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4/10/22, 12:33 PM History of Royal Signals in 100 Objects | Royal Signals Museum
U a
History of Signalling in
100 objects
Celebrating the Corps Centenary in 2020
Many of the objects are on display in the museum. Additional objects will be
posted perodically.
2
VISIT US
https://www.royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk/history-of-royal-signals-in-100-objects/ 1/19
Machines, objects, animals
Suitcase radios

Carried in the field by agents who were infiltrated into enemy occupied Europe.
Hoo-Tant antenna

Simply meaning ‘jungle Antenna’ Hoo-Tant was an improvised antenna.
Pigeon 2709

Took 21 agonising hours to successfully complete his mission, dying of his injuries the following day.
As part of the build up to the Corps Centenary in 2020 the Museum has worked with the Corps to identify 100 objects
which have formed part of the history of Signalling in general and the Corps in particular. Many of the objects are held
by the Museum; do look out for them when you visit. The majority of the articles have been written by museum
volunteer Ronald Abbott.
The objects are revealed on a regular basis across social media and The Wire.
2
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History of Signalling in 100 Objects (1-50) 
1) No 1 Wireless Set 
2) Despatch Rider's Motorcycle 
3) Pigeon 2709 
4) Heliograph 
5) The Fullerphone 
6) Fovant Badge 
7) Medaglia Civile Di Valore 
8) Semaphore Signalling Flag 

2
10) Suitcase Radio 

11) Morse Key 
12) Enigma Machine 
13) Signalling Lamp (Aldis Lamp) 
14) Heliograph 
15) Signalman Ken Smith's George Cross 
16) Pye Pocketfone 70 (PF70) UHF Radio Set
The Pye Pocketfone 70 (PF70) was introduced into the British Army to provide Infantry Battalion Communications in urban areas during the
deployment in Northern Ireland. It was introduced into Belfast in late 1971 with completion in early 1972. The radio system was also used in
Londonderry following Operation Motorman, which ended the so called 'No go Areas' there.
Why the PF70?

The communications challenge faced by a total of 9 Infantry Battalions operating in the Belfast urban area was considerable. Prior to the
2
introduction of this radio system the Infantry could only communicate with the A41 man pack set on the street.
Problems with theA41 man pack set:
It marked the signaller as a key figure during fire fights;
was very heavy and bulky;

suffered from severe screening (it was VHF)
contributed to a major frequency congestion problem in such a confined urban area.
By contrast the PF70 was a mere 7.6 x 3.3 x 1.4 inches and weighed only 28 ounces in a pouch compared to
the 35 pound haversack of the A41.
Each Battalion received an issue of 75 PF 70. The coverage relied on a two Frequency Simplex system that
operated through high gain UHF antennas that were situated in secure areas. These were called Talk-Through
Sites. There were special base stations for the operations rooms plus vehicle mounted sets that could
interface with VHF radios. Later there was a helicopter interface to PF70 nets.
A key role was played by the Royal Signals, in particular 39 Infantry Brigade HQ & Signal Squadron, who had received a very large emergency
reinforcement from 30 Signal Regiment. The major disadvantage of the system was that it was not secure but this was rectified with later
systems developed by Royal Signals in the Province of N Ireland. Royal Signals played a unique role in deploying and controlling this system
plus initially carrying out the maintenance for all the sets, talk-thru sites and moving the masts in the Brigade area. Several Combat Lineman
and Radio Operators added antenna rigger to their trade skills!
17) Princess Mary’s No 1 Dress 
18) ATS/WRAC Cap badge 
2
19) British Inter-Departmental (BID) Equipment 
20) D13-D11-R234 HF Radio Station Secure Data 
21) The Royal Warrant 
22) T100 Teleprinter 
24) Wireless Set C 
25) Wireless Set 62 
26) Wilkinson Sword of Peace 
27) Avometer 
28) Ptarmigan SCRAT 

2
29) Drum Barrow 
30) Australian Slouch Hat 
31) Wireless Hand Cart 
32) COMCAN Strategic Radio 
33) Locomotive Name Plate & Boiler Plate 
34) Larkspur Radio 
35) Early Cable Communications 
36) CARRFA 
37) Uninterrupted Power Supplies 

2
38) 21 Jardine Street, Glasgow 
39) Japanese Sword and Flag 
40) The Kukri 
41) EW and Direction Finding 
42) Hoo-Tant Antenna 
43) Wheatstone Needle Telegraph Morse-Perforator 
44) Telephone C Mark 1 
45) Adventure Training 
46) Stirling Spark Set 

