11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands

The 11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands is a communications formation of the British Army's 3rd (United Kingdom) Division.[1] Its headquarters is located at Venning Barracks, in Donnington in Shropshire.

11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands
Active	1967–Present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Communications brigade and regional point of command
Size	Brigade
Part of	3rd UK Division
Garrison/HQ	Venning Barracks, Donnington, Shropshire, England.
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier Alexander J. Smith

History

The brigade was formed as 11th Signal Group in Liverpool in 1967. It became 11th Signal Brigade in 1982 and was redesignated 11th (ARRC) Signal Brigade in 1992 and reverted to 11th Signal Brigade in 1997.[2] In November 2014, 11th Signal Brigade amalgamated with 143 (West Midlands) Brigade to create a new formation, based at Venning Barracks in Donnington, named 11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands, with an additional role as a regional brigade for army regular and reserve units in the West Midlands counties. A formation parade took place at Donnington on 15 November 2014.[3]

According to the British Army website, the brigade transferred in August 2020 to the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division.[4][5][6]

Role

One of the brigade's responsibilities is to provide administrative support for around 8,000 Army personnel who are based in the region, as well as forming a vital link between the Army and its local communities.[7] The Brigade has five Regular Army signal regiments and five Army Reserve Signal regiments. Under Army 2020, it is the Regional Point of Command for the West Midlands.[8] In addition, it has command responsibilities for the Army Cadet Forces and some of the Army Reserve units in the region.[7]

Structure

11th Signal Brigade

The current operational structure of the brigade, which is based at Venning Barracks, Donnington (to move to Beacon Barracks, Stafford), is:[9][10]

• Central Volunteer Headquarters, Royal Signals, at Venning Barracks, Donnington (Army Reserve)
• 10th Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Basil Hill Barracks, Corsham
  • 81 Signal Squadron, in Corsham (Army Reserve)
• 32nd (Scottish) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, HQ in Glasgow (Army Reserve – Apps/Data support, paired with 16 Signal Regiment in 1 (UK) Signal Brigade)
• 39th (Skinners) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, HQ in Bristol (Army Reserve – Apps/Data support, paired with 22 Signal Regiment in 1 (UK) Signal Brigade)
• BFSAI
• 7 Signal Group, at Venning Barracks, Donnington (to move to Kiwi Barracks, Bulford)
  • 1st Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford (to move to Swinton Barracks, Perham Down to support 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
  • 2nd Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Imphal Barracks, York (to move to Catterick Garrison in 2020/21 to provide support to the Strike Experimentation Group)
  • 15th Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Blandford Camp (to move to Swinton Barracks, Perham Down to support 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
  • 21st Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Azimghur Barracks, Colerne (to move to Catterick Garrison in 2020/21 to provide support to the Strike Brigade)
  • 37th (Wales and Western) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, HQ in Redditch (Army Reserve – UK operations, paired with 10 Signal Regiment)
  • 71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, HQ in Bexleyheath (Army Reserve – Paired with 3 Signal Regiment under 3 (UK) Division)

HQ West Midlands

In 2014, following the initial Army 2020 changes, HQ 11th (ARRC) Signal Brigade and 143rd (West Midlands) Brigade were merged to form HQ 11th Signal Brigade & HQ West Midlands. This regional command now administers all units in the following counties; Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and West Midlands County. The following groups fall under command of the group:[11][12]

• Headquarters West Midlands, at Venning Barracks, Donnington
  • West Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association[13]
  • Regimental Headquarters, Mercian Regiment, at Whittington Barracks[14]
  • Defence Medical Services Training Centre, at Whittington Barracks[15]
  • Defence Electronics and Components Agency, Beacon Barracks, Stafford[16]
  • Army Recruiting Team West Midlands, Beacon Barracks, Stafford[17]
  • Defence Storage and Distribution Centre (North), MoD Donnington[17]
  • Army School of Ammunition, at Kineton Barracks[17]
  • Defence Munitions Centre, Kineton Barracks[17]
  • Civil Contingencies Reaction Force[17]
  • Special Air Service Regimental Headquarters and Depot, at Stirling Lines, Credenhill[18]
  • Band of the Royal Corps of Signals, at RAF Cosford (part of British Army Band Sandhurst)[19]
  • Headquarters Nuneaton Station, at Gamecock Barracks, Nuneaton[20]
  • Birmingham University Officers' Training Corps[21]

Administrative command

The regular units which fall under the administrative command of the brigade include:[22]

• 1st Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford (7 Signal Group, 11 Sig Bde)
• 16th Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford (1 Sig Bde)
• 22nd Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford (1 Sig Bde)
• 30th Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Gamecock Barracks, Bramcote (1 Sig Bde)
• 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, at Clive Barracks, Tern Hill (Light infantry under 11 Inf Bde)

See also

• Units of the Royal Corps of Signals

References

1. "6th UK Division". army.mod.uk. British Army. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
2. Lord, Cliff (2014). "The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920-2001), and Its Antecedents". Helion & Co. p. 131. ISBN 978-1874622925.
3. "Flag is flying for new Army brigade". Shropshire Star. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
4. "HQ 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
5. "3rd (United Kingdom) Division". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
6. "6th (United Kingdom) Division". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
7. "HQ 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
8. "Flag raising at Telford barracks marks new Army brigade". BBC. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
9. "Headquarters 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade – Brigade Units". army.mod.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
10. "Royal Corps of Signals Interactive Map". army.mod.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
11. "HQ 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
12. "Cadet Forces". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
13. "West Midland Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association | WM RCA". West Midland Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
14. "The Mercian Regiment [UK]". 13 December 2007. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
15. "£138m UK defence medical training hub opens - Government Opportunities". www.govopps.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
16. "About our services". GOV.UK. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
17. "West Midlands Area". Retrieved 7 July 2020.
18. "Special Air Service Regiment [UK]". 18 December 2007. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
19. "Bands of the Corps". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
20. "Nuneaton Station". Army Garrisons. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
21. "Birmingham UOTC". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
22. "Map/Maps showing the responsibilities of the British Army's Regional Commands across the United Kingdom" (PDF). What do they know?. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

External links

• 11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands