Corps of Royal Engineers: Difference between revisions

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*[[Madras Sappers and Miners]]
*[[Madras Sappers and Miners]]
*[[Bombay Sappers and Miners]]
*[[Bombay Sappers and Miners]]
 
*[[Surveyor]]
==Regimental History==
==Regimental History==
''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers'' has been published in twelve volumes, the first four being available online, [[Corps of Royal Engineers#Historical Books Online |refer below]]. The other volumes are
''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers'' has been published in twelve volumes, most being available online, [[Corps of Royal Engineers#Historical books online |refer below]].  
* ''Volume V: The Home Front, France Flanders and Italy in the First World War''. ''Volume VI: Gallipoli, Macedonia, Egypt and Palestine 1914-18''. ''Volume VII: Campaigns in Mesopotamia and East Africa, and the inter-war period, 1918-38''.  Volumes 5-7 edited by H.L. Pritchard, published 1952. Note: Volume VI does not include information about  Signals as "The history of their work is being produced by the Royal Corps of Signals themselves"<ref>michaeldr. [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/251301-royal-engineers-soldier-abandoned-in-gallipoli/?do=findComment&comment=2538402 Royal Engineers soldier abandoned in Gallipoli] ''Great War Forum'' 29 June 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2018.</ref>, so it is likely the other volumes for the WW1 period similarly do not include information about Signals.
<br>In addition there is ''Volume XII: 1980-2000''. Available at the [[British Library]]. Also available from the Institution of Royal Engineers (InstRE), as  books or a CD-ROM (limited numbers). Volume XIII  is expected to be available early in 2024.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210129183607/https://www.instre.org/pages/publications/books-for-sale/corps-history.php Corps History] (archived page) and [https://www.instre.org/knowledge-centre/information/books-2/ Corps History Vols I – XIII] (scroll down). The Institution of Royal Engineers (InstRE)</ref>
*''Volume VIII: Campaigns in France and Belgium, 1939-40; Norway, Middle East, East Africa, Western Desert, North West Africa, and activities in the U.K''. by Major-General R. P. Pakenham-Walsh.
:''Volume IX: Campaigns in Sicily and Italy; the War Against Japan; North-west Europe, 1944-45; minor and non-operational areas; post-war, 1945-48''  by Major-General R. P. Pakenham-Walsh. Both published 1958.  Note: ''War Against Japan'' includes c 200 pages regarding India, Burma, Hong Kong and Malaya. <ref>idler.  [http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/book-content-question-r-e-history.59890/#post-692731 Book content question: R E History] ''WW2Talk Forum'' 13 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2018.</ref>
*'' Volume X: 1945-1960''. ''Volume XI: 1960 to 1980''. ''Volume XII: 1980-2000''.
 
Available at the [[British Library]]. Also available from the Institution of Royal Engineers (InstRE), as  books or a CD-ROM.<ref>[https://www.instre.org/pages/publications/books-for-sale/corps-history.php Corps History] and [https://www.instre.org/pages/publications/current-publications/corps-history-cd-rom.php Corps History CD-ROM]  The Institution of Royal Engineers (InstRE)</ref>


''The Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War 1914-1919''. For online editions, refer below. Available at the British Library:  
''The Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War 1914-1919''. For online editions, refer below. Available at the British Library:  
*''Water supply''. [Containing 9 maps showing the] Water supply in France] (1921) UIN: BLL01004844114 ;  
*''Water supply''. [Containing 9 maps showing the] Water supply in France] (1921) UIN: BLL01004844114 ;  
*''Work under the Director of Works (France)'' (1924) UIN: BLL01006788368 ;
*''Work under the Director of Works (France)'' (1924) UIN: BLL01006788368 .
*''Miscellaneous. The organization and expansion of the Corps, 1914-18. Organization of engineer intelligence and information. Camouflage service. Concrete defence works and factories. Forward communications. Machinery, workshops, and electricity. Anti-Aircraft searchlights. Inundations. Schools''. Compiled by Colonel G. H. Addison. 1926. BLL01007769877 


==Regimental flash==
==Regimental flash==
The flash, also known as a pagri (puggaree) badge, was  generally affixed to the pagri on the sun helmet. The Royal Engineers had three styles of flashes. The first was a rectangular one with blue and red in equal halves - blue to the front. This was introduced in 1884 during the Sudan Campaign. During the 2nd Boer War they adopted a plain yellow flash to better distinguish them from the RA and then in 1902 changed to a red rectangular flash with two narrow royal blue lines near the outer edges i.e. red/blue/red/blue/red.<ref>Stuart_Bates. [http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3962&start=15#p17411 helmet flashes] ''Victorian Wars Forum'' 15 November 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2016</ref>
The flash, also known as a pagri (puggaree) badge, was  generally affixed to the pagri on the sun helmet. The Royal Engineers had three styles of flashes. The first was a rectangular one with blue and red in equal halves - blue to the front. This was introduced in 1884 during the Sudan Campaign. During the 2nd Boer War they adopted a plain yellow flash to better distinguish them from the RA and then in 1902 changed to a red rectangular flash with two narrow royal blue lines near the outer edges i.e. red/blue/red/blue/red.<ref>Stuart_Bates. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111209170351/http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3962&start=15 helmet flashes] ''Victorian Wars Forum'' 15 November 2010, now archived.</ref>


It is difficult to identify Foreign Service (Wolseley Pattern) helmet flashes because the type of black & white film used at that time distorted coloration. <ref>FROGSMILE. [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/164297-help-needed-id-ing-unit-flash-on-pith-helmet/?do=findComment&comment=1597197  Help needed ID-ing unit flash on pith helmet] ''Great War Forum''  30 May 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2018.</ref>
It is difficult to identify Foreign Service (Wolseley Pattern) helmet flashes because the type of black & white film used at that time distorted coloration. <ref>FROGSMILE. [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/164297-help-needed-id-ing-unit-flash-on-pith-helmet/?do=findComment&comment=1597197  Help needed ID-ing unit flash on pith helmet] ''Great War Forum''  30 May 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2018.</ref>