2
47) Thermionic Valve 
48) RE Signal Service Badge 
49) Telephone D Mk3 
50) Trench Set Radio 
History of Signalling in 100 Objects (51-100) 
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51) General Fowler Cocked Hat 
52) Blandford Memorial 
53) Monty's Command Vehicle 
54) Morris-Minor Early Mechanisation
Morris-Minor-Early-Mechanisation.pdf
55) PRC316 Radio 
56) Air Support Communications 
57) Signals and Bands 
58) C41 R222 Radio Relay 
59) Clark Mast V2 
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60) Bill and Ben Statue Blandford 
61) C50-C70-BRUIN Radio Relay 
62) UK TRC471 TRIFFID PTARMIGAN Radio Relay 
63) Power Supplies 
64) Y- Services 
65) Sun Compass 
66) Pink-Panther 
67) Satellite Communications Capability 
68) Dongola Clock 
69) Rockex 
2
70) Clansman Radio-PRC320 
71) PSC506 
72) Cable Wagon 
73) TSC502-4 
74) TSC501 
75) Sweetheart Brooch 
76) Cougar Net 
77) Everest Radio 
78) HRH Princess Royal Pipe Banner 

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79) Vibroplex Morse Key 
80) The Brassard of Cpl R A Birdsall 
81) The White Helmets 
82) Cormorant Communication System 
83) WW2 SAS War Diary 
84) Osprey Body Armour 
85) Belfast Talk Thru Antenna Masts 
86) Badge of the FANY 
87) Cross Keys Badge of 2 Signal Regiment 

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88) General Deane-Drummond's Medal Set 
89) Cap Badge Army Apprentices School 
90) Welbike WW2 Airborne Motor Bike 
91) Lomax Radio Receiver 
92) No 1 Wireless Recorder 
93) Kenneth McKee German Artefacts WW2 
94) Mobile Radio Access Mast - Future 5G 
95) Trend Teleprinter 
96) Harrier Jet - Air Support Communications 

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97-100) Will be posted periodically 
Roger So Far
The Corps Centenary book 'Roger So Far" celebrates many of the Corps’
achievements during its first 100 years.
This hardback, illustrated coffee table book is packed full of stories about people,
units and events in the context of campaigns, technologies and equipment. RRP £30
with discounts for Regular, Reserve and Retired Corps members.
Buy now from the Royal Signals Museum Shop
Royal Signals Museum – Home Visit us About us Corps history Royal Signals shop
 
© 2022 Royal Signals Museum. Site designed and developed by Sandra Hutchinson
JustBusinessSense.com

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4/10/22, 12:33 PM History of Royal Signals in 100 Objects | Royal Signals Museum

Machines, objects, animals

. ofadots ion and g ‘line

as s i oya2 u rviv r ing

History of Signalling in 100 Objects (1-50) 

2) Despatch Rider's Motorcycle 

7) Medaglia Civile Di Valore 

8) Semaphore Signalling Flag 

10) Suitcase Radio 

11) Morse Key 

12) Enigma Machine 

13) Signalling Lamp (Aldis Lamp) 

15) Signalman Ken Smith's George Cross 

16) Pye Pocketfone 70 (PF70) UHF Radio Set

Why the PF70?

Problems with theA41 man pack set:

It marked the signaller as a key figure during fire fights;

was very heavy and bulky;

17) Princess Mary’s No 1 Dress 

18) ATS/WRAC Cap badge 

20) D13-D11-R234 HF Radio Station Secure Data 

21) The Royal Warrant 

22) T100 Teleprinter 

23) No 10 Wireless Set 

24) Wireless Set C 

25) Wireless Set 62 

26) Wilkinson Sword of Peace 

28) Ptarmigan SCRAT 

30) Australian Slouch Hat 

31) Wireless Hand Cart 

32) COMCAN Strategic Radio 

33) Locomotive Name Plate & Boiler Plate 

34) Larkspur Radio 

35) Early Cable Communications 

37) Uninterrupted Power Supplies 

39) Japanese Sword and Flag 

40) The Kukri 

41) EW and Direction Finding 

42) Hoo-Tant Antenna 

43) Wheatstone Needle Telegraph Morse-Perforator 

44) Telephone C Mark 1 

45) Adventure Training 

46) Stirling Spark Set 

48) RE Signal Service Badge 

49) Telephone D Mk3 

50) Trench Set Radio 

History of Signalling in 100 Objects (51-100) 

52) Blandford Memorial 

53) Monty's Command Vehicle 

54) Morris-Minor Early Mechanisation

55) PRC316 Radio 

56) Air Support Communications 

57) Signals and Bands 

58) C41 R222 Radio Relay 

59) Clark Mast V2 

61) C50-C70-BRUIN Radio Relay 

62) UK TRC471 TRIFFID PTARMIGAN Radio Relay 

63) Power Supplies 

65) Sun Compass 

67) Satellite Communications Capability 

68) Dongola Clock 

72) Cable Wagon 

75) Sweetheart Brooch 