The Corps of Royal Engineers (RE), 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.
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 is in Gillingham in Kent.
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
59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers
62 Cyprus Support Squadron Royal Engineers
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
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
519 STRE
523 STRE
521 STRE
63 Works Group
518 STRE
522 STRE
528 STRE
64 Works Group
524 STRE
527 STRE
516 STRE
517 STRE
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.
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.
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.
