On this day…
On this day is dedicated to the memory of Martin Skipworth (pictured) former museum Head of Research and long-serving volunteer.
The #OTD articles are written by volunteers Martin Skipworth and author and researcher Nick Metcalfe together with museum staff. Additional information & edits by Sandra Hutchinson (Museum communication volunteer & Webmaster).
Interested in volunteering?
There are many ways to be involved with The Museum including virtually, see www.royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk/volunteers/
Select a month to view the entries for that month
Select a month to view the entries for that month
January
On this day 1st January
On the 1st January 1942 the UN was ‘born’. This began with a document signed by UK, USA, USSR and China.
On this day 2nd January
On the 2nd January 1980 Détente (USA/Russia) ended.
On this day 3rd January
On the 3rd January 1958 Alexander Meissner, inventor of the Zeppelin’s navigation system died. He researched antenna design and amplification and is remembered for the Meissner Oscillator.
On this day 4th January
On the 4th January 1967 British land and water speed record breaker Donald Malcolm Campbell CBE died.
On this day 5th January
On the 5th January 1968
‘Prague spring’ a period of political liberalisation and mass protest in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic began.
On this day 6th January
On the 6 January 1838
Morse and Vail Telegraph was first demonstrated.
On this day 7th January
On the 7th January 1927 the first Inter continental telephone service was established.
On this day 8th January
On the 8th January 1916 the Allies completed the evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsula from Cape Helles.
On this day 9th January
On the 9th January 1983 Cyril Royston Guyton Bassett VC died,
On this day 10th january
On the 10th January 1945 Signalman Ken Smith was awarded a Posthumous George Cross for his gallantry while serving on the island of Ist.
On this day 11th January
On the 11th January 1920 Corporal C W Moreton and Lance Corporal J A Donohoe both won the Military Medal in Iraq.
On this day 12th January
On 12 January 2010 a large earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti impacting 3.5 million people and killing circa 300k.
On this day 13th January
On the 13th January 1842 a British Army Doctor and lone survivor retreated from Kabul.
On this day 1st January
On the 1st January 1942 the UN was ‘born’. This began with a document signed by UK, USA, USSR and China.
On this day 2nd January
On the 2nd January 1980 Détente (USA/Russia) ended.
On this day 3rd January
On the 3rd January 1958 Alexander Meissner, inventor of the Zeppelin’s navigation system died. He researched antenna design and amplification and is remembered for the Meissner Oscillator.
On this day 4th January
On the 4th January 1967 British land and water speed record breaker Donald Malcolm Campbell CBE died.
On this day 5th January
On the 5th January 1968
‘Prague spring’ a period of political liberalisation and mass protest in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic began.
On this day 6th January
On the 6 January 1838
Morse and Vail Telegraph was first demonstrated.
On this day 7th January
On the 7th January 1927 the first Inter continental telephone service was established.
On this day 8th January
On the 8th January 1916 the Allies completed the evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsula from Cape Helles.
On this day 9th January
On the 9th January 1983 Cyril Royston Guyton Bassett VC died,
On this day 10th january
On the 10th January 1945 Signalman Ken Smith was awarded a Posthumous George Cross for his gallantry while serving on the island of Ist.
On this day 11th January
On the 11th January 1920 Corporal C W Moreton and Lance Corporal J A Donohoe both won the Military Medal in Iraq.
On this day 12th January
On 12 January 2010 a large earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti impacting 3.5 million people and killing circa 300k.
On this day 13th January
On the 13th January 1842 a British Army Doctor and lone survivor retreated from Kabul.
February
More coming soon
On this day 6th February
On the 6th February 1944 events in Arakan led to many bravery awards.
On this day 10th February
On this day 24th February
On the 24th February 1991 the Gulf War ground attack began. 1st Armoured Division then went through the breach in the minefields .
On this day 28th February
On the 28th February 2014 the Corps band marched out of Blandford Camp for a final time. The next week was amalgamated into the Corps of Army Music (CAMUS)
On this day 29th February
On the 29th February 1996 the Federation government declared that the siege of Sarajevo – a prolonged blockade – was finally lifted.
March – more coming soon
On this day 20th March
OTD 20 March 2003 British, US and small contingents from Australia and Poland participated in an invasion of Iraq.
On this day 24th March
OTD 24th March 1921 the first cap badge of Mercury was approved.
On this day 28th March
Heroic actions by Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Watson VC, Middlesex Yeomanry on the Western Front result in posthumous award of the VC…
April
On this day 1st April
Cpl Mick Ward (RSIGNALS) and Sgt Michael Burbridge (REME) were ambushed and killed by members of the IRA iafter their civilian van was spotted entering and then leaving RUC Rosemount where they had been working on army radio equipment.
On this day 2nd April
Argentina invades the Falkland Islands. The conflict was to provide a severe test of the Royal Signals’ versatility – ensuring sound communications in the UK between the various HQs, ports, airfields, logistics depots and the forward operating base in Ascension Island.
On this day 3rd April
The first hand held mobile phone call was made by Motorola engineer Martin Cooper from Sixth Avenue in New York while walking between 53rd and 54th streets. Cooper called a rival, Joel Engel of Bell Laboratories at AT&T…
On this day 4th April
In 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) agreement was signed in Washington DC. Originally consisting of 12 member states it has grown over the years to 30 with North Macedonia being the latest addition in March 2020.
On this day 5th April
Signallers support Navy Comms. During the Falklands campaign, the Royal Navy struggled to find enough communications staff for the ships so TA Signallers volunteered to man the RN static COMMCENs
On this day 6th April
On the 6th April 1917 the US declared war on Germany and entered the First World War. It was clear from early on in the war, to both British and German Generals, that the entry of the USA would have a huge…
On this day 7th April
This day in 1972 saw the Birth of Heli-Tele in Northern Ireland and 45 years earlier, in 1927 the first public demonstration of a one-way videophone occurred between Herbert Hoover and officials of A T & T.
On this day 9th April
On this day in 1940 the “Phoney War” came to an abrupt end when the German Army invaded Norway and Denmark.
On this day 10th April
On this day in 1944 the HQ of 77th Indian Infantry Brigade came under attack in Burma.Two signalmen unloaded a No. 22 Set from its mule and brought it into action under fire…
On this day 11th April
On this day in 1917 during an offensive at Monchy-le-Preux on the Western Front valiant actions by Lance Corporal Harold Mugford VC, Essex Yeomanry would later result in Mugford being awarded the VC…
On this day 12th April
On this day in 1944 a West African Chindit Brigade was airlifted into central Burma. The Chindits were a large-scale, long-range jungle penetration group that mounted major raids on the Japanese forces
On this day 13th April
On this day in 1743 Thomas Jefferson was born in the Colony of Virginia. Jefferson born a British citizen was the third president of the US and primary draftsman of the Declaration of Independence.
On this day 15th April
On this day in 1912 more than 1,500 people died in the sinking of the Titanic. More than 700 survived owing their escape to the newest communications technology of the time: wireless telegraphy.
On this day 16th April
On this day in 1942 the island of Malta was awarded the George Cross in recognition of the gallantry of the island’s population during the siege of Malta which began in 1940. Malta was strategically important to the Allies and needed to be defended and resupplied at all costs.
On this day 18th April
On the 18th April 1945 Sir John Ambrose Fleming died aged 95. Fleming was an English electrical engineer who invented the first thermionic valve. This was a vacuum tube with two electrodes in which the electrons flowed from filament to anode only.
On this day 19th April
On the 19th April 1965 an article by Gordon Moore was published in Electronics on the future of semiconductor components.
On this day 21st April
On this day in 1974 he Northern Ireland conflict between republican and loyalist paramilitaries, British security forces, and civil rights groups, claimed its 1000th victim.
The Royal Corps of Signals provided communications for commanders and staff at brigade and theatre level, as well as the infrastructure to enable patrols on the ground to communicate with each other and with higher and lower commands.
On this day 22nd April
On this day in 1951 during the Korean War the Battle of Imjin River began. Cpl Neville Bestwick, was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery repairing breaks in lines between the brigade and battalion Headquarters while under mortar and small arms fire
On this day 24th April
On this day in 1920 Alan Johnson was born. Johnson was a motorcycle dispatch rider (DR) in the North Africa Campaign in the Second World War and in civilian life becoming a special DR for the 3rd Air Formation Signals.
On this day 25th April
On the 25th April 1874 Nobel Prize Winning Physicist and Inventor Marconi Was Born. Marconi was an Italian physicist and inventor of the successful wireless telegraph and worked on the development of shortwave wireless communication – the basis of nearly all modern long-distance radio.
On this day 27th April
On this day in 1791 Samuel Morse, creator of Morse Code, was born. During the 1860s the Army learnt to use Morse Code for visual signalling. Morse Code was sent using flags and this proved very useful during the Abyssinian campaign of 1867–68.
On this day 29th April
On this day in 1966 William Henry Eccles – a British physicist and a pioneer in the development of radio communication – died.
On this day 1st April
Cpl Mick Ward (RSIGNALS) and Sgt Michael Burbridge (REME) were ambushed and killed by members of the IRA iafter their civilian van was spotted entering and then leaving RUC Rosemount where they had been working on army radio equipment.
On this day 2nd April
Argentina invades the Falkland Islands. The conflict was to provide a severe test of the Royal Signals’ versatility – ensuring sound communications in the UK between the various HQs, ports, airfields, logistics depots and the forward operating base in Ascension Island.
On this day 3rd April
The first hand held mobile phone call was made by Motorola engineer Martin Cooper from Sixth Avenue in New York while walking between 53rd and 54th streets. Cooper called a rival, Joel Engel of Bell Laboratories at AT&T…
On this day 4th April
In 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) agreement was signed in Washington DC. Originally consisting of 12 member states it has grown over the years to 30 with North Macedonia being the latest addition in March 2020.
On this day 5th April
Signallers support Navy Comms. During the Falklands campaign, the Royal Navy struggled to find enough communications staff for the ships so TA Signallers volunteered to man the RN static COMMCENs
On this day 6th April
On the 6th April 1917 the US declared war on Germany and entered the First World War. It was clear from early on in the war, to both British and German Generals, that the entry of the USA would have a huge…
On this day 7th April
This day in 1972 saw the Birth of Heli-Tele in Northern Ireland and 45 years earlier, in 1927 the first public demonstration of a one-way videophone occurred between Herbert Hoover and officials of A T & T.
On this day 9th April
On this day in 1940 the “Phoney War” came to an abrupt end when the German Army invaded Norway and Denmark.