== External Links ==
== External links ==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Engineers Royal Engineers] Wikipedia<br />
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Engineers Royal Engineers] Wikipedia<br />
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20071007122401/www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/art-eng-sig/RE.htm Corps of Royal Engineers] regiments.org
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20071007122401/www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/art-eng-sig/RE.htm Corps of Royal Engineers] regiments.org
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*[http://www.instre.org The Institution of Royal Engineers (InstRE)] publishes “The Royal Engineers Journal” and Corps Histories
*[http://www.instre.org The Institution of Royal Engineers (InstRE)] publishes “The Royal Engineers Journal” and Corps Histories
*[http://www.reubique.com/indiaeng.htm    Military Engineers in India in the 20th Century]  from [http://www.reubique.com/ Royal Engineers and Engineers of the British Empire and Commonwealth]
*[http://www.reubique.com/indiaeng.htm    Military Engineers in India in the 20th Century]  from [http://www.reubique.com/ Royal Engineers and Engineers of the British Empire and Commonwealth]
*[http://www.holdiches.com/sir-thomas-hungerford-holdich-1843-1929/  "Sir Thomas Hungerford Holdich 1843 – 1929"] His Life Story,  Chapters 1-5  cover his time in India. (click on the drop down menu). He became a Royal Engineer and he was sent to India on attachment to the Survey Department. His first campaign was in [[Duar War|Bhutan in 1865]]. This led to his permanent appointment to the Survey Department. He subsequently served in the [[2nd Afghan War]]. he was appointed  as Surveyor to the Historical Boundary Commission which was to settle the boundary between Russia and Afghanistan, and then Chief Commissioner to settle the boundary between Persia and Baluchistan He was involved with the [[Tirah Campaign|1898  campaign against the Afridis]], but soon had to retire as he had reached the age of 55.  The Holdich Family History Society (retrieved 14 April 2014). [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Holdich Thomas Holdich] Wikipedia. For online books, refer below.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161014021447/http://www.holdiches.com/sir-thomas-hungerford-holdich-1843-1929/  "Sir Thomas Hungerford Holdich 1843 – 1929"] His Life Story,  Chapters 1-5  cover his time in India. (click on the drop down menu). He became a Royal Engineer and he was sent to India on attachment to the Survey Department. His first campaign was in [[Duar War|Bhutan in 1865]]. This led to his permanent appointment to the Survey Department. He subsequently served in the [[2nd Afghan War]]. he was appointed  as Surveyor to the Historical Boundary Commission which was to settle the boundary between Russia and Afghanistan, and then Chief Commissioner to settle the boundary between Persia and Baluchistan He was involved with the [[Tirah Campaign|1898  campaign against the Afridis]], but soon had to retire as he had reached the age of 55.  The Holdich Family History Society, now archived. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Holdich Thomas Holdich] Wikipedia. For online books, refer below.
*[https://ryderarchives.weebly.com/colonel-charles--ida-ryder.html Colonel Charles & Ida Ryder] 1868 – 1945. Royal Engineers and Survey of India, served in India, Burma, China, Tibet, Turco-Persian Boundary Commission, 1917-1918 Mesopotamia in World War 1, Royal & French Geographical Societies, FRGS Gold Medalist, Surveyor General of India 1919-1924. From the drop down menu at the top of the webpage under Colonel Charles Ryder there are links to other sections, including [https://ryderarchives.weebly.com/burma--china.html Burma and China 1894-1903]; [https://ryderarchives.weebly.com/tibet.html Tibet] [1904]; [https://ryderarchives.weebly.com/turco-persian-boundary.html Turco-Persian Boundary Commission 1913-1914] Ryder Archives.
*[http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/abs/10.1680/bdoceigbai.58347.626 Brigadier-General Sir William Danvers Waghorn (1867-1936)]. Commissioned as a Royal Engineer 1887, joined the Public Works Department, Railways in India. Served in the Boer War as Deputy Assistant Director of Railways, and the Western Front, WW1 as Chief Engineer of XVII Corps. Retired 1924 India. Sample page from ''Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 3: 1890–1920''.  ICE Publishing 2014. icevirtuallibrary.com
*[http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/abs/10.1680/bdoceigbai.58347.626 Brigadier-General Sir William Danvers Waghorn (1867-1936)]. Commissioned as a Royal Engineer 1887, joined the Public Works Department, Railways in India. Served in the Boer War as Deputy Assistant Director of Railways, and the Western Front, WW1 as Chief Engineer of XVII Corps. Retired 1924 India. Sample page from ''Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 3: 1890–1920''.  ICE Publishing 2014. icevirtuallibrary.com
*From the [http://www.newman-family-tree.net/  Main Index of  "A Newman Family Tree"], select H E M  Newman. He was commissioned into the Corps of Royal Engineers on 19 December 1919 and posted to India  in 1924 as an officer of the Madras Sappers and Miners. He was in India until 1929 and again in India and Burma 1936-1943. The site includes his [http://www.newman-family-tree.net/H.E.M.Newman-memoirs%202c.pdf Memoirs] (152 pages pdf), the article [http://www.newman-family-tree.net/RE_Journal_1984.pdf  Waziristan 1937-1939] ( 9 page pdf) by Lieut Colonel H E M Newman ''The Royal Engineer Journal Volume 95, number 2, 1984'' and this [http://www.newman-family-tree.net/Missing-Years.html  html extract] which covers parts of the period 1918-1946. The two latter links are included in the Memoirs.
*From the [http://www.newman-family-tree.net/  Main Index of  "A Newman Family Tree"], select H E M  Newman. He was commissioned into the Corps of Royal Engineers on 19 December 1919 and posted to India  in 1924 as an officer of the Madras Sappers and Miners. He was in India until 1929 and again in India and Burma 1936-1943. The site includes his [http://www.newman-family-tree.net/H.E.M.Newman-memoirs%202c.pdf Memoirs] (152 pages pdf), the article [http://www.newman-family-tree.net/RE_Journal_1984.pdf  Waziristan 1937-1939] ( 9 page pdf) by Lieut Colonel H E M Newman ''The Royal Engineer Journal Volume 95, number 2, 1984'' and this [http://www.newman-family-tree.net/Missing-Years.html  html extract] which covers parts of the period 1918-1946. The two latter links are included in the Memoirs.
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*[http://www.reubique.com/IWT.htm Inland Water Transport and Docks] Reubique.com. The article mentions that this section of the Royal Engineers was founded in 1914 and was later responsible for alternate transportation during World War One in various theatres of war - including Mesopotamia where personnel from India and China were deployed.
*[http://www.reubique.com/IWT.htm Inland Water Transport and Docks] Reubique.com. The article mentions that this section of the Royal Engineers was founded in 1914 and was later responsible for alternate transportation during World War One in various theatres of war - including Mesopotamia where personnel from India and China were deployed.
**[http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages/showimage.aspx?gid=1326121&image=675977719&images=675977719,675977580,675977468,675977370,675977166,675977062,675977270,675976963&formats=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0&format=0 Image: Christmas Menu “No 3 and Furlough Coys, IWT , RE” Gaza Camp, Bangalore India, Christmas 1918].  auctiva.com. Retrieved 16 August 2014. IWT is presumably Inland Water Transport, but it is not otherwise known to have been in India.  
**[http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages/showimage.aspx?gid=1326121&image=675977719&images=675977719,675977580,675977468,675977370,675977166,675977062,675977270,675976963&formats=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0&format=0 Image: Christmas Menu “No 3 and Furlough Coys, IWT , RE” Gaza Camp, Bangalore India, Christmas 1918].  auctiva.com. Retrieved 16 August 2014. IWT is presumably Inland Water Transport, but it is not otherwise known to have been in India.  
 
