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Brigadier-General Hildebrand
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Brigadier-General Arthur Blois Ross Hildebrand
C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. Royal Corps Signals
Born 1870: 2/Lieut., R.E., 1890; S. Africa,
1899-1902--O.C. Telegraph Section__Chief
Instructor, R.M.A., Woolwich, 1909-13; France, Belgium and Italy, 1914-18--O.C. 'B' Corps
Signal Coy. and A.D. Signals II Corps, 1914-15; Bt.-Lt.-Col., 1915; D.D. Signals, Second Army, 1915-18; Bt.-Col., 1917. Retd., 1919. Died, 1937. |
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The First World War
(The Western Front - France)
The first phase of the evolution of signal communications covers the period from summer 1914 to the spring of 1916, during which the pre-war conception of signal communications underwent a drastic revision both in it’s scope and technique, and the army expanded to about ten times it’s original strength.
On the declaration of war, the signal companies for GHQ, I & II Corps, the pool of airline & cable sections, and the wireless sections, were all mobilised.
The Second Corps Signal Company was commanded by Major ABR Hildebrand.
Early in 1916 Deputy Directors of Army Signals were authorised for army headquarters. Colonel ABR Hildebrand was appointed to Second Army.
A few months later Assistant Directors of Army Signals were approved for corps headquarters. Needless to say these appointments, which were long overdue, had an immediate effect in improving co-ordination of the day-to-day work and future planning of the various signal companies. |
The First World War
(Italy - 1917)
On the 24th October 1917, a mixed Austro-German force attacked the Italian Second Army at Caporetto. On the 28th October orders were issued for two British and Four French divisions to be sent from France to the relief of the Italians.
The move of a relief force from France to Italy had no signal reconnaissance or plan. Until the arrival of Colonel Hildebrand, the Deputy Director of Army Signals, with advanced GHQ on the 21st November, General Plumer was completely dependent on a civil system that was in a sad state of panic & disorganisation.
On arrival Colonel Hildebrand lost no time in pressing commando supremo to provide the essential line connections to corps headquarters to establish where GHQ was to move.
Field cable connections to corps by details of the advanced party, and the GHQ switchboard consisted of a 10-line Cordless operated by Colonel Hildebrand's staff officer & clark. A dispatch rider service was organized as soon as possible with the base, at Arquata, twenty-five miles to the north of Genoa. | |
Brigadier-General ABR Hildebrand
