Section 1

Queensland based RA Sigs personnel and units

History of Signals in Queensland

Queensland separated from New South Wales in June 1859 and by March 1860 a troop of mounted rifles had been raised. The force quickly grew with infantry and cavalry being joined by artillery.

In January 1876 the formation of a Corp of Volunteer Engineers, (which included both Engineers and a Torpedo and Signalling Corps) was recommended. But it wasn't until the war scare of 1878 and the passing in parliament of the "Volunteer Act" that a Torpedo and Signalling Corp was raised with W.J.L Cracknell as Captain (Capt), Officer Commanding (OC). The unit was formally disbanded in 1879 and its duties were reallotted to the Engineers.

At the eve of Federation on 31st December 1900, the Queensland establishment was 810 officers and 5,035 other ranks however only 291 officers and 3,737 other ranks were on strength.

Military Order No 82, 12th January 1906 authorised the raising and designation of units of the Australian Corp of Signallers. On the 15th Feb of that year No 5 Field Company and one electrical section was raised at Fort Lytton. Unit strength was recommended to be 1 Capt, 2 Subalterns, 1 Sergeant Major (SM), 1 Quarter Master Sergeant (QM Sgt), 4 Sgts, 2 Trumpeters, 5 Corporals (Cpl), 6 second Cpls (L/Cpl) and 56 Sappers in a HQ and 2 sections. The initial strength was to be 52 in 1 company and 2 sections. Wartime strength would be increased with farriers, smiths, drivers and extra sappers to 167. First OC was Capt J. Wagner appointed on 1st Mar 1906 along with Lieutenant (Lt) A. R. Woolcock. (Later Lt Col Woolcock, DSO, MM of 42nd Battalion)

On 12th Jul 1912 the Corp of Signallers was disbanded. In the 1st Military District (Qld) the 23rd Signal Company was formed from 23rd Engineer Company at Kelvin Grove, Brisbane and J.F. Wagner transferred as a 2ndLt.

In Jul 1915 the 2nd Infantry Division was assembled in Egypt comprising of the 5th, 6th and 7th Brigades. This new division included the 2nd Division Signal Company. They arrived at Gallipoli on 29th Sept 1915. One of the men was Sapper Charles Kingsford-Smith who served as a dispatch rider. They left for Suez on the night of 19-20 Dec 1915.

After the war the units were disbanded until in 1921 new signals units were raised in each of the Military Districts. Coinciding with the change in divisional organisation was the separation of Signals from the Corps of Engineers. Thus 11th Mixed Brigade Signals was raised in Brisbane under Lt Col R.A. Stanley.

On the 1st January 1925 the Australian Corps of Signals was formed.

13th Oct 1939 the 1st Military District became Northern Command.

Northern Command Signals Line of Communications was raised on 7th Oct 1941. 15th Apr 1942 and the commands in Qld and NSW combine to form the 1st Army. The 1st Army included the 1st and 2nd Australian Corps. The 1st Australian Corp in turn included 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th Infantry Divisions.

The 1st Australian Corp Signals returned from Palestine, firstly to Toowoomba, then shifted to Mareeba on the 4th Dec 1944 as the 25th Line of Communications Signals. This unit helped build the Northern Telegraph Route to Cape York and Thursday Island from Townsville, completing the Farview (inland from Cooktown to Thursday Island section.