On this day 10th April
On this day in 1944 the HQ of 77th Indian Infantry Brigade came under attack in Burma.Two signalmen unloaded a No. 22 Set from its mule and brought it into action under fire…
On this day 11th April
On this day in 1917 during an offensive at Monchy-le-Preux on the Western Front valiant actions by Lance Corporal Harold Mugford VC, Essex Yeomanry would later result in Mugford being awarded the VC…
On this day 12th April
On this day in 1944 a West African Chindit Brigade was airlifted into central Burma. The Chindits were a large-scale, long-range jungle penetration group that mounted major raids on the Japanese forces
On this day 13th April
On this day in 1743 Thomas Jefferson was born in the Colony of Virginia. Jefferson born a British citizen was the third president of the US and primary draftsman of the Declaration of Independence.
On this day 15th April
On this day in 1912 more than 1,500 people died in the sinking of the Titanic. More than 700 survived owing their escape to the newest communications technology of the time: wireless telegraphy.
On this day 16th April
On this day in 1942 the island of Malta was awarded the George Cross in recognition of the gallantry of the island’s population during the siege of Malta which began in 1940. Malta was strategically important to the Allies and needed to be defended and resupplied at all costs.
On this day 18th April
On the 18th April 1945 Sir John Ambrose Fleming died aged 95. Fleming was an English electrical engineer who invented the first thermionic valve. This was a vacuum tube with two electrodes in which the electrons flowed from filament to anode only.
On this day 19th April
On the 19th April 1965 an article by Gordon Moore was published in Electronics on the future of semiconductor components.
On this day 21st April
On this day in 1974 he Northern Ireland conflict between republican and loyalist paramilitaries, British security forces, and civil rights groups, claimed its 1000th victim.
The Royal Corps of Signals provided communications for commanders and staff at brigade and theatre level, as well as the infrastructure to enable patrols on the ground to communicate with each other and with higher and lower commands.
On this day 22nd April
On this day in 1951 during the Korean War the Battle of Imjin River began. Cpl Neville Bestwick, was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery repairing breaks in lines between the brigade and battalion Headquarters while under mortar and small arms fire
On this day 24th April
On this day in 1920 Alan Johnson was born. Johnson was a motorcycle dispatch rider (DR) in the North Africa Campaign in the Second World War and in civilian life becoming a special DR for the 3rd Air Formation Signals.
On this day 25th April
On the 25th April 1874 Nobel Prize Winning Physicist and Inventor Marconi Was Born. Marconi was an Italian physicist and inventor of the successful wireless telegraph and worked on the development of shortwave wireless communication – the basis of nearly all modern long-distance radio.
On this day 27th April
On this day in 1791 Samuel Morse, creator of Morse Code, was born. During the 1860s the Army learnt to use Morse Code for visual signalling. Morse Code was sent using flags and this proved very useful during the Abyssinian campaign of 1867–68.
On this day 29th April
On this day in 1966 William Henry Eccles – a British physicist and a pioneer in the development of radio communication – died.
May
On this day 1st May
On the 1st May 1982 Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) patrols were inserted into East and West Falklands tasked to provide vital information on Argentinian dispositions and installations as a prelude to the repossession of the Falkland Islands.
On this day 2nd May
On this day in 1945 the German garrison in Berlin surrendered to the invading Soviet forces.
A historical treasure trove, including many documents personally signed by Hitler, daggers, medals and other memorabilia was donated to the Royal Signals Museum and forms an unusual part of the Museum’s World War Two displays.
On this day 3rd May
The confounded telegraph has ruined everything. On this day 3rd May 1888 British engineer Charles Bright died. His work resulted in the successful laying of the first transatlantic cable – from Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, to Valentia Island, Ireland.
On this day 5th May
On the 5th May 1941 Georges Pierre André Bégué (alias George Noble) parachuted into France with a suitcase radio. After the surrender of France in 1940 he joined the Royal Corps of Signals as a wireless operator. Recruited by the SOE, he was captured, imprisoned but managed to escape and was subsequently awarded the MC.
On this day 7th May
On this day in 1963 the United States launched the Telstar 2 communications satellite on behalf of its private owner, AT&T.
On this day 8th May
On the 8th May 1945 Victory in Europe was declared. VE day marked the end of hostilities on the continent of Europe. The war was won largely because of the Allies’ ability to play a series of weak hands extremely well and because Hitler played some strong hands extremely badly.
On this day 9th May
On the 9th May 1945 the Channel Islands were liberated having been occupied by the German Army in June 1940. Plans for the liberation had been made as early as 1943.. The Task Force consisted of 6,000 personnel including several Royal Signals sections.
On this day 10th May
On the 10th May 1940 the Battle of France began with the German army launching a “blitzkrieg” attack on the Western Front. Within six weeks they defeated Allied forces in Europe conquering France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands…
On this day 12th May
On the 12 May 1982 5th Infantry Brigade departed Southampton on the QE2 to retake the Falkland Islands. The conflict proved s severe test of a Royal Signals’ versatility..
On this day 13th May
On the 13th May 1890, Nikola Tesla was issued a patent for an electric generator. Nikola Tesla (10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943) was a Serbian-American] inventor and electrical engineer, who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.
On this day 14th May
On the 14th May 1963 a laser light beam link first carried the TV signal during a network broadcast. It was demonstrated during the CBS program I’ve Got a Secret using a signal from a studio camera to a receiver that decoded the signal from the beam.
On this day 15th May
On the 15th May 1957 Britain’s first H-bomb was exploded in the air off Christmas Island in the central Pacific Ocean as witnessed by Royal Signals WO2 Pat Soward.
On this day 16th May
On the 16th May 2017 SSgt Subarna Gurung and Sgt Milan Rai QGS reached the summit of Mount Everest. Rai also set a world altitude record for playing the bagpipes in spite of all the drones being completely frozen.
On this day 18th May
On the 18th May 1912, the first automatic telephone exchange in Britain came into service at Epsom in Surrey, providing 350 subscribers with the ability to dial other numbers in the town directly.
On this day 19th May
On the 19th May 1982 during the Falklands War a Sea King helicopter carrying Special Forces crashed killing 22.
On this day 20th May
On this day in 1941 the invasion of Crete by German forces began – the first airborne invasion in military history and the only occasion airborne forces were used operationally by the German Army.
On this day 21st May
On the 21st May 2009 19th Light Brigade’s Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF) moved from Camp Bastion to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Price.
On this day 23rd May
On the 23rd May 1944 the successful breakout from the Anzio beachhead area began. This later resulted in the capture of Rome.
On this day 24th May
On the 24th May 1921 the British Legion was formed by veterans of the Great War with a Royal Charter granted in 1925.
On this day 25th May
On the 25th May 1844, Samuel Morse first successfully transmitted news of a House vote from the U.S. Capitol to a newspaper via telegraph.
On this day 26th May
On the 26th May 1940 the evacuation from the beaches of Dunkirk began. Control of the evacuation was assisted by a cable link from La Panne to the UK established by a junior Royal Signals officer.
On this day 27th May
On the 27th May 1897 Nobel Prize winner and former signaller Sir John Cockcroft was born He served in the Royal Horse Artillery in World War One for three years as a signaller and then briefly as a lieutenant.
On this day 28th May
On the 28th May 1982 Lt Jim Barry was killed at Goose Green and Brig Ralph Alger Bagnold died. Bagnold has a dune field on Mars named in his honour.
On this day 30th May
On the 30th May 2009 Sig Daniel Nash’s gallant actions in Afghanistan result in award of Princess Mary Medal. At first light a BRF vehicle struck a mine to the rear of Nash’s vehicle and, with scant regard for their own safety, Nash and his LEWT commander dismounted and moved back to assist the stricken vehicle and its crew…
On this day 31st May
On the 31st May 1941 the Anglo-Iraqi War ended. An armistice was agreed ending four weeks of fighting.
On this day 1st May
On the 1st May 1982 Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) patrols were inserted into East and West Falklands tasked to provide vital information on Argentinian dispositions and installations as a prelude to the repossession of the Falkland Islands.
On this day 2nd May
On this day in 1945 the German garrison in Berlin surrendered to the invading Soviet forces.
A historical treasure trove, including many documents personally signed by Hitler, daggers, medals and other memorabilia was donated to the Royal Signals Museum and forms an unusual part of the Museum’s World War Two displays.
On this day 3rd May
The confounded telegraph has ruined everything. On this day 3rd May 1888 British engineer Charles Bright died. His work resulted in the successful laying of the first transatlantic cable – from Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, to Valentia Island, Ireland.
On this day 5th May
On the 5th May 1941 Georges Pierre André Bégué (alias George Noble) parachuted into France with a suitcase radio. After the surrender of France in 1940 he joined the Royal Corps of Signals as a wireless operator. Recruited by the SOE, he was captured, imprisoned but managed to escape and was subsequently awarded the MC.
On this day 7th May
On this day in 1963 the United States launched the Telstar 2 communications satellite on behalf of its private owner, AT&T.
On this day 8th May
On the 8th May 1945 Victory in Europe was declared. VE day marked the end of hostilities on the continent of Europe. The war was won largely because of the Allies’ ability to play a series of weak hands extremely well and because Hitler played some strong hands extremely badly.
On this day 9th May
On the 9th May 1945 the Channel Islands were liberated having been occupied by the German Army in June 1940. Plans for the liberation had been made as early as 1943.. The Task Force consisted of 6,000 personnel including several Royal Signals sections.
On this day 10th May
On the 10th May 1940 the Battle of France began with the German army launching a “blitzkrieg” attack on the Western Front. Within six weeks they defeated Allied forces in Europe conquering France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands…
On this day 12th May
On the 12 May 1982 5th Infantry Brigade departed Southampton on the QE2 to retake the Falkland Islands. The conflict proved s severe test of a Royal Signals’ versatility..
On this day 13th May
On the 13th May 1890, Nikola Tesla was issued a patent for an electric generator. Nikola Tesla (10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943) was a Serbian-American] inventor and electrical engineer, who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.
On this day 14th May
On the 14th May 1963 a laser light beam link first carried the TV signal during a network broadcast. It was demonstrated during the CBS program I’ve Got a Secret using a signal from a studio camera to a receiver that decoded the signal from the beam.
On this day 15th May
On the 15th May 1957 Britain’s first H-bomb was exploded in the air off Christmas Island in the central Pacific Ocean as witnessed by Royal Signals WO2 Pat Soward.
On this day 16th May
On the 16th May 2017 SSgt Subarna Gurung and Sgt Milan Rai QGS reached the summit of Mount Everest. Rai also set a world altitude record for playing the bagpipes in spite of all the drones being completely frozen.
On this day 18th May
On the 18th May 1912, the first automatic telephone exchange in Britain came into service at Epsom in Surrey, providing 350 subscribers with the ability to dial other numbers in the town directly.
On this day 19th May
On the 19th May 1982 during the Falklands War a Sea King helicopter carrying Special Forces crashed killing 22.
