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The Signal Division [ 1] was a Directorate of the Admiralty Naval Staff responsible for policy, control and management of all naval communications from 1914 to 1964.
In 1906 the Admiralty set up a Signals Committee to initially investigate signaling between Royal Navy vessels and Merchant Navy vessels,[ 2] in 1914 the Admiralty War Staff had established an expanded Signal Section [ 3] to deal with all shore to ship communications following the abolition of the war staff function. The Signal Division was established on the 18 August 1917 [ 4] the divisions primary role was for receiving and sending signals to ships at sea and stations ashore, but also for the coding or cyphering of the signals. In September 1919 the division was renamed the Communications Division [ 5] until 1927 when it was again re-styled Signal Section still within the Naval Staff until 1941 when it reverted to Signal Division, it continued as a component part of the Naval Staff until 1964 when the Admiralty Department was abolished and replaced by a new Navy Department within the Ministry of Defence .
As of August, 1917:[ 6]
The Signal Division will be responsible for all Naval, Mercantile, Allied and Naval & Military:-
W/T Signalling (including the allocation of all W/T Call Signs other than "commercial").
S/T Signalling
Visual Signalling (including allocation of all Pendants)
Private and Recognition Signals
Signal Books
Codes
Cyphers
Methods of Drafting, Coding & Cyphering, and dealing with all messages (whether W/T, S/T, Visual, Land Line or Cable).
"S" Orders
"SR" Orders
The Signal Division is not responsible for either Personnel or Materiel, but will act in an advisory capacity to the departments dealing therewith and should be consulted by them as necessary.
All correspondence, and preparing, printing and "establishment" of all the necessary books and Instructions in connection therewith.
Directors of Division [ edit ]
Included:[ 7]
Director Signal Section [ edit ]
Rear-Admiral Sydney R. Fremantle , September, 1914 – July, 1915.
Captain Christopher R. Payne, January, 1916 – May, 1917.
Director Signal Division [ edit ]
Captain Edward M. Phillpotts, August, 1917 – December 1917.
Acting Captain Richard L. Nicholson, January, 1918 – November, 1919.
Director Communications Division [ edit ]
Captain Rudolf M. Burmester : November 1919-April 1920
Captain Henry K. Kitson, July, 1921 – February, 1923.
Captain Raymond Fitzmaurice: February 1923-February 1925
Captain James F.Somerville : February 1925-February 1927
Director Signal Section [ edit ]
Captain Charles E. Kennedy-Purvis : February 1927-March 1930
Captain James W.S.Dorling: March 1930-April 1932
Captain Arthur J. L. Murray: April 1932-September 1934
Captain Guy W.Hallifax: September 1934-October 1935
Captain W. Tofield Makeig-Jones: October 1935-September 1937
Captain Philip F. Glover: September 1937 – 1939
Director Signal Division [ edit ]
Captain Philip F. Glover: September 1940 – 1941
Rear-Admiral Cedric S. Holland : March 1942-November 1943
Rear-Admiral Vaughan Morgan : November 1943-October 1945
Captain John R.S. Haines: October 1945-April 1947
Director Signal Division [ edit ]
Captain Gilbert R. Waymouth: April 1947-September 1949
Captain Ralph G. Swallow: September 1949-December 1951
Captain Roy S. Foster-Brown: December 1951-February 1954
Captain Alwyn D. Lenox-Conyngham: February 1954-November 1955
Captain Robert F. T. Stannard: November 1955-November 1957
Captain Christopher A. James: November 1957-November 1959
Captain Edward T.L. Dunsterville: November 1959-March 1960
Captain W. John Parker: March 1960-November 1961
Captain John R.G. Trechman: November 1961-January 1965
Deputy Directors of Division [ edit ]
Included:[ 8]
Captain Patrick W.B. Brooking: August 1939-July 1941
Captain Francis J. Wylie: July 1941-March 1943
Captain Charles L. Firth: July 1941-May 1943
Captain Sir Philip W. Bowyer-Smith, Bt.: November 1941-October 1943
Captain J.Peter L. Reid: March 1943-December 1944
Captain Herbert F.H. Layman: February 1944 – 1945
Captain Charles L. Firth: December 1944-December 1945
Captain Laurence G. Durlacher : December 1945-March 1948
Captain Peter Dawnay: March 1948-March 1950
Captain Earl Cairns: March 1950-March 1952
Captain Edward T.L. Dunsterville: March 1952-March 1954
Captain Charles P. Mills: March 1954-April 1956
Captain Christopher A. James: April 1956-November 1957
Captain Robert R.B. Mackenzie: November 1957-December 1959
Captain Ian F. Sommerville: December 1959-February 1961
Captain the Hon. David P. Seely : February 1961-August 1963
Captain Douglas A. Poynter: August 1963-August 1965
^ Smith, Gordon; Watson, Graham. "British Admiralty, Shore Establishments, Fleets and Station, World War 1" . naval-history.net . Gordon Smith, 23 July 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2017 .
