How to find Royal Corps of Signals records
Researcher
Wed Nov 19 2025
•
< 5 minutes read
In muddy trenches, desert heat or the cramped belly of a tank, Royal Corps of Signals personnel tapped out messages, repaired broken lines under fire and carried radios heavier than their rifles. Life in the Corps demanded calm under pressure, for without their skill, whole operations could fall silent. Here's how to uncover their experiences using valuable genealogy records.
What is the Royal Corps of Signals?
Formed in 1920, the Royal Corps of Signals became the British Army's dedicated communication specialists. They provided the lifelines that kept units connected across the battlefield — from laying telephone cables on the Western Front to operating wireless sets in North Africa and coordinating radio traffic during the Second World War.
Their work evolved rapidly through the 20th century. Early signallers relied on flags, lamps and Morse code; later generations mastered encryption, radar and advanced radio systems. Whether attached to infantry, artillery, armour or airborne divisions, the Corps' role was vital: enabling commanders to make decisions in real time.
Where to find Royal Corps of Signals records online
Many Royal Corps of Signals ancestors can be traced using digitised British Army collections. On Findmypast, useful record sets include:
- British Army Service Records (1760–1939), which are particularly helpful for men who transferred from older communications units like the Royal Engineers Signal Service.
- British Army Casualty Lists (1939–45), to identify wounded, missing or captured signallers during the Second World War.
- Medal Index Cards and Medal Rolls, which confirm service in the First World War and later campaigns.
- Prisoner of War records, which are especially useful for Far East campaigns, where many signallers were captured while maintaining communications lines.
- Historical newspapers reveal promotions, gallantry awards and local stories highlighting a signaller’s service.
Second World War service records themselves are still held by the Ministry of Defence, but the above sources can help you start building a detailed profile.
How to search Royal Corps of Signals records
Start with the basics
Collect any names, dates, regiment details or service numbers you already know. Even a vague reference - 'served with Signals in North Africa' - can point you toward the right battalion or division.
Look for earlier units
Because the Corps was created in 1920, earlier communication specialists served with the Royal Engineers. If your ancestor fought in the First World War, search for them in Royal Engineers records first; their transfer to Signals may be noted later.
Use medals to narrow your search
Campaign medals can help identify where a signaller served. For example:
- Africa Star: suggests North Africa with Eighth Army.
- Burma Star: indicates service with Fourteenth Army or Far East communications units.
These clues can lead you to relevant war diaries and operational histories.
Trace your ancestor's army unit
Signallers were attached to divisions, brigades or specialised groups. War diaries (held by The National Archives) can reveal daily movements, technical tasks and mentions of named personnel. Some of these have been digitised and made searchable online.
These records help you understand not only your ancestor's service but also the challenges their unit faced.
What can Royal Corps of Signals records reveal?
Depending on the sources you find, you may uncover:
- Enlistment and attestation papers
- Transfers between units
- Postings in the UK and overseas
- Injuries and casualty information
- Medals, commendations or mentions in dispatches
- Addresses, next of kin and civilian occupations
Together, these fragments let you delve deeper into the world of the Corps - a world of rapid innovation, quiet courage and the constant pressure of keeping the Army talking.