Seeking proper trade name for WWII Canadian Radio Technician

[Daniel Roy]

Good evening folks,

I'm new to this forum and seeking the proper terminology used in WWII to identify the technical trade of Radio technician. They fixed/repaired the wireless equipment in vehicles and ground base stations. Did the Radio technician belong to the Signal or to the REME command. What would be their trade badge ? Thank you for any info on particular topic. Best regards.

[Ed Storey]

Wireless Mechanic was a RCOC 'B' Trade that with the creation of the RCEME in 1944 became Telecommunication Mechanic Lines of Communication. Qualified mechanics were entitled to wear the B Trades Badge.

[Daniel Roy]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Wireless Mechanic was a RCOC 'B' Trade that with the creation of the RCEME in 1944 became Telecommunication Mechanic Lines of Communication. Qualified mechanics were entitled to wear the B Trades Badge.

Good evening Ed, thank you very much! Best regards Daniel

[Chris Suslowicz]

The UK trades were:

Lineman Mechanic
Radio Mechanic
Telegraph Mechanic

I've got some of the course notes (in a box, somewhere) with a chart of the training path. Everyone got the "Workshop Practice" (Metal bashing, drilling holes and filing flat) and "Basic Theory" (Electricity & Magnetism, etc.) parts and then specialised into either Line or Wireless. Line covered telephony and telegraphy, then specialised further into (I think) Line communications (Audio repeaters, carrier telephony, switchboards, etc.), and Telegraph Mechanics (Creed teleprinters and morse transmitters, automatic exchanges (later on, probably)).

Best regards,
Chris.

[Daniel Roy]

Hello Chris,

Thank you. It is very informative. Would the qualification badges be the same in UK ? Best regards. Daniel

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Daniel Roy

Hello Chris,

Thank you. It is very informative. Would the qualification badges be the same in UK ? Best regards. Daniel

Probably. I found http://jfchalifoux.com/army_trade_badges.htm via a web search last night, and that contains some 1920-1942 sleeve patches (Signals Electrician, Signals Lineman, Signals Wireless, and a space for Dispatch Rider), but there are other patches on the internet with either a gauntlet holding 6 lightning bolts, and a red or yellow circle with 6 lightning bolts, which are presumably trade badges. Then again, 1942-1945 seems to have simplified matters by just having a larger 'T' patch, either plain (group c), with laurel wreath (group b) or with laurel wreath and surmounted by a king's crown (group a).

It might be worth asking the Signals Museum - I've not taken mush interest in uniform & badges, I'm afraid. (More webbing and equipment.)

Best regards,
Chris.