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We need your
help
Are YOU doing your bit to trace Old Comrades?
Don't just sit back and leave it to others.
Come help us find these guys.
Bill McCann |
Chris Mellor
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Taff
Shephard |
Do these faces look
familiar?
Despite the fact
that we have already managed to located over 200 former members of the
Squadron. The search continues to trace other missing members of the Squadron
and we need YOUR HELP in tracing these guys. 
You may be asking
yourself how can I help it's been thirty odd years since I saw them. Well it
may surprise you to learn that someone said that about YOU but here you are
reading this message and somehow we found you.
I now have a new
search tool which could help trace many more members of the Squadron but I need
your help to narrow the search. All I am asking you to do is to look through a
list of names and answer a few simple questions about those guys you knew and I
will try to locate them.
Please spend a
little time going through our list of names and try to remember where these
lads came from.
Were they
married?
What was their
wife's name?
What football team
did they support?
What were their
hobbies & interest's?
Did they play sport
for the Sqn?
Where were they
posted to when they left 260?
Did you serve with
them in another unit?
Who where their
friends?
Did you ever meet
them after leaving the army?
Believe it or not
this information could help me trace them even after all this time.
Then perhaps they
too can have an opportunity to participate in one of our reunions.
Click HERE
To view the list of
the guy's we are still searching for.
(18 May 2007)
Who knows they could
be some of your old pals and what's more important you could be meeting them at
the next reunion in April... |
White Helmets
Programme of Events 2007
CLICK HERE
Corps Band
Programme of Events 2007
CLICK HERE
Aldershot Army
Show
14 and 15 Jul 2007
CLICK HERE 
36 HAD Regt RA Reunion
21 - 23 Sep 2007
The Essex County Hotel
Southend on Sea
CLICK HERE
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The Legion believes our Servicemen and women deserve
more from their government. By committing themselves to put their lives on the
line for their country, they deserve immediate medical treatment and just
compensation if they are injured.
Back in January of this year, Tony Blair made a speech
in Plymouth dealing with military issues. He discussed the interdependent
nature of the world, and the role of the Armed Forces in that world. He stated
that "this is a new situation for our Armed Forces, there are new commitments
necessary to make it work and make it fair. The covenant between Armed Forces,
Government and people has to be renewed." What are your thoughts on the
relationship between the Armed Forces, the public and the Government?
Comment Posted By: Andrew Kay Posted: 10/07/2007 I cannot recall
the RBL ever taking such a strong stand as they have with this Broken Covenant
campaign. I think that this is a great cause for the RBL to champion and wish
it all success - hopefully improving the lot of serving soldiers, sailors,
airmen and their families. In this I do not just mean the regular
servicemen/women but their Reserve colleagues also. I hope that you will
include in your campaign the fact that politicians need to understand what is
being done, in their name, by our servicemen/women. Being in the services
should not stop at the camp gate - society needs to embrace our young soldiers,
sailors and airmen. Good Luck Andrew Kay
If you are interested to learn
more about this issue and sign the Royal British Legion's petition
CLICK
HERE |
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260 SIGNAL SQUADRON (SAM) ROYAL SIGNALS ASSOCIATION ON
PARADE
ROYAL SIGNALS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REUNION BLANDFORD CAMP - 30
JUN-1 JUL 2007
CLICK
HERE |
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Hi Guys If you haven't already
registered. Come have a look at our Squadron Bar |
The Squadron Bar forms part of a
New Forum and is currently under test.
CLICK
HERE
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Glasgow City Council invited the Royal Signals Motor Cycle
Display Team The White Helmets to participate in this years Glasgow Show at
Glasgow Green on the 28 - 29 July.
L-R Bill
McNamarra, Archie Cairns, Nathan, Ivana Muir, Joe Keegan, William May, Visitor.
I spent a most enjoyable weekend in the company of the
Glasgow Branch during which they had about eight ex-members of the Corps who
visited the recruitment tent and indicated an interest in joining their branch
unfortunately no ex-members of 260 Signal Squadron put in an appearance.
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The 260 Signal Squadron (SAM) Reunion for 2008 will be
held at The King Robert Hotel Bannockburn Scotland on the weekend Friday 18 Apr
to Sunday 20 Apr 2008.
The cost will be £30 per person per night
this includes dinner bed and breakfast and the hotel is supplying the
entertainment for Saturday evening. Those wishing to stay on, rooms will be
charged at the same rates.