^ Mead, Cdr. Hilary P. Retd. R.N. (1957). "Centenary of the International Signal Book". Journal of the Royal United Service Institution . 102 (607): 334–338. doi :10.1080/03071845709419207 .
^ Hammond Hall, William Palmer; Ingram, Thomas Allen; Price, E. D. (1 January 1917). "The New Hazell Annual and Almanack,Volume 32" . Oxford University Press, p.710. Retrieved 2 March 2017 .
^ Archives, The National. "Admiralty Signal Division: History: Docket entitled "Division of Responsibility for Wireless Telegraphy Work." " . discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk . National Archives, 1936, ADM 116/3404. Retrieved 2 March 2017 .
^ Brooks, John (Dec 6, 2012). Dreadnought Gunnery and the Battle of Jutland: The Question of Fire Control . Routledge. p. 266. ISBN 9781135765545 .
^ Archives, The National. "Admiralty Signal Division: History: Docket entitled "Division of Responsibility for Wireless Telegraphy Work." " . discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk . National Archives, 1936, ADM 116/3404. Retrieved 2 March 2017 .
^ Mackie, Colin. "Senior Royal Navy Appointments from 1865" (PDF) . Gulabin . Colin Mackie, p.55, January 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017 .
^ Mackie, Colin. "Senior Royal Navy Appointments from 1865" (PDF) . Gulabin . Colin Mackie, p.55, January 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017 .
Primary source for this article is by Harley Simon, Lovell Tony, (2017), Signal Division (Royal Navy), dreadnoughtproject.org, http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org .
Archives, The National. "Admiralty Signal Division: History", Vol 2. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, 1936 . ADM 116/3404.
Archives, The National. "Records of Naval Staff Departments". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, 1883-1978, ADM Division 10.
Black, Nicholas (2009). The British Naval Staff in the First World War. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press. ISBN 9781843834427 .
Mackie, Colin, (2010-2014), British Armed Services between 1860 and the present day — Royal Navy - Senior Appointments, http://www.gulabin.com/ .
Rodger. N.A.M., (1979) The Admiralty (offices of state), T. Dalton, Lavenham, ISBN 978-0900963940
Smith, Gordon (2014), British Admiralty, Part 2 - Changes in Admiralty Departments 1913-1920, Naval-History.Net.