*Frontline Ulster website includes
**Original research/ [https://frontlineulster.co.uk/prefabricated-military-accommodation-of-the-early-20th-century/ "Prefabricated Military Accommodation of the Early 20th Century"]
**[https://frontlineulster.co.uk/home/library/ Library] with information about the '''content''' of some official HMSO, and other publications relating to military engineering. Note however, the actual publications are not available online.
====Historical books online====
====Historical books online====
*''History of the Royal Sappers and Miners: from the formation of the Corps in March 1772, to the date when its designation was changed to that of Royal Engineers, in October 1856'' by T W J Connolly, QuarterMaster of the Royal Engineers. 2nd edtion, with considerable additions 1857 (first edition 1855) With coloured plates
:[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=y0XzAAAAMAAJ&pg=PR1 Volume I], [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=XNQQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP11 Volume II] Google Books
:Same digital files HathiTrust Digital Library, where images may be rotated. [https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hnzw4b?urlappend=%3Bseq=11 Volume I], [https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hnzw4c?urlappend=%3Bseq=11 Volume II]
:Transcribed editions from Gutenberg.org, with coloured images [https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55776 Vol. I],                              [https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/59260 Vol. II].
*[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_lqlBAAAAIAAJ ''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers Volume I''] by Maj-Gen Whitworth Porter 1889 Archive.org<br />  Military History to 1860 (Note: catalogued as Volume III, but is Volume I) Archive.org
*[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_lqlBAAAAIAAJ ''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers Volume I''] by Maj-Gen Whitworth Porter 1889 Archive.org<br />  Military History to 1860 (Note: catalogued as Volume III, but is Volume I) Archive.org
*[https://archive.org/details/historycorpsroy00watsgoog  ''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers Volume II''] by Maj-Gen Whitworth Porter 1889 Archive.org. Military History 1867- 1885, together with Part II Organization, Part III Departmental and Civil Work.  
*[https://archive.org/details/historycorpsroy00watsgoog  ''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers Volume II''] by Maj-Gen Whitworth Porter 1889 Archive.org. Military History 1867- 1885, together with Part II Organization, Part III Departmental and Civil Work.  
**[http://www.archive.org/stream/historycorpsroy00watsgoog#page/n61/mode/2up Vol II 2nd Afghan War and Egyptian Campaign 1882]''
**[http://www.archive.org/stream/historycorpsroy00watsgoog#page/n61/mode/2up Vol II 2nd Afghan War and Egyptian Campaign 1882]''
*[https://archive.org/details/historyofcorpsof0003port/page/n5 ''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume III''] by Colonel Sir Charles M Watson. 1915.  Excludes India. Covers the Sudan Campaigns and Boer War 1899-1902. Archive.org Lending Library.
*[https://archive.org/details/historyofcorpsof0003port/page/n5 ''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume III''] by Colonel Sir Charles M Watson. 1915.  Excludes India. Covers the Sudan Campaigns and Boer War 1899-1902. Archive.org Lending Library. [https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Corps-History-Vol-03.pdf 1954 Reprint edition] nzsappers.org.nz
*[https://archive.org/details/historyofcorpsof0000port/page/n5 ''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume IV''] [1885-1914] by Brigadier-General W Baker Brown 1952. Archive.org Lending Library
*[https://archive.org/details/historyofcorpsof0000port/page/n5 ''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume IV''] [1885-1914] by Brigadier-General W Baker Brown 1952. Archive.org Lending Library. [https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Corps-History-Vol-04.pdf nzsappers.org.nz version]
*''History of the Royal Sappers and Miners: from the formation of the Corps in March 1772, to the date when its designation was changed to that of Royal Engineers, in October 1856'' by T W J Connolly, QuarterMaster of the Royal Engineers. 2nd edtion, with considerable additions 1857 (first edition 1855) With coloured plates
*[https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Corps-History-Vol-05.pdf ''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume V: The Home Front, France Flanders and Italy in the First World War'']. nzsappers.org.nz
:[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=y0XzAAAAMAAJ&pg=PR1 Volume I], [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=XNQQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP11 Volune II] Google Books
:[https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Corps-History-Vol-06.pdf  ''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume VI: Gallipoli, Macedonia, Egypt and Palestine 1914-18'']. nzsappers.org.nz
:Same digital files HathiTrust Digital Library, where images may be rotated. [https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hnzw4b?urlappend=%3Bseq=11 Volume I], [https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hnzw4c?urlappend=%3Bseq=11 Voolume II]
:[https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Corps-History-Vol-07.pdf ''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume VII: Campaigns in Mesopotamia and East Africa, and the inter-war period, 1918-38'']. nzsappers.org.nz
:Volumes 5-7 edited by H.L. Pritchard, published 1952. Note: Volume VI does not include information about  Signals as "The history of their work is being produced by the Royal Corps of Signals themselves"<ref>michaeldr. [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/251301-royal-engineers-soldier-abandoned-in-gallipoli/?do=findComment&comment=2538402 Royal Engineers soldier abandoned in Gallipoli] ''Great War Forum'' 29 June 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2018.</ref>, so it is likely the other volumes for the WW1 period similarly do not include information about Signals.
*[https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Corps-History-Vol-08.pdf''History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume VIII: Campaigns in France and Belgium, 1939-40; Norway, Middle East, East Africa, Western Desert, North West Africa, and activities in the U.K'']. by Major-General R. P. Pakenham-Walsh. nzsappers.org.nz
:[https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Corps-History-Vol-09.pdf ''Volume IX: Campaigns in Sicily and Italy; the War Against Japan; North-west Europe, 1944-45; minor and non-operational areas; post-war, 1945-48'']  by Major-General R. P. Pakenham-Walsh. Both published 1958. nzsappers.org.nz.  Note: ''War Against Japan'' includes c 200 pages regarding India, Burma, Hong Kong and Malaya. <ref>idler.  [http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/book-content-question-r-e-history.59890/#post-692731 Book content question: R E History] ''WW2Talk Forum'' 13 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2018.</ref>
*'' Volume X: 1948-1960'' and ''Volume XI: 1960 to 1980'', see the  website ''NZSappers'', which follows.
*The website ''NZSappers Sappers of New Zealand'' includes [https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/introduction/heritage-material/  Heritage Material] which contains many online publications as pdfs, some of which are separately listed above. Includes Histories,  Manuals, Professional Papers, and  an extensive range of editions of ''The Royal Engineers Journal'' from 1905 to 2005.
*The website of ''Defence Surveyors' Association'' [UK] includes [https://www.defencesurveyors.org.uk/historical-papers Historical Papers] including  some relating to the First World War, including the [[Western Front]],  [[Salonica and the Balkans (First World War)|Salonika]] and [[Egypt, Palestine, Syria (First World War)|Egypt, Sinai, Palestine & Syria]], and the [[Second World War]].
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=cioBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP5  ''Army Equipment: Part III-Section 1 Engineers : Equipment of a Company of Engineers''] by Lieut-Colonel A. C. Cooke  RE 1866 Google Books