The King Robert is a family owned hotel
situated 2 miles from the centre of Stirling, overlooking the historic site of
the Battle of Bannockburn and next door to the Bannockburn Heritage Centre. It
is located in the heart of Scotland in an area often refered to as the 'Gateway
to the Highlands' and is approximately 40 minutes drive from Edinburgh and
Glasgow. |
Chris Conroy is the Event Coordinator and has worked
extremely hard to secure this venue. I've heard he has a few surprises in store
for us at next years reunion.
If we have sufficient members travelling by air into
Glasgow or Edinburgh coaches can be arranged to meet members at the airports.
Please let Chris know if you intend to travel by air
and would like to avail yourself of this service, you can reach Chris at
conroychris@hotmail.com
For those travelling by car the hotel is easily
accessible by motorway, just 2 minutes from junction 9 off the M9/M80
A guided tour of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs is being
arranged for Sunday. The plan is to leave the hotel at 1000 hrs sharp stopping
for lunch and returning at 1600 hrs. Prices and details still to be
confirmed. |
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If you have never been to Scotland before why not
extend your stay at the hotel and use it as a base to explore Scotland.
Edinburgh and Glasgow are within 40 minutes drive. Or why not travel north
through Glencoe to Fort William across to Inverness via Loch Ness and see if
you can find 'Our Monster' then south to Aviemore and on into Perthshire you
can easily do this in one day, but why rush make it last a week or even a
fortnight and really soak up a bit of Scotland.
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Chris Conroy
has been at it again and this time he has been following in the foot steps of
the famous Scottish Outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor
Join Chris on his journey through the Trossochs and
across Scotland to Pitlochry without leaving the comfort of your computer
screen.
You might want to grab a
few cans before you click on the link as it may take you a while to take it all
in.
CLICK
HERE |
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Dear Member, Are
you aware you may be entitled to a LUMP SUM and a Preserved Army Pension and
need to make a claim to receive it?
If you left the Army after 1975 and
you did not serve 22 years with the Colours your are most likely entitled to a
Lump Sum of about £1000 or more and a preserved pension provided you
served at least three consecutive years two years of which had to be man
service. |
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I am not sure of
the exact qualifying period but I do know that I received a letter at the time
of my transfer to the reserve informing me that I was entitied to a Terminal
Grant and a Preserved Pension, to commence at the age of sixty, or at an
earlier age, should I become permanently incapable of engaging in regular
full-time employment because of mental or physical infirmity.
The
letter also informed me that on reaching sixty five the army pension would be
reduced. I wrote to the following address eight years ago quoting my name rank
& number and they informed me that the sum I would receive was
significantly higher than the sum I was told I would receive when I left the
Army.
You need to know that the Pensions Office will not seek to
contact you. YOU HAVE TO CONTACT
THEM.
I am not sure if this address is still current but I am
sure someone will advise us if it is not. Army Pensions Office Kentergern House
65 Brown Sreet Glasgow G2 8EX.
I am sure many of you are like me
rapidly approaching that golden number appearing on your next birthday card and
I hope this piece of news comes as a welcome birthday surprise for at least
some of you. |
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Hi Everyone
In your rush to jump onto this page you will know doubt have missed the
fact that I have added several new pages to the website...
So (I hear
you ask) where are they ?
Right at the front door as you came in...
There are two access points the first is that button you pressed a long
time ago where I kept on asking you for photographs of Napier Barracks.
Now surely you remember that page you must have clicked on it hundreds of
times. No?
That explains why I never got any photographs from YOU!
Heres a clue it was a Gunner Regiment..
The second button on
the front page that has been updated is the History Button...
May I
suggest a case of beer and a few packets of crisps and a large plate of
sandwiches would be handy to have by your side before you click on this
button
... It's not just a few webpages but a whole new website.
I look forward to your feedback.. |
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Quotation Charles
Darwin British Naturalist 1809 -1882
"I have called this principle, by
which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term Natural
Selection."