On this day 20th May
On this day in 1941 the invasion of Crete by German forces began – the first airborne invasion in military history and the only occasion airborne forces were used operationally by the German Army.
On this day 21st May
On the 21st May 2009 19th Light Brigade’s Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF) moved from Camp Bastion to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Price.
On this day 23rd May
On the 23rd May 1944 the successful breakout from the Anzio beachhead area began. This later resulted in the capture of Rome.
On this day 24th May
On the 24th May 1921 the British Legion was formed by veterans of the Great War with a Royal Charter granted in 1925.
On this day 25th May
On the 25th May 1844, Samuel Morse first successfully transmitted news of a House vote from the U.S. Capitol to a newspaper via telegraph.
On this day 26th May
On the 26th May 1940 the evacuation from the beaches of Dunkirk began. Control of the evacuation was assisted by a cable link from La Panne to the UK established by a junior Royal Signals officer.
On this day 27th May
On the 27th May 1897 Nobel Prize winner and former signaller Sir John Cockcroft was born He served in the Royal Horse Artillery in World War One for three years as a signaller and then briefly as a lieutenant.
On this day 28th May
On the 28th May 1982 Lt Jim Barry was killed at Goose Green and Brig Ralph Alger Bagnold died. Bagnold has a dune field on Mars named in his honour.
On this day 30th May
On the 30th May 2009 Sig Daniel Nash’s gallant actions in Afghanistan result in award of Princess Mary Medal. At first light a BRF vehicle struck a mine to the rear of Nash’s vehicle and, with scant regard for their own safety, Nash and his LEWT commander dismounted and moved back to assist the stricken vehicle and its crew…
On this day 31st May
On the 31st May 1941 the Anglo-Iraqi War ended. An armistice was agreed ending four weeks of fighting.
June
On this day 1st June
On the 1st June 1900 during the Second Boer War in South Africa the British army occupied Pretoria. During the War specially designed telephones and exchanges had to be produced for field use.
On this day 2nd June
On the 2nd June 1953 the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place in London. The Royal Corps of Signals was heavily involved in the planning…
On this day 3rd June
On 3rd June 1929 & 1930 two RSIGNALS NCOS were awarded honours for the manufacture of radios & antennae, and the development of shortwave (HF) radio transmission techniques.
On this day 4th June
On the 4th June 1940 a despatch rider was reported wounded and missing in action.
The speed of movement and the scarcity of radios during the Battle of France put extraordinary pressure on young despatch riders to convey communications quickly.
On this day 5th June
On the 5th June 1977, the first personal computer went on sale. Named the Apple II it was the invention of Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs and was one of three prominent personal computers that came to the market in 1977.
On this day 6th June
On the 6th June 1944 the long awaited invasion of Europe which came to be known as D-Day began. Thirty eight years later during the Falklands War two RSIGNALS soldiers were killed when their helicopter was shot down.
On this day 7th June
On the 7th June 1958 fighting broke out between Turks and Greeks on Cyprus
From 1947 personnel and equipment had been transferred to Cyprus from Palestine and Iraq. Up to 1,000 British radio operators and technicians were stationed in two sites in Cyprus…
On this day 8th June
On this day in 1982 – druring the Falklands War – landing craft Foxtrot 4 from HMS Fearless (which was sailing from Goose Green to Brigade HQ at Fitzroy) was spotted in Choiseul Sound and bombed by two Argentine Air force A-4B Skyhawks.
On this day 10th June
On the 10th June 1837, the electric Five Needle Telegraph was patented in London by Charles Wheatstone and William Fothergill Cooke. Cooke and Wheatstone allowing a message to be sent and read.
On this day 11th June
On the 11th June 1977 HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, honoured the Royal Corps of Signals by assuming the appointment of Colonel-in-Chief.
On this day 12th June
On the 12th June 1999 the first elements of Kosovo Force (KFOR) entered Kosovo. NATO’s first war had begun In March 1999 and, in June, after 78 days of bombing, the President of Serbia, agreed terms and allowed NATO’s KFOR to enter Kosovo unopposed.
On this day 13th June
On the 13th June 1915 Henry Moseley embarked at Avonmouth destined for Gallipoli as Signals Officer of 38th Brigade. Moseley was a brilliant scientist who in 1915 was nominated for Nobel Prizes in both Physics and Chemistry.
On this day 14th June
On the 14th June 1982 Argentine forces on the Falkland Islands surrendered ending the 74 day war. 255 British and 649 Argentine soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen, and three civilian Falkland Islanders were killed.
On this day 15th June
On this day in 1988 in Northern Ireland five members of 8th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron were killed by a bomb after taking part in the Lisburn half-marathon charity run.
On this day 16th June
On the 16th June 2012 in Iraq, 32 people were killed by a car bomb in Baghdad and a year later on this day in 2013 a further 20 were killed in a series of car bombs across the country.
On this day 17th June
On this day in 1940 RMS Lancastria is sunk. The trans-Atlantic liner and cruise ship (owned by Cunard) RMS Lancastria had been requisitioned by the Admiralty as a troopship.
On this day 18th June
On the 18th June 1815 the French were defeated by Britain and her Allies at Waterloo. Not only was the victory at Waterloo momentous news, but it was the last great piece of news to be communicated without help from steam power or electricity.
On this day 19th June
On the 19th June 1948 tensions in Berlin were rising as Soviet forces halted all passenger trains and traffic on the autobahn to Berlin…The first crisis of the ‘Cold War’ unfolded.
On this day 20th June
On this day in 1974 a new medal for bravery. The Queen’s Gallantry Medal, was introduced. The medal is awarded for ‘exemplary acts of bravery’ and since 1977 posthumous awards have been allowed.
On this day 22nd June
On the 22nd June 1944 British 14th Army freed Imphal from the Japanese. Later, British officer, Corporal Charles Monks was awarded the DCM for his extraordinary bravery.
On this day 23rd June
On the 22nd June 1940 switchboard operators from the Auxiliary Territorial Service were evacuated from France
Withdrawn from Paris within hours of the German encirclement of the city.
On this day 24th June
On the 24th June 1850 Horatio Herbert Kitchener was born in Ireland. Kitchener correctly predicted a long war that would last at least three years, require huge new armies to defeat Germany, and cause huge casualties before the end would come.
On this day 25th June
On this day in 1950 North Korean forces invaded South Korea. The United States (US) supported South Korea and the Soviet Union and China supported North Korea.
On this day 26th June
On this day in 1945 the United Nations charter was signed in San Francisco. with the aim of preventing future wars. The UN has authorised over 70 peacekeeping operations since 1945 including Op Grapple.
On this day 27th June
On the 27th June 1932 Louis Winslow Austin died.
Austin was an American physicist known for his research on long-range radio transmissions.
On this day 28th June
On the 28th June 1920 the Corps of Signals was formed from the Royal Engineers Signal Service. The first official agreement to form a separate Signal Corps was made in 1918, but the formation of the Corps was delayed until 1920
On this day 29th June
On the 29th June 1882 Henry Courtenay Hawtrey was born.
Hawtree was a gold-medal winning Olympian and as Assistant and Deputy Director of Signals he had been awarded the DSO and made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).
On this day 30th June
On the 30th June 1948 the last British troops left Palestine.
The Royal Signals contribution comprised of Palestine Command Signals, the divisional signals and the brigade signal sections. In November 1947, the United Nations recommended the partition of Palestine.
On this day 1st June
On the 1st June 1900 during the Second Boer War in South Africa the British army occupied Pretoria. During the War specially designed telephones and exchanges had to be produced for field use.
On this day 2nd June
On the 2nd June 1953 the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place in London. The Royal Corps of Signals was heavily involved in the planning…
On this day 3rd June
On 3rd June 1929 & 1930 two RSIGNALS NCOS were awarded honours for the manufacture of radios & antennae, and the development of shortwave (HF) radio transmission techniques.
On this day 4th June
On the 4th June 1940 a despatch rider was reported wounded and missing in action.
The speed of movement and the scarcity of radios during the Battle of France put extraordinary pressure on young despatch riders to convey communications quickly.
On this day 5th June
On the 5th June 1977, the first personal computer went on sale. Named the Apple II it was the invention of Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs and was one of three prominent personal computers that came to the market in 1977.
On this day 6th June
On the 6th June 1944 the long awaited invasion of Europe which came to be known as D-Day began. Thirty eight years later during the Falklands War two RSIGNALS soldiers were killed when their helicopter was shot down.
On this day 7th June
On the 7th June 1958 fighting broke out between Turks and Greeks on Cyprus
From 1947 personnel and equipment had been transferred to Cyprus from Palestine and Iraq. Up to 1,000 British radio operators and technicians were stationed in two sites in Cyprus…
On this day 8th June
On this day in 1982 – druring the Falklands War – landing craft Foxtrot 4 from HMS Fearless (which was sailing from Goose Green to Brigade HQ at Fitzroy) was spotted in Choiseul Sound and bombed by two Argentine Air force A-4B Skyhawks.
On this day 10th June
On the 10th June 1837, the electric Five Needle Telegraph was patented in London by Charles Wheatstone and William Fothergill Cooke. Cooke and Wheatstone allowing a message to be sent and read.
On this day 11th June
On the 11th June 1977 HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, honoured the Royal Corps of Signals by assuming the appointment of Colonel-in-Chief.
On this day 12th June
On the 12th June 1999 the first elements of Kosovo Force (KFOR) entered Kosovo. NATO’s first war had begun In March 1999 and, in June, after 78 days of bombing, the President of Serbia, agreed terms and allowed NATO’s KFOR to enter Kosovo unopposed.
On this day 13th June
On the 13th June 1915 Henry Moseley embarked at Avonmouth destined for Gallipoli as Signals Officer of 38th Brigade. Moseley was a brilliant scientist who in 1915 was nominated for Nobel Prizes in both Physics and Chemistry.
On this day 14th June
On the 14th June 1982 Argentine forces on the Falkland Islands surrendered ending the 74 day war. 255 British and 649 Argentine soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen, and three civilian Falkland Islanders were killed.
On this day 15th June
On this day in 1988 in Northern Ireland five members of 8th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron were killed by a bomb after taking part in the Lisburn half-marathon charity run.
On this day 16th June
On the 16th June 2012 in Iraq, 32 people were killed by a car bomb in Baghdad and a year later on this day in 2013 a further 20 were killed in a series of car bombs across the country.
On this day 17th June
On this day in 1940 RMS Lancastria is sunk. The trans-Atlantic liner and cruise ship (owned by Cunard) RMS Lancastria had been requisitioned by the Admiralty as a troopship.
On this day 18th June
On the 18th June 1815 the French were defeated by Britain and her Allies at Waterloo. Not only was the victory at Waterloo momentous news, but it was the last great piece of news to be communicated without help from steam power or electricity.