Direction and control of Admiralty and Naval affairs Boards and offices under the First Lord Direction of Admirals Naval/Sea Lords War and Naval Staff Secretariat and staff under the First Sea Lord Operational planning, policy strategy, tactical doctrine requirements Divisions and sections under the War and Naval Staff Offices of the Sea Lords Admiralty civil departments and organisations under the Sea Lords
Admiralty Area Cash Offices
Admiralty Central Dockyard Laboratory
Admiralty Central Metallurgical Laboratory
Admiralty Civilian Shore Wireless Service
Admiralty Compass Observatory
Admiralty Constabulary
Admiralty Constabulary Headquarters
Admiralty Engineering Laboratory
Admiralty Experimental Station
Admiralty Experiment Works
Admiralty Gunnery Establishment
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Admiralty Labour Department
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Admiralty Mine Design Department
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Admiralty Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory
Admiralty Record Office
Admiralty Regional Offices
Admiralty Research Laboratory
Admiralty Signal Establishment
Admiralty Signals and Radar Establishment
Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment
Admiralty Surveying Service
Admiralty Torpedo Experimental Establishment
Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment
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Architectural and Engineering Works Department
Air Equipment and Naval Photography Department
Air Department
Air Materiel Department
Air Personnel Department
Amphibious Warfare Headquarters
Armament Supply Department
Board of Invention and Research
Board of Longitude
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Britannia Royal Naval College
Chemical Board
Chemical Department
Civil Catering Department
Civil Engineer in Chiefs Department
Coastguard and Reserves Branch
Combined Operations Headquarters
Commissioner for Property and Income-tax for the Naval Department
Compass Department
Contract and Purchase Department
Council of Naval Education
Dental Examining Board
Department of Radio Equipment
Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy
Department of Aeronautical and Engineering Research
Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development
Department of Naval Assistant (Foreign) to Second Sea Lord
Department of Naval Education
Operational Research
Department of Personal Services and Officer Appointments
Department of Physical Research
Department of Physical Training & Sports
Department of Radio Equipment
Department of Research Programmes and Planning
Department of Superintendent of de-magnetisation
Department of the Admiral of the Training Service
Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance
Department of the Chief of Naval Information
Department of the Chief Scientist
Department of the Civil Engineer-in-Chief
Department of the Comptroller of Steam Machinery
Department of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services
Department of the Controller of the Navy
Department of the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding
Department of the Controller for Navy Pay
Department of the Deputy Controller for Auxiliary Shipbuilding
Department of the Deputy Controller for Dockyards and Shipbuilding
Department of the Director Contract-Built Ships
Department of the Director-General Aircraft
Department of the Director-General of Manpower
Department of the Director-General, Supply and Secretariat Branch
Department of the Director of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair
Department of the Director of Contract Labour
Department of the Director of Dockyards
Department of the Director of Electrical Engineering
Department of the Director of Manning
Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding
Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs
Department of the Director of Merchant Ship Repairs
Department of the Director of Naval Construction
Department of the Director of Naval Equipment
Department of the Director of Naval Recruiting
Department of the Director of Naval Weather Service
Department of the Director of Personal Services
Department of the Director of Physical Training and Sports
Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining
Department of the Director of Transports
Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons
Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Materials
Department of the Director of Unexploded Bombs
Department of the Director of Warship Production
Department of the Director of Welfare and Service Conditions
Department of the Director of Wreck Dispersal
Department of the Flag Officer Sea Training
Department of the Engineer in Chief
Department of the Paymaster Director-General
Department of the Inspector of Anti-Aircraft Weapons
Department of the Inspector of Dockyard Expense Accounts
Department of the Inspector-General of Naval Hospitals and Fleets
Department of the Medical Director-General of the Navy
Department of the Physician of the Navy
Department of the Physician General of the Navy
Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy
Department of the Surveyor of Buildings
Department of the Surveyor of Dockyards
Directorate-General, (Naval Manpower and Training)
Directorate General Training
Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department
Dockyards Branch
Dockyard Expense Accounts Department
Dockyard Schools
Electrical Engineering Department
Engineer Branch
Engineering Department
Experimental Department
Fire Control Group
Greenwich Hospital Department
Inspector of Telegraphs
