Joint Service Signal Unit, Cyprus

The 9th Signal Regiment (Radio) later Joint Services Signal Unit, Cyprus is a communications unit of the Royal Corps of Signals. The regiment was first formed to supply communications for the troops based in Palestine and Egypt but later provided communications for British Forces Cyprus.

Background and World War I
In 1917 General Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby created a communications unit, this unit was manned by 11 Officers and other ranks were formed for signals intelligence. During this time, the British Army in the midst of launching their, later very sucessful, Sinai and Palestine campaign. This unit became known colligually as the Wireless Company, Egypt and Palestine. Until 1920, the Royal Corps of Signals had not yet formed. Because of this, the company was under the Telegraph Troops of the Corps of Royal Engineers. By 1918, this company was reorganised into the 2nd Wireless Observation Group. During this time, the regiment took part in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign and helped during the Arab Revolt.

Pre-War
The history of the company gets somewhat confusing during the postwar years. This is because the 2nd Wireless Group was disbanded, and the Wireless Company was put into effective suspended animation. In 1923, following the 1920 formation of the Royal Corps of Signals, the Egypt Command Signals was formed. (See: 15 Signal Regiment). As part of this group, 2 Wireless Company was formed, this company was expanded from the former suspended Wireless Company. During this time, the company was based in Palestine. By 1939, the squadron was based in Sarafand, while the rest of the regiment was based in Egypt.

Code-Breaking and the War
During the entire war, the squadron spent their time in the Palestine and didn't see any overseas service. During the war the squadron was based in Al-Sarafand and manned the wireless interception section on behaf of the code breaking service based in Bletchey Park in London. In February 1941, 2nd Special Wireless Group moved to Heliopolis and the company's role was taken over by this new group.