31st (City of London) Signal Regiment
The 31st Signal Regiment was a territorial communications regiment of the British Army's Royal Corps of Signals. The regiment first formed following the creation of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve in 1967 after the 1966 Defence White Paper. After seeing limited reserve support during the Cold War, the regiment was disbanded in 2010 following the initial Army 2020 reform.
History
Following the announcement of the 1966 Defence White Paper, new "large" regiments were formed within the new Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve. Although more focused on the infantry corps and royal artillery, the royal corps of signals did see some changes including new TA regiments. On 1 April 1967 the 31st Signals Regiment was formed with the following regiments being the "parent" units;- 41st (Princess Louises's Kensington Regiment) Signal Regiment becoming 41 Squadron
- 47th (The Duke of Cambridge's Middlesex Hussars (Yeomanry)) Signal Regiment becoming 47 Squadron
- 83rd District Signal Regiment becoming 83 Squadron
In 1994, the regimental headquarters moved to Wandsworth Barracks in Southfields where it remained until disbandment. During this period, the regiment had links with the Worshipful Company of Innholders and the London University Officer's Training Corps. During the initial Operation Telic invasion, volunteers of the regiment served in Iraq with their regular counterparts.
In 2010 the regiment was disbanded following the concurrent disbandment of the 2nd Signal Brigade and the re-organisation of the TA signals as a result of the Army 2020 reform. Although the RHQ was disbanded, all squadrons' titles, lineages, and roles were all retained, with most squadrons moving to the other London signals regiment, 71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment (V).
Organisation
Organisation of the regiment during its existence;- Regimental Headquarters, Hammersmith
- 5 (The Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars (Yeomanry)) Signal Squadron, Banbury supporting 145th (Home Counties) Brigade
- 41 (Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment) Signal Squadron, Coulsdon and Hammersmith providing high frequency communications.
- 47 (The Duke of Cambridge's Middlesex Hussars (Yeomanry)) Signal Squadron (V), Harrow, later Uxbridge
- 56 (London) Signal Squadron (V), Eastbourne supporting 2nd (South East) Brigade
- 83 (London) Signal Squadron, Southfields, later Chelsea later HQ Support Squadron in 2006