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=cioBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP5  ''Army Equipment: Part III-Section 1 Engineers : Equipment of a Company of Engineers''] by Lieut-Colonel A. C. Cooke  RE 1866 Google Books
*[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5YteAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA1  '' ‪Memorandum on the Employment of the Corps of Royal Engineers in India‬''] by  Major G Chesney R E 1868 Google Books
*[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5YteAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA1  '' ‪Memorandum on the Employment of the Corps of Royal Engineers in India‬''] by  Major G Chesney R E 1868 Google Books. Also available [https://archive.org/details/memorandumonempl00ches/page/n3/mode/2up Archive.org].
*[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=HlUBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR5-IA1 ''The Royal Engineer''] by Sir Francis B Head 1869 Google Books.
*[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=HlUBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR5-IA1 ''The Royal Engineer''] by Sir Francis B Head 1869 Google Books.
*''General Sir Alex Taylor G.C.B., R.E.: his Times, his Friends, and his Work'' by A. Cameron Taylor, his daughter. [https://archive.org/details/generalsiralexta01tayl/page/n9/mode/2up Volume I] [https://archive.org/details/dli.granth.88056/page/ii/mode/2up Volume II] 1913. Archive.org. 1826-1911. He arrived in India in January 1845, and took part in  [[1st Sikh War]] page 28, [[2nd Sikh War]] page 61, [[Indian Mutiny]] page 143, continues Vol.II, [[Ambela Campaign|Ambeyla]] page 169, Vol.II. He later became President of The Royal Indian Engineering College, Coopers Hill, in England, 1880-1896.
*[http://archive.org/stream/recollectionsofl00harrrich#page/n9/mode/2up ''Recollections of a Life in the British Army during the latter half of the 19th Century''] by Gen. Sir Richard Harrison, Royal Engineers 1908 Archive.org
*[http://archive.org/stream/recollectionsofl00harrrich#page/n9/mode/2up ''Recollections of a Life in the British Army during the latter half of the 19th Century''] by Gen. Sir Richard Harrison, Royal Engineers 1908 Archive.org
**[http://archive.org/stream/recollectionsofl00harrrich#page/20/mode/2up The Indian Campaigns 1857-1859], page 21  
**[http://archive.org/stream/recollectionsofl00harrrich#page/20/mode/2up The Indian Campaigns 1857-1859], page 21  
**[http://archive.org/stream/recollectionsofl00harrrich#page/60/mode/2up China War 1859-1860], page 61.  
**[http://archive.org/stream/recollectionsofl00harrrich#page/60/mode/2up China War 1859-1860], page 61.  
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/kandaharin02messgoog#page/n4/mode/2up ''Kandahar in 1879: The Diary of Major Le Messurier R.E., Brigade Major R. E. with the Quetta Column''] 1880 Archive.org
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/kandaharin02messgoog#page/n4/mode/2up ''Kandahar in 1879: The Diary of Major Le Messurier R.E., Brigade Major R. E. with the Quetta Column''] 1880 Archive.org
*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/621999-memoir-of-general-sir-william-erskine-baker-k-c-b-royal-engineers-bengal ''Memoir of General Sir William Erskine Baker, K.C.B., Royal Engineers (Bengal)''] 1882. Born 1808, he arrived in India in 1828 and worked on the canals of Upper India where he became involved with fossil discoveries. Papers about these were written in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. He worked mainly with Canals and latterly the Railways, and in 1855 became the first Secretary of the Public Works Department. He left India in 1857 and in 1858 became Military Secretary at the India Office. FamilySearch Digital Library. You need to sign in to FS to view the book.
*''Memoir of General Sir William Erskine Baker, K.C.B., Royal Engineers (Bengal)''] 1882. [https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.7364/mode/2up Archive.org File 1], [https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.7104/mode/2up Archive.org File 2]. These two files are from the same library but vary slightly in colour, although both have a dark background. Also available [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/621999-memoir-of-general-sir-william-erskine-baker-k-c-b-royal-engineers-bengal FamilySearch Digital Library]. You need to sign in to FS to view the book. Born 1808, he arrived in India in 1828 and worked on the canals of Upper India where he became involved with fossil discoveries. Papers about these were written in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. He worked mainly with Canals and latterly the Railways, and in 1855 became the first Secretary of the Public Works Department. He left India in 1857 and in 1858 became Military Secretary at the India Office.  
*[https://archive.org/details/lifeoflieutgener00vetc/page/n7 ''Life of Lieut.-General the Hon. Sir Andrew Clarke, Colonel-Commandant of Royal Engineers''] edited by Col. RH Vetch 1905 Archive.org
**[https://archive.org/details/lifeoflieutgener00vetc/page/118 "Governor of the Straits Settlements 1873-1875"] pages 119-192
**[https://archive.org/details/lifeoflieutgener00vetc/page/n239 "Member of Council of the Viceroy of India 1875-1880"] page 193-221. He was head of the Indian Public Works Administration.
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/addiscombeitsher00viba#page/n7/mode/2up ''Addiscombe, its heroes and men of note''] by Colonel H. M. Vibart 1894 Archive.org.  Addiscombe was the East India Company Military Academy in England for the training of cadets for the Engineers, Artillery and Infantry.
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/addiscombeitsher00viba#page/n7/mode/2up ''Addiscombe, its heroes and men of note''] by Colonel H. M. Vibart 1894 Archive.org.  Addiscombe was the East India Company Military Academy in England for the training of cadets for the Engineers, Artillery and Infantry.
*[https://archive.org/details/GeographicalSurveyingInIndia  "Geographical Surveying In India"] by Colonel Sir T H Holdich 1898  Paper XI,'' Professional Papers of the Corps of Royal Engineers: Occassional Papers Volume XXIV 1898''  pages  289-305 Archive.org
*[https://archive.org/details/GeographicalSurveyingInIndia  "Geographical Surveying In India"] by Colonel Sir T H Holdich 1898  Paper XI,'' Professional Papers of the Corps of Royal Engineers: Occassional Papers Volume XXIV 1898''  pages  289-305 Archive.org
Line 78: Line 89:
:[https://archive.org/details/politicalfrontie00holdiala ''Political Frontiers and Boundary Making''] by  Col.  Sir Thomas  H  Holdich 1916
:[https://archive.org/details/politicalfrontie00holdiala ''Political Frontiers and Boundary Making''] by  Col.  Sir Thomas  H  Holdich 1916
*[https://archive.org/details/lifetimesofgener00innerich ''The life and times of General Sir James Browne, R.E., K.C.B., K.C.S.I. (Buster Browne)''] by General J.J. McLeod Innes, RE 1905 Archive.org
*[https://archive.org/details/lifetimesofgener00innerich ''The life and times of General Sir James Browne, R.E., K.C.B., K.C.S.I. (Buster Browne)''] by General J.J. McLeod Innes, RE 1905 Archive.org
*[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.$b747692?urlappend=%3Bseq=7 ''Gun-running in the Gulf and other Adventures''] by Brig.-Gen. H H Austin [Herbert Henry] 1926 HathiTrust Digital Library. The initial chapter ''Gun-running in the Gulf'' was of events c 1909.
*[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.208528/page/n7/mode/2up ''Four Score Years and Ten: Sir Bindon Bloodʼs Reminscences''] by General Sir Bindon Blood, Representative Colonel Commandant, Royal Engineers 1933. [https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.5049/page/n1/mode/2up 2nd file] where images have been rotated. Archive.org. Born 1842, he went to India in 1871, [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.208528/page/n65/mode/2up page 47] and in September 1871 was appointed to the Bengal Sappers and Miners. For the years to 1906, he spent the majority of the time in India,  and largely was with the BSM with periods out of India. He was  with the Chitral Field Force  1895, [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.208528/page/n285/mode/2up page 264];  Malakand Field Force 1897 [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.208528/page/n309/mode/2up page 288]; Buner Field Force 1898 [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.208528/page/n335/mode/2up page 310]. 1901-1906 he was Lieut.-General Commanding the Forces, Punjab.
