Affiliation with 8th U. S. Signal Battalion
Reported in
the WIRE Magazine February/March 1975.
Affiliation Scrolls
An exchange
of Scrolls on the 21st December 1974 formalised an affiliation with 260 Signal
Squadron (SAM) and 8th (US) Signal Battalion. The affiliation follows various
exchange visits between soldiers of both units since the Squadrons summer camp
in May in which 8th Signal Battalion took part.
The Scrolls
were exchanged at a dinner night in the Officer's Club, 8th (US) Infantry
Division at Bad Kreuznach on the 21st December 1974, at which the Officer's of
the Squadron were guests of 8th Signal Battalion.
After the
dinner Lieutenant Colonel Donald J. Callahan, CO 8th Signal Battalion presented
Major Alan Stutchbury , the Squadron Commander with an affiliation scroll
signed by the Commander in Chief U.S. Army Europe, General Michael S. Davidson
and Major Stutchbury presented 8th Signal Battalion with a parchment scroll
signed by General Sir Harry Tuzo, G.C.B., O.B.E., M.C., Commander in Chief
BAOR. The scrolls are depicted on the attached
photograph.
Unfortunately
this is the last occasion that Lieutenant Colonel Callahan will meet members of
the Squadron in his capacity as CO 8th Signal Battalion as he has handed over
to Lieutenant Colonel Xenos on posting.
The Squadron
wishes Lieutenant Colonel Callahan the very best of luck in his new posting and
look forward to continuing the affiliation and to meeting Lieutenant Colonel
Xenos and his Battalion again in 1975.
U. S. Army Exercise
'SWINGER'
Reported in
the WIRE April - May 1975
US Army - Exercise Swinger
The 8th (US)
Signal Battalion invited the Squadron to participate in their 'Exercise
Swinger' by providing HF Comms using our D11's working a link from Main HQ to
Alternate (our Step Up). On arrival in location the detachment were pleased to
find that the American WAAC's (their abbreviation) were also on exercise, a
practice and delight the 'Brits' and the hope that our WRAC might follow
suit.
The
communications set up was found to be similar to that of the British Army and
the D11's slotted into the American system with no trouble, the only real
difference was that on HF, printers were preferred to
voice.
Corporal
Bruce Cooke found that the live enemy were no different in the American Army to
our own - especially as he was very comfortably situated in the latrines. Being
in an impossible position to run or hide from the thunderflashes and blanks he
had to sit it out and hope it would all go away. The whole Party of Corporal's
Colin Ingledrew, Terry Cartner, and Bruce Cooke, Lance Corporal's Jim Wooley,
Paddy Bergin and Mick North, Signalmen Tony Kelly and Garry Cossey look forward
to a further invitation from our American Cousins and in particular to Steak
and Chips and free digestives at the end of
exercises.
March of Friendship, Ardennes 1975
Reported in
the WIRE October November 1975
March of Friendship
To
Commemorate the Battle of the Bulge, 10 representatives of 260 Signal Squadron
(SAM), led by WO2 Bill Goss, and 13 members of 8th Signal Battalion US Army,
led by Captain 'Randy' Skinner ably assisted by an excellent administration
party under the eagle eye of Staff-Sargent Dave Wilcox, went down to Bastoigne
in the Ardennes on the 25th June 1975 to take part in the March of
Friendship.
This is an
annual event lasting four days and the participants march, hobble over four
different routes of country 35 Km each. At the end of the second days march
there was a short service at the American Memorial ('Present Hup' means salute
to the front!), followed by a march in to Bastoigne, stopping to place wreaths
on the Belgian military and civilian memorials on the
way..
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260 Signal Squadron Ardennes March 1975
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Sig Fox and Brown, LCpl Edwards Sgt Escott, Sig Hodge, Cpl Brown
WO2 Goss
Sig Leitch, Evans and Atter |
At the end of
the four days march, from Samree to Vielralm, all successful participants
(9,500 of the 10,000 starters) were presented with their medals before
proceeding on to the final march past. this took place through the streets of
Vielsalm, which by the time we arrived, were lined with cheering locals. After
numerous choruses of 'Allouette etc'. (keep it clean being the order of the
day) we passed the saluting dais containing all the local dignitaries and the
reviewing officer. By this time , much to the delight of Bill Goss and the
embarrassment of 'Randy' Skinner, they had both been presented with flowers and
a telephone number by four of the local beauties.
After the
march past, it was a mad scramble to board the transport back to Bastoigne,
where we were encamped, to pack up our kit for the return journey to Dortmund
and Bad Kreuznach, respectively, tired but justifiability proud of our four
days of concentrated effort that went into the
adventure.
8th (US) Signal Battalion Organisation Day
Reported in
the WIRE October November 1975
Organisation Day
On 1st
August 1975, 45 members of the Squadron and their wives were guests of the
Commanding Officer and Soldiers of 8th Signal Battalion, Bad Kreuznach, at
their Organisation Day (the American equivalent of our open
day).