Charles Darwin from "The Origin of Species"
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I am please to
tell you that the 2007 Reunion Pages are now available on-line
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Bill Cunningham
has told me that an article is soon to be published in the Royal Signals
Journal about the role of the Royal Signals in Northern Ireland, an article
which Bill himself has submitted is likely to form part of the report. The
Royal Signals Journal is normally produced in a limited edition however it
occurred to me that some of our members might like to have a copy of this
particular issue since it marks a significant period in our life. |
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if it might be possible to have some extra copies printed for those of you who
might be interested. The Journal should be out early October. The cost is about
£2 per issue. I have made arrangements with Tom at the Royal Signals
Institution to have Journal posted directly to you. All you need do is
CLICK HERE and send him a short
email requesting the Journal and include your name & address. Dont forget
to forward the cheque to the RSI. |
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Paddy Wotherspoon
invites you to take a trip back in time down the road to
Shoeburyness. CLICK
HERE |
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Bob Taylor has
his day at Stamford where he received the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal presented
to him by the Consulate Representative a Major in the Malaysian Armed
Forces. Did you served in Malaya between 31 August 1957 and 31 December
1966 or in Singapore between 31 August 1957 and 9 August 1965? Then you might
be eligible to receive the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal too. CLICK
HERE to find out more. |
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Those of you who
served with the Squadron in Shoeburyness will surely remember Ian 'Hamish'
Hamilton. Hamish served with 654 Troop and with the Squadron in Shoebury up
until just before the Squadron moved to Napier Barracks.
Hamish is
brand new to computers and on his first journey onto the world wide web he
found 260 Signal Squadron. Now that Hamish has got his feet wet I am sure we
will be hearing a lot more from him in the weeks to come. I hope you will all
join me and welcome him back to the Squadron. |
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Hamish has sent
me a number of interesting photographs and for those of you lucky enough to
have served with the Squadron in Shoeburyness I am sure you will find these
most interesting.
CLICK
HERE for a journey back in time. |
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Squadron Compound Shoeburyness
Hamish also sent
in a brilliant photo of the Squadron Compund at Shoeburyness and I have used it
to create another Photo Quiz. Click on the link below and help us identify the
buildings and other features on the landscape. CLICK
HERE for a journey back in time.
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R.U. JUST VISITING
???
Over the course of a year this website receives
hundreds of visitors many of whom are ex-members of the Squadron who for
whatever reason may not wish to join the Association.
Whilst it would
be great to have you all join the Association I respect your desire not to join
if that is your wish and you are welcome to visit this website as often as you
like.
All I ask in return is that you drop me an email to say that you
have found the website and that will free up my time to search for others who
served with the Squadron.
CONTACT
ME |
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 Syd Wilson 644 Sig Tp UN 1968
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In the last week
or so we have made contact with several ex-members of the Squadron. Just like
buses you wait ages for one to come along then a dozen turn up all at
once.
Signalman Syd
Wilson an Ed was stationed at Hubblerath Düsseldorf serving with 217
Signal Squadron. In 1966 Syd with a bunch of other lads from 217 Sig Sqn moved
to Duisburg to join a small detachment from 217 Sqn already embedded with 36
Heavy Guided Weapons Regiment RA providing communications for Thunderbird MkI
Missile. Yes the 'Mark One' it is not a typo.
In response to the East
German Government's decision to construct the Berlin Wall in 1961 the British
Government ordered extra troop's be sent to BAOR. The Regiment was deployed to
Sundern in Gütersloh and not long after that moved to
Düisburg. |
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The elements from
217 Signal Squadron joined 654 Signal Troop (SAGW) which had been formed at
Pembroke Dock in 1965 and moved to Duisburg to take over responsibility of the
communications for the Regiment using the SR B70 Radio Relay System at about
the same time the Regiment was re-equipped with the Thunderbird MkII and a
short while later moved to Napier Barracks, Dortmund.
In 1967 Syd left
654 Signal Troop on posting to 22 Sigs, where he stayed for 7 months before
being posted to 30 Sigs.
Syd remembers Troop OC Capt Greatrix, Mick
'Blue' McKigney, Alec Johnstone, Alex Forbes, Jock Mahoney, Paddy Macardle,
Titch Dryhurst, Jock Padderson, Cuts Cunningham.
In his email to me Syd
writes: " Except for the OC we all came across to 654 Troop from 217 Sig Sqn in
1966." |
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Syd has recently
been appointed Chairman of 60's 16ers Association, an association for ex
members who served with 16 Signal Regiment including HQ BAOR Signal Troop
during the 1960s.
