1st (United Kingdom) Signal Brigade

The 1st Signal Group later 1st Signal Brigade was the un-official predecessor to the modern, yet completely different brigade, 1st Signal Brigade.

== History ==

The 1st Signal Group was formed in early April of 1968 to control the signal units needed as NATO reinforcements that were based within the United Kingdom. The group itself was under direct control of the Headquarters, Army Strategic Command. Upon formation the group was headquartered at Wilton in Wiltshire. In 1970 the group moved to Old Sarum then moved to Tidworth in 1979. In 1976 the group was unofficially "dismantled" and all overseas and separate signals units were assigned to it. Until 1982 the official title of the 1st Signal Group was "Headquarters 1st Signal Group, Strategic Command". In 1982 following the small reformations of the British Army following the 1981 Defence White Paper the group was re-named as the 1st Signal Brigade. On the 31 of March 1987 the brigade amalgamated with the 2nd Signal Brigade. Although titled 1st Signal Brigade, the modern brigade has no connection to the 1st signal group as the 1st Signal brigade was formed in 1995 and has no predecessors.

== Organization ==

Structure of the group upon formation;

* Headquarters, 1st Signal Group at Wilton

* 14th (Defense Communications Network) Signals Regiment

* 30th (Strategic Reserve Support) Signals Regiment

** 4 Signal Squadron - Controlled directly by the Ministry of Defence

* 223 (Radio) Signals Squadron - Controlled directly by the Ministry of Defence at Bushfield Camp, Winchester

* 55 (Merseyside) Signal Squadron - Reserve signal squadron "helped with advice and assistance in technical and training matters"

* 602 (Special Communications) Signals Troop at Cyprus

* Mobile Force Radio Signals Troop

Structure of the group after re-structuring in 1976;

* Headquarters, 1st Signal Group

* 30th Signals Regiment at Blandford

* 216 Signal Squadron at Aldershot

* 234 Signal Squadron at Malta

* 249 Signal Squadron at Old Sarum


 * 603 Signal Troop at Masirah   disbanded in '77

* 633 Signal Troop at Belize

* 642 Signal Troop at Gibraltar - Responsible for the defense and maintenance of "two PABX and a few thousand PW Lines"

* 644 Signal Troop at Cyprus

Structure of the group just before amalgamation in 1987;

* Headquarters, 1st Signal Brigade

* 30th Signals Regiment

* 2nd Infantry Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment

* 1st Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Squadron

* 19th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and 209 Signals Squadron

* 5th Airborne Brigade Headquarters and Signals Squadron

* 3rd Commando Brigade Headquarters and Signals Squadron

* 244 (Air Support) Signals Squadron

* 249 (Allied Mobile Force (Land) ) Signals Squadron

* 633 Signals Troop

* 642 Signals Troop

* Joint Services School of Intelligence - (Controlled the Army Signals Training there)

* 11th Ordnance Battalion, Royal Army Ordnance Corps

* 55 (Merseyside) Signal Squadron

== Equipment ==

In 1970 after their formation the group was given the very new and important TSC-500 mobile satellite earth stations under their control. These stations helped the group in their Defense Communications Network role.

== Notes ==

== References ==