Sappers' performance of corps song is more than just words, says Gurkha captain

The Queen's Gurkha Engineers (QGE) has welcomed 43 new sappers from 78 Training Party to the regiment at Invicta Park Barracks in Kent.

A formal military ceremony marked the official enlistment of the recruits into the QGE - a specialist unit of the Royal Engineers.

The sappers took their Oath of Allegiance and will now complete a demanding Combat Engineer Class 2 course and be assigned to the Field Army units.

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A performance of the Corps of Royal Engineers' song, Hurrah for the CRE, accompanied the ceremony.

Captain Suresh Sherma from the Queen's Gurkha Engineers told BFBS Forces News that the corps song is more than the words and melodies.

He said it represents the sheer experience, history and sacrifice of those who have served in the Royal Engineers.

It is, by custom, sung by all members of the corps at special parades, guest nights and other gatherings, both formal and informal – often sung with great enthusiasm.  

"It's about emotional connection to the song with pride and identity. It's about commodity and brotherhood, sisterhood. It's about the belonging, motivation, and morale, and continuing that tradition and legacy," said Capt Sherma.

He also went on to explain that the song has a long and rich history reflecting the heritage, tradition and camaraderie of the corps itself.

"It has been passed down through the generations of Royal Engineers. It highlights the pride and identity of the Royal Engineers and it is shown to boost morale," he said.

The song also celebrates the technical skills, bravery and determination of the Royal Engineers who play a crucial role in the military operations, from building bridges to providing vital engineering support that enables the British Army to live, move and fight effectively during operations.

The Brigade of Gurkhas is a unique organisation in the British Army with a reputation for being among the finest and most feared soldiers in the world.

There are currently more than 4,000 Gurkhas employed in the Brigade of Gurkhas across many trades.

All Gurkhas are recruited from Nepal, with many thousands of young people attempting selection every year for only a few hundred job opportunities.

They are firstly trained as infanteers at Catterick and are then allocated to their regiments and corps as part of the Brigade of Gurkhas – but often working within other organisations of the Army.