On this day 19th June
On the 19th June 1948 tensions in Berlin were rising as Soviet forces halted all passenger trains and traffic on the autobahn to Berlin…The first crisis of the ‘Cold War’ unfolded.
On this day 20th June
On this day in 1974 a new medal for bravery. The Queen’s Gallantry Medal, was introduced. The medal is awarded for ‘exemplary acts of bravery’ and since 1977 posthumous awards have been allowed.
On this day 22nd June
On the 22nd June 1944 British 14th Army freed Imphal from the Japanese. Later, British officer, Corporal Charles Monks was awarded the DCM for his extraordinary bravery.
On this day 23rd June
On the 22nd June 1940 switchboard operators from the Auxiliary Territorial Service were evacuated from France
Withdrawn from Paris within hours of the German encirclement of the city.
On this day 24th June
On the 24th June 1850 Horatio Herbert Kitchener was born in Ireland. Kitchener correctly predicted a long war that would last at least three years, require huge new armies to defeat Germany, and cause huge casualties before the end would come.
On this day 25th June
On this day in 1950 North Korean forces invaded South Korea. The United States (US) supported South Korea and the Soviet Union and China supported North Korea.
On this day 26th June
On this day in 1945 the United Nations charter was signed in San Francisco. with the aim of preventing future wars. The UN has authorised over 70 peacekeeping operations since 1945 including Op Grapple.
On this day 27th June
On the 27th June 1932 Louis Winslow Austin died.
Austin was an American physicist known for his research on long-range radio transmissions.
On this day 28th June
On the 28th June 1920 the Corps of Signals was formed from the Royal Engineers Signal Service. The first official agreement to form a separate Signal Corps was made in 1918, but the formation of the Corps was delayed until 1920
On this day 29th June
On the 29th June 1882 Henry Courtenay Hawtrey was born.
Hawtree was a gold-medal winning Olympian and as Assistant and Deputy Director of Signals he had been awarded the DSO and made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).
On this day 30th June
On the 30th June 1948 the last British troops left Palestine.
The Royal Signals contribution comprised of Palestine Command Signals, the divisional signals and the brigade signal sections. In November 1947, the United Nations recommended the partition of Palestine.
July
On this day 1st July
On the 1st July 1957 the International Geophysical Year began. 67 countries took part in a period of scientific exploration and collaboration. Its work would lead to the start of the Cold War space race and Britain establishing its own Halley Research Centre.
On this day 2nd July
On the 2nd July 1897 Radio was born when Guglielmo Marconi was awarded a patent for his radio. Patent number 12,039 was accepted by the Patent Office in London for ‘The improvements of transmitting electrical impulses and signals’.
On this day 3rd July
On the 3rd July 2006 an asteroid flew 268,624 miles close to Earth. Calculations suggest 2004 XP14 s distance from Earth at that moment was just 1.1 times the Moon’s average distance from Earth.
On this day 4th July
On the 4th July 1790 George Everest was born. A British surveyor and geographer he is best known for having Mount Everest named in his honour. although he had previously had
On this day 5th July
On the 5th July 1954 the BBC broadcasts its first television news bulletin but the first modern war correspondent was William Howard Russell who covered the Crimean War for The Times.
On this day 6th July
On the 6th July 1988 Piper Alpha, one of the United Kingdom’s worst industrial accidents occurred. Explosions and fire destroyed this North Sea oil and gas production platform.
On this day 7th July
On the 7th July 2005 a series of coordinated Islamic terrorist suicide attacks in London targeted commuters travelling on the city’s public transport system during the morning rush hour. 52 people were killed in the attacks and over 700 were injured.
On this day 8th July
On the 8th July 1944 Operation Charnwood commenced, resulting in the capture of Caen – a month later than had been originally planned.
On this day July 9th
On the 9th July 1941 British cryptologists broke the secret code used by the German army to direct ground-to-air operations on the Russian Eastern front.
On this day 10th July
On the 10th July 1924 the presentation of an Empire Gallantry Medal was made by King George V to a former Royal Signals soldierFrancis Austin Morteshed on the island of Ist.
On this day 11th July
On this day in 1921 the Irish War of Independence ended, The guerrilla war fought by the Irish Republican Army against the forces of the state began in 1919, became increasingly violent and brutal.
On this day 12th July
On the 12th July Orangemen’s Day is celebrated by Ulster protestants in Northern Ireland. This celebrates the Glorious Revolution (1688) and victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne (1690), which began the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland.
On this day 13th July
On the 13th July 1945, the first atomic bomb arrived partly assembled at its test site in the New Mexico desert. On Monday 16 July 1945, it was successfully exploded and the nuclear era began.
On this day 14th July
On the 14th July 2013 the world’s last telegram was sent in India. In the UK telegram delivery ceased in 2008, while in the United States Western Union’s dwindling service was terminated on 27 Jan 2006.
On this day 15th July
On the 15th July 1988 Brig Maynard MBE lost his life whilst saving several children from drowning. He subsequently received a posthumous award of the Medaglia Civile Di Valore.
On this day 16th July
On the 16th July 1938 a Military Medal was earned by a signalman on the North-West Frontier of India.
On this day 17th July
On the 17th July 1898 Hubert Elvin Rance was born. He was appointed the last Governor of British Burma in August 1946 and on 4 January 1948, he handed over to Sao Shwe Thaik, the President of Burma.
On this day 18th July
On the 18th July 1947 the Indian Independence Act received Royal Assent. This resulted in the partitioning of British India into two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan.
On this day 19th July
On the 19th July 1941 Prime Minister Winston Churchill referred approvingly to the V for Victory campaign in a speech and from which point he started using the V hand sign.
On this day 20th July
On the 20th 1982 the Hyde Park and Regent’s Park bombings were carried out in London by members of the IRA, killing 11 military personnel and seven horses.
On this day 21st July
On the 21st July 1969, Apollo XI astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin blasted off the surface of the moon and returned to the command module piloted by Michael Collins.
On this day 22nd July
On the 22nd July 1946 the bombing of St. David’s Hotel, Jerusalem occurred. As a result, Royal Signals suffered its first casualties in post-war Palestine.
On this day 23rd July
On the 23rd July 1942 Valdemar Poulsen died. Poulsen was a Danish engineer who made significant contributions to early radio technology.
On this day 24th July
On the 24th July 1927 the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing of World War One was unveiled.
On this day 25th July
On the 25th July 1959, a hovercraft crossed the English Channel for the first time.
On this day 26th July
On the 26th July 1912 , USS Stringham, a torpedo boat, successfully received the first radio signal transmitted from an aircraft to a surface ship.
On this day 27th July
On this day in 2012 the opening ceremony of the London Olympics took place in preparation for the games which began the following day.
On this day 28th July
On the 28th July 1914 Austria-Hungary declares war on and starts hostilities with Serbia effectively igniting a conflict which ultimately would engulf the whole World – the First World War.
On this day 29th July
On the 29th July 1864 John Sharman Fowler was born. Frontier. Fowler was appointed Director of Army Signals in 1914. During WW1 he was Mentioned in Despatches eight times and in 1917 was promoted to major general.
On this day 30th July
On the 30th July 1966 England won the FIFA World Cup final against Germany 4 -2 at Wembley Stadium with veteran Royal Signaller Gordon Banks in goal.
On this day 31st July
On this day in 2007 Operation Banner – the operational name for the British Armed Forces’ operation in Northern Ireland – came to an end.
On this day 1st July
On the 1st July 1957 the International Geophysical Year began. 67 countries took part in a period of scientific exploration and collaboration. Its work would lead to the start of the Cold War space race and Britain establishing its own Halley Research Centre.
On this day 2nd July
On the 2nd July 1897 Radio was born when Guglielmo Marconi was awarded a patent for his radio. Patent number 12,039 was accepted by the Patent Office in London for ‘The improvements of transmitting electrical impulses and signals’.
On this day 3rd July
On the 3rd July 2006 an asteroid flew 268,624 miles close to Earth. Calculations suggest 2004 XP14 s distance from Earth at that moment was just 1.1 times the Moon’s average distance from Earth.
On this day 4th July
On the 4th July 1790 George Everest was born. A British surveyor and geographer he is best known for having Mount Everest named in his honour. although he had previously had
On this day 5th July
On the 5th July 1954 the BBC broadcasts its first television news bulletin but the first modern war correspondent was William Howard Russell who covered the Crimean War for The Times.
On this day 6th July
On the 6th July 1988 Piper Alpha, one of the United Kingdom’s worst industrial accidents occurred. Explosions and fire destroyed this North Sea oil and gas production platform.
On this day 7th July
On the 7th July 2005 a series of coordinated Islamic terrorist suicide attacks in London targeted commuters travelling on the city’s public transport system during the morning rush hour. 52 people were killed in the attacks and over 700 were injured.
On this day 8th July
On the 8th July 1944 Operation Charnwood commenced, resulting in the capture of Caen – a month later than had been originally planned.
On this day July 9th
On the 9th July 1941 British cryptologists broke the secret code used by the German army to direct ground-to-air operations on the Russian Eastern front.
On this day 10th July
On the 10th July 1924 the presentation of an Empire Gallantry Medal was made by King George V to a former Royal Signals soldierFrancis Austin Morteshed on the island of Ist.
On this day 11th July
On this day in 1921 the Irish War of Independence ended, The guerrilla war fought by the Irish Republican Army against the forces of the state began in 1919, became increasingly violent and brutal.
On this day 12th July
On the 12th July Orangemen’s Day is celebrated by Ulster protestants in Northern Ireland. This celebrates the Glorious Revolution (1688) and victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne (1690), which began the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland.
On this day 13th July
On the 13th July 1945, the first atomic bomb arrived partly assembled at its test site in the New Mexico desert. On Monday 16 July 1945, it was successfully exploded and the nuclear era began.
On this day 14th July
On the 14th July 2013 the world’s last telegram was sent in India. In the UK telegram delivery ceased in 2008, while in the United States Western Union’s dwindling service was terminated on 27 Jan 2006.
On this day 15th July
On the 15th July 1988 Brig Maynard MBE lost his life whilst saving several children from drowning. He subsequently received a posthumous award of the Medaglia Civile Di Valore.
On this day 16th July
On the 16th July 1938 a Military Medal was earned by a signalman on the North-West Frontier of India.
On this day 17th July
On the 17th July 1898 Hubert Elvin Rance was born. He was appointed the last Governor of British Burma in August 1946 and on 4 January 1948, he handed over to Sao Shwe Thaik, the President of Burma.
On this day 18th July
On the 18th July 1947 the Indian Independence Act received Royal Assent. This resulted in the partitioning of British India into two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan.
On this day 19th July
On the 19th July 1941 Prime Minister Winston Churchill referred approvingly to the V for Victory campaign in a speech and from which point he started using the V hand sign.
