Regiments Royal Engineers

[Arne Vandendriessche]

Hello,

How many and what regiments did the Royal Engineers consist of?

Arne

[FROGSMILE]

7 minutes ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

Hello,

How many and what regiments did the Royal Engineers consist of?

Arne

There is a complete breakdown (“order of battle”) of the BEF here, Arne, that includes all RE units under command: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Expeditionary_Force_order_of_battle_(1914)

However, it doesn’t include units in garrisons overseas such as India, or those that remained at home supporting the U.K. infrastructure.  It depends on the scope that you are seeking?

Edited 30 December , 2021 by FROGSMILE

[FROGSMILE]

There is also an excellent breakdown of the Army’s complete strength at the outbreak of war, which I recommend as a fine study, here: http://marksrussianmilitaryhistory.info/BRIT14.html

It includes the home (regional) command infrastructure and also the breakdown in India.

Edited 30 December , 2021 by FROGSMILE

[Arne Vandendriessche]

thanks

I am mainly looking for the regiments that were also in West Flanders.

Arne

[Matlock1418]

2 hours ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

How many and what regiments did the Royal Engineers consist of?

Hi Arne,

Though not my field really, and very simply put, the RE were a corps - they primarily consisted of companies [not regiments - so don't expect to see the RE made up of regiments]

M

[PRC]

2 hours ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

How many and what regiments did the Royal Engineers consist of?

The simplest answer is that the Royal Engineers did not have Regiments, so none.

Most Royal Engineers would have served in Companies, although some were at Depots and others in sections. I start with the Long, Long Trail webpage to get an understanding of their set-up. https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-corps-of-royal-engineers-in-the-first-world-war/

You can then follow the links to undertstand the various specialisations.

8 minutes ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

I am mainly looking for the regiments that were also in West Flanders.

A) When and b) define West Flanders?

There would have been Royal Engineer companies attached at Division, Corps and Army levels, as well as providing specialist services from running harbours to providing the postal service and maintaining phone lines outside the battle area.

As that Long, Long Trail webpage says, the Royal Engineers Corps by the end of 1917 was 12 times bigger than it was at the start of the war, so a lot of potential for change. Additionally the Royal Engineers Companies of the Territorial Force were renamed over the couse of the war, going from being named for a place to having a number.

Do you have something you definately need to know, as that might be a better question to ask.

Cheers,
Peter

[Arne Vandendriessche]

11 minutes ago, Matlock1418 said:

Hi Arne,

Though not my field really, and very simply put, the RE were a corps - they primarily consisted of companies [not regiments - so don't expect to see the RE made up of regiments]

M

Thank you,

I had read that on wikipedia, but I must have read it wrong. I still need to master some basics
Is Royal Field Artillery an example of a regiment?

Arne

[Arne Vandendriessche]

9 minutes ago, PRC said:

2 hours ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

How many and what regiments did the Royal Engineers consist of?

The simplest answer is that the Royal Engineers did not have Regiments, so none.

Most Royal Engineers would have served in Companies, although some were at Depots and others in sections. I start with the Long, Long Trail webpage to get an understanding of their set-up. https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-corps-of-royal-engineers-in-the-first-world-war/

You can then follow the links to undertstand the various specialisations.

26 minutes ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

I am mainly looking for the regiments that were also in West Flanders.

A) When and b) define West Flanders?

There would have been Royal Engineer companies attached at Division, Corps and Army levels, as well as providing specialist services from running harbours to providing the postal service and maintaining phone lines outside the battle area.

As that Long, Long Trail webpage says, the Royal Engineers Corps by the end of 1917 was 12 times bigger than it was at the start of the war, so a lot of potential for change. Additionally the Royal Engineers Companies of the Territorial Force were renamed over the couse of the war, going from being named for a place to having a number.

Do you have something you definately need to know, as that might be a better question to ask.

Cheers,
Peter

Thank you,

West Flanders is a province in Belgium.
It is part of the Western Front and Ypres is located there.
And from time during or after 1917.

Arne

[Arne Vandendriessche]

Are all Royal Engineers subdivisions a company?

Arne

[FROGSMILE]

32 minutes ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

Thank you,

I had read that on wikipedia, but I must have read it wrong. I still need to master some basics
Is Royal Field Artillery an example of a regiment?

Arne

It’s best not to seek logic in nomenclature of British units I’m afraid (it’s a long held joke that they’re designed to confuse everyone).

Some basic facts:

1.  It’s not incorrect in English language to use the descriptor ‘corps’ (with small C) for any formed military body.  It is a generic term, but can confuse the unfamiliar.  As an example, almost every town and borough had a ‘corps’ of rifle volunteers (civilian auxiliaries) of various sizes (in proportion with the local population) between 1859 and 1883.

2.  The various artillery branches (horse, field, garrison) were all a part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery.

3.  The engineers were organised in the Corps of Royal Engineers.

4.  Cavalry units were organised in regiments but there was only one tactical unit of each bearing a specific title, e.g. 17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers.

