Mar 30, 2016 handbook on the british army with supplements on the royal air force and civilian defense organizations september 30, 1942 by united states. The corps of royal engineers, usually just called the royal engineers re, and commonly known as the sappers, is a corps of the british army. England military records genealogy familysearch wiki. Gale and polden history of the 520th field company r. The history of the british army spans over three and a half centuries since its founding in 1660 and involves numerous european wars, colonial wars and world wars. They designed and built the frontline fortifications, creating cover for the infantry and positions for the artillery. Regiments of the british army royal engineers turnerdonovan military books. Tamblin, army service records of the first world war surrey, 1997.
A history of the british army, volume 1 sir john william fortescue on. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in 1973 and he retired from the army in 1979. British military records genealogy familysearch wiki. British army in wwi book ww1 uniform royal flying corps ebay. From the late 17th century until the mid20th century, the united kingdom was the greatest economic and imperial power in the world, and although this dominance was principally achieved through the strength of the royal navy rn. Infantry, royal artillery, royal engineers and other corps. Each author has a somewhat different approach, no doubt reflecting his particular expertise, but the overall quality of writing is excellent this is not a battlefield history of the british army. Corps of royal engineers ww1 including royal engineers signal services formed in 1908 the forerunner of the royal corps of signals. Bldg 108, chetwynd barracks, chilwell, nottingham ng9 5ha 01159 572439. Royal engineers 1878 1912, the royal flying corps 19121918, air observation post squadrons 1941 1957, the glider pilot regiment. The brigade, which was 3,430 strong as of 1 april 2019, draws. At the strategic level, the concept of mobile harbors absorbed the attention of british and american engineers.
Use this guide if you are researching the british army, the royal navy andor the royal air force and are interested in collections which are held by archives other than the national archives. British royal marines british army uniform british uniforms british soldier military art military history marines uniform military uniforms hms pinafore the royal marines, 1901. The corps of royal engineers in the first world war this section of the long, long trail will be helpful for anyone wishing to find out about the history of the units of the royal engineers. This guide provides advice on finding records held at the national archives known as muster rolls, pay lists and description books. History of the corps of royal engineers whitworth porter. Lists of british army personnel who died during world war i have been compiled from official casualty lists and published in. The british army in afghanistan 200614 is an osprey elite title, just published in 2015. The royal of engineers in the british army read a free. The royal engineers and the national service years 19391963 a military and social history. Royal engineer tunnelling companies, nicknamed the moles, were specialist units of the corps of royal engineers within the british army, formed to dig attacking tunnels under enemy lines during the first world war. Behind the frontline they improve transport routes, construct camps, build runways and carry. You can use these records to trace the outline of a soldiers service in the british army between c. History of the royal engineers over 950 years of service. Bbc ww2 peoples war royal engineers and the eighth army.
Regimental ties, watches, clothing, accessories and much more for the royal engineers. Full dress presents the most differentiation between units, and. Whether with special forces and intelligence gathering teams, or with. Brigade of gurkhas is the collective name which refers to all the units in the british army that are composed of nepalese gurkha soldiers.
The online resource covering 1930 1950 british army, british indian army and britains allies. The corps of royal engineers in the first world war the. They recorded an individuals rank and regiment, service number, birth place, occupation, attestation date and service history. United kingdom, royal naval officers service records index, 17561931, index. Page 265 fletcher, and the officers of the royal engineers, to draw your lordships attention to the ability and diligence with which they have executed the works by which these positions have been strengthened, to such a degree, as to render any attack upon that line occupied by the allied army very doubtful, if not entirely hopeless.
The 1st of september 2019 is the wartime memories projects 20th birthday. The british army is the principal land warfare force. The raiding craft in service with the british army are operated in large numbers, predominately with the royal engineers and the royal logistic corps, for supporting both bridging and amphibious operations. These craft are highly versatile and often find themselves serving in environments ranging from the arctic to the tropics.
If you would like to send us a present, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise. The royal engineers trace their origins back to 1066, with the military engineers brought to england by william the conqueror, specifically bishop. The army reserve was created as the territorial force in 1908 by the secretary of state for war, richard haldane, when the territorial and reserve forces act 1907 combined the previously civilianadministered volunteer force, with the mounted yeomanry at the same time the militia was renamed the special reserve. I was called up as a soldier in the royal engineers in 1939, i was 25 years of age. The army reserve is the activeduty volunteer reserve force and integrated element of the british army. This is the official facebook presence for the british army. History of the corps of royal engineers, volume 5 history of the corps of royal engineers, whitworth porter. The regimental headquarters and the royal school of military engineering are in chatham in kent, england.
The quality images selected were photographed in peace and wartime, in the studio and the field, and show in detail the service dress uniform, equipment and weapons in use by the british army between 19001918. At the front they support the rest of the army, bridging rivers, using explosives to destroy bridges or clearing routes through minefields. We are not announcing a reopening date at this time and will provide updates on a regular and asneeded basis. Brief history of the corps of royal engineers the online book. List of british army regiments and corps wikipedia. You can use these records to trace the outline of a soldiers service in the. Introduction the army flying museum online memorial book. If a soldier did not receive an army pension then these may be the only records that survive for him. Stockwell collections and recollections of 107th field coy. The uniforms of the british army currently exist in twelve categories ranging from ceremonial uniforms to combat dress with full dress uniform and frock coats listed in addition.
