Over 300 members of the Royal Corps of Signals, both past and present marched past Salisbury’s famous Cathedral today Saturday 29th February 2020, as they launched the start of their centenary celebrations, in the presence of their Colonel-in-Chief, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
The Cathedral’s stunning West Front provided the back drop for the parade which included serving personnel, veterans and cadets who acknowledged Her Royal Highness with the eyes right salute.
2020 marks the centenary of the formation of the Royal Corps of Signals when, on the 28th June 1920 The Right Honourable Winston Churchill as the Secretary of State for War signed the Royal Warrant which gave the Sovereigns approval for the formation of a ‘Corps of Signals’. Six weeks later in August, HRH King George V conferred the title ‘Royal Corps of Signals’.
Colonel Jason Gunning ADC, Corps Colonel said: “Today was a truly significant occasion for the Royal Signals and a fitting start to what will, I am sure, be an excellent year for the Corps. Celebrating the past 100 years and all the successes Royal Signals has achieved in that timeframe, I am delighted to have been part of such an impressive event."
"In addition, to have our Colonel-in-Chief here alongside her Corps family made the event even more special. A huge thank you goes out to those who made the service possible and to all those who supported the day”.
The event attended by local dignitaries and 1,200 members of the Signals across the generations, from 12 year old cadets to veterans of the Second World War was an opportunity to reflect and remember the sacrifices of the Signals over the last 100 years.
The Princess along with guests including the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton and Master of Signals, Lieutenant General Sir Nick Pope KCB CBE moved inside the 800 year old Cathedral to take part in a Service of Celebration led by the Dean of Salisbury The Very Reverend Nicholas Papadopulos.