Australian Signallers

[Afghan_Digger]

AIF Signallers

I realise that Signallers in general formed a variety of specialised units e.g. Signal Companies as well as participating down to sub-unit level in Regimental positions within Infantry Battalions, Artillery Batteries etc.

The intent of this thread isn’t so much to target one specific unit but to collate what appears to be a significant amount of anecdotal, source and research material which is possessed by members of this forum regarding Signallers serving within the AIF on the Western Front.

Researching any formation or unit of the AIF and you will find probably a brief mention of Signallers, many decorations for gallantry in the face of enemy action whilst performing their duties are recorded. However possibly due to the support nature of their vital work the actual day to day undertakings of these specialists is perhaps not as well known.

So to assist others researching this trade it cannot hurt to collate some of this info to serve as a reference tool or jumping off point at least for others hoping to find out what it was like for this group of soldiers.

Some of the information which I have found interesting:

- The course of instruction for regimental signallers appears to have consisted of 3 months of instruction; the No.2 Training Brigade based out of Fovant was responsible for both the 2nd and 3rd Division Signalling Schools.

These consisted generally of 10-15 instructors (CPL-SGT) drawn from across the Brigades of that Division with 1 or 2 Officers of LT-CAPT rank acting as the Senior Instructor. The course panel from what I have observed appears to have started at around 60 with 10-20 being deemed ineffective for service or failing the final tests.

The AWM website has some very good images taken at the 12th Training Battalion showing the instruction of AIF Signallers through the variety of means they would be expected to use (Signal Lamps, Heliograph, Line and to a lesser degree Flags).

http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/D00248

http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/D00249

- Account of the Battle of Hamel by CPL Hawthorne, Acting Signals Officer 43^rd Battalion, AIF:

On the morning of July 3^rd we relieved the 51^st Bn, but owing to HQ’s late arrival, their Signallers had already gone, therefore there was some difficulty in tracing a heap of unlabelled lines. But after a good deal of trouble, we eventually got into communication with all Companies and Brigade and the right flank battalions by 4am. Taking into consideration that we did not arrive until about 2.30am or later this was fair work.

Then we managed to snatch a few hours and the balance of the day was devoted to straitening out the lines and finding exactly what route they took, everybody was vey busy and by midnight we were anxiously waiting for zero hour.

The stunt started early morning and the lines held wonderfully well, being mostly in CT (close touch) to Companies and Brigade cablehead.

Mr Waterhouse and the forward battalion party moved off at about 7am to establish our forward Battalion HQ, in conjunction with the 44^th Bn who went up the previous night. He was wounded about 2 hours afterwards and I was left in charge for the remaining 40 odd hours.

Visual (O.L. Lamp) was used extensively, with good results. D Coy signallers in one case climbed a tree on the outskirts of Hamel and sent back messages, another case (B Coy) sent messages 6 times at a different alignment, because they could not pick up their object to align on in the dark, and showed great initiative.

A new message signal rocket was also brought into use by B Company and was fired to HQ from a map reference a distance of about 1800 yards, landing within 10 yards of its objective.

The communication throughout the whole stunt, due mainly to careful preparation was splendid both in regards to telephone and visual HQ being kept in touch with the advance until its completion to the satisfaction of all.

Of note but not mentioned was the fact that C Company HQ with OC and Signallers complete was devastated by a short firing friendly barrage as they waited on the tape in the FUP. With other signallers being sent through the town to assist the Acting OC C Company to send back word of his progress.