Royal Engineers

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The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army. It provides combat engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces.

The Regimental Headquarters and the Royal School of Military Engineering are in Chatham in Kent. The corps is divided into several regiments, barracked at various places in the United Kingdom and Germany.

History

The Royal Engineers trace their origins back to the military engineers brought to England by William the Conqueror and claim over 900 years of unbroken service to the crown. Engineers have always served in the armies of the Crown, however the origins of the modern corps, along with those of the Royal Artillery, lie in the Board of Ordnance established in the 15th century. In 1717, the Board established a Corps of Engineers, consisting entirely of commissioned officers. The hard work was done by the Artificer Companies, made up of contracted civilian artisans and labourers. In 1782, a Soldier Artificer Company was established for service in Gibraltar, and this was the first instance of non-commissioned military engineers. In 1787, the Corps of Engineers was granted the Royal prefix and adopted its current name and in the same year a Corps of Royal Military Artificers was formed, consisting of non-commissioned officers and privates, to be officered by the RE. Ten years later the Gibraltar company, which had remained separate, was absorbed and in 1812 the name was changed to the Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners.

In 1855 the Board of Ordnance was abolished and authority over the Royal Engineers, Royal Sappers and Miners and Royal Artillery was transferred to the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, thus uniting them with the rest of the Army. The following year, the Royal Engineers and Royal Sappers and Miners became a unified corps as the Corps of Royal Engineers. In 1862 the corps also absorbed the British officers and men of the engineer corps of the East India Company.

The Corps has no battle honours, but its motto Ubique (Everywhere), awarded by King William IV in 1832, signifies that it has seen action in all the major conflicts of the British Army. A second motto is Quo Fas et Gloria ducunt (Where right and glory lead).

The Royal Engineers Museum of Military Engineering is in Gillingham in Kent.

Personnel

All members of the Royal Engineers are trained combat engineers and all sappers (privates) and non-commissioned officers also have another trade. Women are eligible for all Royal Engineers specialities.

Camp flag of the Royal Engineers

Sappers can join the Royal Engineers in one of the following trades:

• Bricklayer and Concretor
• Building and Structural Finisher
• Carpenter and Joiner
• Command, Communications and Information Systems Specialist
• Construction Materials Technician
• Draughtsman (Design)
• Draughtsman (Electrical and Mechanical)
• Electrician
• Fabricator (Welder)
• Fitter (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration)
• General Fitter
• Geographical Data Technician
• Geographical Production Technician
• Geographical Terrain Analyst
• Heating and Plumbing Engineer
• Plant Operator Mechanic
• Resources Specialist
• Specialist Equipment Driver/Operator
• Surveyor (Engineering)

Later, sappers can specialise in further trades and specialities, including:

• Amphibious Engineer
• Armoured Engineer
• Bomb Disposal Engineer
• Clerk of Works (Construction)
• Clerk of Works (Electrical)
• Clerk of Works (Mechanical)
• Commando Engineer
• Diver
• Military Plant Foreman
• Parachute Engineer
• Regimental Signals Instructor

Senior NCOs can be commissioned as Garrison Engineers (Construction, Electrical or Mechanical).

Royal Engineers units

The Royal Engineers comprises units of both the Regular Army and the Territorial Army. There are also two higher engineer formations:

• 12 (Air Support) Engineer Brigade (39, 71 and 73 Regiments)
• 29 (Corps Support) Engineer Brigade (RMRE, 75 and 101 Regiments)

Regular Army

• 21 Engineer Regiment (Armoured)
  • 1 Armoured Engineer Squadron
  • 4 Armoured Engineer Squadron
  • 7 Headquarters Squadron
  • 73 Armoured Engineer Squadron

• 22 Engineer Regiment (Armoured/Field)
  • 3 Armoured Engineer Squadron
  • 5 Field Squadron
  • 6 Headquarters Squadron

• 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault)
  • 9 Parachute Squadron (9 PARA)
  • 12 (Nova Scotia) Headquarters Squadron (Air Assault)
  • 51 Field Squadron (Air Assault)
  • 61 Field Support Squadron (Air Assault)