On this day 20th July
On the 20th 1982 the Hyde Park and Regent’s Park bombings were carried out in London by members of the IRA, killing 11 military personnel and seven horses.
On this day 21st July
On the 21st July 1969, Apollo XI astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin blasted off the surface of the moon and returned to the command module piloted by Michael Collins.
On this day 22nd July
On the 22nd July 1946 the bombing of St. David’s Hotel, Jerusalem occurred. As a result, Royal Signals suffered its first casualties in post-war Palestine.
On this day 23rd July
On the 23rd July 1942 Valdemar Poulsen died. Poulsen was a Danish engineer who made significant contributions to early radio technology.
On this day 24th July
On the 24th July 1927 the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing of World War One was unveiled.
On this day 25th July
On the 25th July 1959, a hovercraft crossed the English Channel for the first time.
On this day 26th July
On the 26th July 1912 , USS Stringham, a torpedo boat, successfully received the first radio signal transmitted from an aircraft to a surface ship.
On this day 27th July
On this day in 2012 the opening ceremony of the London Olympics took place in preparation for the games which began the following day.
On this day 28th July
On the 28th July 1914 Austria-Hungary declares war on and starts hostilities with Serbia effectively igniting a conflict which ultimately would engulf the whole World – the First World War.
On this day 29th July
On the 29th July 1864 John Sharman Fowler was born. Frontier. Fowler was appointed Director of Army Signals in 1914. During WW1 he was Mentioned in Despatches eight times and in 1917 was promoted to major general.
On this day 30th July
On the 30th July 1966 England won the FIFA World Cup final against Germany 4 -2 at Wembley Stadium with veteran Royal Signaller Gordon Banks in goal.
On this day 31st July
On this day in 2007 Operation Banner – the operational name for the British Armed Forces’ operation in Northern Ireland – came to an end.
August
On this day 1st August
On the 1st August 1936 Adolf Hitler opened the Berlin Olympics. The games were the first to be televised, and radio broadcasts reached 41 countries.
On this day 2nd August
On the 2nd August 1880, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was
officially adopted by the UK Parliament.
On this day 3rd August
On the 3rd August 1929 Emil Berliner died. Berliner invented an improved telephone transmitter – one of the first type of microphone. Alexander Graham Bell was so impressed he bought the rights from Berliner for $50,000.
On this day 4th August
On the 4th August 1921 a facsimile (fax) was transmitted for the first time by wireless across the Atlantic Ocean using the Belinograph invented by Eduard Belin.
On this day 5th August
On the 5th August 1920 the Corps of Signals became the Royal Corps of Signals.
On this day 6th August
On the 6th August 1970 Major-General Algernon Clement Fuller CBE died. In 1915 he invented the Fullerphone,which was brought into service in 1916.
On this day 7th August
On the 7th August 1942 Lieutenant General Gott and Signalman Cox were Killed in North Africa.
On this day 8th August
On the 8th August 1991 a High Frequency (HF) radio on a Hercules had failed, jeopardising an important mission – the release of John McCarthy
On this day 9th August
On the 9th August 1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met at Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland in Canada to create what later became known as The Atlantic Charter.
On this day 10th August
On the 10th August 1920 The Treaty of Sèvres was signed. The treaty was designed to dismantle the Ottoman Empire and in doing so it virtually abolished Turkish sovereignty.
On this day 11th August
On the 11th August 2003 The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) took the leadership role in providing security in and around Kabul in Afghanistan.
On this day 12th August
On the 12th August 1961 an order authorising the closure of the border with West Germany was signed.
On this day 13th August
On the 13th August 2006 Jack Edwards OBE died aged 88.
Edwards spent some time in the notorious Changi jail before being moved to Taiwan where he was a Prisoner of War (POW).
On this day 14th August
On the 14th August 1894 the first wireless transmission of information using Morse code was demonstrated by Oliver Lodge during a meeting of the British Association at Oxford.
On this day 15th August
On the 15th August 1945 Japan surrendered and the Second world War effectively came to an end.
On this day 16th August
On the 16th August 1960 Cyprus attained independence from the United Kingdom.
On this day 17th August
On the 17th August 2000 Myra came into service to replace Euromux. Responsibility for programme implementation was given to Commander 11th Signal Brigade, Brig Jonathan Cook, and Capt John Hiorns, who was the in-theatre programme manager.
On this day 18th August
On the 18th August 1942 an ambush at Duncan’s Piquet resulted in Lance Serjeant Percy Everitt Cook being killed and Signalman Cecil Punter and an un-named Indian signaller wounded.
On this day 19th August
On the 19th August 1942 Operation Jubilee (the Dieppe Raid) took place. This was an Allied amphibious attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe.
On this day 20th August
On the 20th August 1911, a despatcher in the New York Times office sent the first telegram around the world via a commercial service.
On this day 21st August
On the 21st August 1915 Private Potts was wounded in the attack on Scimitar Hill in Gallipoli.
Potts although wounded remained for over 48 hours under the Turkish trenches…
On this day 22nd August
On the 22nd August 1932 the first experimental television programme produced by the BBC was broadcast.
On this day 23rd August
On the 23rd August 1875 William Henry Eccles was born. Eccles was a British physicist and a pioneer in the development of radio communication.
On this day 24th August
On the 24th August 1995 Microsoft Windows 95 went on sale to the general public for the first time.
On this day 25th August
On the 25th August 1956 George Washington Pierce died. Pierce was an inventor and pioneer in wireless telephony and a noted teacher of communication engineering.
On this day 26th August
On the 26th August 1873 Lee de Forest was born. De Forest was an American inventor, self-described ‘Father of Radio’ and a pioneer in the development of sound-on-film recording.
On this day 27th August
On this day in 1933 John Agar died. Heroically ‘He died that others might live.’
The Agar Memorial Prize is awarded to the best Royal Signals officer cadet from each intake at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; is has been awarded since 1934.Lieutenant John Agar was born on 13 January 1910. He was educated at Eton and was commissioned from the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, in January 1930. After his qualifying course at Catterick, he joined 3rd Divisional Signals at Bulford, where he quickly made his reputation as an excellent regimental officer commanding ‘E’ Section, supporting one of the division’s artillery regiments. He was an athlete and a mainstay of the regimental athletics team as a middle distance runner.
On 27 August 1933, Lieutenant Agar was with four of his soldiers at Studland Bay, Dorset. Two men, Drivers T. Brown and J. H. Castle, got into difficulty in deep water 100 yards from shore and Lieutenant Agar went to their rescue. He managed to save Brown but in attempting to rescue Driver Castle he was drowned; Castle was later brought in by others. Lieutenant Agar was buried with military honours in Tidworth Military Cemetery. His sacrifice was recognised by the Royal Humane Society In Memoriam Testimonial on Vellum and the Certificate of the Carnegie Hero Trust Fund. Later that year his parents donated a silver ‘victor ludorum’ cup to 3rd Divisional Signals that was to be competed for annually at the regimental athletics meeting; it was first won the following year by Lance Corporal J. Etchells, a fellow runner in the athletics team and a well-regarded Corps rugby player and all-round sportsman. The first Agar Memorial Prize was presented to Gentleman Cadet B. H. P. Barnes (later Colonel B. H. P. Barnes OBE).
On this day 28th August
On this day in 1941 Derek Baynham—schoolboy gallantry earns a George Medal.
On this day 29th August
On this day in 1897 one of Royal Signals’ most successful operational signallers Major General C M F White was born.
On this day 30th August
On the 30th August 1963 the first message was transmitted over the Moscow–Washington hotline.
On this day 31st August
On this day in 1921 the First World War ended. Although many consider that the First World War ended with the Armistice on 11 November 1918, it did not end officially until almost three years later…
On this day 1st August
On the 1st August 1936 Adolf Hitler opened the Berlin Olympics. The games were the first to be televised, and radio broadcasts reached 41 countries.
On this day 2nd August
On the 2nd August 1880, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was
officially adopted by the UK Parliament.
On this day 3rd August
On the 3rd August 1929 Emil Berliner died. Berliner invented an improved telephone transmitter – one of the first type of microphone. Alexander Graham Bell was so impressed he bought the rights from Berliner for $50,000.
On this day 4th August
On the 4th August 1921 a facsimile (fax) was transmitted for the first time by wireless across the Atlantic Ocean using the Belinograph invented by Eduard Belin.
On this day 5th August
On the 5th August 1920 the Corps of Signals became the Royal Corps of Signals.
On this day 6th August
On the 6th August 1970 Major-General Algernon Clement Fuller CBE died. In 1915 he invented the Fullerphone,which was brought into service in 1916.
On this day 7th August
On the 7th August 1942 Lieutenant General Gott and Signalman Cox were Killed in North Africa.
On this day 8th August
On the 8th August 1991 a High Frequency (HF) radio on a Hercules had failed, jeopardising an important mission – the release of John McCarthy
On this day 9th August
On the 9th August 1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met at Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland in Canada to create what later became known as The Atlantic Charter.
On this day 10th August
On the 10th August 1920 The Treaty of Sèvres was signed. The treaty was designed to dismantle the Ottoman Empire and in doing so it virtually abolished Turkish sovereignty.
On this day 11th August
On the 11th August 2003 The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) took the leadership role in providing security in and around Kabul in Afghanistan.
On this day 12th August
On the 12th August 1961 an order authorising the closure of the border with West Germany was signed.
On this day 13th August
On the 13th August 2006 Jack Edwards OBE died aged 88.
Edwards spent some time in the notorious Changi jail before being moved to Taiwan where he was a Prisoner of War (POW).
On this day 14th August
On the 14th August 1894 the first wireless transmission of information using Morse code was demonstrated by Oliver Lodge during a meeting of the British Association at Oxford.
On this day 15th August
On the 15th August 1945 Japan surrendered and the Second world War effectively came to an end.
On this day 16th August
On the 16th August 1960 Cyprus attained independence from the United Kingdom.
On this day 17th August
On the 17th August 2000 Myra came into service to replace Euromux. Responsibility for programme implementation was given to Commander 11th Signal Brigade, Brig Jonathan Cook, and Capt John Hiorns, who was the in-theatre programme manager.
On this day 18th August
On the 18th August 1942 an ambush at Duncan’s Piquet resulted in Lance Serjeant Percy Everitt Cook being killed and Signalman Cecil Punter and an un-named Indian signaller wounded.
On this day 19th August
On the 19th August 1942 Operation Jubilee (the Dieppe Raid) took place. This was an Allied amphibious attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe.
On this day 20th August
On the 20th August 1911, a despatcher in the New York Times office sent the first telegram around the world via a commercial service.
On this day 21st August
On the 21st August 1915 Private Potts was wounded in the attack on Scimitar Hill in Gallipoli.
Potts although wounded remained for over 48 hours under the Turkish trenches…
On this day 22nd August
On the 22nd August 1932 the first experimental television programme produced by the BBC was broadcast.
