Harrow County School for Boys

Memories of the CCF Signals Platoon 1957 to 1970

by Steve Grimes

The motto of the Royal Signals was “Certa Cito” and its insignia was Mercury.

The Signals Platoon rarely gained more than a passing mention in official high-level despatches but this is hardly surprising because those in authority outside the Platoon could never hope to comprehend its exceptional character and atmosphere. Joining the Platoon resulted in a great deal of enjoyment to many. Past members frequently recall its “social” nature and informality but there was a more serious side to the Signals and this short history is my attempt at recording its value and relevance.

I served as Signals Platoon Sergeant whilst at HCS and subsequently as Signals Officer for a time after leaving the School. My story begins in 1957, the 10^th anniversary of the founding of the Corps. To supplement my own memories I have drawn on articles in “Cadet” over the period 1957 to 1970.

During the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, recruits to the CCF became a “half trained soldier” after taking the Basic Test or Cert A Part 1. Those who did not then move to the RAF or Naval Section took the Army Proficiency Test - Cert A Part 2 and became a “trained soldier”. After achieving “Trained Soldier” status, those who wanted a change from drill, weapon training, rifle cleaning, section in attack, range work, map reading and section leading, or who did not make it into the NCO’s Cadre could transfer to one of several technical sections within HQ Company of the Army Section. These included the M.T. (motorised) Section, Armoury, Small Arms Section, Royal Engineers Section, Training Section and Signals Platoon amongst others.

The Signals Platoon was essential to the life of the Corps and was most visible on Field Days, Weekend Camps and Annual Camps when it was required to maintain communications between various quarters. It provided this by means of telephone or radio, sometimes over significant distances. Its culture and ethos was always fiercely independent. Its members had the benefit of practical training in disciplines other than the purely military. However, it was not a “soft” option and remained very much a part of the CCF. In addition to members carrying out their communications role, they still participated in Friday afternoon parades, cleaned their belts and gaiters with Blanco, pressed their BD tops and trousers, cleaned their brasses with Brasso and used spit and polish to shine their boots.

The year 1959 saw the introduction of a modern signals training syllabus. Upon joining the Signals Platoon, new recruits aimed to achieve the Cert “T” (Technical Examination). The Platoon trained its recruits in the disciplines of radio-telephony ("RT") voice procedure, the phonetic alphabet, Morse code, line laying, telephony and the practical operation of its electronic equipment. Much of this involved training in lunch hours and after school as well as during official CCF periods. Those who survived were entered into the Classification Exam and, if successful, were designated “Classified Signallers” and referred to as “Signaller”. This entitled them to wear the coveted crossed flags badge on their battledress. The trained signaller would take part in all kinds of exercises where he would be responsible for maintaining communications, in which he would have to rely on his own knowledge and initiative to keep his equipment working.

Following Lt D. R. (Don) Kincaid’s appointment as Officer I/C Signals in 1957, the Platoon made a visit to Royal Signals, Eastern Command Depot near Crowborough. 2^nd Lt J. M. Clarke joined the School in the same year and quickly established an interest in the Signals Platoon. During this year, the Platoon received a new home at the rear of Hut B, which, at that time, suffered the disadvantage of being insecure and lacking in any privacy. In fact, the accommodation was little more than a row of shelves dividing the Platoon’s space from the classroom area at the front of the hut.

In 1958, Norman Biggs writes:

“In the signal platoon, the training in its elementary stages is at least technical only in its widest sense. No abstruse radio theory is taught, no labyrinthine radio circuits have to be understood. All that is required is the ability to adjust a few controls in the correct sequence, to understand a little third form physics and to send messages over the air remembering a few simple rules”.

At that time, the Platoon was reportedly low on numbers and suffering from equipment problems. A REME inspection found it to be 80% efficient. Its training schedules were reportedly upset because the wireless sets were causing problems. The R107 and three No. 18 sets had to be sent away to the REME workshops.

In 1959 Cpl Reeve; L/Cpls Clark, Nudd, Taylor, Wood; Signallers Edler, Gould, Hay, Hole, Ransford and Staines passed the Classification exam.

