‘IN AND WORKING’

Description

A D11 station is set up and has just established communications. For most of the time between their reformation in 1947 and the early 1990’s, the role of the majority of TA Royal Signals units was to be ready for the Cold War.

This print is reproduced from one of four oil paintings commissioned by the Royal Corps of Signals in 2008 on the occasion of the Centenary of the Territorial Army, to mark the contribution of Volunteers to the Royal Corps of Signals and Army communications.

‘For most of the time between their reformation in 1947 and the early 1990’s, the role of the majority of  TA Royal Signals units was to be ready for the Cold War turning hot. Over decades, hundreds of exercises took place with communications established by HF, VHF, radio-relay, Ptarmigan, Euromux and NCRS in networks covering hundreds of miles in the UK and Germany. None of this practice was ever tested for real but TA volunteers remained constantly ready.

This scene captures the atmosphere of one of those exercises in a wood, perhaps in the UK, perhaps in Germany. A D11 station is set up and has just established communications so the link is ‘in and working’. A corporal has tuned the set while a WRAC Data Telegraphist is ready to operate the T100 teleprinter. An officer on the vehicle steps passes a message on a form F Sigs 266 for transmission. In the background a powerman attends to the generator, a technician has arrived with his multimeter and a spare valve, and camming-up has started. Most importantly, someone is getting a brew on. An NBC sentry in full kit stands apart, watching the town in the distance and providing a reminder of the TA serving and protecting the civilian community. The D11 is usually associated with the HF post-strike communications of 2 Signal Brigade.  However it was used by the other TA Signal Brigades for HF guard communications before the introduction of Clansman, so it is appropriately universal.’

Royal Corps of Signals.

Prints

Limited Edition Of 200 Lithographic Art Prints

Artist signed £38 (approx USD $55)
Overall print size 39 x 25.6 cm / 15¼ x 10"
Image size 44.6 x 32 cm / 17½ x 12½”

£38.00

GALLERY & PRINTS