On this day 23rd August
On the 23rd August 1875 William Henry Eccles was born. Eccles was a British physicist and a pioneer in the development of radio communication.
On this day 24th August
On the 24th August 1995 Microsoft Windows 95 went on sale to the general public for the first time.
On this day 25th August
On the 25th August 1956 George Washington Pierce died. Pierce was an inventor and pioneer in wireless telephony and a noted teacher of communication engineering.
On this day 26th August
On the 26th August 1873 Lee de Forest was born. De Forest was an American inventor, self-described ‘Father of Radio’ and a pioneer in the development of sound-on-film recording.
On this day 27th August
On this day in 1933 John Agar died. Heroically ‘He died that others might live.’
The Agar Memorial Prize is awarded to the best Royal Signals officer cadet from each intake at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; is has been awarded since 1934.Lieutenant John Agar was born on 13 January 1910. He was educated at Eton and was commissioned from the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, in January 1930. After his qualifying course at Catterick, he joined 3rd Divisional Signals at Bulford, where he quickly made his reputation as an excellent regimental officer commanding ‘E’ Section, supporting one of the division’s artillery regiments. He was an athlete and a mainstay of the regimental athletics team as a middle distance runner.
On 27 August 1933, Lieutenant Agar was with four of his soldiers at Studland Bay, Dorset. Two men, Drivers T. Brown and J. H. Castle, got into difficulty in deep water 100 yards from shore and Lieutenant Agar went to their rescue. He managed to save Brown but in attempting to rescue Driver Castle he was drowned; Castle was later brought in by others. Lieutenant Agar was buried with military honours in Tidworth Military Cemetery. His sacrifice was recognised by the Royal Humane Society In Memoriam Testimonial on Vellum and the Certificate of the Carnegie Hero Trust Fund. Later that year his parents donated a silver ‘victor ludorum’ cup to 3rd Divisional Signals that was to be competed for annually at the regimental athletics meeting; it was first won the following year by Lance Corporal J. Etchells, a fellow runner in the athletics team and a well-regarded Corps rugby player and all-round sportsman. The first Agar Memorial Prize was presented to Gentleman Cadet B. H. P. Barnes (later Colonel B. H. P. Barnes OBE).
On this day 28th August
On this day in 1941 Derek Baynham—schoolboy gallantry earns a George Medal.
On this day 29th August
On this day in 1897 one of Royal Signals’ most successful operational signallers Major General C M F White was born.
On this day 30th August
On the 30th August 1963 the first message was transmitted over the Moscow–Washington hotline.
On this day 31st August
On this day in 1921 the First World War ended. Although many consider that the First World War ended with the Armistice on 11 November 1918, it did not end officially until almost three years later…
September
On this day 1st September
On the 1st September 1878 Emma Nutt became the first female telephone operator. She started work as such in Boston, USA.
On this day 2nd September
On the 2nd September 1973 John Ronald Reuel Tolkien died.
Best known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Tolkien served in the Somme as a Regimental Signals Officer
On this day 3rd September
On the 3rd September 1939 Prestatyn Holiday Camp in North Wales twas taken over by Royal Signals forcing holiday makers to pack their bags and return home.
On this day 4th September
On the 4th September 2000, Signaller James Russell rescued a driver trapped when is car spun out of control.
On this day 5th September
On the 5th September 1959 the UK’s first trunk call was made from a from a pay phone.
On this day 6th September
On the 6th September 1879, the Telephone Company Ltd opened the first public British telephone exchange in Lombard Street, London.
On this day 7th September
On the 7th September 1940 Germany started its Blitz on London. The first of 57 consecutive nights of bombing.
On this day 8th September
On the 8th September 1943, the Allies announces that Italy had surrendered.
On this day 9th September
On the 9th September 2015 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II became the UK’s longest reigning monarch.
On this day 10th September
On the 10th September 1945 Typhoon Ursula brings tragedy at the end of the war against Japan
On this day 11th September
On the 11 September 2001 Al-Qaeda intentionally crashed hijacked commercial airplanes into the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon.
On this day 12th September
On the 12th September 1953 Nikita Khrushchev became first secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
On this day 13th September
On the 13th September 1943 Lieutenant JY Ferguson escaped from Campo 29 in Italy and went on to rescue a group of very senior officer.
On this day 14th September
On this day 14th September 1979 Hafizullah Amin the Afghan Prime Minister overthrew the President Nur Mohammad Taraki and declared himself president.
On this day 15th September
On the 15th September 1916 tanks were used in combat for the first time.
On this day 16th September
On the 16th September 1989 two soldiers conducting a rigging task in County Tyrone were fired at by a Provisional IRA gunman.
On this day 17th September
On the 17th September 1944 Operation Market Garden was launched.
On this day 18th September
On the 18th September 1967 Nobel Prize Winner Sir John Cockcroft died.
On this day 19th September
On the 19 September 1944 the pigeon William of Orange carried a despatch back to the UK from the Battle of Arnhem to the UK.
On this day 20th September
On the 20th September 1954 a team at led by John Backus ran the first successful FORTRAN program.
On this day 21st September
On the 21st September 1981 Belize gained independence from the UK but because Guatemala had an historic claim to sovereignty, the British maintained a garrison…
On this day 22nd September
On the 22nd September 2014 after 48 hours’ notice, Lt Joe Willden led a 10-person team from 258 Signal Squadron’s Early Entry Headquarters (EEHQ) to Freetown, Sierra Leone as part of Op Gritrock.
On this day 23 September
On the 23 September 1954 Queen’s Gurkha Signal Regiment was formed. On this day in 1940 King George VI announces the institution of the George Cross and the George Medal.
On this day 24th September
On the 24th September 1943 Lieutenant S. R. Armitage and Lieutenant J. D. Hawley, clandestine radio operators on the Thai-Burma railway. died.
On this day 25th September
On the 25th September 1820 Francois Arago announced the first occurrence of electromagnetism.
On this day 26th September
On the 26th September 1983 Lt Col Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov prevented a nuclear attack and possibly a nuclear war.
On this day 27th September
On 27 September 2015 cricketer Frank Tyson died. Frank Tyson made his first-class cricket debut for Northants in 1952 while on National Service in the Corps.
On this day 28th September
On the 28th September 1970 Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein died. In 1952, Nasser with other military officers staged a coup that overthrew the monarchy.
On this day 29th September
On 29 September 1923 Britain’s mandate from the League of Nations to govern Palestine began. This was followed by 16 years of almost continuous conflict.
On this day 30th September
On the 30th September 1938 the Munich Agreement was signed. Chamberlain returned to the UK waved the agreement and said ‘This means peace in our time’.
On this day 1st September
On the 1st September 1878 Emma Nutt became the first female telephone operator. She started work as such in Boston, USA.
On this day 2nd September
On the 2nd September 1973 John Ronald Reuel Tolkien died.
Best known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Tolkien served in the Somme as a Regimental Signals Officer
On this day 3rd September
On the 3rd September 1939 Prestatyn Holiday Camp in North Wales twas taken over by Royal Signals forcing holiday makers to pack their bags and return home.
On this day 4th September
On the 4th September 2000, Signaller James Russell rescued a driver trapped when is car spun out of control.
On this day 5th September
On the 5th September 1959 the UK’s first trunk call was made from a from a pay phone.
On this day 6th September
On the 6th September 1879, the Telephone Company Ltd opened the first public British telephone exchange in Lombard Street, London.
On this day 7th September
On the 7th September 1940 Germany started its Blitz on London. The first of 57 consecutive nights of bombing.
On this day 8th September
On the 8th September 1943, the Allies announces that Italy had surrendered.
On this day 9th September
On the 9th September 2015 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II became the UK’s longest reigning monarch.
On this day 10th September
On the 10th September 1945 Typhoon Ursula brings tragedy at the end of the war against Japan
On this day 11th September
On the 11 September 2001 Al-Qaeda intentionally crashed hijacked commercial airplanes into the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon.
On this day 12th September
On the 12th September 1953 Nikita Khrushchev became first secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
On this day 13th September
On the 13th September 1943 Lieutenant JY Ferguson escaped from Campo 29 in Italy and went on to rescue a group of very senior officer.
On this day 14th September
On this day 14th September 1979 Hafizullah Amin the Afghan Prime Minister overthrew the President Nur Mohammad Taraki and declared himself president.
On this day 15th September
On the 15th September 1916 tanks were used in combat for the first time.
On this day 16th September
On the 16th September 1989 two soldiers conducting a rigging task in County Tyrone were fired at by a Provisional IRA gunman.
On this day 17th September
On the 17th September 1944 Operation Market Garden was launched.
On this day 18th September
On the 18th September 1967 Nobel Prize Winner Sir John Cockcroft died.
On this day 19th September
On the 19 September 1944 the pigeon William of Orange carried a despatch back to the UK from the Battle of Arnhem to the UK.
On this day 20th September
On the 20th September 1954 a team at led by John Backus ran the first successful FORTRAN program.
On this day 21st September
On the 21st September 1981 Belize gained independence from the UK but because Guatemala had an historic claim to sovereignty, the British maintained a garrison…
On this day 22nd September
On the 22nd September 2014 after 48 hours’ notice, Lt Joe Willden led a 10-person team from 258 Signal Squadron’s Early Entry Headquarters (EEHQ) to Freetown, Sierra Leone as part of Op Gritrock.
On this day 23 September
On the 23 September 1954 Queen’s Gurkha Signal Regiment was formed. On this day in 1940 King George VI announces the institution of the George Cross and the George Medal.
On this day 24th September
On the 24th September 1943 Lieutenant S. R. Armitage and Lieutenant J. D. Hawley, clandestine radio operators on the Thai-Burma railway. died.
On this day 25th September
On the 25th September 1820 Francois Arago announced the first occurrence of electromagnetism.
On this day 26th September
On the 26th September 1983 Lt Col Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov prevented a nuclear attack and possibly a nuclear war.
On this day 27th September
On 27 September 2015 cricketer Frank Tyson died. Frank Tyson made his first-class cricket debut for Northants in 1952 while on National Service in the Corps.
On this day 28th September
On the 28th September 1970 Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein died. In 1952, Nasser with other military officers staged a coup that overthrew the monarchy.
On this day 29th September
On 29 September 1923 Britain’s mandate from the League of Nations to govern Palestine began. This was followed by 16 years of almost continuous conflict.
On this day 30th September
On the 30th September 1938 the Munich Agreement was signed. Chamberlain returned to the UK waved the agreement and said ‘This means peace in our time’.
October
On this day 1st October
On the 1st October 2011 the line belt was withdrawn from Royal Signals working dress.