By 1960, the Platoon comprised 16 cadets, of which eight were undergoing Classification training. In 1961, it is reported that much of the older equipment was serviced, following a REME inspection and that this, with some newer additions, helped with vital practical training and led to the Platoon operating better on Field Days than on previous occasions.

In 1960, CSM Hewlitt gained Assistant Cadet Instructorship at Catterick Camp, Yorkshire.

In 1961, L/Cpls Fidler and Jeff Booth and TS Elson succeeded in the Classification Exam while several other members proceeded on Assistant Classified Instructor Courses.

In 1962, there was a large intake of recruits into the Platoon. Some 15 Cadets passed the classification test. At a Field Day in Pirbright, some eleven wireless sets maintained continuous communications throughout the day and on another occasion the Platoon set up a telephone line in a Harrow cinema. Two members of the Platoon became Signals Instructors following a course at Catterick. Steve Grimes, Bruce King and Brian Payne became Classified Signallers, thanks to instructors, S/Sgt Jeff Booth and Sgt Chris Andrews.

In 1963, L/Cpls John Parker and Chris Rees and Signaller Ian Bayliss passed the Classification exam. Nearly all members of the Platoon attended Annual Camp at Fremington, North Devon where they played an important role in several exercises including an assault on the “Arabs” at Braunton Burrows. This started with a beach landing from DUKW amphibious warfare vehicles, then based at Fremington. Some Platoon members may recall a certain “ice cream parlour” in Barnstaple, and the Devon scrumpy.

On Sunday May 26^th 1963, 12 members of the Platoon provided radio communications along 9 miles of the Grand Union Canal between Denham and Rickmansworth for a canoe race organised by Harrow Youth Organisation. Radio contact was maintained remarkably well despite “jamming” attempts by a foreign radio station. This was such a success that the Platoon received an invitation to repeat this role in the following year.

The most important development in 1964 was the Platoon’s success in replacing its obsolete equipment. The old short wave 18 sets and 38 sets in use up to 1964 were archaic 2^nd World War equipment which had valves the size of light bulbs and batteries the size of bricks. They were unreliable and extremely heavy. It was rumoured that a small number of Signals Platoons in some other schools had been lucky enough to obtain modern kit. However, the process of obtaining military supplies was akin to an obstacle course and required a certain kind of endurance and persuasion. Nevertheless, with the support of both Lt Kincaid and Capt D’Arcy (the Quartermaster) and, after submitting mountains of indents in triplicate to the War Office, the Platoon succeeded in replacing almost all its obsolete equipment with brand new line laying and radio stores including VHF crystal controlled man pack 88 sets, new telephone sets and a new R107 receiver. The Platoon was also successful in navigating further red tape and sent its remaining older equipment for a complete REME overhaul. The combined result was that, upon the return of its equipment, the Platoon became extremely well equipped.

Later in 1964, the Platoon acquired new stores, which at the time cost over £300, (N.B. in 1964 money!). Therefore, it took great care to properly look after this equipment. Perhaps because of the increased value of the Platoon’s kit, only then did it gain access to a much improved, self-contained and larger Signals Centre at the rear of Hut B. Capt H. W. Collins was instrumental in constructing a superb wooden dividing wall, which provided both the privacy and security that the Platoon deserved.

Until 1964, there was something lacking in the Platoon. It needed to compete on equal terms with other CCF Signal Platoons across the Country. To do so it had to navigate endless military “red tape”, and ultimately succeeded in joining the CCF National Radio Network. Through this network, CCF Signals Platoons all over the UK could contact each other, using specified frequencies on the short wave band. They exchanged information, took part in inter-school competitions, passed “controlled” messages and exchanged “QSL Cards”. The latter were intended to confirm the time and date of an initial contact between two stations. Our call sign was “85”. There were three “Nets” the Voice Net, the Morse Net and the Meteorological Net. The former were similar except for their mode of transmission but the latter collected weather information from various parts of the country. The CCF Net was destined to play an important part in the Platoon’s life for many years to come.

Sgt Roland Tebbenham and S/Sgt Bruce King with collection of QSL Cards 1965

Source Cadet 1965

(Click to see QSL cards)

In 1964, Cpl John Parker successfully passed a course at the School of Signals, Catterick.

