4th Armoured Brigade Signal Squadron (204)

4 th Armoured Brigade was formed as part of the Mobile Division Egypt in response to the Munich crisis of 1938. The Division changed name to the 7 th Armoured Division in 1940 (the original Desert Rats). 4 th Armoured Brigade left 7 th Armoured Division in North Africa in 1943 for the Allied Invasion Force for Normandy. In June 1944 the Brigade landed in Normandy and was the first Brigade to cross the Rhine into Germany. After the surrender of Germany the Brigade returned to the United Kingdom and was disbanded in 1948.

In 1981 the Brigade was resurrected in Munster as part of the British Army on the Rhine. The Brigade deployed to the Gulf on Operation GRANBY in 1990/91 and was involved in the liberation of Kuwait. It moved to Osnabruck in 1991 to replace 12 th Armoured Brigade as part of 1 st (UK) Armoured Division.

204 Signal Squadron is an independent Squadron that provides the communications and administrative support for the Headquarters of 4 th Armoured Brigade and the Commander. The Squadron is usually based in Osnabruck, North Germany and deployed to the FRY on 20 th October 1995. The Squadron was formed in January 1993 from 12 th Armoured Brigade Signal Squadron. On return from the Gulf War and under reorganisation of the Army, the unit was re-titled 4 th Armoured Brigade and Signal Squadron.

The Squadron consists of two communications troops, which provides radio operators and manpower for two identical headquarters. Each headquarters contains the following cells for the Staff to work from; G3 Operations, G5 Plans, G6 Operations, Combat Systems Support Operations, Air Aviation, G2 Intelligence, ISTAR and space for attached units to the Headquarters such as Artillery and Engineers. These are supported by various Squadron detachments, which provide administrative support such as catering, accommodation, vehicle and radio repair.

The Squadron has deployed on a number of operational tours to the Balkans in recent years:

Operation GRAPPLE 1993 - 1994 and 1995 - 1996
Operation AGRICOLA March - September 1999
Operation PALATINE June - September 2000
Operation TELIC 2003
Operation TELIC 5 - October 04 - April 05