too can be part of this historical record.

If you served in any of these units and would like to contribute to this history then please contact the Webmaster Archie Cairns

If you would like to learn more about 36 Heavy A.D. Regiment or the other sub units such as the REME or RAOC which provided a supporting role for the Regiment I recommend you visit Keith Holderness' website by clicking on the link below.

OFF SITE LINK

Click HERE to visit Keith Holderness Website