Army

The REME Celebrates its 72nd Birthday

Three hundred and fifty soldiers and officers of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) came together yesterday (Wednesday), at Tidworth Garrison in Wiltshire for a parade and service to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the formation of the Corps.

 

 

Maintaining and repairing the Army’s equipment has always played a significant part in ensuring the fighting efficiency of the Service. The early days of World War 2 brought the realisation that the existing organisation was not able to support the massive scale of equipment being deployed in every theatre of war. In 1941 the war cabinet directed Sir William Beveridge to carry out a study into the employment of technical manpower in the service. As a result, the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) was formed on 1st October 1942.

 

 

The first members of the Corps were engineers and tradesmen from Royal Army Ordinance Corps, Royal Engineers and the Royal Army Service Corps, supplemented by the transfer of skilled men from other regiments. After the war, demobilisation and the need to return technical manpower to industry brought about a major adjustment to the organisation. In 1951, REME assumed engineering responsibility for the majority of the Army’s equipment and the engineering manpower was transferred to the Corps.

 

 

From its very inception, REME was deemed to be a fully combatant Corps, it has served in the front line of every major theatre of operation in which the army has been engaged. It is this evolutionary lineage, and the distinction of being forged on the battle fields, that form the foundation of the tradition of the Corps.

Colonel Dan Scott, Colonel REME said:

‘The REME has served world wide both on exercises and at home for decades. The anniversary of our Corps’ formation is a day to celebrate and I am particularly pleased to see a cross-section of our REME family here today.’

Those also invited to the celebration were The Master General REME, Lieutenant General Andrew Figgures CB CBE, along with members of the REME Association, Chelsea Pensioners and 16 standard bearers who had travelled from all over the country to attend. Music was provided by the Band of the Royal Logistics Corps. The parade concluded with the presentation of Honours and Awards by Lt Gen Figgures.

“REME exist to keep the punch in the Army’s fist”

The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

Picture: Crown Copyright 2014 / British Army / Corporal Steve Blake RLC (Phot)

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