Inspector of Repairs
Joint Warfare Establishment
Medical Consultative Board
Medical Examining Board
Historical Section
Hydrographic Department
Marine Department
Marine Pay Department
Materials and Priority Department
Medical Consultative Board
Medical Department
Medical Examining Board
Movements Department
Nautical Almanac Office
Naval Artillery and Torpedo Department
Naval Engineering College
Naval Equipment Department
Naval Historical Branch
Naval Construction Department
Naval Intelligence Department
Naval Medical Service
Naval Law Division
Naval Manpower Department
Naval Mobilisation Department
Naval Ordnance Department
Naval Ordnance Inspection Department
Naval Ordnance Stores Department
Naval Personnel Services and Officer Appointments Department
Naval Publicity Department
Naval Regional Offices
Naval Reserve Department
Naval Security Department
Naval Stores Department
Naval Training Department
Naval Works Department
Navy, Army and Air Force Institute
Navy and Army Canteen Board
Navy Works Department
Navigation Department
Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope
Office of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves
Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves
Office of the Admiralty Chemist
Office of the Adviser on the Naval Construction to the Board of Admiralty
Office of the Assistant Controller
Office of the Assistant Controller Research and Development
Office of the Clerk of the Journals
Office of the Chief Polaris Executive
Office of the Deputy Controller of Navy
Office of the Deputy Controller Production
Office of Extra Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord
Office of the Inspector Gun Mountings
Office of the Keeper of Records
Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval)
Office of the Senior Psychologist of the Navy
Office of the Translator of French and Spanish Languages
Office of the Vice Controller Air
Office of the Vice Controller of the Navy
Organisation and Methods Department
Packet Service
Regional Organisation for Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs
Royal Corps of Naval Constructors
Royal Flying Corps
Royal Marine Police
Royal Marines Office
Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet
Royal Naval Academy
Royal Naval Aircraft Workshops
Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Stations
Royal Naval Armaments Depot
Royal Naval Auxiliary Service
Royal Naval Cordite Factories
Royal Naval Propellant Factory
Royal Naval College
Royal Naval College and the School for Naval Architecture
Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Royal Naval College, Keyham
Royal Naval College, Osborne
Royal Naval Engineering College
Royal Naval Film Corporation
Royal Naval Hospital
Royal Naval Medical Depot
Royal Naval Minewatching Service
Royal Naval Mine Depot
Royal Naval Patrol Service
Royal Naval Scientific Service
Royal Naval Sick Quarters
Royal Naval Torpedo Depot
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Royal Naval War College
Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth
Royal Navy Dockyard
Royal Navy Medical Service
Royal Navy Shore Signal Service
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
Royal School of Naval Architecture
Salvage Department
School of Mathematics and Naval Construction
Scientific Research and Experiment Department
Sea Transport Branch
Sea Transport Department
Sea Transport Division
Ship Department
Ship Design Department
Signal Department
Signal School
Sixpenny Office
Statistics Department
Steam Department
Superintendent of De-magnetisation
Torpedo Experimental Establishment
Transport Department
Undersurface Warfare Department
Victualling Department
Volunteer Boys and Cadet Corps
Weapons Department
Weapons Department (Naval)
Women's Royal Naval Service
Wireless Telegraphy Board
Direction/Command of the Fleet Naval formations after 1707
1st Fleet
2nd Fleet
3rd Fleet
Commander-in-Chief, Africa
Atlantic Fleet
Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf
Australia Station
Cape of Good Hope Station
Cape and West Africa Station
Battle Cruiser Fleet
Battle Cruiser Force
Caspian Flotilla
Channel Fleet
Channel Squadron
Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland
Cork Station
Coast of Scotland
Commander-in-Chief, China
Commander-in-Chief, Dover
Flag Officer, East Africa
East Indies Station
East Indies and China Station
Eastern Fleet
Far East Fleet
English Channel
Grand Fleet
Flag Officer Gibraltar
Harwich Force
Home Fleet
Jamaica Station
Leith Station
Commander-in-Chief, Levant
Levant and East Mediterranean
Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands
Mediterranean Fleet
Medway
Newfoundland Station
New Zealand Division
New Zealand Naval Forces
Nore
North America and West Indies Station
Commander-in-Chief, North Sea
Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands
Pacific Fleet
Pacific Station
Admiral of Patrols
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
Queenstown Station
Royal East African Navy
Royal Indian Navy
Flag Officer Submarines
Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth
Reserve Fleet
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic
South East Coast of America Station
Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway
West Africa Squadron
Flag Officer, West Africa
Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches
Naval formations before 1707 Direction of Naval Finance Departments under the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary Direction of Naval Administration and the Admiralty Secretariat Branches and offices under the Permanent Secretary Civil Administration Departments under the Civil Lords Legal