When I finished my trade training as a telegraph operator in 1962 I was posted to 3 Signal Regiment, Bulford. The regiment was soon to be renamed 3HQ and Signal Regiment. I was duly allocated to 1 Squadron and then to ASSU Troop.

 It was quite a small troop consisting of - if I remember correctly - around six landrover and trailer crews of 3 men, a troop sergeant and a troop officer. I remember the troop officer was Lt I C Double - who could forget his name! I think the troop sergeant was Clive ?? My crew commander was Cpl John Toll, a despatch rider from Neasden, and one of the nicest people I've ever met.

We were usually deployed as individual crews to provide ground to air radio for the forward air controllers and a rear link back to the aircraft's home base. The aircraft came from such places as Waterbeach, West Raynham and a couple of other airfields that I just can't remember. The aircraft were normally Hunters or Javelins.

We also provided comms for DZ safety teams during major para deployments including one such exercise in Greece during 1962 or 63. My main reason for mentioning this is that there doesn't appear to be any record of this particular ASSU troop. I've added a couple of photo's. The one with the Landover was taken on Salisbury Plain and the second one was taken in Greece - both in 1962 or 63.

Sorry the pictures are so dog eared but they are nearly 50 years old - God! that's frightening! In the Greece photo I can recall names such Jock Ballantyne, Geordie Graham, ?? Halford, ?? Davison and then the brain goes! That's me standing by the Landover by the way. I can date the photo's to those two years because I left Catterick in 62 and went to Aden in 64 so it has to be in between.
 

Salisbury Plain 1962-63 Greece 1962-63