By then, the Platoon not only provided communications at CCF Field Days and Camps but also maintained communications on the School Stage during entertainments and at Sports Day. The Platoon established an internal communications network by laying cables permanently linking all the CCF rooms on the School grounds (such as the QM Stores, Armoury, Orderly Room etc) through a 10 Line Universal Call telephone exchange, which it manned during breaks, lunch hours and during allotted CCF periods.

In 1965, the Platoon purchased two powerful 19 sets with CCF funds and attempted to mount one of these in a vehicle. In the same year, the Platoon took part in its first national CCF radio competition using modern equipment borrowed from 47^th Signal Regiment (T.A.) in Wealdstone. This included a high power C11 transmitter and a receiver type R210.

In 1966, the Platoon acquired a 62 set. The Platoon used this transmitter at Annual Camp in exercise “Diamond Link” to provide a central control and radio relay over some 10 miles back to camp. In the same year, the Platoon admitted RN and RAF Cadets for the first time and the recorded strength then reached some 30 members.

In 1967, the Platoon came fourth in a further CCF Net national voice competition CSM Jeff Roberts and Sgt Hayden spent many hours often under heavy interference, sending, receiving and intercepting messages. In the same year, eight members set up and maintained a station in the Chilterns in connection with a 24-hour field competition on the CCF Net.

The end of 1967 was a sad time. The old Signals Centre in Hut B was finally demolished. According to “Cadet” 1968, the displaced personnel became somewhat a nuisance in the QM Stores. Without a home, “85” was not heard on the CCF net for some time. However, the station re-opened in December from the new HQ Block. The new Signals accommodation comprised two rooms, one a store and the other a radio centre.

Don Kincaid finally departed from his role as Signals Officer in 1968 and the Platoon made a presentation to him in recognition of his support.

In February 1968, the platoon achieved second place to King Edwards School, Birmingham in the annual CCF Net Voice competition. There were six operators, namely CSM Roberts, S/Sgt Hayden, L/Sgt Crump, L/Sgt Sanders, Cpl Dickens and L/Cpl Brown. The competition extended over a period of three weeks and was something of an endurance test. It necessitated maintaining radio watch between 0800hrs and 2000hrs each day. On most days, the station exchanged over 300 messages. Operators entered all messages into the radio log, which the Platoon submitted to the Network Monitors at the end of the competition so that the overall scores could be determined.

A further competition in March of that year was the CCF National Network Field Competition. Here some eight operators under the guidance of S/Sgt Malcolm Davies (assisted by myself as the newly appointed Signals Officer) maintained radio contact from an intensely cold and remote site on the summit of Coombe Hill, Bucks. This required a team of signallers to erect suitable antennae and maintain a generator for 24 hours. As well as voice contact, the Platoon also participated in the Morse competition, assisted by Bruce King, another “retired” member of the Platoon. In this competition, the Platoon achieved 7^thplace against 29 participants.

By the time of the next annual camp at Browndown, Hampshire, the Platoon had been issued with further new equipment and had some other useful gear on temporary loan. This included an automatic telephone exchange for the first time. This Camp also saw the first reported (successful) vehicle mounted radio control station.

In August 1969, Sgt Dickens and L/Sgt Deal successfully completed a course at Royal School of Signals at Blandford. Three fourth form cadets passed their Classification and seven third form cadets joined the Platoon. The Platoon had been issued with an Eddystone receiver and a High power Unit to improve the performance of the existing 19 set. The Platoon was expecting to receive a new field mains generator arising having had a lucky break in a draw for surplus equipment.

In 1969, the Platoon came second in the annual Voice Competition with 13908 points. On this occasion, Aldenham School narrowly won by a small margin, (13993 points).

1970 was the 110^th anniversary of the CCF at large, the 23^rd anniversary of the Corps at School and the 59^th anniversary of the School itself. Lt Col Bigham had just retired and Lt Col M.G.Venn had succeeded him. At that time, the Platoon was looking forward to the next year’s competition. Our signallers had had the freedom of the “ether” for several years and were clearly making the most of their opportunities.