43 (Wessex and County and City of Bristol) Signal Squadron

The 43rd Volunteer Signal Squadron, known as 43 (Wessex and County and City of Bristol) Signal Squadron is an Army Reserve Signal unit of the Royal Corps of Signals. The squadron is one of the older signal squadrons around as it was formed from an engineer volunteer regiment. The squadron is today part of the 39th (Wessex and Welsh) Signal Regiment (V).

Wessex Telegraphs
In 1860 the Devon and Somerset Volunteer Engineers formed a new sub-unit, this unit became the Wessex Divisional Training Company. This unit was formed as part of the ever expanding Royal Engineers Telegraph Force which later became the Royal Corps of Signals in 1921. A slight change happened in 1862 when the Devon and Somerset Volunteer Engineers were split. After this reform, the company joined the new Devon Volunteer Engineers.

In 1920 the Secretary of State for War Richard Burdon Haldane implemented major reforms to reorganize the army and the volunteers. As a result, the Territorial Force was created which grouped all former volunteer units into new larger regiments and battalions. One of the results of this reforms was the expansion of the Wessex Divisional Training Company to form the Wessex Divisional Telegraph Company. Although being renamed, the company was still grouped with the 1st Wessex Field Engineer Company based in the 1st Devonshire Engineer Volunteers. Upon renaming, the company was moved and based in Exeter Devonshire as part of the new unit the Wessex Divisional Engineers. By 1911 it was again renamed as the Wessex Divisional Signal Company.

Just before World War I, the company had the following structure;


 * Company Headquarters at The Priory Collston Crescent, Exeter
 * No. 1 Section
 * No. 2 (Devon and Cornwall) Section
 * No. 3 (South-Western) Section
 * No. 4 (Hampshire) Section

As each section's title shows, they would support their respective brigades during mobilisation. During this time, the territorial force started to "double". This term meant that reserve unit formed a duplicate unit so the company formed a new 2nd Wessex Divisional Signal Company.

World War I
Upon mobilisation, the company remained in Exeter, even though the division moved to India after volunteering for overseas service. Because the company didn't move with the division to India, the company was retitled as the 27th Divisional Signal Company. This was an especially strange assignment for the division (even in war-time) as the 27th Division was formed from regular units based in Imperial Overseas Garrisons. Because the British Army was much smaller and didn't practice the exercise of conscription, many regular units were stretched to their limits. So, the Wessex divisional signal company joined the 27th Division.

In November 1914, the company moved with the division to France where they served with distinction.

Commanding Officers
Honorary Colonel

Colonel (or Commanding Officer)