:[http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.$b747693?urlappend=%3Bseq=11 ''Some Rambles of a Sapper''] by  Brigr-Genl. Herbert Henry Austin. 1928 HathiTrust Digital Library. He was posted as an Assistant Engineer to the Military Works Department in Peshawur c 1889 and was obliged to retire in 1920, as there was no longer a role for him. He spent most of his careen in India, with some years in Africa, (for the Indian Government), but appears to have remained as part of the British, not Indian, Army.
*[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.$b747692?urlappend=%3Bseq=7 ''Gun-running in the Gulf and other Adventures''] by Brig.-Gen. H H Austin [Herbert Henry] 1926 HathiTrust Digital Library. [https://archive.org/details/gunrunninggulf/page/n7/mode/2up Archive.org mirror version]. The initial chapter ''Gun-running in the Gulf'' was of events c 1909.
:[http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.$b747693?urlappend=%3Bseq=11 ''Some Rambles of a Sapper''] by  Brigr-Genl. Herbert Henry Austin. 1928 HathiTrust Digital Library. He was posted as an Assistant Engineer to the Military Works Department in Peshawur c 1889 and was obliged to retire in 1920, as there was no longer a role for him. He spent most of his career in India, with some years in Africa, (for the Indian Government), but appears to have remained as part of the British, not Indian, Army.
*''The River of Golden Sand: being the Narrative of a Journey through China and Eastern Tibet to Burmah'' by  Captain William Gill R. E.  [https://archive.org/details/riverofgoldensan01gill Volume I 1880], [https://archive.org/details/rivergoldensand02yulegoog Volume II 1880] [https://archive.org/details/cu31924023220217 Condensed [memorial<nowiki>]</nowiki> edition 1883] Archive.org  
*''The River of Golden Sand: being the Narrative of a Journey through China and Eastern Tibet to Burmah'' by  Captain William Gill R. E.  [https://archive.org/details/riverofgoldensan01gill Volume I 1880], [https://archive.org/details/rivergoldensand02yulegoog Volume II 1880] [https://archive.org/details/cu31924023220217 Condensed [memorial<nowiki>]</nowiki> edition 1883] Archive.org  
*[https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Search/Home?lookfor=The%20Work%20of%20the%20Royal%20Engineers%20in%20the%20European%20War&searchtype=title&ft=&setft=false ''The Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War 1914-1919'']. Six full view editions from HathiTrust Digital Library: ''Water Supply - France. Part I. General development of organization, plant and works. Part II. Operations'' (1921); ''Work in the field under the engineer in chief, B. E. F.. Geological work on the Western Front'' (1922); ''Military mining'' (1922); ''Supply of engineer stores and equipment'' (1921); Bridging (1921); ''Work in the field in other theatres of war. Egypt and Palestine--Water supply'' (1921).
*[https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Search/Home?lookfor=The%20Work%20of%20the%20Royal%20Engineers%20in%20the%20European%20War&searchtype=title&ft=&setft=false ''The Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War 1914-1919'']. Seven full view editions from HathiTrust Digital Library: ''Water Supply - France. Part I. General development of organization, plant and works. Part II. Operations'' (1921); ''Work in the field under the engineer in chief, B. E. F.. Geological work on the Western Front'' (1922); ''Military mining'' (1922); ''Supply of engineer stores and equipment'' (1921); Bridging (1921); ''Miscellaneous: The organization and expansion of the Corps, 1914-18. Organization of engineer intelligence and information. Camouflage service. Concrete defence works and factories. Forward communications. Machinery, workshops, and electricity. Anti-Aircraft searchlights. Inundations. Schools''. Compiled by Colonel G. H. Addison. 1926. (372 pages). All the ''Miscellaneous'' sections have been reprinted as separate volumes by Naval&Military Press;  ''Work in the field in other theatres of war. Egypt and Palestine--Water supply'' (1921). [https://archive.org/search?query=The+%22Work+of+the+Royal+Engineers+in+the+European+War%22&sort=-date ''The Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War'', Archive.org collection], five (of the previous 7) volumes. Four of these editions are available as pdfs from  nzsappers.org.nz under Heritage Material/World War One (refer above).
*[https://archive.org/details/signalserviceine00prie ''The Signal Service in the European War of 1914-1918 (France)''] by R E Priestley (Late Major, R E) 1921 Archive.org. Part of the above series ''The Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War''. Includes information about the use of [https://archive.org/stream/signalserviceine00prie#page/357/mode/1up carrier pigeons] (Index entry)
*[https://archive.org/details/signalserviceine00prie ''The Signal Service in the European War of 1914-1918 (France)''] by R E Priestley (Late Major, R E) 1921 Archive.org. Part of the above series ''The Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War''. Includes information about the use of [https://archive.org/stream/signalserviceine00prie#page/357/mode/1up carrier pigeons] (Index entry)
**[https://archive.org/stream/signalserviceine00prie#page/10/mode/2up/search/Indian Page 11] includes a very brief reference to the Indian Telegraph units of the Indian Army. These were very likely to have been men from the  [[Post and Telegraphs Department|Post and Telegraphs Department]] in India, who were appointed to the Army at the outbreak of war.  
**[https://archive.org/stream/signalserviceine00prie#page/10/mode/2up/search/Indian Page 11] includes a very brief reference to the Indian Telegraph units of the Indian Army. These were very likely to have been men from the  [[Post and Telegraphs Department|Post and Telegraphs Department]] in India, who were appointed to the Army at the outbreak of war.  
*[http://pahar.in/wpfb-file/1925-records-of-survey-of-india-vol-20-the-war-record-s-pdf/ ''Records of the Survey of India, Volume 20. The War Record 1914-1920''] 1925. If the download button does not display, locate in Books/Survey Of India, or [https://pahar.in/?wpfb_dl=21751 Direct link] PAHAR Mountains of Central Asia Digital Dataset. [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=jAFEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PR3  Google Books version] (now full view). [https://archive.org/details/records-survey-india-vol.-20 Archive.org version]. Work of Royal Engineers and other staff  of the Survey of India mapping in various theatres of war, in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, Macedonia, Arabia, Persia, Palestine, East Africa and Afghanistan.
:Maps for  Mesopotamia, not  available online, are to be found in The National Archives[UK] series [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14506 WO 302]
*[http://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023464681.0x000002 ''Mesopotamian Transport Commission. Report of the Commission appointed by the Government of India... to enquire into questions connected with the organisation and administration of the Railway and River Transport in Mesopotamia'']  1918. IOR/L/MIL/17/15/125/1. Qatar Digital Library. This book is  also available  [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.206468 Archive.org version] mirror from Digital Library of India.  
*[http://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023464681.0x000002 ''Mesopotamian Transport Commission. Report of the Commission appointed by the Government of India... to enquire into questions connected with the organisation and administration of the Railway and River Transport in Mesopotamia'']  1918. IOR/L/MIL/17/15/125/1. Qatar Digital Library. This book is  also available  [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.206468 Archive.org version] mirror from Digital Library of India.  
*[https://archive.org/details/inkutcaptivitywi00sand ''In Kut and Captivity : with the Sixth Indian Division''] by Major EWC Sandes R E 1919 Archive.org
*[https://archive.org/details/inkutcaptivitywi00sand ''In Kut and Captivity : with the Sixth Indian Division''] by Major EWC Sandes R E 1919 Archive.org
