THE 8th BATTALION THE ROYAL SCOTS was reformed as a Territorial battalion in the Spring of 1939. When it was mobilised for War service our uniform and webbing equipment during the first weeks was virtually the same worn by my father during the Great War. The newly-mobilised Battalion had just three vans for transport, men had rifles and anti-gas respirators and each rifle company had only three light machine guns. Starting from these early beginnings, this 'second-line' Battalion prepared for War service by reorganising its manpower resources and having establishing a Headquarters Company quickly formed a Signals Platoon. Thirty-five men were selected and I was fortunate to be one of them. 

Passing the examinations set by Royal Signals Officers and NCOs, we qualified as signallers on 29th April 1940 and now able to read morse code at 10 words per minute on line and wireless transmissions, and eight words a minute using a signal lamp. I was now entitled to wear crossed signal flags on my lower left arm. It was the beginning of a War-time career in which 'signals' played a significant part, terminating in Germany in 1945 when as 7th/9th Royal Scots Signals Officer handing over the Battalion's telephone lines to my Russian equivalent when the Battalion left Madgeburg as it was to be part of the Russian Zone of Occupation.

The Signals Platoon had to train and equip for the challenging job crucial to the Battalion's operations. They had to provide the means of communication between the Battalion Commander and his officers commanding the four rifle companies and specialist platoon commanders in Support Company in charge of the Carriers, Mortars, Anti-tank Guns and Pioneers. Essential, too, for Battalion HQ to be able to communicate with HQ Company to direct its administrative efforts to support the Battalion.

The Signals Platoon also had responsiblity for maintaining all the Battalion's communications equipment. As well as being able to use this equipment and maintain its operation in battle, signallers had to be ready to act as riflemen.

However, the Royal Signals had the responsibility of providing communications from brigade headquarters to the infantry battalion, whilst the Royal Artillery Battery in support of the Battalion provided a telephone line to the Battalion's signal office and would 'net' their radio on the battalion's wireless group as an out station.

Amongst the very early postings into the Battalion of regular and reservist Royal Scots was a very experienced Signal Sergeant. Of medium stature and heavily tanned, obviously having had long service in the Far East, he quickly imposed his authority on the potential signallers he had to train. Our first meeting was in the Headquarters Company mess hall when queuing for lunch and we heard the order that all the members of the Signal Platoon had to report to him at the end of the diningroom. As we lined up we took stock of each other. He a heavily tanned, wrinkled and with a scruffy appearance left us in no doubt he thought the lot of us were a crowd of Border tramps. When he examined our outstretched hands and inspected our fingers that brought forth a further derogatory comment that our podgy fingers would never be able to send morse!

He then added that as well as being a Signals Sergeant he was recognised for his ability as a bayonet instructor and ordered us to be down at the local Rugby field at 2 o'clock for bayonet practice. To the amusement of the rest of HQ company he ran us up and down the field thrusting our bayonets into straw bags littering the ground, with the added instruction to get down on out hands and knees and gouge out the enemy's eyes!