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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Royal Engineers


Guest KevinEndon

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  • 2 weeks later...

Some general questions about Royal Engineers service.

My grandfather was in the 3rd (London) Field Coy) RE Territorial Force which was part of the 47th Division (2nd London). I know that he was attached to the 142nd Brigade during the battle of Festubert but think I am right in saying that the Field Companies were not attached to any particular unit in a division.

Can anyone enlighten me as to how his Field Company would have been deployed (wherever there was a need?)

Is there a history of the 47th Division that would shed light of where the division was in the gaps between battles - particularly the Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt in October 1915 and the German attack on Vimy Ridge in May 1916? What was the norm (if there was one) in the period of time that soldiers were on the front line and sent on leave?

So many questions - having just recently found out that he was attached to the 47th who were on the Western Front for the whole war, from Mar/April 1915, I am keen to track his every move.

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There were normally three Field Companies in a Division. They were allocated tasks anywhere within the Divisional area. 3rd London was renamed 517 Field Company in 1917 and their war diary, covering April 1915 - February 1919. is at the National Archive in WO 95 /2719. This will give you all their movements and the types of tasks they were involved in.

Terry Reeves

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