*''The Military Engineer in India'' by Lieut.-Colonel EWC Sandes RE. [http://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10973/37243 Volume I] 1933; [http://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10973/37244 Volume II] 1935.  Digital Repository of GIPE (Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics [Pune India])
*''The Military Engineer in India'' by Lieut.-Colonel EWC Sandes RE. [https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10973/37243 Volume I] 1933; [https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10973/37244 Volume II] 1935.  Digital Repository of GIPE (Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics [Pune India]). Also available in versions from Archive.org with online reading: [https://archive.org/details/engineer1/page/n4/mode/2up Volume I]; [https://archive.org/details/engineer2/page/n2/mode/2up Volume II] missing maps at back,  [https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.7855/page/n1/mode/2up 2nd file Vol. II] with [https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.7855/page/n457/mode/1up maps at back].
*''Papers on subjects connected with the duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers''. Volume 1 1837 to Volume 10 1849 (Quarto Series). New Series Volume 1 1851 to Volume 23 1876. The title then changed to ''Professional papers of the Corps of Royal Engineers'' Volume 1 1877 to 1905 (Volume 31?), being  "Third Series". There were 2 further volumes issued in the Fourth Series the second one in 1911, for the period 1908-1911. The format then changed and individual pamphlets were issued. The following volumes are available online:
*''Papers on subjects connected with the duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers''. Volume 1 1837 to Volume 10 1849 (Quarto Series). New Series Volume 1 1851 to Volume 23 1876. The title then changed to ''Professional papers of the Corps of Royal Engineers'' Volume 1 1877 to 1905 (Volume 31?), being  "Third Series". There were 2 further volumes issued in the Fourth Series the second one in 1911, for the period 1908-1911. The format then changed and individual pamphlets were issued. The following volumes are available online:
**[http://hdl.handle.net/2027/coo.31924062304492?urlappend=%3Bseq=5 ''Index to the Subjects and Authors of All Papers that Have Been Published in Royal Engineer Professional Papers from the Commencement of the Quarto Series <nowiki>[</nowiki>1837<nowiki>]</nowiki> to the end of New Series Volume 20 <nowiki>[</nowiki>1872<nowiki>]</nowiki>''] published 1872 Hathi Trust Digital Library
**[http://hdl.handle.net/2027/coo.31924062304492?urlappend=%3Bseq=5 ''Index to the Subjects and Authors of All Papers that Have Been Published in Royal Engineer Professional Papers from the Commencement of the Quarto Series <nowiki>[</nowiki>1837<nowiki>]</nowiki> to the end of New Series Volume 20 <nowiki>[</nowiki>1872<nowiki>]</nowiki>''] published 1872 Hathi Trust Digital Library
Line 101: Line 115:
|[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=IBJ-AAAAMAAJ&pg=PP9 Volume 10] 1849
|[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=IBJ-AAAAMAAJ&pg=PP9 Volume 10] 1849
|}
|}
:*Second or New Series and Third Series are available to read online on Google Books; Archive.org ,via [http://archive.org/search.php?query=Papers%20on%20subjects%20connected%20with%20the%20duties%20of%20the%20Corps%20AND%20mediatype%3Atexts Link 1] and  [http://archive.org/search.php?query=Professional%20papers%20of%20the%20Corps%20of%20Royal%20Engineers%20AND%20mediatype%3Atexts Link 2] and Hathi Trust Digital Library , via [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/005856274 Link 1], [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/010046639 Link 2], and  [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009218579 Link 3]
:*Second or New Series and Third Series are available to read online on Google Books; Archive.org ,via [http://archive.org/search.php?query=Papers%20on%20subjects%20connected%20with%20the%20duties%20of%20the%20Corps%20AND%20mediatype%3Atexts Link 1] and  [http://archive.org/search.php?query=Professional%20papers%20of%20the%20Corps%20of%20Royal%20Engineers%20AND%20mediatype%3Atexts Link 2] and HathiTrust Digital Library , via [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/005856274 Link 1], [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/010046639 Link 2], and  [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009218579 Link 3]
:*Fourth Series [http://archive.org/stream/s4professionalpa02grea#page/n3/mode/2up Fourth series, Volume 2, 1908-1911] Archive.org
:*Fourth Series [http://archive.org/stream/s4professionalpa02grea#page/n3/mode/2up Fourth series, Volume 2, 1908-1911] Archive.org
:Note that the volumes which are digitised specifically for Archive.org may have better plans and maps compared with those that are, or are copied from, Google Books. An example is the books from the University of Toronto
:Note that the volumes which are digitised specifically for Archive.org may have better plans and maps compared with those that are, or are copied from, Google Books. An example is the books from the University of Toronto
Line 113: Line 127:
:*[http://archive.org/stream/nspapersonsubjec18grea#page/111/mode/1up  "Statistics concerning Elephants, Camels and Pack Bullocks"], page 111 ''Volume 18'', 1892 Archive.org
:*[http://archive.org/stream/nspapersonsubjec18grea#page/111/mode/1up  "Statistics concerning Elephants, Camels and Pack Bullocks"], page 111 ''Volume 18'', 1892 Archive.org
:*[http://archive.org/stream/professionalpap01unkngoog#page/n276/mode/2up  "Turbines at Gokak"] page 229 ''Volume 18'', 1892 Archive.org
:*[http://archive.org/stream/professionalpap01unkngoog#page/n276/mode/2up  "Turbines at Gokak"] page 229 ''Volume 18'', 1892 Archive.org
*[https://archive.org/details/arabianadventure0000glub ''Arabian Adventures : Ten years of joyful service''] by John Glubb (Sir John Bagot Glubb) 1978. The period from 1920, when he was posted to Iraq as a member of the Royal Engineers. Archive.org Books to Borrow/Lending Library. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bagot_Glubb John Bagot Glubb] Wikipedia.
*'''Update''' in respect of the following item.  Also see the  free website ''NZSappers Sappers of New Zealand'', above, which contains most/all? of the following Royal Engineers Journals.
:[https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/royal-engineers-journals-1939-1945?SearchedRecordsetRegion=World&sourceID=13&utm_source=affiliate&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wiki.fibis.org&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=%20fmp_uk&awc=2114 Royal Engineers Journals 1939-1945] is a Searchable database available on the pay website [[Findmypast]], located in the category Armed Forces & Conflict/Second World War. The Journals appear to have been published quarterly in March, June, September and December.  It is also possible to browse the Journals, although somewhat time consuming. Examples of articles are
:*"The Kohat Pass Rifle Factory" by Lieut-Colonel E E Read pages 539-541 December 1939 (images 62-66). [https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2froyalengineers%2fre-journal-1939-december%2f0062 Findmypast link], need to be signed in to Fmp.
:*"Fortified post for Tochi Scouts at Biche Kashkai and Ghariom" page 542 December 1939 image 67 [https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2froyalengineers%2fre-journal-1939-december%2f0067 Findmypast link], need to be signed in to Fmp.
=====Indian Engineers=====
=====Indian Engineers=====
*''The Indian Engineers, 1939-47'' by  Lieut.-Colonel E. W. C. Sandes 1956.  [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.505988 Archive.org version], mirror from Digital Library of India.
*''The Indian Engineers, 1939-47'' by  Lieut.-Colonel E. W. C. Sandes 1956.  [https://archive.org/details/dli.pahar.3078/page/n1/mode/2up File 1], [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.505988 File 2]  both Archive.org  
:An earlier book is ''The Indian Sappers and Miners'' by  E. W. C Sandes [Edward Warren Caulfeild] 1948. (726p). Covers the period from the pioneers in 1759 to the prelude to the Second World War. Available at the [[British Library]] UIN: BLL01011278725
:An earlier book is [https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Indian-Sappers-and-Miners-1948.pdf ''The Indian Sappers and Miners''] by  E. W. C Sandes [Edward Warren Caulfeild] 1948. (726p). nzsappers.org.nz. Covers the period from the pioneers in 1759 to the prelude to the Second World War.


