rOYAL SIGNALS MEMORIAL BOOK

The Corps Memorial Book is open to anyone wishing set up a ‘celebration page’ in memory of a loved one or friend. If you wish to set up such a celebration page, (or add a comment/respect to an existing celebration page) click on the relevant name in the Memorial Book, which will take you to the entry form. The Book was created initially using the names of those who passed away from Jan 2010.

Names from all eras are now welcome. To go to the Memorial Book, please click here.

The opportunity is also there to make a donation to the Royal Signals Benevolent Fund in memory of someone special.

mEMORIAL BOOK SUBMISSIONS

If you wish to add a name to the Memorial Book, please send the details below to the Admin Officer, Royal Signals Association at; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Details required are:

Former rank, Christian name(s), Known Christian name/nickname, Surname, decorations, date of death, Service in the Corps (From…. To…….years) Also, if known; former Service number. Once the name is on show, a celebration page can be created.

tHE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM

The National Memorial Arboretum is presently planted with over 40,000 trees and occupies a 150 acre site by the River Tame at Alrewas in South Staffordshire.

It is being created as a living tribute to the people of the Twentieth Century and a gift in their memory for future generations to reflect upon and to enjoy. Although over 60 plots are linked to organisations, it is mostly individuals who are remembered at The Arboretum.

The idea to create a National Memorial Arboretum was conceived in 1988 and got under way in November 1994 when the Prime Minister, John Major, launched the appeal to raise funds. The National Lottery Millennium Commission madea grant of £1.78 million - provided it was matched pound-for-pound.

This was achieved a year earlier than expected and the grant was used to build a fine visitor centre and the only Chapel in the country to be erected to celebrate the millennium. Soon after the appeal was launched there was

sufficient indication of support for the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force plots to be planned.

The Merchant Navy Welfare Board arranged for a tree to be planted for each of the 2,536 British flagged merchant ships lost in the second world war. Smaller service organisations, the Veterans of the Greek Campaign, Burma Star, Dunkirk and Normandy Veterans, and the Berlin Airlift Association followed soon after.

As well as the Armed Forces, plots have been established by,among many others, Police and Fire Services, Rotary and Inner Wheel, Road-Peace (which cares for the relatives of those killed on the roads) and SANDS (The Stillbirth and Neo Natal Death Society).

A new Royal Signals Corps Memorial has been erected at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffs. Donations of over £22k from individual members of the RSA and branches has funded almost the entire cost of the memorial. The Corps is most grateful to those who kindly made a donation. The new memorial was officially unveiled by our Colonel in Chief, HRH The Princess Royal on 20 May 2008, when 1,000 past and present members of the Corps enjoyed a great day. In the summer of 2011, the Memorial was enhanced with additonal surrounding stonework and a low wall. This was kindly arranged through Capt Tom Lappin (QM 37 Sig Regt(V)) and the South Staffs Branch RSA. The photo above shows the enhanced memorial.

Millennium Chapel of Peace

The Royal Signals Association was among the first to have a tree dedicated in the Army area. However, this and subsequent replacement trees died - hence the need for this permanent and more suitable honour to the Corps. Three other trees, in the Mediterranean Area, have been dedicated to 'The Linemen of 1st Army', 'Royal Signals Section, AA Brigade' and 'Royal Signals 'G' Section Attached to 138 City of London Field Regiment 1942-46'.

A crescent of nine copper beech trees with memorial plaques were dedicated to all who served in Air Formation Signal units. These can be found in the Millennium Chapel of Peace and Forgiveness on the site.

Further Information

Further information about the Arboretum may be obtained from:

The National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road, ALREWAS, Staffordshire DE13 7AR
Tel: 01283-792333

or visit the web site at www.nationalmemorialarboretum.org

The Air Formation Signals Crescent

A service was held in the Millennium Chapel of Peace

read more here

Corps WWII War Graves in Belgium and France

Stewart May and his friends spend a lot of time visiting headstones for people who, for one reason or another, can't visit the graves themselves. He takes photographs and loggs each grave.

He has now plotted all the co-ordinates on 3 maps, Belgium, Holland and France. Click below for links to the maps:

Belgium Map

Holland Map

France Map

You can contact Stewart at the following address:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

mEMORIAL DEDICATION CEREMONY

Below are photos taken at the dedication service held on Tuesday 20th May 2008.