R.E units in WWII

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by DavidW, Jan 19, 2012.

  1. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Guys, I am a complete novice when it comes the Royal Engineers in WWII.
    Could you help with a few answers to the following........

    What was a Field Company, and what was it's Role?

    What was a Field Park Company, and what was it's Role?

    What was a Fortress Company, and what was it's Role?

    What was a N.Z Army Troops Company, and what was it's Role?

    I have seen three different sized units, a Company, a Squadron and a Troop. How do they compare?

    Thanks In advance,
    David.
     
  2. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    David W
    If you go to the PORTAL heading and enter, then scroll down to TRUX 21st Army link and enter.

    Select the Royal Engineers and scroll through you will find complete listings for all Engineer units and their Table of Organization including men and machines
     
  3. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Yes they should all be on the Trux section except for Fortress Companies. There were not any of these in 21 Army Group. As the name suggests they were trained and equipped for the tasks constructing defences in fortresses. These were mainly in UK, Gibraltar, Malta and Singapore but I dare say there were others.

    Mike
     
  4. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    The fortress Company listed above was in Egypt.

    I see the portal is dated 1944/45. Would it be relevent to say 1940-1942?

    there is a lot of info there, I will have a good look later.

    Thanks to you both.
     
  5. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    That was great.

    I have got almost all the information that I need.
    May I just ask a couple of questions...

    Which Royal Engineer Squadrons served with the 2nd Armoured Division during it's brief foray in North africa, and which R.E Companies were part of the 70th Infantry Divison at Tobruk?

    Did the Engineer Companies in the Indian, New Zealand, Australian & South African Divisions differ in their make up & War Establishment from the British ones?

    Thanks in advance, David.
     
  6. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Anyone?
     
  7. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    2nd Amoured Div

    3rd (Cheshire) Fld Sqdn , 142nd Field Park Company

    I will get back on the 70th Div info when I can get to my book
     
  8. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thank you.
     
  9. Anne Johnson

    Anne Johnson Junior Member

    Jim O'Hagan likes this.
  10. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Well I can certainly tell you about the Field Companies having served in one.What is their role?,,The honest answer is anythig that is required. The Name Field Company refers it seem to me as those that serve in the Field of battle.

    MY Field Company 246 landed on D day with the express task of creating a mine free passage off the beach to the road beyond, Not only mine free, but "Enemy Free" as well. Armed with Beehive explosive charges to remove any enemy concrete gun positions.

    They succeeded in all those tasks. Mine field laying and mine field clearing. Bridging and rafting. Pegasus and many others...Opening up the initial assault as in the 8th brigade. Clearing of unexploded mines and bombs. Clearing booby traps Missions behind enemy territory.

    Scotty (Now General RE) from my Company that went across the channel to take sand samples from the beaches, both British and Armerican landing areas.

    Opening up huge fortified area like Hillman with officers and sappers from my company. clearing roads and verges. You name it. They do it. THus in great demand.

    Out in front of everyone mine laying at night. Keeping the roads clear for tanks and wheeled vehicles, Split up into small grouops with variouis infantry, Recce and armour.

    The best indicaton is that the quite small RE Companies were awarded more galantry medals than any other regiment in the Division and with far less men. 43 to be exact.

    Once a sapper always a sapper.

    The park companies are the store where everything is kept
     
  11. lizlyon

    lizlyon Junior Member

    Hello. I am making an enquiry, and it is this. What was the maximum age for joining the Royal Engineers in WW11. If someone could tell me this I would be very grateful as it would answer a family disagreement!!! Thank you.
     
  12. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    You could put your age on to join up. But in practice 19..... In WW2 you were not officially allowed into a combat zone until you were 19...... If you joined at an earlier age that rule still held good.
    Certain! If there was any doubt... you were classed as "LOB" Left out of battle. But it has to be said that there were great numbers that joined at a much younger age.
    A Friend of mine in the Suffolk's infantry was suspected as being under age, by 4 months! and he was LOB. Didn't help him much when he became 19 he was up to his neck in it. Sadly my old mate has left us.....

    That's a shame..For all my mates have left .That then means that there will be no one to come to my passing.... Cheer UP mate!

    I dont think there was a maximum age...The thing about the Sappers is that every one of them was craftsman in his own right. So anything that came along could be dealt with.......We even had a goldsmith.
     
  13. ardeo

    ardeo New Member

    Re the "Orders of battle" pdf noted above: it mentions under bomb disposal companies that not many are mentioned in the Corps history; my father was posted to one in the Middle East force in Egypt in 1943, not mentioned in the list, which was the 29th Bomb Disposal Company (263 section). He had had extra training in Advanced Bomb Disposal at Gebel Maryam.
     
  14. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    Ardeo
    Use the Orders of Battle as a guide there are mistakes in it and as you have found out it omits units
     

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