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:British Army]]
[[Category:British Army]]
[[Category:British Army Engineers| ]]
[[Category:British Army Engineers| ]]

Latest revision as of 07:50, 16 September 2024

Known as the Royal Engineers (RE) or commonly as the Sappers.

The Signals Service was part of the Royal Engineers up until the time of the creation of the separate Royal Corps of Signals in June 1920.

Chronology

  • 1716 Corps of Engineers consisting of officers only formed by the Board of Ordnance
  • 1772 Soldier Artificer Company comprising other ranks raised in Gibraltar
  • 1787 officer corps became the Royal Corps of Engineers. Corps of Royal Military Artificers comprising NCOs and private raised
  • 1797 Gibraltar company absorbed by the Corps of Royal Military Artificers
  • 1812 Corps of Royal Military Artificers became Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners
  • 1856 Royal Engineers and Royal Sappers and Miners became a unified corps as the Corps of Royal Engineers
  • 1862 1 April, the three engineer corps of the East India Company:- Bengal Engineers, Bombay Engineers and the Madras Engineers were amalgamated into the Corps of Royal Engineers absorbing the British officers and men [1].

Also see

Regimental History

History of the Corps of Royal Engineers has been published in twelve volumes, most being available online, refer below.
In addition there is Volume XII: 1980-2000. Available at the British Library. Also available from the Institution of Royal Engineers (InstRE), as books or a CD-ROM (limited numbers). Volume XIII is expected to be available early in 2024.[2]

The Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War 1914-1919. For online editions, refer below. Available at the British Library:

  • Water supply. [Containing 9 maps showing the] Water supply in France] (1921) UIN: BLL01004844114 ;
  • Work under the Director of Works (France) (1924) UIN: BLL01006788368 .