The Americans
laid on unlimited supplies of beer and steaks, ,and in return we won the
traditional 'Boat Race' and football played to English
rules.
The glorious
1st of August is a day that many members of the Squadron will remember for the
generous hospitality of our affiliated unit.
Project Partnership- A return fixture with 8
Signal Battalion
Reported in
the WIRE November December 1975
8th Signal Battalion visits Napier Barracks
Dortmund
Old
acquaintances were renewed as teams of 8th Signal Battalion moved into Napier
Barracks, Dortmund on 1 September for a week of sports competitions to further
the affiliation between the two Signal Units which began two years
ago.
A welcome by
the CO 36 Heavy Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery, Lt Col G. C. Monk RA in
the 36 Regt Workshop Club opened the proceedings. This gave the opposing teams
an opportunity to size each other up over a glass of
beer.
The first
outdoor event was golf. The two teams played off in the Napier Golf Club
Course, having had a warm up on the proceeding day. The home team came out on
top with a 6-0 win, however the American team was nobley led by Captain Jerry
Swint. The golfers then spent the day recuperating and on Thursday played 36
holes at the Dortmund German Golf Club. Again the British team , Captained by
2Lt P. Kelly RA retained their honour.
In the three
day shooting match both teams fired both British and American Weapons. The
overall competition was won narrowly by 36 Regiment, scoring 3,717 points
against the 3,348 points scored by 8th Signal Bn. The best individual shot of
the competition was Sgt Pete Thomas the Sqn Chief Clerk with Cpl 'Big Al'
Robinson a close second.
The tennis
match was enlivened by the addition of two WACs in the Signal Bn team. The
Americans claimed they thought they were going to play pataball (similar to
Squash but the roof of the court is also used) 36 Regiment managed to win this
event, and the following day played the Signal Bn at Squash - a game most of
the American team had not played before.
The Napier
Bowmen led by Cpl Geoff 'Robin' Hughes came to the fore in the Archery
competition . The American teams experience was limited to hunting , rather
than target archery, so as a compromise, a Clout Shoot was organised. For the
unversed, this is the archery of Crecy and Agincourt. The Bowmen loft the
arrows at pennant 180 yards away, the target being an 8-yard circle from the
base of the pennant. The ladies led by Val Marion Hughes, shot at a similar
pennant at 120 yards. Experience over longer distances paid dividends and the
Napier Bowmen were the winners. Just as the teams had started their last set of
arrows. Lt Col M. Xenos, CO 8 Signal Bn, Command Sgt Maj Bright of 8 Signal Bn
and Maj Alan Stutchbury, OC 260 Signal Squadron stepped forward to try their
luck. Suffice to say that honour was satisfied in that none of them scored, but
had creditable misses. The grand finale of the week was a party held in the
Squadron Club, During the evening, Lt Col Xenos presented Major Stutchbury with
a fine marching banner to commemorate the combined international marches
already undertaken by the two Signal Unit marching teams. The banner was used
the following weekend, when the two teams marched together at Köln,
completing 30 Kms in 3hrs 20 mins.
Summer Camp - Bad Kreuznach
Reported in
the WIRE November December 1975
From
September 15 to October 3 1975 the Squadron were located in Bad Kreuznach for
the Annual Camp. It is hoped to have a pictorial account of the Sqns's
activities ready for the next addition of The WIRE.
This report was never published in the Wire. Does anyone know
what happened to the photographs ???
Reported in
the WIRE October 1976
Joint Anglo-American Team Nijmegen
Marches
We managed
for the first time, to send a team to Nijmegen to take part in the annual
international four day marches. We formed a combined team with our affiliated
unit, 8th Signal Battalion, and most of us managed to force our weary aching
bodies around the daily 40Km course ablely led by our Squadron Commander Major
Rollo Rumford (his third and, quote 'definitely the last time') and 2Lt Mike
Farrell of the American Army.
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8th US Signal Battalion - 260 Signal Squadron
Nijmegen Marching Team |
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Cpl Dougie Brown and
Specialist 4 Geen are holding the quidons |
American Hospitality
Reported in
the WIRE September 1977
August 9 1977
saw the final meeting with 8th Signal Battalion at Bad Kreuznach This liaison
with the Americans has been going on for three years and has ment frequent
visits by some members of the Squadron to enjoy American hospitality. The the
recent Op Banner tour and a host of American exercises have prevented much
liaison this year. The recent visit proved once again how hospitable our allies
can be.
Although I
never had the pleasure of meeting Lieutenant Colonel Xenos the Commanding
Officer of 8th Signal Battalion it never the less saddens me to have to break
the news of his death to the Squadron. In my efforts to re-establish our
affiliation with 8th Signal Battalion I followed a link back to his Military
Academy where I learned the news of his death. Mike retired from the Army in
1980 and died on 28 November 2000. I am sure that those of you who knew
Lieutenant Colonel Xenos would like to share your thoughts with his Comrades,
Classmates and his Family and have provided some links below which will take
you to pages of tribute to him.
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