Royal engineers in the second world war 19391945 the. It provides an overview of the arms and services, formations and units, orders of battle for various. Page 265 fletcher, and the officers of the royal engineers, to draw your lordships attention to the ability and diligence with which they have executed the works by which these positions have been. Whether with special forces and intelligence gathering teams, or with soldiers serving in armoured formations, the royals signals will usually be deployed alongside. The royal engineers trace their origins back to 1066, with the military engineers brought to england by william the conqueror, specifically bishop gundulf of rochester cathedral, and claim over 950 years of unbroken service to the crown. Royal engineers 1878 1912, the royal flying corps 19121918, air observation post squadrons 1941 1957, the glider pilot regiment 1942 1957 and the current army air corps 1957 to date. Ww1, royal engineer tunnelling companies, nicknamed the moles, were specialist units of the corps of royal engineers within the british army, formed to dig attacking tunnels under enemy lines during the first world war. Located at brompton barracks chatham, the home of the corps of royal engineers, 1 royal school of military engineering regiment 1 rsme regt provides artisan engineer training to the corps of royal engineers and the wider field army, fleet and raf. Published 1943 by united states government printing office in washington. A brief history of the royal engineers the story of the corps of royal engineers covers over nine hundred crowded years and cannot be rivalled by any other arm or service. War office royal engineers war office 21 army group clough, a. He returned to service in 1953, this time as an officer with the royal engineers, and was posted to hong kong, korea and aden. We are multiskilled soldiers, combat engineers and tradesmen. Brief history of the corps of royal engineers the corps.
To its soldiers, the regiment is a military family that provides. The blues and royals royal horse guards and 1st dragoons for operational purposes the two household cavalry. This is a list of equipment of the british army currently in use. It generally enlightens information on the subject of the british military engineering and royal engineering corps in general. If you would like to send us a present, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. Household cavalry and royal armoured corps household cavalry.
Royal electrical and mechanical engineers regiment history. Located at brompton barracks chatham, the home of the corps of royal engineers, 1 royal school of military engineering regiment 1 rsme regt provides. Royal engineers supplying water to the camp at spearmans hill. This website covers the british army and british indian army before, during and after the second world war. This website covers the british army and british indian army before, during and after the second world war, in the time period from 1930 to 1956. Institution of royal engineers the work of the royal engineers in the european war, 191419.
In 1870, c telegraph troop, royal engineers, was founded under captain montague lambert. However, the museum is in need of modernisation and so project eagle was born. To its soldiers, the regiment is a military family that provides comradeship and a unique identity. This one volume history uses a series of essays by different authors to tell the history of the british army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the british armed forces and is headed by the chief royal engineer. Each has its own long history, traditions and insignia. The unification of the kingdom of england and the kingdom of scotland into the kingdom of great britain bring about the new british army incorporating regiments that had already existed in england.
All smithsonian museums and smithsonian libraries locations continue to be closed to support the effort to contain the spread of covid19. Uniforms in the british army are specific to the regiment or corps to which a soldier belongs. Arthur was a good friend and a true british gentleman. Each author has a somewhat different approach, no doubt reflecting his particular expertise, but the. History of the royal and indian artillery in the mutiny of 1857. As the corps has no battle honours the motto signifies that the corps has seen action in all the major and almost all the minor conflicts of the british army. The corps can claim direct descent from the military engineers brought to england by william the conqueror and an unbroken record of service to the crown since then. The following books are useful for a more detailed guide into researching your family history. The brigade, which was 3,430 strong as of 1 april 2019, draws its heritage from gurkha units that originally served in the british indian army prior to indian independence, and prior to that served for the east india company. The regiment or corps is the key administrative component of the british army. Since then engineers have always served in the armies of the crown, the origins of the modern corps lie with that of the royal artillery with the. It includes small arms, combat vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, artillery and transport vehicles. The regimental shop is entirely british and most orders are despatched worldwide from the uk within two working days sometimes slightly longer for clothing. Ubique royal engineers and military engineers of the.
The collection covers the five main branches of army aviation. The supply of good water to the troops is a matter of the highest importance, and the practical work rests with the royal engineers. The blues and royals royal horse guards and 1st dragoons for operational purposes the two household cavalry regiments form a pair of joint units. Handbook on the british army with supplements on the royal air force and civilian defense organizations september 30, 1942 by united states. Handbook on the british army 1943 edition open library. It should not be confused with the regular reserve whose members have formerly served fulltime.
He was promoted to the rank of colonel in 1973 and he retired from the army. After a quick introduction to the conflict in afghanistan, the author focuses down quickly on the british rotational forces and their experiences in helmand province. History of the corps of royal engineers internet archive. How to start your family history research royal engineers museum. Image right bmb courtesy of british military badges daniel. The quality images selected were photographed in peace and wartime, in the studio and the.