32nd Signal Regiment (United Kingdom)


The 32nd Signal Regiment is a British Army Reserve regiment of the Royal Corps of Signals. The regiment forms part of 1st (United Kingdom) Signal Brigade, providing military communications for national operations.

History

Early history

1st Lanarkshire Voluntary Military Engineers was raised in Glasgow on 5 December 1859 as part of the Volunteer Force. In 1894, the Telegraph Company, 2nd Lanarkshire Volunteer Military Engineers was assigned to the unit.

First World War

As part of the 1908 Haldane Reforms, the unit became the Lowland Divisional Telegraph Company. A Wireless, Cable and Airline unit was assigned to the unit and the regiment was established as a Field Company to support 51st (Highland) Division. After the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the regiment was sent as part of IV Corps and the British [Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force] to France.

Second World War

During World War II, the regiment again saw active service, providing support to both 51st (Highland) Division and 52nd Lowland Divisions. In 1947, the regiment returned once again to Maryhill and was re-titled as the 51st/52nd Infantry Division Signal Regiment. It was further re-titled 52nd Lowland Infantry Division Signal Regiment in 1948.

Post-war

As a result of the 1966 Defence White Paper, the 32nd Signal Regiment was formed on 1 April 1967. The new regiment composed of five squadrons, amalgamating the four signals regiments in Scotland. They were as follows:
  • Headquarters Squadron
  • 51 Signal Squadron - successor to 51st Signal Regiment
  • 52 Signal Squadron - successor to 52nd Signal Regiment
  • 61 Signal Squadron - successor to 61st (City of Edinburgh) Signal Regiment
  • 82 Signal Squadron - successor to 82nd Signal Regiment
The regiment gained a sixth squadron in 1969, whereby a squadron of North Irish Horse became 69 Signal Squadron. From 2009 to 2014, 33 (Lancashire & Cheshire) Signal Squadron formed part of the regiment before it was transferred to 37th Signal Regiment under the Army 2020 reforms.
In October 2010, 69 Signal Squadron returned to the regiment as 40 Signal Squadron. Then under the Army 2020 re-organisation, 2 (City of [Dundee and Highland) Signal Squadron] was transferred from 38th (City of Sheffield) Signal Regiment.

Structure

The regiment's current structure is as follows: