Tunneling compagnies before WW1 ?

[Eric91]

Hi all,

It seems that the english and Commonwealth Tunneling companies have been created during the first world war.

Does anybody knows how the sappers were organized before the war (i.e. during Sebastopol siege in 1854 or during the Boer war) ?

Thank you for your help !

[Simon Jones]

Bonjour Eric

A complicated subject but not as complicated as the French Engineers! Here are some basic details:

Before 1856 the officers were members of the Royal Engineers and the men were in the Royal Sappers and Miners. The two units were amalgamated after the Crimean War.

The Engineers were organized into companies. Basically, Field companies were mobile and attached to infantry divisions, (Royal Engineers with cavalry divisions were organized in Field Squadrons). Fortress Companies were static and were assigned to particular garrisons.

The Regular (professionnel) companies were not recruited regionally.

The Territorial (à temps partiel) units were recruited regionally.

The numbering of companies does not correspond to the region in which they were recruited.

There were no mining or tunnelling companies in the Royal Engineers before the First World War although the 20th and 42nd Fortress Companies received special training in siege warfare during 1911-14.

Some info here http://www.1914-1918.net/cre.htm

Regards

Simon

[Eric91]

Thank you Simon for your clear response !

In fact, the situation in England seems as complicated as in France where the first "compagnies de sapeurs" were created by Vauban.

Eric

[Eric91]

I have found very interesting things in the book "History of the corps of royal sappers and miners" by TW. Connolly.

Regards,

Eric