Pioneer Bns

[Devils Own]

Hi Everybody.

Did British pioneer bns have the same role as German ones? i.e. application of 'novel' weapons?

Cheers

Steve

[dycer]

Steve,

If you type Pioneer in the Search you should find a lot about Allied Pioneer Battalions.

The following is from the History of the 8th Royal Scots(Pioneers to the 51st Highland Division) and gives a flavour of their responsibilities.

Roclincourt(May/June 1918)

"The Battalion responded nobly to the call to put forth every effort,and the work of cutting new trenches,wiring,making dug-outs,etc,was pushed through at a great pace.During these nine weeks,in addition to the numerous "smaller" jobs which fell to the Battalion to do,such as the reconstruction and maintenance of existing trenches,etc,the Battalion dug 12,000 yards of new trenches,8 feet wide at the top,and 6 feet deep,and erected 23,000 yards of wire."

The Marne(1918)

"During the battle of the Ardre Valley,the Battalion not only carried out their usual role of Pioneers,but were in the thick of the Battle.They held the line on the 22nd and 23rd(July),while forming part of 154th Brigade.The Battalion alone gained their objectives,capturing many prisoners and machine guns.They were in reserve on the 26th and 27th,but were not required,and up to the 30th were employed on the reconstruction of the roads forward to Chanmussy."

George

p.s.

The cost at The Marne-2 Officers and 21 other ranks killed,3 other ranks missing and 83 wounded.

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

For further in depth reading "Pioneer Battalions Of The Great War" by K.W.Mitchinson {Pub Leo Cooper} & "Kitchener's Pioneer's~The Story Of One Battalion Formed From Kitchener's First 100,000,August 1914" The story of the 5th Bn,The Northamptonshire Regt; by Maj.Geoffrey Moore,are a great insight into the role of these Battalions.

[Bernard_Lewis]

Hard work and dangerous - pioneers of the Welsh Div (Bn escapes me) were wiring Mametz Wood - to 'fortify' it - while the fighting raged around them as the wood had not yet fallen!

Bernard