On this day 2nd October
On 2nd October 1942 Signalman Arnold Topliff, Hong Kong Signal Company, showed bravery under truly appalling conditions for which he was awarded the British Empire Medal.
On this day 3rd October
On the 3rd October 1936 Major General Ian Sprackling OBE was born.
On this day 4th October
On the 4th October 1917 Pigeon 2709 died. He had earlier been despatched to take a signal to brigade HQ.
On this day 5th October
On the 5th October 2011 Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer aged 56.
On this day 6th October
On the 6th October 1866 Reginald Fessenden was born in Canada. Fessenden was an early pioneer of AM radio/ wireless telephony.
On this day 7th October
On the 7th October 1952 Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born.
On this day 8th October
On the 8th October 1985 Signalman Clive Sullivan died. Sullivan started playing rugby league for Hull FC while still in the Army. Later he became the first black player to captain a British national team in a major sport.
On this day 9th October
On the 9 October 2015 Baron Howe of Aberavon CH, PC, QC and Royal Signals veteran died.
On this day 10th October
On the 10th October 1957 the world’s first major nuclear accident occurred – the Windscale Fire in Cumbria.
On this day 11th October
On 11 October 1899 the Second Boer War broke out.
On this day 12th October
On the 12th October 1984 a Provisional IRA bomb exploded in the Brighton Grand Hotel. The target was British Government.
On this day 13th October
On the 13th October 1868 Thomas Edison executed the first of 1093 US patents.
On this day 14th October
On the 14th October 1926 AA Milne published Winnie the Pooh.
On this day 15th October
On the 15th October 2015 the funeral of Eric Lomax took place.
On this day 16th October
On the 16th October 1998 Jon Postel, an American computer scientist, died at the age of 55.
On this day 17th October
On the 17th October 1979, VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet program for personal computers, was released.
On this day 18th October
On the 18th October 1922 the BBC was formed. it was originally owned by a group of leading wireless manufacturers including Marconi.
On this day 19th October
On the 19 October 1875 British inventor Sir Charles Wheatstone died.
On this day 20th October
On the 20th October 1943 escaped prisoner of war Signalman J Glacy arrived in Sweden.
On this day 21st October
On the 21st October 1805 the Battle of Trafalgar was fought. Shortly before the fleets engaged Nelson decided to send a message showing his trust in his men.
On this day 22nd October
On 22nd October 1797 André-Jacques Garnerin made the first successful parachute jump from a balloon above Paris.
On this day 23rd October
On the 23rd October 1932 Capt Percy Lemon died. He was the wireless operator on the 1930–31 British Arctic Air Route Expedition to Eastern Greenland.
On this day 24th October
On the 24th October 1945 the United Nations officially came into existence. By 2020 the UN had grown to a membership of 193 countries.
On this day 25th October
On 25 October 1917 the Russian Revolution began. 25 October is St Crispin’s Day and on that day in 1415 the Battle of Agincourt took place and in 1854 the Charge of the Light Brigade occurred.
On this day 26th October
On the 26th October 1998 a Czech Mi-17 helicopter crashed in Bosnia in severe storms. The UK coordinated search and rescue efforts with the Czech Brigade.
On this day 27th October
On the 27th October 1917 Major Alexander Lafone, Middlesex Yeomanry, won a posthumous Victoria Cross.
On this day 28th October
On this day 29th October
On the 29th October 1969 the first message was sent between two separate host computers over ARPANET the precursor to the Internet.
On this day 30th October
On the 30th October 1925 John Logie Baird made the world’s first television transmission of a moving image.
On this day 31st October
On the 31st October 1926 Narinder Singh Kapany, one of the pioneers of fibre optics, was born in India.
On this day 1st October
On the 1st October 2011 the line belt was withdrawn from Royal Signals working dress.
On this day 2nd October
On 2nd October 1942 Signalman Arnold Topliff, Hong Kong Signal Company, showed bravery under truly appalling conditions for which he was awarded the British Empire Medal.
On this day 3rd October
On the 3rd October 1936 Major General Ian Sprackling OBE was born.
On this day 4th October
On the 4th October 1917 Pigeon 2709 died. He had earlier been despatched to take a signal to brigade HQ.
On this day 5th October
On the 5th October 2011 Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer aged 56.
On this day 6th October
On the 6th October 1866 Reginald Fessenden was born in Canada. Fessenden was an early pioneer of AM radio/ wireless telephony.
On this day 7th October
On the 7th October 1952 Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born.
On this day 8th October
On the 8th October 1985 Signalman Clive Sullivan died. Sullivan started playing rugby league for Hull FC while still in the Army. Later he became the first black player to captain a British national team in a major sport.
On this day 9th October
On the 9 October 2015 Baron Howe of Aberavon CH, PC, QC and Royal Signals veteran died.
On this day 10th October
On the 10th October 1957 the world’s first major nuclear accident occurred – the Windscale Fire in Cumbria.
On this day 11th October
On 11 October 1899 the Second Boer War broke out.
On this day 12th October
On the 12th October 1984 a Provisional IRA bomb exploded in the Brighton Grand Hotel. The target was British Government.
On this day 13th October
On the 13th October 1868 Thomas Edison executed the first of 1093 US patents.
On this day 14th October
On the 14th October 1926 AA Milne published Winnie the Pooh.
On this day 15th October
On the 15th October 2015 the funeral of Eric Lomax took place.
On this day 16th October
On the 16th October 1998 Jon Postel, an American computer scientist, died at the age of 55.
On this day 17th October
On the 17th October 1979, VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet program for personal computers, was released.
On this day 18th October
On the 18th October 1922 the BBC was formed. it was originally owned by a group of leading wireless manufacturers including Marconi.
On this day 19th October
On the 19 October 1875 British inventor Sir Charles Wheatstone died.
On this day 20th October
On the 20th October 1943 escaped prisoner of war Signalman J Glacy arrived in Sweden.
On this day 21st October
On the 21st October 1805 the Battle of Trafalgar was fought. Shortly before the fleets engaged Nelson decided to send a message showing his trust in his men.
On this day 22nd October
On 22nd October 1797 André-Jacques Garnerin made the first successful parachute jump from a balloon above Paris.
On this day 23rd October
On the 23rd October 1932 Capt Percy Lemon died. He was the wireless operator on the 1930–31 British Arctic Air Route Expedition to Eastern Greenland.
On this day 24th October
On the 24th October 1945 the United Nations officially came into existence. By 2020 the UN had grown to a membership of 193 countries.
On this day 25th October
On 25 October 1917 the Russian Revolution began. 25 October is St Crispin’s Day and on that day in 1415 the Battle of Agincourt took place and in 1854 the Charge of the Light Brigade occurred.
On this day 26th October
On the 26th October 1998 a Czech Mi-17 helicopter crashed in Bosnia in severe storms. The UK coordinated search and rescue efforts with the Czech Brigade.
On this day 27th October
On the 27th October 1917 Major Alexander Lafone, Middlesex Yeomanry, won a posthumous Victoria Cross.
On this day 28th October
On this day 29th October
On the 29th October 1969 the first message was sent between two separate host computers over ARPANET the precursor to the Internet.
On this day 30th October
On the 30th October 1925 John Logie Baird made the world’s first television transmission of a moving image.
On this day 31st October
On the 31st October 1926 Narinder Singh Kapany, one of the pioneers of fibre optics, was born in India.
November
On this day 1st November
On the 1st November 1952 the United States detonated the world’s first hydrogen bomb on Eniwetok atoll in the Pacific.
On this day 2nd November
On the 2nd November 1815 mathematician George Boole – founding father of Boolean algebra – was born.
On this day 3rd November
On the 3rd November 1953 Canadian soldier, Colonel Elroy Forde, OBE, DSO, died.
On this day 4th November
On the 4th November 1942
Operation Supercharge breakthrough occurred.
On this day 5th November
On the 5th November 1879 James Clerk Maxwell died. Einstein described Maxwell’s work as: ‘the most profound and the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Isaac Newton’.
On this day 6th November
On the 6th November 1956
Anglo French Forces took control of Suez Canal.
On this day 7th November
On the 7th November 1971 the first soldier was killed during the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’.
On this day 8th November
On the 8th November 1923 the father of the Micro chip, Jack Kilby was born. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in
2000.
On this day 9th November
On the 9th November 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. Following mass demonstrations in East Berlin the East German government announced that all its borders and checkpoints would be opened.
On this day 10th November
On the 10th November
On This day 1922 Major General and Master of Signals.
John Michael Watson Badcock, was born.
On this day 11th November
On the 11th November 1918 hostilities ceased along the entire Western Front of Europe and so brought an end to the Great War.
On this day 12th November
On the 12th November 1937 Turing published his seminal paper “On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem (Decision Problem)”
On this day 13th November
On the 13th November 1851 a message was first transmitted through the submarine cable from Calais to Dover.
On this day 14th November
On the 14th November 1940 the Coventry was bombed. Coventry was well established as an industrial city so it became a natural target for the Luftwaffe.
On this day 15th November
On the 15th November 1891 Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel was born. Popularly known as the ‘Desert Fox’ Rommel served in the Imperial Germany during World War I and as Field Marshal in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II.
On this day 16th November
On the 16th November 1941 ‘C’ Force—a Canadian reinforcement contingent requested by the War Office arrived in Hong Kong.
On this day 17th November
On the 17th November 1929 inventor Herman Hollerith, one of the seminal figures in the development of data processing, died.
On this day 18th November
On the 18th November 1951 Sergeant JG Christie of Egypt Command Signal Regiment risked his life to recover the body of an Intelligence Corps officer killed by renegade policemen.
On this day 20th November
On the20th November 1935 Constable RCV Mott BEM, former sergeant Royal Signals died in Palestine. He who would be awarded a posthumous King’s Police Medal for Gallantry, the first such award to the Palestine Police.
On this day 21st November
On the 21st November 1941 Lt Col RPG Denman died in an air crash in eastern Libya during a jamming mission.
On this day 22 November
On the 22 November 1969 Skynet – the world’s first geostationary defence communications satellite – launched.
On this day 23rd November
On the 23 November 1910 a Wireless Telegram captured Crippen.
On this day 24th November
On the 24th November 1972 Sir Basil Ferdinand Jamieson Schonland CBE died.
On this day 25th November
On the 25th November 1895 Maj R N DODDS MBE MC DCM MM.
was born.
Dodds was one of only two men ever to be awarded the combination of MBE, MC, DCM and MM.
On this day 26th November
On the 26th November 1942 a key viaduct was destroyed in the Battle of Gorgopotamu.
On this day 28th November
On the 28th November Signalman GH Jones earned a Meritorious Service Medal for gallantry for fighting off armed brigands.
On this day 29th November
On the 29th November, the ‘Hell Ship’ Suez Maru was sunk in the Java Sea claiming the lives of 548 prisoners of war, including 17 Royal Signals soldiers.
