Royal Canadian Corps of Signals | |
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Active | 1903–1968, 2013–present |
Country | Canada |
Branch | Canadian Army |
Type | Combat support |
Role | Military communications |
Size | Administrative corps |
Part of | Communications and Electronics Branch |
Motto(s) | Latin: Velox Versutus Vigilans ("Swift, Skilled, Alert") |
March | "Begone, Dull Care" (until 1968, 2014-present), "The Mercury March" (2013–2014) |
Anniversaries | 24 October (corps birthday) |
The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS, RC Sigs; (Corps des transmissions royal du Canada - CTRC) is a component within the Canadian Armed Forces' Communications and Electronics Branch, consisting of all members of that personnel branch who wear army uniform. Prior to 1968 it was a combat support corps of the Canadian Army.
Major Wallace Bruce Matthews Carruthers established a militia (Non-Permanent Active Militia) component of signallers under the designation "Signalling Corps" on 24 October 1903, making it the first independent signal corps in the British Empire. It was redesignated "The Canadian Signal Corps" on 4 June 1913. On 1 April 1919 as part of the restructuring based on experiences during the Great War, a regular (Permanent Active Militia) component was established as the "Canadian Signalling Instructional Staff". This was redesignated "The Canadian Permanent Signal Corps" on 15 December 1920. Shortly thereafter, on 15 June 1921, King George V, the Canadian monarch, bestowed on the permanent force portion of the organization the title "The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals". Meanwhile, on 1 August 1921, the militia component was re-titled "Canadian Corps of Signals"; redesignated "Royal Canadian Corps of Signals" on 29 April 1936 (as part of the larger military restructuring that year); and finally aligned in nomenclature with the regular component as "The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals" on 22 March 1948, after the conclusion of the Second World War.
The badge of The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals consisted of a circle, with a Tudor Crown on top with the text Royal Canadian Corps of Signals around the edge. At the center of the circle is the Roman God Mercury. At the bottom is a ribbon with the text "Velox, Versutus, Vigilans" and eight maple leaves. The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals was responsible for land communication and signalling.