Regimental flash

The flash, also known as a pagri (puggaree) badge, was generally affixed to the pagri on the sun helmet. The Royal Engineers had three styles of flashes. The first was a rectangular one with blue and red in equal halves - blue to the front. This was introduced in 1884 during the Sudan Campaign. During the 2nd Boer War they adopted a plain yellow flash to better distinguish them from the RA and then in 1902 changed to a red rectangular flash with two narrow royal blue lines near the outer edges i.e. red/blue/red/blue/red.[3]

It is difficult to identify Foreign Service (Wolseley Pattern) helmet flashes because the type of black & white film used at that time distorted coloration. [4]

External links

Historical books online

  • History of the Royal Sappers and Miners: from the formation of the Corps in March 1772, to the date when its designation was changed to that of Royal Engineers, in October 1856 by T W J Connolly, QuarterMaster of the Royal Engineers. 2nd edtion, with considerable additions 1857 (first edition 1855) With coloured plates
Volume I, Volume II Google Books
Same digital files HathiTrust Digital Library, where images may be rotated. Volume I, Volume II
Transcribed editions from Gutenberg.org, with coloured images Vol. I, Vol. II.
History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume VI: Gallipoli, Macedonia, Egypt and Palestine 1914-18. nzsappers.org.nz
History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume VII: Campaigns in Mesopotamia and East Africa, and the inter-war period, 1918-38. nzsappers.org.nz
Volumes 5-7 edited by H.L. Pritchard, published 1952. Note: Volume VI does not include information about Signals as "The history of their work is being produced by the Royal Corps of Signals themselves"[6], so it is likely the other volumes for the WW1 period similarly do not include information about Signals.
Volume IX: Campaigns in Sicily and Italy; the War Against Japan; North-west Europe, 1944-45; minor and non-operational areas; post-war, 1945-48 by Major-General R. P. Pakenham-Walsh. Both published 1958. nzsappers.org.nz. Note: War Against Japan includes c 200 pages regarding India, Burma, Hong Kong and Malaya. [7]
The Indian Borderland, 1880-1900 by Colonel Sir T Hungerford Holdich 1901 edition, Second and cheaper edition 1909 Archive.org
India by Colonel Sir Thomas Hungerford Holdich 1904 Archive.org
The Gates of India, being an Historical Narrative by Colonel Sir Thomas Holdich 1910
Political Frontiers and Boundary Making by Col. Sir Thomas H Holdich 1916
Some Rambles of a Sapper by Brigr-Genl. Herbert Henry Austin. 1928 HathiTrust Digital Library. He was posted as an Assistant Engineer to the Military Works Department in Peshawur c 1889 and was obliged to retire in 1920, as there was no longer a role for him. He spent most of his career in India, with some years in Africa, (for the Indian Government), but appears to have remained as part of the British, not Indian, Army.
  • The River of Golden Sand: being the Narrative of a Journey through China and Eastern Tibet to Burmah by Captain William Gill R. E. Volume I 1880, Volume II 1880 Condensed [memorial] edition 1883 Archive.org
  • The Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War 1914-1919. Seven full view editions from HathiTrust Digital Library: Water Supply - France. Part I. General development of organization, plant and works. Part II. Operations (1921); Work in the field under the engineer in chief, B. E. F.. Geological work on the Western Front (1922); Military mining (1922); Supply of engineer stores and equipment (1921); Bridging (1921); Miscellaneous: The organization and expansion of the Corps, 1914-18. Organization of engineer intelligence and information. Camouflage service. Concrete defence works and factories. Forward communications. Machinery, workshops, and electricity. Anti-Aircraft searchlights. Inundations. Schools. Compiled by Colonel G. H. Addison. 1926. (372 pages). All the Miscellaneous sections have been reprinted as separate volumes by Naval&Military Press; Work in the field in other theatres of war. Egypt and Palestine--Water supply (1921). The Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War, Archive.org collection, five (of the previous 7) volumes. Four of these editions are available as pdfs from nzsappers.org.nz under Heritage Material/World War One (refer above).
  • The Signal Service in the European War of 1914-1918 (France) by R E Priestley (Late Major, R E) 1921 Archive.org. Part of the above series The Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War. Includes information about the use of carrier pigeons (Index entry)
    • Page 11 includes a very brief reference to the Indian Telegraph units of the Indian Army. These were very likely to have been men from the Post and Telegraphs Department in India, who were appointed to the Army at the outbreak of war.
  • Records of the Survey of India, Volume 20. The War Record 1914-1920 1925. If the download button does not display, locate in Books/Survey Of India, or Direct link PAHAR Mountains of Central Asia Digital Dataset. Google Books version (now full view). Archive.org version. Work of Royal Engineers and other staff of the Survey of India mapping in various theatres of war, in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, Macedonia, Arabia, Persia, Palestine, East Africa and Afghanistan.
Maps for Mesopotamia, not available online, are to be found in The National Archives[UK] series WO 302
Volume 1 1837 Volume 2 1838 Volume 3 1839 Volume 4 1840 Volume 5 1842 Volume 7 1845 Volume 8 1845 Volume 10 1849
Note that the volumes which are digitised specifically for Archive.org may have better plans and maps compared with those that are, or are copied from, Google Books. An example is the books from the University of Toronto
For some papers from these volumes, see 1st Afghan War, Battle of Meeanee, 1st Sikh War, 2nd China War and Abyssinian Campaign. Other papers include
  • Arabian Adventures : Ten years of joyful service by John Glubb (Sir John Bagot Glubb) 1978. The period from 1920, when he was posted to Iraq as a member of the Royal Engineers. Archive.org Books to Borrow/Lending Library. John Bagot Glubb Wikipedia.
  • Update in respect of the following item. Also see the free website NZSappers Sappers of New Zealand, above, which contains most/all? of the following Royal Engineers Journals.
Royal Engineers Journals 1939-1945 is a Searchable database available on the pay website Findmypast, located in the category Armed Forces & Conflict/Second World War. The Journals appear to have been published quarterly in March, June, September and December. It is also possible to browse the Journals, although somewhat time consuming. Examples of articles are
  • "The Kohat Pass Rifle Factory" by Lieut-Colonel E E Read pages 539-541 December 1939 (images 62-66). Findmypast link, need to be signed in to Fmp.
  • "Fortified post for Tochi Scouts at Biche Kashkai and Ghariom" page 542 December 1939 image 67 Findmypast link, need to be signed in to Fmp.
Indian Engineers
  • The Indian Engineers, 1939-47 by Lieut.-Colonel E. W. C. Sandes 1956. File 1, File 2 both Archive.org
An earlier book is The Indian Sappers and Miners by E. W. C Sandes [Edward Warren Caulfeild] 1948. (726p). nzsappers.org.nz. Covers the period from the pioneers in 1759 to the prelude to the Second World War.

References

  1. The Royal Engineers Museum and Library “Corps History Part 10 – Engineers of the Honourable East India Company Army 1750-1862”; Retrieved 17 Aug 2016
  2. Corps History (archived page) and Corps History Vols I – XIII (scroll down). The Institution of Royal Engineers (InstRE)
  3. Stuart_Bates. helmet flashes Victorian Wars Forum 15 November 2010, now archived.
  4. FROGSMILE. Help needed ID-ing unit flash on pith helmet Great War Forum 30 May 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  5. Matthew B. Walk Warily in Waziristan Great War Forum 23 April 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  6. michaeldr. Royal Engineers soldier abandoned in Gallipoli Great War Forum 29 June 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  7. idler. Book content question: R E History WW2Talk Forum 13 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2018.