A Brief History of the Regiment

The 37th (Wessex And Welsh) Signal Regiment (V) was formed on 1st April 1967 under the command of Lt Col F Ramsbottom, as part of 13 Signals Group, providing the communications gateway for UKLF. It was formed by the reorganisation of 43 (Wessex), 53 (Welsh) Divisional and 57 (City and County of Bristol) Signal Regiments which each contracted to form a representative squadron with RHQ at Bristol. It initially comprised RHQ, HQ Squadron and 57 Signal Squadron in Bristol, with 43 Signal Squadron and 53 Signal Squadron based at their old locations of Bridgewater and Cardiff as Regional Signal Squadrons. In 1969, the Queen's Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry joined the Regiment converting from an armoured role to signals, becoming 67 (QOWWY) Signal Squadron in Stratford upon Avon. The Regiment was now responsible for Home Office communication in time of National Emergency in 3 regions, covering Wales, the South West and the West Midlands.

In November 1992 under Options for Change, the Regiment dropped the 'Wessex and Welsh' from it's title and lost 43 and 57 Signal Squadrons, but gained 93 Signal Squadron from 38 Signal Regiment. Regimental Headquarters moved from Bristol to Redditch, taking over HQ Company from the disbanded 4th Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment, which became HQ Squadron. In addition, a completely new Squadron, 96 Signal Squadron was formed in Coventry.

With the changes of the structure of the Royal Signals in 2009 the regiment was maintained to fulfill its vital role in National Communications, however changes were made:

67 (QOWWY) Squadron became 867 (QOWWY) Tp and joined 53 (Welsh) Squadron, based in Cardiff.  53 Squadron lost its Troop based in Brecon. 48 (City of Birmingham) Squadron joined the regiment from 35 Signal Regiment (V), which was disbanded.  48 Squadron is based in Birmingham. 96 (City of Coventry) Squadron also became a troop and changed their title to 896 (City of Coventry) Troop. 54 Squadron in Colchester, from 36 Regiment (who were also disbanded) changed their title to 36 (Eastern) Squadron and joined the Regiment with 854 Troop based in Cambridge.

The formation of the Regiment as of 1st April 2010 is:

Regimental Headquarters	Redditch
54 (Support) Squadron	Redditch
36 (Eastern) Squadron	Colchester
854 Troop	Cambridge
48 (City of Birmingham) Squadron	Birmingham
896 (City of Coventry) Troop	Coventry
53 (Welsh) Squadron	Cardiff
867 (QOWWY)	Stratford upon Avon