History of the Liverpool Branch of the Royal Signals Association
This history is written and presented by Mr Jimmy Carruthers President of the Liverpool Branch of the RSA. It has been updated by Tony Mullin our Honorary Secretary.
It is compiled from previous minute books and personal memories.
The Association came into being in June 1920 called the “Royal Engineers Old Comrades Signals Branch” In March 1921 the representative from the area of Liverpool was invited to form a branch. In June of 1920 Liverpool had 20 members. In September 1922 Liverpool was recorded as a branch. However, from old records (now lost), the branch was officially formed in 1929 after the formation of the Royal Corps of Signals from the Royal Engineers.
The branch mission is to provide comradeship, comfort and relief either generally or individually to ex Royal Signals members and their dependants that are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.
Our minutes are only available since the conclusion of the Second World War and were known as the “Old Comrades Association” This was changed by recommendation from the Royal Signals HQ to the present title “Liverpool Branch of the Royal Signals Association” (RSA).
1945 -1947
Meetings began with the kind permission of the Commanding Officer at the headquarters of the 22nd Lancashire Divisional Signals TA, Score Lane, Broadgreen, Liverpool. This building was named “Signal House” and was officially opened by Lt Gen Sir Harry C Jackson, KCB;CMG;DSO in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Alderman M Cory Dixon, on Saturday 9th April 1938. The drill hall was then occupied by 55th (West Lancashire) Divisional Signals TA. The Commanding officer at this time was Lt Col R Baron, TD. A full list of the officers at this time of the group is held in the Liverpool branch Archives. In 1946 the Committee consisted of the following:
President Col R Baron, OBE, TD
Chairman Mr FJ Johnsey
Vice Chairman Mr Wilf Roscoe
Hon Secretary Mr Tom Black
Hon Treasurer Mr T Kinder
Membership at this time consisted of 36 Life members and 215 Annual Members, one of whom remained a member until he died in 2013. His name was Mr Aussie Graves, a FEPOW.
In May 1947 the branch Secretary was recorded as Mr H.Moire. There is some ambiguity as to the accuracy of this as Mr Tom Black served as Honorary Secretary from 1946 onwards. On 6th June 1947 a new Chairman was appointed, Capt FCW Bennett, at the same time Mr E Keenan was appointed Vice Chairman. At this meeting it was proposed by Mr E Winstanley and seconded by Mr Wilf Roscoe that a letter be forwarded to the RSA General Secretary, Brig Gen E Murphy, CBE as to the dates available for his intended visit to the branch. The proposal was carried. At a later meeting a discussion reference the visit of the General Secretary and the date was confirmed as 13th September 1947 and that a supper would be laid on at a cost of 6 shillings (30p in today’s money) a cheap meal?? Tickets for the members attending were to be Half a Crown.
The branch continued holding their meetings at “Signal House” and had a very active social section. With Mr Wilf Roscoe organising much of the entertainments at the time. On the many social evenings held at the barracks, the attendance had to be limited to 100 members due to catering difficulties. The Hon Secretary, Tom Black, invited ex serving members of the Royal Signals who were presently being treated as in patients at the Mossley Hill Hospital. Tom did a good deal of welfare work in conjunction with the Royal Signals Association HQ, some of the letters and replies were held until recently by the present committee.
During this and future years the branch made many visits to the reunion weekends held at Catterick Camp, North Yorkshire, when old and new friends could be reunited and many “stories” would be told, Tom Black always did his part during the entertainment in the evenings; his ability on the piano was known by all. Tom served the branch as Hon Secretary from 1946 until his death in 1983, a most appreciated member in all aspects of the RSA.
At a meeting of the Branch in 1947 a mention of 22 Signal Regiment TA was made, assuming this was a new occupier of the Barracks the branch continued to hold their meetings and social events at this venue, little more is known about this regiment, maybe someone who reads this history can throw some light on this subject?
1950 Onwards
In February 1951, Mr Kinder was moving house and requested that he be relieved of the post of Branch Treasurer, this was accepted and he was thanked for his service to the Branch along with the good wishes for his future. He was made an Honorary Life Member of the Liverpool Branch.
