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Ex CHURCHILL SPANNER
Ex CHURCHILL SPANNER: 36 Engineer Workshops
Scribe: Sgt Liam Wilson
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On the 26th of September, nine members of 36 Engineers REME Workshops deployed to the Isle of Wight to celebrate the Corps 80th birthday. The week consisted of three main elements, a battlefield study, a visit to the factory where Spitfires are still manufactured and finally a visit to a Military & Heritage Museum.
The first day was spent setting up camp and getting familiar with the warmer climate on the island, which is five whole degrees warmer than the mainland. The second day saw us taking a tour of the Airframe Assemblies factory where a large team of Engineers manufacture brand new Spitfire planes. This was a big highlight of the tour as we got a first-hand look into how these iconic masterpieces are built.
On the third day, we were given a unique battlefield tour of a suspected covered up German raid that may have happened during WW2 on one of the islands radar stations. Paul Thompson, our guide, delivered a riveting presentation and then a tour of the ground where the alleged raid occurred. The raid is known as Churchill’s last wartime secret as it is believed the raid was covered up to protect the propaganda that was being pushed out by the Government. This was the famous promise from Churchill that no German would set foot on British soil.
On the fourth day, we visited the Wight Military and Heritage Museum which had many impressive weapons displays and vehicles dating back to before the Boer War to modern day conflicts. We then were treated to a REME birthday cake by the lovely staff members in the adjoining café to celebrate the Corps 80th birthday.
The group at the Aviation Museum
The week was thoroughly enjoyed by all and gave us an incredible insight into a battlefield study which was incredibly unique. Special thanks go to WO2 Reason for organising the Exercise and Paul Thompson for the thoroughly researched battlefield study tour.
Sgt Wilson peeks into the fuselage of an in-progress Spitfire
