Corps Reading List

Book Cover - The Tiger Has Many Lives - Pam Wells

The Tiger Has Many Lives

Pam Wells

The Story of Rod Wells is a remarkable tale of determination, endurance and survival in WW2. Rod had a passion for wireless technology and served in Malaya and Singapore as an officer with 8 Division Signals. Using his ingenuity and skill, as a prisoner of war he built a wireless radio and a transmitter virtually from scratch. He went on to become a world expert in electronics and neuclonics.As one of the few first-hand accounts of POW life in Borneo’s Sandakan Camp and Outram Road Gaol in Singapore, this book will be a valuable addition to the nation’s military heritage.

Never Forgotten: Honouring our Veterans

Dave Morgan

In “Never Forgotten,” Vietnam Veteran Dave Morgan explores the often-overlooked sacrifices of Australian military personnel. Inspired by his own experiences, Dave embarks on a journey to capture the diverse narrative spanning generations and conflicts, from Vietnam to Somalia and Afghanistan.

Through meticulous research, he uncovers untold stories, from talented athletes like Ian Anderson, Kevin Sheedy, to pioneering female veterans like Stephanie Shipman. The book weaves together tales of camaraderie and resilience, from heartwarming reunions to the loss of friends . “Never Forgotten” serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who serve, ensuring their voices resonate for future generations.

These accounts offer a mosaic of bravery and resilience and through these stories, readers gain a deeper understanding of the profound impact of military service on individuals and communities, highlighting the importance of preserving these invaluable narratives.

Book Cover - Swift and Sure - Peter JA Evans

Swift and Sure: A Career in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals

Peter JA Evans

As I sit in my study in 2024, in the autumn, if not the winter, of my life, I often reflect on how it all happened.

I was born in the coal-mining town of Greta but avoided the pits when my parents moved to Sydney. I started school in Glebe, which, at the time, was a very working-class suburb. The high school I attended finished at the end of the third y ear, and I imagined working as a clerk.

Then life changed when my parents were granted a Housing Commission house in North Ryde, and I transferred to Holy Cross College. I repeated the first year to take academic studies and the following year joined the school cadet unit. I became a drummer in the band and so began a military career that lasted for the best part of 50 years.

I was lucky enough to gain entry to RMC, Duntroon, and became part of the engineering class. At the last minute, I changed my preference for corps allocation to the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, a decision I never regretted. And so began a career that saw me posted overseas, appointed Director of the Corps, and later, Director-General Joint Communications – Electronics Branch, the senior communications officer in the Australian Defence Force. I was a Visiting Fellow at the Australian Defence Force Academy and retired from the Regular Army in 1992.

Soon after retiring from the Army, I was appointed Colonel Commandant Royal Australian Corps of Signals and, later, Representative Colonel Commandant. How did this all happen?

Jack the Rooster

Des Lambley

There are Official War Histories, specific Corps and unit histories and a few memoirs by Signalmen, but the Signal Service as a unique group of men has been overlooked. CEW Bean even apologised for omitting them from his works. This book collects those men for the first time. Jack the Rooster and his keeper Farrell illustrate that these men were ordinary people doing an extraordinary job undertaking emerging specialist roles in war. The several hundred citations for gallantry  makes for compelling reading. They are humbling by their mass. The work tells of leadership and faith in a just cause. These men set a wonderful example helping defend freedoms from tyranny. They are the antecedents of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals.

Book Cover - The Royal Corps of Signals - Cliff Lord

The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and its Antecedents (Supplementry Volume)

Cliff Lord & Graham Watson

The book concentrates on Commonwealth signal corps unit histories for the following countries: Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rhodesia, Singapore, and South Africa. The emphasis is post Second World War so as not to rewrite the official histories already published. A brief overview is also given of each countries Corps history, and illustrations of many of the units distinctive insignia are shown. Supplementary information is included on Ceylon in the Second World War, and British Signal units that served in Northern and Southern Russia after the end of the First World War, Royal Engineer Signal Service Volunteers in 1918, and Air Formation Signals. The reader will note that Royal Signals has strongly influenced most of the Corps, but each has evolved in its own way to suit its geopolitical considerations. With the advent of the computer-age and the move away from torn-tape relay systems it is interesting to see how each country comes to its own decision in providing a solution to its Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence. Electronic Warfare is covered to a limited extent.

Signals – A History of the Royal Australian Army Corps of Signals 1788-1947

Theo Barker

The detailed history of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals 1788 to 1947.

Contains roll of honour & honours and awards and service records of senior signals officers.

Book Cover - Signals Vol 1 - Theo Barker

Signals – Swift and Sure – A History of the Royal Australian Army Corps of Signals 1947 – 1972

John Blaxland

The detailed history of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals 1947 to 1972.