• 24 Engineer Regiment (Commando) - Forming 2007
  • 59 Commando Squadron
  • 131 Commando Squadron (TA)

• 25 Engineer Regiment (Northern Ireland)
  • 33 Field Squadron
  • 43 Headquarters and Support Squadron

• 26 Engineer Regiment (Armoured/Field)
  • 8 Armoured Engineer Squadron
  • 30 Field Squadron
  • 38 Headquarters Squadron

• 28 Engineer Regiment (Amphibious/Field)
  • 23 Amphibious Engineer Squadron
  • 42 Field Squadron
  • 45 Field Support Squadron
  • 64 Headquarters Squadron
  • 65 Field Support Squadron

• 32 Engineer Regiment (Armoured)
  • 2 Headquarters Squadron
  • 26 Armoured Engineer Squadron
  • 31 Armoured Engineer Squadron
  • 39 Armoured Engineer Squadron

• 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
  • 21 Field Squadron (EOD)
  • 22 Headquarters and Support Squadron (EOD)
  • 49 Field Squadron (EOD)
  • 58 Field Squadron (EOD)

• 35 Engineer Regiment (Armoured)
  • 29 Armoured Engineer Squadron
  • 37 Armoured Engineer Squadron
  • 44 Headquarters Squadron
  • 77 Armoured Engineer Squadron

• 36 Engineer Regiment (Field)
  • 20 Field Squadron
  • 50 Headquarters Squadron
  • 69 Gurkha Field Squadron
  • 70 Gurkha Field Support Squadron

• 38 Engineer Regiment (Field/Armoured)
  • 11 Field Squadron
  • 15 Field Support Squadron
  • 25 Armoured Engineer Squadron
  • 32 Headquarters Squadron

• 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support)
  • 10 Field Squadron (Air Support) based at RAF Leeming
  • 34 Field Squadron (Air Support)
  • 48 Field Squadron (Air Support)
  • 53 Field Squadron (Air Support)
  • 60 Headquarters and Support Squadron (Air Support)

• 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic)
  • 13 Geographic Squadron
  • 14 Geographic Squadron
  • 16 Survey Support Squadron
  • Royal School of Military Survey (until 1 April 2006)

• 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers (3 Commando Brigade) to form 24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers in early 2007

• 62 Cyprus Support Squadron Royal Engineers (British Forces Cyprus)

• Royal School of Military Engineering
  • Combat Engineer School
    • 3 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment
      • 55 Training Squadron
      • 63 Training Support Squadron
      • 67 Training Squadron
    • Instructor Troop
    • Battlefield Engineering Wing
      • United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre
    • Communications Training Wing
  • Construction Engineer School
    • 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment
    • Command Wing
    • Civil Engineering Wing
    • Electrical and Mechanical Wing
    • National Search Centre
  • Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal School
• 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group (previously Military Works Force)
  • HQ Works Group
    • 530 Specialist Team Royal Engineers (STRE)
    • Royal Engineers Specialist Advisory Team (RESAT)
    • Technical Information Centre Royal Engineers
  • 62 Works Group [water]
    • 519 STRE (Works)
    • 523 STRE (Works)
    • 520 STRE (Well Drilling)
    • 521 STRE (Well Drilling)
  • 63 Works Group [electricity]
    • 518 STRE (Works)
    • 522 STRE (Works)
    • 528 STRE (Utilities)
    • 535 STRE (Northern Ireland)
  • 64 Works Group [fuel]
    • 516 STRE (Fuels)
    • 517 STRE (Fuels)
    • 524 STRE (Works)
    • 527 STRE (Works)
• Royal Engineers Diver Training Wing, Defence Diving School

• 28 Training Squadron, Army Training Regiment (Lichfield)

• Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers

NB: As part of the restructuring of the armed forces in 2004, it was announced that the engineering support for 3 Commando Brigade would be increased to a full regiment, with 24 (Commando) Engineer Regiment to be formed.

