Hundreds of serving and retired Royal Signals personnel, family members and friends gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum on Saturday 5 September for the Royal Corps of Signals Annual Memorial Service. The service, which typically attracts between 400 and 500 attendees each year, is one of the most important events in the Corps calendar. It provides an opportunity for the Royal Signals family to come together to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have served the Corps, both serving and retired, and who have since passed away. At the heart of this years’ service were15 bereaved families whose loved ones died while serving, whether through operational or non-operational causes. For some families, the loss is very recent, making the service a particularly poignant occasion. Their attendance serves as a reminder of the enduring bond that exists across the Royal Signals community and the Corps' commitment to remembering its people.
The annual event also welcomes members of the retired community, providing an opportunity for former Signallers to commemorate friends, colleagues, and family members, while reconnecting with the wider Corps family. A number of distinguished guests were in attendance, including General Purves and General Smith, alongside senior Army leaders and representatives of the Corps, including the Corps Colonel. This years’ service coincides with a significant moment for the National Memorial Arboretum, which is adopting a new name, becoming the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens. The change reflects the site's continued evolution as the nation's focal point for remembrance. The service also comes shortly before the addition of two names to the memorial wall at the Arboretum. The following week, the names of LCpl Des Duckett and Cpl Pat Mitchell will be formally added, ensuring their service and sacrifice are remembered for generations to come. As the Corps came together at Staffordshire, the Royal Signals Annual Memorial Service will provide a fitting opportunity to honour those no longer with us, support bereaved families and reaffirm the enduring spirit of the Royal Signals.
