Signaller
Encyclopedia
In the armed forces, a signaller or signaleer is a specialist soldier
or seaman
or airman responsible for military communications
. Signallers, aka Combat Signallers or signalmen or women, are commonly employed as radio or telephone operators, relaying messages for field commanders at the front line (Army units, Ships or Aircraft), through a chain of command which includes Field headquarters and ultimately governments and non government organisations. Messages are transmitted and received via a communications infrastructure comprising fixed and mobile installations.
Modern signallers are responsible for the battlefield voice and data communication and information technology infrastructure, using a variety of media. All types of wire (line), satellite and ionispheric radio communication are employed. These include common radio systems such as HF\VHF radio and UHF\SHF radio (operated in line of site for example). Cellular radio and telephone systems such as TETRA are becoming common for example.
In the past, signalling skills have included the use of;heliograph
, Aldis lamp, semaphore flags
, "Don R" (Dispatch Riders) and even carrier pigeon
s.
In addition to day to day soldiering, the signaller is required to be competent at a number of skill levels in the following topics:
, a signaller, an aircrew member, is a person trained to communicate between the aircraft and its base by means of radio
or Aldis lamp. With improvement and simplification of radio communications equipment the role of a "signaller" in modern times is redundant. In the days when morse code
telegraphy
was the main means of communication a signaller was an important member of an aircraft's crew
.
, signaller may refer to a member of the Royal Corps of Signals
specifically to the rank of Signaller (formerly Signalman) or a trained signals specialist in other areas of the army such as the Infantry
or Royal Artillery
.
, a signaller is often referred to as a Chook (Australian Slang for Chicken) this is derogatory to be used by any one outside the Signal Corps, This is because the Morse code that Signallers used during WWII is likened to the chirping of chickens
(Greek: Hermes
), the Roman messenger of the gods, which is referred to as Jimmy. The most widely accepted theory of where the name Jimmy comes from is a Royal Signals
boxer, called Jimmy Emblem, who was the British Army Champion in 1924 and represented the Royal Corps of Signals
from 1921 to 1924.
Signallers in Canada are responsible for the majority of radio, satellite, telephone, and computer communications within the Canadian military.
Trained signallers of the rank of private in Canada are referred to as "Sig" as a replacement for private (i.e. Sig Smith).
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
or seaman
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....
or airman responsible for military communications
Military communications
Historically, the first military communications had the form of sending/receiving simple signals . Respectively, the first distinctive tactics of military communications were called Signals, while units specializing in those tactics received the Signal Corps name...
. Signallers, aka Combat Signallers or signalmen or women, are commonly employed as radio or telephone operators, relaying messages for field commanders at the front line (Army units, Ships or Aircraft), through a chain of command which includes Field headquarters and ultimately governments and non government organisations. Messages are transmitted and received via a communications infrastructure comprising fixed and mobile installations.
Modern signallers are responsible for the battlefield voice and data communication and information technology infrastructure, using a variety of media. All types of wire (line), satellite and ionispheric radio communication are employed. These include common radio systems such as HF\VHF radio and UHF\SHF radio (operated in line of site for example). Cellular radio and telephone systems such as TETRA are becoming common for example.
In the past, signalling skills have included the use of;heliograph
Heliograph
A heliograph is a wireless solar telegraph that signals by flashes of sunlight reflected by a mirror. The flashes are produced by momentarily pivoting the mirror, or by interrupting the beam with a shutter...
, Aldis lamp, semaphore flags
Flag semaphore
Semaphore Flags is the system for conveying information at a distance by means of visual signals with hand-held flags, rods, disks, paddles, or occasionally bare or gloved hands. Information is encoded by the position of the flags; it is read when the flag is in a fixed position...
, "Don R" (Dispatch Riders) and even carrier pigeon
Homing pigeon
The homing pigeon is a variety of domestic pigeon derived from the Rock Pigeon selectively bred to find its way home over extremely long distances. The wild rock pigeon has an innate homing ability, meaning that it will generally return to its own nest and its own mate...
s.
In addition to day to day soldiering, the signaller is required to be competent at a number of skill levels in the following topics:
- Maintaining Power Supplies (Batteries and Charging for example)
- Radio sets; storage and logistics; installation and operation; maintenance and repair at unit level.
- Station Organisation; Managing Radio Nets and Maintaining Net Discipline for example, map marking, log keeping etc.
- Voice and wireless telegraphy procedure (using Morse code or RATT (Radio assisted Teletype) for example). Formal message procedure, electronic mail.
- Electronic Warfare (EW); Communication Security (COMSEC) - including the encryption and decyphering of coded messages using paper\voice and electronic codes for example.
- Telephone and Line
- Information and Communication Technology
- Antennae selection and design
Air Forces
In an air forceAir force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
, a signaller, an aircrew member, is a person trained to communicate between the aircraft and its base by means of radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
or Aldis lamp. With improvement and simplification of radio communications equipment the role of a "signaller" in modern times is redundant. In the days when morse code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
telegraphy
Telegraphy
Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages via some form of signalling technology. Telegraphy requires messages to be converted to a code which is known to both sender and receiver...
was the main means of communication a signaller was an important member of an aircraft's crew
Crew
A crew is a body or a class of people who work at a common activity, generally in a structured or hierarchical organization. A location in which a crew works is called a crewyard or a workyard...
.
United Kingdom
In the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, signaller may refer to a member of the Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
specifically to the rank of Signaller (formerly Signalman) or a trained signals specialist in other areas of the army such as the Infantry
British Army Infantry
The British Army's Infantry, part of the Structure of the British Army, comprises 51 battalions of Infantry, from 19 Regiments. Of these 37 battalions are part of the 'Regular' army and the remaining 14 a part of the 'Territorial' force...
or Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
.
Australia
In the Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
, a signaller is often referred to as a Chook (Australian Slang for Chicken) this is derogatory to be used by any one outside the Signal Corps, This is because the Morse code that Signallers used during WWII is likened to the chirping of chickens
Canada
In the Canadian Army, a signaller is often referred to as a "Jimmy" in reference to the picture of MercuryMercury (mythology)
Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
(Greek: Hermes
Hermes
Hermes is the great messenger of the gods in Greek mythology and a guide to the Underworld. Hermes was born on Mount Kyllini in Arcadia. An Olympian god, he is also the patron of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of the cunning of thieves, of orators and...
), the Roman messenger of the gods, which is referred to as Jimmy. The most widely accepted theory of where the name Jimmy comes from is a Royal Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
boxer, called Jimmy Emblem, who was the British Army Champion in 1924 and represented the Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
from 1921 to 1924.
Signallers in Canada are responsible for the majority of radio, satellite, telephone, and computer communications within the Canadian military.
Trained signallers of the rank of private in Canada are referred to as "Sig" as a replacement for private (i.e. Sig Smith).
See also
- Royal Corps of SignalsRoyal Corps of SignalsThe Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
- Communications and Electronics BranchCommunications and Electronics BranchThe Communications and Electronics Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces .-History:Major Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers was the founder of the Canadian Signalling Corps, forerunner of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and the Communications and Electronics Branch of the...
(Canadian Forces) - BowmanBowman (communications system)Bowman is the name of the tactical communications system used by the British Armed Forces.The Bowman C4I system consists of a range of HF radio, VHF radio and UHF radio sets designed to provide secure integrated voice, data services to dismounted soldiers, individual vehicles and command HQs up to...
- ClansmanClansmanClansman is the name of a combat net radio system used by the British Army from 1976 to 2010.Clansman was developed by the Signals Research and Development Establishment in the 1960s, to satisfy a General Staff Requirement laid down in 1965...