5.  The infantry were also organised in regiments, but each could have any number of tactical units, called ‘battalions’, for example the Northumberland Fusiliers raised 52 battalions during WW1. 

16 minutes ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

Are all Royal Engineers subdivisions a company?

Arne

The vast majority were companies but there were some highly mobile (horse borne/drawn) units formed that were described as squadrons. 

Edited 30 December , 2021 by FROGSMILE

[Arne Vandendriessche]

thank you,

I'll keep those words for when I'm a little older.
I am 13 years old but I will try to remember everything

 

Greetings Arne

Edited 30 December , 2021 by Arne Vandendriessche

[FROGSMILE]

2 minutes ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

thank you,

I'll keep those terms for when I'm a little older.
I am 13 years old but I will try to remember everything

 

Greetings Arne

Always glad to help Arne.  I first became interested when I was your age too.  
Had I realised your age I would have explained things much more in my first response rather than direct you straight to the links.

P.S.  Well done with your English, it is very clear.

Edited 30 December , 2021 by FROGSMILE

[Arne Vandendriessche]

Thanks,

 

I always use Google translate becuse i don't trust my english 100%.             

I maybe make some mistakes and i will try to be correct so you understand me.

 

PS: This message i made without google translate

 

Greetings Arne                                                                                                                          

 

[FROGSMILE]

4 minutes ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

Thanks,

 

I always use Google translate becuse i don't trust my english 100%.             

I maybe make some mistakes and i will try to be correct so you understand me.

 

PS: This message i made without google translate

 

Greetings Arne                                                                                                                          

 

I understand very well.  Short sentences help a great deal.  It doesn’t matter how much you write, as long as it’s clear.  Please don’t hesitate to ask questions here any time.  There are plenty of forum members who will try to help you.

Edited 30 December , 2021 by FROGSMILE

[Matlock1418]

1 hour ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

Thank you,

I had read that on wikipedia, but I must have read it wrong. I still need to master some basics

Sorry I had to rush out and earlier only give such a brief comment on the RE- at least you have now had a much more detailed response(s) on the Corps of RE.

Just take care = Corps [with a capital C] can also mean a large mixed unit formation inside an Army [a specific size of unit within an army] - within which the RE will undoubtedly have had a place [along with the infantry, artillery etc.].  The english language and use of capital leatters can be quite tricky at the best of times - and especially when used by the military!!

I was amused by Frogsmile's comment "It’s best not to seek logic in nomenclature of British units I’m afraid (it’s a long held joke that they’re designed to confuse everyone)" - the British also get confused [and I still struggle quite a lot from time to time!!]

1 hour ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

thank you,

I'll keep those words for when I'm a little older.
I am 13 years old but I will try to remember everything

I remembered that - and your interest is splendid

I wish I had started my interest in such detail when I was your age - so that I wouldn't now have to try to learn so much in my old age! 

1 hour ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

I always use Google translate becuse i don't trust my english 100%.             

I maybe make some mistakes and i will try to be correct so you understand me.

Your English is very good and we understand most of what you write - however, we may occasionally request a bit of clarification in order to help focus our answers and to get you the information you seek.

Good luck with your enquiries = as has been said before - GWF members will be pleased to help you.

M

[Arne Vandendriessche]

Thanks

 

Arne

[PRC]

3 hours ago, Arne Vandendriessche said:

West Flanders is a province in Belgium.
It is part of the Western Front and Ypres is located there.
And from time during or after 1917.

Most of the Divisions of the British Army who served in France & Flanders in 1917 & 1918 wil have spent at least some of the time in the Ypres Salient.

You are probably looking at 40 to 50 Divisions. As each Division had 3 Royal Engineer Field Companys, that means 120 to 150 Field Companys.

Divisions served elsewhere in the Province but unlikely they didn't also serve at some point in the Ypres Salient.

For instance there was a big concentration around Nieuport \ Nieuwpoort in 1917 for Operation Hush - a planned attack from the sea in the rear of the German positions in support of the summer campaign at the Ypres Salient. This was delayed by what was known as the Battle of the Dunes in July 1917. https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battles/battles-of-the-western-front-in-france-and-flanders/operation-hush-including-the-battle-of-the-dunes/

British troops were also involved alongside Belgium ones in the push to free Bruges and then Brussels in late 1918.

There were also specialists troops, usually held as part of an Army  I believe the British ran to four Armys in France & Flanders.

Other than the big battles, much of the literatures looks at units and then says where they were.

To look at a place and try to work out which units served there would be a fascinating study.

Good luck,
Peter

[EDWARD1]

Volume 111 The Great War Medal Collectors Companion , Howard Williamson has over 230 pages on the RE giving Divisions attached, Battle Honours, No of companies etc. it quotes that the RE by 1918 had 15,000 Officers and 300,000 men by November 1918 from 25,000 all ranks in August 1914.