Territorial Army

• Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) (Field)
  • 100 Field Squadron [Cwmbran/Bristol/Cardiff]
  • 101 Headquarters Squadron [Monmouth]
  • 108 (Welsh) Field Support Squadron [Swansea/Gorseinion]
  • 225 Plant Squadron [Birmingham]

• 71 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) (Air Support)
  • 72 (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Field Squadron (Air Support) [Newcastle/Sunderland]
  • 102 (Clyde) Field Squadron (Air Support) [Paisley/Barnsford Bridge]
  • 117 (Highland) Headquarters and Support Squadron [RAF Leuchars]

• 73 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) (Air Support)
  • 106 (West Riding) Field Squadron (Air Support) [Sheffield/Bradford]
  • 129 Headquarters and Support Squadron [Nottingham]
  • 350 Field Squadron (Air Support) [Nottingham]
  • 575 (Sherwood Foresters) Field Squadron (Air Support) [Chesterfield]
  • The Jersey Field Squadron [St Helier]

• 75 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) (Field)
  • 107 (Lancashire and Cheshire) Field Squadron [Birkenhead/St Helens]
  • 125 (Staffordshire) Field Support Squadron [Stoke-on-Trent]
  • 143 Plant Squadron [Walsall]
  • 201 Headquarters Squadron [Manchester]

• 101 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) (Volunteers)
  • 217 (London) Field Squadron (EOD) [Holloway]
  • 221 Field Squadron (EOD) [Rochester]
  • 223 Headquarters Squadron [Catford]
  • 579 Field Squadron (EOD) [Tunbridge Wells]

• 131 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers (Volunteers) [London/Hull/Plymouth/Birmingham] to form 24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers in early 2007

• 135 Independent Geographic Squadron Royal Engineers (Volunteers) [Ewell]

• Engineer and Logistic Staff Corps (Volunteers)

• 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group (previously Military Works Force)
  • 62 Works Group [Regular]
    • 506 STRE (Water Infrastructure)
  • 63 Works Group [Regular]
    • 504 STRE (Power Infrastructure)
  • 64 Works Group [Regular]
    • 503 STRE (Fuels Infrastructure)
  • 65 Works Group
    • 507 STRE (Railway Infrastructure)
    • 509 STRE (Ports Infrastructure)
    • 508 STRE (Works)
    • 525 STRE (Works)
    • 526 STRE (Works)

Successor units

Several units have been formed from the Royal Engineers.

• The Air Battalion Royal Engineers (formed 1911) was the precursor of the Royal Flying Corps (formed 1912) which evolved into the Royal Air Force in 1918.
• The Telegraph Battalion Royal Engineers became the Royal Engineers Signals Service, which in turn became the independent Royal Corps of Signals in 1920.
• The Royal Engineers were responsible for railway and inland waterway transport, port operations and movement control until 1965, when these functions were transferred to the new Royal Corps of Transport. (See also Railway Operating Division.)
• In 1908, the Army Postal Corps (formed in 1882) and the Royal Engineers Telegraph Reserve (formed in 1884) amalgamated to form the Royal Engineers Postal Section. This later became the Army Postal and Courier Service and remained part of the RE until the formation of the Royal Logistic Corps in 1993.

Equipment

• Chieftain Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineer (ChAVRE)
• Chieftain Armoured Vehicle Layer Bridge (ChAVLB)

These are being replaced by 66 Armoured Support Vehicles ^[1] ;

• TROJAN is a minefield breaching vehicle. It prepares routes, mark safe routes using an Obstacle Marking System, breach complex obstacles and provide short dry and wet gap crossing utilising its excavator arm, earth moving blade and a midi fascine. It will plough through minefields, build trenches and dig defensive ditches

• TITAN will carry and lay the current range of In-Service Close Support bridges laying them faster, and in a wider variety of terrain conditions, than previous equipment. while TITAN can lay a bridge over a 26 metre gap in two minutes, making it the fastest Support Vehicle in the world at this task. This gives commanders a potential battle winning edge and allows them to choose from a more flexible range of armoured vehicles.

Both vehicles which weigh over 60 tonnes and are capable of speeds of up to 56km/hr, are designed to mount and tow the current range of in-service Royal Engineer equipment (PYTHON, AVRE Trailer, Track/Full Width Mineploughs and earth moving blades). They have purpose designed hulls, will incorporate Special to Role equipment and have major assemblies common to the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank.