Once again 22 Signal Regiment is mentioned, due to the need of a new Treasurer it was agreed unanimously that Capt (Adjt) Leeces, 22 Corps Signal Regiment TA be elected Branch Treasurer, this was carried. In 1954 the committee was reformed owing to the death of the chairman Mr FJ Johnsey. On 9th March 1954, in recognition for the services that Mr Johnsey had given to the branch, firstly as Treasurer and then as Chairman it should be recorded in the Branch minutes, this proposition was accepted and carried. At this time the committee was as follows:
President Col R Baron, OBE.TD
Chairman Mr FJ Wooley
Hon Secretary Mr Tom Black
Hon Treasurer Mr C Liennard
In later years the membership seemed to fall away somewhat, according to the attendances at the Branch Meetings, as low as 10 – 15 present, although socials and the Catterick Reunions were still well attended.
The Annual General Meeting held at Score Lane, Liverpool on Thursday 4th March 1965 saw a new committee formed as follows:
President Col FJ Behn
Chairman Lt (QM) Wilf Roscoe
Vice Chairman Mr H Ward
Hon Secretary Mr T Black
Hon Treasurer Mr C Liennard
With the reorganisation of the TA in 1967, Signal House was taken over by the Liverpool Scottish Regiment which meant that the branch had to find a new “home”?
With the formation of 33rd Signal Regiment TAVR, and its HQ being at the TA Centre, Alamein Barracks, Liverpool Road, Huyton, Liverpool, it seemed that this would be an ideal place to hold our Branch meetings. After some discussions with the Regular serving staff the branch was informed that the Regimental Sgt’s Mess would be located at the Grange TA centre, Edge Lane, Liverpool, home of 59 Signal Squadron TAVR and our meetings could be held there. This squadron was a part of 33 Signal Regiment TAVR.
The first meeting at this new venue was held in November 1968, after some discussion with a Mr Dolman and in view of the inactivity of the Branch during the last 18 months it was agreed to hold an AGM and form a new committee in order to promote more interest in the Branch. The date of this AGM was arranged for Thursday 5th December 1968. At this meeting it was suggested that the formation of the new committee would be held and it was agreed as follows:
President Col FJ Behn
Chairman Mr AH Griffiths
Hon Secretary Mr Tom Black
Hon Treasurer Mr C Leinnard
1970 Onwards
In 1979, after a sharp decline in attendance of the membership of the Branch a new committee was formed as follows:
Chairman Mr Danny Irvine
Hon Secretary Mr Tom Black
Hon Treasurer Mr C Leinnard
The branch became a regular part of the social activities of the 59 Signal Squadron’s Sgt’s Club and the membership increased with many TA soldiers becoming Life Members. Whilst we were at this location it was with much sadness that we were informed of the sudden death of Tom Black in January 1983. At the AGM of the branch in February 1983 a new committee was formed as follows:
Chairman Mr Danny Irvine
Hon Secretary Mr Jim Carruthers
Hon Treasurer Mr Alan Heritage
During these years some five members of the Branch have been introduced to Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Signals.
1990 to Present
The branch is not just here for us to enjoy ourselves and to keep up the camaraderie, although it is a primary objective, we are here for the welfare and to support our members and one another when in times of need.
Another reorganisation of the TA around 1998 saw 55 Signal Squadron (V) disbanded and became integrated into 59 Signal Squadron located at Deysbrook Barracks, Liverpool where the Branch were now to hold their meetings and social events until yet another reorganisation saw 59 Signal Squadron moved to the TA Centre in Long Lane, Liverpool.
In 1998 the Branch was awarded the “Fifty Year Pennant” having been in existence for over 50 years. The pennant was presented and attached to the Branch Standard during the 1998 Annual Reunion. Branch activities consist of the Annual Reunion, now being held at Blandford Camp, Dorset, home of the Royal Corps of Signals, day trips and social evenings culminating with an Annual Christmas dinner night in December.
The Branch monthly meetings took place on the first Tuesday of each month at the TA Centre, Long Lane, Liverpool home of 59 Signal Squadron (V) with the kind permission of the Commanding Officer of 33 (Lancashire & Cheshire) Signal Regiment (V).
