In this edition... Summer 2024

It gives me great pleasure to offer this, my first edition of the Journal of the Royal Corps of Signals. I have Liz Dallyn, the interim Director, to thank for doing much of the groundwork in advance of my arrival. I must also thank all the contributors who have expended a great deal of their personal time in producing high quality articles on a wide variety of topics. In this edition you will find …

• A lead article from Brigadier Mike Fayers, Commander 1 (UK) Signal Brigade in which he explains Project CENTURION WATCH and exposes the need to be ready for a future war that we cannot fully predict. The Project has a clear-sighted goal of enhancing Allied Rapid Reaction Corps operational competitiveness. This is followed by contributions from two of the Corps senior Reservists, Colonels Vince Connelly and Rhid Jones who provide an argument for the collective use of the Corps’ Reserve units followed by an explanation of their utility.

• A celebration of our people’s achievements. The RSI Dinner and Awards Ceremony was held in the Dorchester, Park Lane, London in November last year. The event and awards are summarised and provide a testament to the quality and commitment of our people. This is followed by a piece covering Women in Technology which highlights how good the Corps offer is and like the RSI awards, celebrates achievement.

• Foreman of Signals course projects. There summarised are three of the best course projects which are set to provide an answer to a specific issue or requirement. They give valuable insight into our senior engineering training and further information can be provided if required.

• A comprehensive technical section. This includes an article on microwave radio systems reproduced by kind permission of the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals by BT’s Andy Sutton, a piece covering Defensive Cyber Marvel 3 and use of a system designed to replicate specialist critical infrastructure by Dr Richard Piggin and Captain Andreas Iliopoulos, and a history of the SKYNET programme leading to a description of the SKYNET 6 programme status and capability by Dr Richard Davis. Space remains a recurrent theme.

• A contribution from GDUK in which Ged Murphy, Head of Concepts and Jeremy Thomas, BCIP Design Authority advocate the importance of industry’s involvement in an effective integrated force and capability development.

• Consideration of online disinformation and ethical considerations for the use of cyber effects. Captain Richard Lampard, SGIS examines how attacks on the truth are being carried out in the World’s latest battleground – the internet. This complemented by Major David Cummings’ article covering ethical considerations in cyber which calls for a proactive approach to address the challenges.

• A historical section. Dr Brian Austin provides a fascinating account of the contribution made by voluntary interceptors of the Radio Security Service. Their vital contribution during WW2 has only recently come to light. This is followed by Ryan Ellis’ piece on physical line communications during Operation OVERLORD. Using first-hand accounts from the Royal Signals Museum oral history collection, he reveals the challenges presented by the deployment of line.

• Book Reviews. I am very grateful to our book reviewers for introducing an extensive list of great subject matter. This includes the modern Middle East, Russo-Ukrainian war and future wars, technology and close combat in the 21st century, the use of space and its impact, the potential for AI and Bletchley Park and the war at sea.

• Remembrance. It is always saddening to hear of the loss of members of the Royal Signals family. That said, the obituaries for Major General Gordon Oehlers, Brigadier Ian Rose, Brigadier James Blake and Colonel Alan Dexter provides us with an insight our recent past and forms an important part of the Corps’ history.

I’ve very much enjoyed pulling together my first edition but could not have done so without the expertise of our designer Adam Forty – thank you. I will soon be reaching out for contributions to the Winter Edition. You have much to say, please tell the RSI!

Many thanks,

Joe