Order of Precedence

Decorations

Victoria Cross

The following Royal Engineers have been awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

• Adam Archibald, 1918, Ors, France
• Fenton John Aylmer, 1891, Nilt Fort, India
• Mark Sever Bell, 1874, Battle Of Ordashu, Ashanti (now Ghana)
• John Rouse Merriott Chard, 1879, Rorke's Drift, South Africa
• Brett Mackay Cloutman, 1918, Pont-Sur-Sambre, France
• Clifford Coffin, 1917, Westhoek, Belgium
• James Morris Colquhoun Colvin, 1897, Mohmand Valley, India
• James Lennox Dawson, 1915, Hohenzollern Redoubt, France
• Robert James Thomas Digby-Jones, 1900, Ladysmith, South Africa
• Thomas Frank Durrant, 1942, St. Nazaire, France
• Howard Craufurd Elphinstone, 1855, Sebastopol, Crimea
• George de Cardonnel Elmsall Findlay, 1918, Catillon, France
• Gerald Graham, 1855, Sebastopol, Crimea
• William Hackett, 1916, Givenchy, France
• Reginald Clare Hart, 1879, Bazar Valley, Afghanistan
• Charles Alfred Jarvis, 1914, Jemappes, Belgium
• Frederick Henry Johnson, 1915, Hill 70, France
• William Henry Johnston, 1914, Missy, France
• Frank Howard Kirby, 1900, Delagoa Bay Railway, South Africa
• Cecil Leonard Knox, 1918, Tugny, France
• Edward Pemberton Leach, 1879, Maidanah, Afghanistan
• Peter Leitch, 1855, Sebastopol, Crimea
• William James Lendrim, 1855, Sebastopol, Crimea
• Wilbraham Oates Lennox, 1854, Sebastopol, Crimea
• Henry MacDonald, 1855, Sebastopol, Crimea
• Cyril Gordon Martin, 1915, Spanbroek Molen, Belgium
• James McPhie, 1918, Aubencheul-Au-Bac, France
• Philip Neame, 1914, Neuve Chapelle, France
• John Perie, 1855, Sebastopol, Crimea
• Claude Raymond, 1945, Talaku, Burma (now Myanmar)
• John Ross, 1855, Sebastopol, Crimea
• Michael Sleavon, 1858, Jhansi, India
• Arnold Horace Santo Waters, 1918, Ors, France
• Thomas Colclough Watson, 1897, Mamund Valley, India
• Theodore Wright, 1914, Mons, Belgium

George Cross

Fifteen members of the Royal Engineers have been awarded the George Cross. Thirteen of them from the Royal Engineers (Bomb Disposal Service) for service during the Second World War.

External links

• Official Royal Engineers MOD Site
• Institution of Royal Engineers
• Royal Engineers Association
• Royal Engineers Museum - Visitor, Events and Research information
• Royal Engineers Museum - Corps Histories
• Royal Engineers Museum - Campaign Histories

• Royal Engineers Museum - Traditions and Customs (Corps badge, march, song, nicknames etc.)
• Royal Engineers Museum - Unit Histories
• Royal Engineers Museum - Biographies
• Royal Engineers Museum - VCs of the Corps of Royal Engineers and Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners
• Royal Engineers Museum - GCs of the Corps of Royal Engineers
• Royal Engineers Museum - Military Engineering Histories (Airborne, Airfield Construction, Amphibious, Armoured, Civil Works, Combat, Commando, Field, Military Works, Queen's Gurkha, Royal School of Military Engineering, Tunnelling)
• Royal Engineers Museum - Specailist Engineering Histories (Aeronautics (ballooning), Bomb Disposal, Camouflage, Diving, Electrical, Forestry, Gas Warfare, Mechanical Transport, Photography, Postal & Courier, Quarry, Submarine Mining, Survey, Telegraph and Signals, Transportation)

• Royal Engineers Band
• The Royal Engineers in Halifax: Photographing the Garrison City, 1870-1885
• World War Two BooksBooks on the Royal Engineers

References

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