All was to change in October 2009 with the reorganisation of the TA Signals, yet again, which saw the disbandment of 33, 34 and 35 Signal Regiments. This meant the closure of the TA centre in Long Lane leaving the Branch with no “home” for a short period. After a rethink 33 Signal Squadron (V) was formed, part of 32 Signal Regiment (V) based in Glasgow. They took over the TA centre at Alamein Barracks, Liverpool Road, Huyton, Liverpool and after some discussions with the squadron we were allowed to hold our meetings there by kind permission of the then Squadron Commander and PSAO.
All was to change again with the reorganisation of the Royal Signals 2020 changes and 33 Signal Squadron came under the command of 37 Signal Regiment. The Territorial Army was renamed the Army Reserve.
At the 2013 Reunion in Blandford, where 18 of our members attended, the branch was awarded the 75-year pennant by the then Master of Signals, Lt Gen R. Baxter, CBE, having been in existence for over 75 years 1929 – 2004. To date (2022) the branch has been in existence for 93 years in total. In November 2021 the Branch was awarded the honour of the Freedom of Liverpool.
The Branch is growing in strength and we have over 170 “active” members made up of a mixture of ex servicewomen, ex national Servicemen, ex TA, ex Regular members, affiliated members and Serving Army Reserve members. We have 26 x 50-year Badge and Certificate holders and 4 x Honour members in the branch.
We meet at Alamein Army Reserve Centre every 1st Tuesday of the month, except January, at 8pm in the WO’s & Sgt’s Mess. The meeting lasts about 45 minutes and is followed by a small buffet and drinks with members and guests. Our Honorary Secretary looks after the welfare issues for any of our ex-Corps members in difficulties.
We have had an excellent and active entertainments committee in the past who have planned and organised social events which culminate in our Annual Christmas Dinner in December. After the appointment of a new branch Chairman there has been a reorganisation of the branch entertainments which is hoped to encourage more members to participate in organising events for the branch.
We have a Branch Annual subscription of £10.00 which goes towards subsidising our Branch activities. Members over the age of 75 do not pay subscriptions. We now also have a facebook page, “The Official Liverpool Branch RSA Group” so members can make contact in this way.
We do not expect our members to attend every meeting as we appreciate that family and work commitments must take priority. We do however hope to see members 2 or 3 times in the year especially at our AGM in March each Year.
Any ex-members, or affiliated units to the Royal Corps of Signals and serving members of the Royal Corps of Signals are most welcome to attend our meetings, who knows who you will meet and then you can decide whether to join us or not.
The following members have served the branch in the following roles over the years:
Honorary President
Mr Jim Carruthers 2007 – 2024
Mr Bob Taylor 2024 - Present
Chairman
Mr Len Hinds 1994 – 1995 and 2001
Mr George Power 1996 – 2000 and 2002
Mr Jim Carruthers 2003 – 2006
Mr Bob Taylor 2007 – 2022
Mr John Taggart 2022 - 2024
Mr Rob James 2024 - Present
Honorary Secretary
Mr Jim Carruthers 1983 – 2001
Mr Jim Mayne 2001 – 2003
Mr Chris Dennis 2004 – 2010
Mr Tony Mullin 2010 – Present
Honorary Treasurer
Mr Alan Heritage 1983 – 2010
Mr Colin Svenson 2010 – 2012
Mr Paul Smith 2012 – 2014
Mr Pete Tiernan 2014 – 2015
Mr Tony Mullin 2015 - Present
Branch Standard Bearer
Mr Danny Irvine 1979 – 1993
Mr Ron Price 1993 – 2005
Mr Tony Mullin 2005 – 2007
Mr Colin Svenson 2007 – 2008
Mr Graham Mullin (Reserve) 2012 – 2023
Mr Tony Mullin 2008 – 2025
Mr Rob James 2025 - Present
Information Manager
Mr Steve Brisk 2002 – 2010
Major Steve Samosa 2010 – 2013
Mr Steve Hall 2013 – 2018
Mr Warut Pattarajitpakdee 2018 - Present
