60 (Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars) Signal Squadron
A former British Army Territorial Army and Army Reserve signals unit that provided secure radio communications from bases in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Cambridgeshire.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
60 (Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars) Signal Squadron was a Royal Corps of Signals Territorial Army unit based in Aylesbury, England. It operated as a geographically distributed reserve communications formation, with detachments or troops associated with Bedford, Cambridge, and High Wycombe. Its principal purpose was to provide secure military radio communications in support of 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade and the formations and civilian organisations that the brigade supported. The unit was created in July 1999 as an independent squadron from E Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets. It was initially intended to become part of 72 Signal Regiment, but instead entered the regimental structure of 71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment in September 2002. This change placed the squadron within the broader organisation of the Royal Signals' reserve communications capability while retaining its Buckinghamshire Hussars identity. Operationally, the squadron used Clansman communications equipment and was tasked with very-high-frequency and high-frequency radio links. Its activities included the operation of Radio Rebroadcast stations, commonly known as REBRO, and Rear Link Detachments, or RLDs. These capabilities were intended to pass information between military headquarters, field units, and supported civil authorities when normal communications infrastructure was unavailable, unsuitable, or required reinforcement. The unit therefore functioned as a specialist communications provider rather than as a conventional armoured or cavalry formation. The squadron's organisation changed repeatedly during the restructuring of Britain's reserve forces. Following the Territorial Army rebalancing process in 2006, it transferred from 71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment to 36 (Eastern) Signal Regiment. At that point the High Wycombe detachment at Booker was closed, and its personnel were reassigned either to Aylesbury or to 47 Signal Squadron at Uxbridge. A further restructuring followed the Strategic Review of the Reserves announced in April 2009. Under that plan, the squadron was reduced to 860 (Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars) Signal Troop. The troop became part of Berkshire Yeomanry, 94 Signal Squadron, within 39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment based at Bristol. The former squadron was also being re-roled toward the Bowman tactical communications system, replacing or succeeding the earlier Clansman-based communications model. The Bedford and Cambridge Bravo and Charlie Troops were disbanded during this reorganisation. The remaining 860 Signal Troop at Aylesbury was ultimately removed from the Army's order of battle as part of the changes associated with the Strategic Defence and Security Review at the end of 2013. The unit is therefore defunct as a separate formation. Its historical significance lies in the role it played in the post-1999 restructuring of Britain's reserve signals forces and in the provision of deployable radio communications across central and southern England.
History
60 (Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars) Signal Squadron was established in July 1999 as an independent Territorial Army squadron. Its personnel and institutional origins came from E Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets. Although the unit was initially intended to form part of 72 Signal Regiment, it was instead assigned to 71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment in September 2002. The squadron was based at Aylesbury and maintained a distributed presence through detachments at Bedford, Cambridge, and High Wycombe. Its function was to provide communications support as part of the Royal Corps of Signals, particularly for 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade. It used Clansman radio equipment to operate secure very-high-frequency and high-frequency links. The squadron's communications role included Radio Rebroadcast stations and Rear Link Detachments, which helped transmit information between military units and, where required, supported civilian organisations. The Territorial Army rebalancing programme of 2006 altered the unit's administrative and operational setting. The squadron transferred from 71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment to 36 (Eastern) Signal Regiment. The High Wycombe location at Booker was closed during this period. Personnel from that detachment were moved either to the Aylesbury location or to 47 Signal Squadron at Uxbridge. The Strategic Review of the Reserves initiated another major change in April 2009. The squadron was reduced in size and redesignated 860 (Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars) Signal Troop. It became part of Berkshire Yeomanry, 94 Signal Squadron, under 39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment, headquartered at Bristol. The Bedford and Cambridge Bravo and Charlie Troops were disbanded. The remaining formation was also being re-roled to use Bowman communications equipment, reflecting the British Army's wider transition toward newer tactical communications technology. The final stage came with the changes associated with the Strategic Defence and Security Review at the end of 2013. The remaining 860 Signal Troop at Aylesbury was removed from the Army's order of battle. The former squadron consequently ceased to exist as an independent unit. Its history records the movement of a reserve signals formation through several regimental structures and communications modernisation programmes between 1999 and 2013.
- 2013
Removal from the Army order of battle
[1]The remaining Aylesbury troop was removed from the Army's order of battle during changes associated with the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
- 2009
Reduction to 860 Signal Troop
[1]Following the Strategic Review of the Reserves, the squadron was downsized and became 860 (Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars) Signal Troop within 94 Signal Squadron and 39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment.
- 2006
Transfer to 36 (Eastern) Signal Regiment
[1]The Territorial Army rebalancing programme moved the squadron to 36 (Eastern) Signal Regiment and closed its Booker detachment at High Wycombe.
- 2002
Regimented with 71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment
[1]In September, the squadron became part of 71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment rather than the originally proposed 72 Signal Regiment.
- 1999
Formation as an independent squadron
[1]The unit was formed in July from E Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets, as an independent Territorial Army signals squadron.
Products and positioning
A specialist British Army Reserve communications unit focused on secure, deployable radio links and information transmission in support of military and selected civilian organisations.
Military communications
Secure radio communications
The squadron's core capability was the provision of secure radio communications for military formations and supported organisations. It operated links intended to carry information across dispersed areas when ordinary communications infrastructure was unavailable or required reinforcement.
Radio relay
Radio Rebroadcast (REBRO)
REBRO operations extended or rebroadcast radio traffic so that units separated by distance or terrain could remain connected. This was one of the squadron's principal field communications functions.
Military communications
Rear Link Detachments
Rear Link Detachments provided communications links between deployed elements and rear headquarters or supporting formations. They formed part of the squadron's information-transfer role.
Brand decisions
2009
Reserve-force restructuring and re-roleStrategyBackground
The Strategic Review of the Reserves required changes to the squadron's size, structure, and communications role.
Action taken
The squadron was reduced to 860 Signal Troop, transferred into the 94 Signal Squadron structure, and re-roled toward Bowman communications equipment. Its Bedford and Cambridge Bravo and Charlie Troops were disbanded.
Aftermath
The former squadron no longer operated as an independent formation and was ultimately removed from the Army order of battle in 2013.
Sources1 sources
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