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8 (US) Signal Battalion


RE-ESTABLISHING
OUR  AFFILIATION


A search is now in progress to try to trace veterns of 8th Signal Battalion who were affiliated to 260 Signal Squadron way back in the mid to late 1970s.

Now that we have a well established Association and Website several members have approached me to ask if it would be possible trace American GI's across the Internet as we are having quite a marked response to finding our own members.

Many close friendships were abruptedly lost when 260 Signal Squadron was disbanded back in 1977.

One association member regretably recalls.

      "As everyone was being posted out to their new units, there were not many opportunities to say goodbyes and obtain forwarding addresses. How I wished we had kept in touch with our friends from Rose Barracks."

With the re-structuring of the US deployment in Germany it would appear that 8 Signal Bn shared a similar fate.

The idea for an Internet link with the US Veterns Association had already been considered by the Webmaster as early as April 2001 when he took on the role. But following the events of the 11 September it was decide to put the idea on hold for a while. However we now feel the time is right to try and re-establish a link with former Veterns of 8th Signal Battalion and the Webmaster is now actively trying to locate former GI's from the unit.
The Webmaster would like to hear from anyone who has kept in touch or knows the whereabouts of any GI's from 8th Signal Battalion.

Click Here to visit our
8th Signal Battalion Pages.

Contact - Wait Out
We were delighted to report early last year that we had made contact with two founder members of the Squadron. Trevor Lott pictured here with the B70 was a member of X-Ray Troop as it was known in the early days.

We also made contact with Jim Woodall from 654 Signal Troop (SAM) which became X-Ray Troop when the Squadron was formed on the 1st April 1968.

Since then we haven't heard much from Jim Woodall. So if you are reading this Jim. Please get in touch.

Trevor has been in touch to say that he is unable to make it to the Reunion in April this year but sends his best wishes to everyone.

Trevor who is due to retire from IBM this year plans to settle in Spain I am sure that everyone will join me in wishing Trevor a pleasent retirement.. We do hope you will keep in touch Trevor.



Trevor Lott tunes the B70

I would like to express my thanks to Richard Hankins of the Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society for sending us this photo.

Our History
When was the Squadron really formed?

The answer to that question is one we would all like to know.

More recently we have been in contact with two other former members of 260 Signal Squadron. Ken Thurley from Bournemouth and Dave Robertson from Perthshire both served with the Squadron at Blandford as early as 1962 in the very early days of Guided Weapons Communications.

This new piece of information has left us wondering just how far back in time our Squadron really was formed.

If you know the answer then please get in touch.
Mentioned - The Wire

Royal Signals Museum
Some of the display's in the Royal Signals Museum at Blandford are to be upgraded. The Museum has purchased new cabinets and are looking for donations of exibits, paraphernalia, images and information on the following subjects. The Corps Band; The White Helmets; Prisoners of War (particularly Colditz); Commonwealth Corps of Signals - Australia/ Canada/ New Zealand/ South Africa; The Cary Theatre and Troop Entertainment.

Spare a thought when you are spring cleaning the cellar, garage and attic this year.

Anything you may have on these subjects could make a big difference! If you can help please contact:

Cliff Walters
Royal Signals Museum,
Blandford Camp,
Dorset, DT11 8RH

Top of the Page

CLICK HERE
The Squadron bids Farewell to SSM Norman (Sticky) Ladds


Norman clambers aboard the Stadt Bin
not knowing what fate awaits him.

Sgt John (Dinger) Bell & Lt David Case. Do you recognise anyone else in this picture?



Norman Roars through the Camp exceeding the Speed Limit of 20Kph


Drinking & Driving. Faster, Faster and mind you don't spill my Bier

Faces here Troggy Tranter, Andy Campbell and I think Vince Wilby?

Are you in this photo please tell us.

Guard of Honour

Present Arms

260 Signal Squadron (SAM) Quarter Guard at the Open Order awaiting your Final Inspection Sir!


Note the Sign - Don't be fooled We're Royal Signals

Final Inspection

...And as for these Flop Flops Parry-Jones there isn't a trace of BOOT POLISH on them. Sgt take this man's name and have him put on Jankers for a week.

Now see how far you can stick this one.

Presentation

SSM 'Charlie' Hay hands over a new pace stick to Norman


Lost for Words - Try 'Old Grady' Says

Speech

An emotional moment for 'Sticky' as he delivers his final words of advice.

If I am not mistaken thats Taff Shephard on the left and Terry Joyce in the background.

So where are they NOW?

The Quarter Guard
Mick Parry - Jones, Tich Fallowfield, Paul Fergie, Bill Hickey?, Bill McCann, Pete Webster, Brummie Jordan

Can you help us find any of these guy's ?




CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR MESSAGE BOARD





 
Welcome to our website
Your Help Is Required

My grateful thanks to John Hatch who writes. The badge on the News Page was designed on our last tour in NI in 1976/77 and appears on the mugs we had made to commerate the Squadrons last tour of Duty.

The badge above was sent to us by Cliff Lord of New Zealand and has the words 260 Signal Squadron (SAM) along the ribbon at the bottom. It is in the form of a transfer but the image we have is very poor and we would like to obtain a better one.

If you happen to have a spare transfer lying around you have no further use for please contact the Webmaster.

Jennifer's Dark Secret



For nearly 30 years Jennifer Kelly has held on to a dark secret. Hidden away in her dusty old attic an MFO Box containing some exclusive Military Document's

These document's once described as the 'Secret Life of a Soldier in Belfast' are to be serialised on the web site in the 'Members Area'

The document's contain stories, illustrations and several dubious pictures, and provide a little insight to what life was like for a Soldier back then.

To find out more CLICKHERE and checkout Jennifer's Page you are certainly in for a few surprises.

Corps Reunion

The Royal Signals Association 2004 Reunion will be held at Blandford in Dorset on the last weekend in June 2004.

For more information contact:

The General Secretary
Royal Signals Association
RHQ Royal Signals
Blandford Camp
DORSET DT11 8RH
Tel: 01258 482090 (Members)
Tel: 01258 482089 (Welfare)
Fax: 01258 482084
Email Address:
rhq-rsignals@army.mod.uk

Visit R Signals Army Website
Click here.

Wanted Alive & Smiling


 DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN?

We need your help to find him and another 200 Ex - Members of 260 Signal Squadron (SAM).

If you think you know who he is, and more to the point, where he is. Please get in touch with the Webmaster as soon as possible.

As for the other 200 members of the Squadron. Well try clicking here to see our list and what you can do to help find them.

Live Chat - Wed







Why wait to until next May to catch up on old friends when you could be chatting to them every Wednesday night between 8pm - 9pm. That's assuming they want to chat with you.

Just login to the Members Area and select Chat Now. Follow the simple instructions and you are ready to chat.

The beauty of the Live Chat Room is you never know who will turn up or what they will say when they get there. So why not drop in on Wednesday and surprise us all.
Click Here.

If you would like to become a 'Chat Host' please contact the Webmaster for more info

In the Wire

         PLASTIC PUBS

Do you remember the 'Plastic Pubs'?

More specifically do you remember the Huntsman.

The plastic pub in Mahon Barracks, Portadown?

Fiona Loxton is looking for information on the Plastic Pubs built on a number of bases in Northern Ireland in the 1970's.

If you know anything about how and why they were built, or even have an interesting story concerning one of these pubs,

Please contact Fiona Loxton by email fionaloxton@hotmail.com
Contact Details

If you have a news story, photographs or memorabilia that you think would be of interest to our members and you would like to share it with us, then please get in touch with the

WEBMASTER
.

260 Signal Squadron (SAM) Royal Signals Association