On this day 30th November
On the 30th November 1874 Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born to a wealthy, aristocratic family. He found fame as an army officer, journalist, writer, politician Prime Minster and statesman.
On this day 1st November
On the 1st November 1952 the United States detonated the world’s first hydrogen bomb on Eniwetok atoll in the Pacific.
On this day 2nd November
On the 2nd November 1815 mathematician George Boole – founding father of Boolean algebra – was born.
On this day 3rd November
On the 3rd November 1953 Canadian soldier, Colonel Elroy Forde, OBE, DSO, died.
On this day 4th November
On the 4th November 1942
Operation Supercharge breakthrough occurred.
On this day 5th November
On the 5th November 1879 James Clerk Maxwell died. Einstein described Maxwell’s work as: ‘the most profound and the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Isaac Newton’.
On this day 6th November
On the 6th November 1956
Anglo French Forces took control of Suez Canal.
On this day 7th November
On the 7th November 1971 the first soldier was killed during the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’.
On this day 8th November
On the 8th November 1923 the father of the Micro chip, Jack Kilby was born. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in
2000.
On this day 9th November
On the 9th November 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. Following mass demonstrations in East Berlin the East German government announced that all its borders and checkpoints would be opened.
On this day 10th November
On the 10th November
On This day 1922 Major General and Master of Signals.
John Michael Watson Badcock, was born.
On this day 11th November
On the 11th November 1918 hostilities ceased along the entire Western Front of Europe and so brought an end to the Great War.
On this day 12th November
On the 12th November 1937 Turing published his seminal paper “On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem (Decision Problem)”
On this day 13th November
On the 13th November 1851 a message was first transmitted through the submarine cable from Calais to Dover.
On this day 14th November
On the 14th November 1940 the Coventry was bombed. Coventry was well established as an industrial city so it became a natural target for the Luftwaffe.
On this day 15th November
On the 15th November 1891 Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel was born. Popularly known as the ‘Desert Fox’ Rommel served in the Imperial Germany during World War I and as Field Marshal in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II.
On this day 16th November
On the 16th November 1941 ‘C’ Force—a Canadian reinforcement contingent requested by the War Office arrived in Hong Kong.
On this day 17th November
On the 17th November 1929 inventor Herman Hollerith, one of the seminal figures in the development of data processing, died.
On this day 18th November
On the 18th November 1951 Sergeant JG Christie of Egypt Command Signal Regiment risked his life to recover the body of an Intelligence Corps officer killed by renegade policemen.
On this day 20th November
On the20th November 1935 Constable RCV Mott BEM, former sergeant Royal Signals died in Palestine. He who would be awarded a posthumous King’s Police Medal for Gallantry, the first such award to the Palestine Police.
On this day 21st November
On the 21st November 1941 Lt Col RPG Denman died in an air crash in eastern Libya during a jamming mission.
On this day 22 November
On the 22 November 1969 Skynet – the world’s first geostationary defence communications satellite – launched.
On this day 23rd November
On the 23 November 1910 a Wireless Telegram captured Crippen.
On this day 24th November
On the 24th November 1972 Sir Basil Ferdinand Jamieson Schonland CBE died.
On this day 25th November
On the 25th November 1895 Maj R N DODDS MBE MC DCM MM.
was born.
Dodds was one of only two men ever to be awarded the combination of MBE, MC, DCM and MM.
On this day 26th November
On the 26th November 1942 a key viaduct was destroyed in the Battle of Gorgopotamu.
On this day 28th November
On the 28th November Signalman GH Jones earned a Meritorious Service Medal for gallantry for fighting off armed brigands.
On this day 29th November
On the 29th November, the ‘Hell Ship’ Suez Maru was sunk in the Java Sea claiming the lives of 548 prisoners of war, including 17 Royal Signals soldiers.
On this day 30th November
On the 30th November 1874 Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born to a wealthy, aristocratic family. He found fame as an army officer, journalist, writer, politician Prime Minster and statesman.
December
On this day 1st December
On the 1st December 1922 Malta Signal Section became operational.
On this day 2nd December
On the 2nd December 1943
Pigeon ‘Winkie’ was awarded the animal VC for assisting in the rescue of an aircrew forced to ditch in the North Sea during the Second World War.
On this day 3rd December
On this day 4th December
On the 4th December 2012 Major General AJ Deane-Drummond CB DSO MC & Bar died.
On this day 5th December
On the 5th December 1946 Ravensbrück War Crimes Trials took place.
On this day 6th December
On the 6th December 1980 Major General R W McLeod GBE, KCB died. His work on the McLeod Committee resulted in significant changes in the Corps.
On this day 7th December
On the 7th December 1941, 183 aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbour on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
On this day 8th December
On the 8th December 1941 the Japanese attacked Hong Kong, four hours (Hong Kong Time) after the attack on Pearl Harbour.
On this day 9th December
On the 9th December 1917 the Ottoman forces in Jerusalem surrendered – offering the keys of the city to the British Forces in an attempt to protect the Holy sites from destruction.
On this day 10th December
On the 10th December 1815 Ada Lovelace – the world’s first computer programmer – was born.
On this day 11th December
On the11th December 1896 a radio receiver was demonstrated at the William Preece lecture.
On this day 12th December
On the 12th December 1914 Major General Peter Edward Moore Bradley CB CBE DSO was born.
On this day 13th December
On the 13th December 1944, insurgents of the Greek People’s Liberation Army (ELAS) attacked the headquarters of 23rd Armoured Brigade.
On this day 14th December
On the 14 December 1922 Soviet physicist Nikolai Basov was born.
On this day 15th December
On the 15th December 1899 the Battle of Colenso took place. This was the third battle of the Boer War fought by the British that week.
On this day 16th December
On the 16th December 2014 Brigadier Keith H Olds died.
On this day 17th December
On the 7th December 1778 chemist and inventor Humphry Davy was born.
On this day 18th December
On the 18th December 1941 the Second National Service Act came into force imposing conscription on all males aged between 18 and 41.
On this day 19th December
On the 19th December 1975
Brigadier Henry Robinson Elsdale died. For his co operation and dedication with assisting the Americans’ development in communications, he was appointed Officer of the Legion of Merit.
On this day 20th December
On this day 1931 Lt Colonel Rodney ‘Benny’ Goodman OBE BEM was born. He was awarded the OBE for improving the communications equipment used to support the SAS
On this day 21st December
On the 21st December 2010 Cpl Steven T Dunn was killed in Afghanistan.
On this day 22nd December
On the 22nd December 1905 Tommy Flowers was born
On this day 23rd December
On the 23rd December 1938 Robert Kahn – the co-inventor of the TCP/IP protocol – was born.
On this day 24th December
On the 24th December 1979 the Soviet Union Invaded Afghanistan.
On this day 25th December
On the 25th December 2000 Lt Col James Yule died. A PoW he was incarcerated in Colditz Castle.
On this day 26th December
On the 26th December 1791 computer pioneer Charles Babbage was born.
On this day 27th December
On 27th December 1917 the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire was instituted in part to recognise civilians and the working classes.
On this day 28th December
On this day 29th December
On the 29th December 1940 ‘The Blitz’ bravery of Signalman Robert Tinto earned him a George Medal.
On this day 30th December
On the 30th December 1922 the USSR was created.
On this day 31st December
On the 31st December 1947 the last day commemoration for WW2 by Commonwealth War Graves Commission occured.
On this day 1st December
On the 1st December 1922 Malta Signal Section became operational.
On this day 2nd December
On the 2nd December 1943
Pigeon ‘Winkie’ was awarded the animal VC for assisting in the rescue of an aircrew forced to ditch in the North Sea during the Second World War.
On this day 3rd December
On this day 4th December
On the 4th December 2012 Major General AJ Deane-Drummond CB DSO MC & Bar died.
On this day 5th December
On the 5th December 1946 Ravensbrück War Crimes Trials took place.
On this day 6th December
On the 6th December 1980 Major General R W McLeod GBE, KCB died. His work on the McLeod Committee resulted in significant changes in the Corps.
On this day 7th December
On the 7th December 1941, 183 aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbour on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
On this day 8th December
On the 8th December 1941 the Japanese attacked Hong Kong, four hours (Hong Kong Time) after the attack on Pearl Harbour.
On this day 9th December
On the 9th December 1917 the Ottoman forces in Jerusalem surrendered – offering the keys of the city to the British Forces in an attempt to protect the Holy sites from destruction.
On this day 10th December
On the 10th December 1815 Ada Lovelace – the world’s first computer programmer – was born.
On this day 11th December
On the11th December 1896 a radio receiver was demonstrated at the William Preece lecture.
On this day 12th December
On the 12th December 1914 Major General Peter Edward Moore Bradley CB CBE DSO was born.
On this day 13th December
On the 13th December 1944, insurgents of the Greek People’s Liberation Army (ELAS) attacked the headquarters of 23rd Armoured Brigade.
On this day 14th December
On the 14 December 1922 Soviet physicist Nikolai Basov was born.
On this day 15th December
On the 15th December 1899 the Battle of Colenso took place. This was the third battle of the Boer War fought by the British that week.
On this day 16th December
On the 16th December 2014 Brigadier Keith H Olds died.
On this day 17th December
On the 7th December 1778 chemist and inventor Humphry Davy was born.
On this day 18th December
On the 18th December 1941 the Second National Service Act came into force imposing conscription on all males aged between 18 and 41.
On this day 19th December
On the 19th December 1975
Brigadier Henry Robinson Elsdale died. For his co operation and dedication with assisting the Americans’ development in communications, he was appointed Officer of the Legion of Merit.
On this day 20th December
On this day 1931 Lt Colonel Rodney ‘Benny’ Goodman OBE BEM was born. He was awarded the OBE for improving the communications equipment used to support the SAS
On this day 21st December
On the 21st December 2010 Cpl Steven T Dunn was killed in Afghanistan.
On this day 22nd December
On the 22nd December 1905 Tommy Flowers was born
On this day 23rd December
On the 23rd December 1938 Robert Kahn – the co-inventor of the TCP/IP protocol – was born.
On this day 24th December
On the 24th December 1979 the Soviet Union Invaded Afghanistan.
On this day 25th December
On the 25th December 2000 Lt Col James Yule died. A PoW he was incarcerated in Colditz Castle.
On this day 26th December
On the 26th December 1791 computer pioneer Charles Babbage was born.
On this day 27th December
On 27th December 1917 the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire was instituted in part to recognise civilians and the working classes.
On this day 28th December
On this day 29th December
On the 29th December 1940 ‘The Blitz’ bravery of Signalman Robert Tinto earned him a George Medal.
On this day 30th December
On the 30th December 1922 the USSR was created.
On this day 31st December
On the 31st December 1947 the last day commemoration for WW2 by Commonwealth War Graves Commission occured.
