Sig, Tel...and what?

[chinakay]

There were three of them. Sig, tel, and what was the third??? My dad was sig, and if anyone's interested I posted a few of his navy pics over on the Photo board.

Cheers,
China

[neil1821]

There were three of them..... what was the third???

Third what?
Sorry China, don't understand the question   

Neil

[chinakay]

On each shift onboard ship, there were three of them. Signalman, telegrapher, and I can't remember what was the third. They were the ship's communications men. Radio, maybe? A limited job, because of course any radio message to another ship could be intercepted.

This question was really hoping to find someone who would know, instantly, what I meant. I think anyone who was in the navy during the war would probably know. My dad was the signalman, and he used to talk about sig, tel and...whoever. On his watch, the other two guys were Cleat and Pudge 

Cheers,
China

[geniecolgan]

How about Sig, Tel & Sparks? Sparks was usually the radio man cum electrician in an outfit.
jc

[neil1821]

Sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but a radioman would rate as a telegraphist, wouldn't he? Radioman isn't a rating as such

Communications ratings were either signalmen or telegraphists, and as far as I know nothing else.
PO signalmen were called Yeomen. Is that what you're thinking of? 

[chinakay]

Hi fellows,

Could have been sparks, but it doesn't ring a bell. Not yeoman, I'm sure...it was three positions, three specialties.

Maybe it will come back to me...thanks for your input in the meantime, very much appreciated.

Cheers,
China

[SHOTLEY50]

Telegraphists were renamed Radio Operators in the 1950s. Also called Sparkers. God knows what they are called today. The 3rd one could have been 'Coders', during the time of National Service.
Radioman was an American rating.

[chinakay]

No, I don't think that was it. If I come across a RCN site I'll ask there.

Been to Shotley Gate, though, been to Ganges!

Thanks,
China

[Thudnut]

See if any of the abbreviations on here ring a bell (even though it's Austrailan based):
http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/doc/glossary.asp

Thudders