Never the less with a little bit of coaching we have
managed to persuade him to come back and join us, and we look forward to
meeting up with him later this year at Blandford during the Corps Reunion
weekend. |
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Syd has sent me
some photographs of his time in 217 Signal Squadron which includes several
photos of some of the lads that joined 654 Signal Troop and ultimately 260
Signal Squadron (SAM).
CLICK
HERE to check them out. |
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Geoff & Beryl Scott relax on Sid Soqo's Memorial
Bench outside the Sergeant's Mess at Blandford Camp.
Come and join them on a virtual reunion at Blandford
Camp with other members of 260 Signal Squadron.
A VIRTUAL REUNION
Click
Here |
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What does Frank Woodall, Steve Allsop, the Royal School
of Signals and a Model of a B70 all have in common?
To find out more just click on the link
below.
A VIRTUAL REUNION
Click
Here |
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The 27 June has
been Officially recognised as Veterans Day. The UK celebrated the inaugural
Veterans Day on 27 June 2006, with more than 200 events taking place in local
communities around the UK. Veterans Day is an opportunity to annually celebrate
and raise awareness of all those who have served in our armed forces. The
Veteran's Agency has set up a Regional Calender of
Events on their website. If you click on the logo it will take you
straight to their website. |
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Did you serve in the Forces before 31 December 1984
then you are eligible to apply for the Veteran's Badge.
The Veteran's
Agency's aim is to eventually include all those who Served in HM Armed Forces,
however the demand for the badge continues to be high.
There will be
further extensions to the scheme on a chronological basis when the current
demand has been fulfilled. |
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Once it is known when the eligibility is to be
extended for those whose Service began after 31 December 1969, details will be
posted on the Veteran's Agency website. Unfortunately, they cannot accept
requests for badges at this time from people whose Service began after 31
December 1969.
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?
If so then click on the Logo above and follow the links to claim
your badge. |
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LOST TOUCH
- EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGED ?
Every
year we loose contact with at least a dozen members of the Squadron because
they change their email address without informing us.
As a result many members may be wondering why they
haven't heard from us in a long, long while.
Could it be that you have changed your email address
and not informed us?
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I recently sent out email's to the following and either
the email's bounced back from their servers with an attached message not known
at this address or I simply received no reply.
I would be most grateful if the following would sent me
their current email address.
John
Larley, John Argent, Vince Wilby, Gary (Slug) Watson, George (Geordie) Stott,
Gerry Richardson, Tony Patrick, Pete Tarrant, Andy Dipple, Alan (Budgie)
Robinson, Duncan Innes, Bill Goss, Dave Edwards, Jim Waddingham, Andy Campbell,
Dave Hitchins, Tony Douthwaite, Paddy Bergin, Mick Rose, Joe Cawley, Tony
Dunckley, Chris Smith, Tom Burdett, Andy Munro, Garry Annets, Steve Woodford,
John Lord, Mel Watson, Mike Coles, Tony (Paddy) Hodge, Dave Martin, Robert
(Bob) Guerin.
If you are in email
contact with anyone listed above please send me their email address or ask them
to contact me.
Regards
Archie
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This page contains a
number of News items which were recently published on the website in 2007 and
may be of interest to newcomers to the website. Click
Here |
This page contains Archive News about Victory Day
Falkirk 2005 published on the website in 2006 and may be of interest to
newcomers to the website. Click Here
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This page contains a number of Archive News items which
were published on the website in 2006 and may be of interest to newcomers to
the website. Click Here
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This page contains a number of Archive News items which
were published on the website in or before 2005 and may be of interest to
newcomers to the website. Click Here
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The Wire is the Royal Signals
Magazine.
The magazine is issued in February, April, June, August,
October, and December at £ 2.00 per copy. The annual subscription is
£ 12.00 for the six issues plus postage.
Download The Wire
Now you can download
the lastest editions of The Wire in pdf format free of charge.
CLICK HERE
to view current available editions.
You will need a pdf reader to view the magazine you can
download Adobe Reader free of charge.
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Do you
need help or advice? Not sure who to contact? Veterans Agency is the single point of contact within
the Ministry of Defence for providing information, help and advice on issues of
concern to veterans and their families. It does this through its free Helpline,
welfare service and it's website. The Agency provides advice on a wide range of subjects
including benefits and welfare issues, pensions and compensation, Service
records and medals etc. The Veterans Helpline is open from 8:15am to 5:15pm
Monday to Thursday and from 8:15am to 4:30pm on Friday. To find out more Click
Here |
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