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REME 80 Article
The Corps of REME is 80 years old
1942-2022
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Saturday 01 October 2022 will mark the Corps 80th Birthday, 80 years young and still going strong. The Corps is very different today as it was back in 1942 when it was first formed. Most aspects of the Corps are very different from 1942, the equipment, the clothing, the technology and the culture are very different, however some aspects remain the same, the motto, Arte et Marte, Soldier First, Tradesman always and that can-do attitude!
Not so long ago, REME 75 was celebrated, which was a massive celebration and brought with it a year of celebration. 5 years on from REME75 and so much has happened in a relatively short space of new direction was to work from home, if you can. Social distancing, sanitising and LFT’/PCRs were very much the new normal within work or travelling in and out of the Country (if required). Exercises and overseas deployments were hampered slightly, due to more control measures in place, however as REME we adapt and overcome.
In terms of Engineering, we have the new BOXER vehicle which is nearly with us, it is due to begin arriving at the end of 2022, with the first vehicles scheduled to be ready for service next year. CHALLENGER 3 is planned for 2027 with full operating capability scheduled for 2030. The AJAX vehicle, is still ongoing as trials and developments continue to overcome the noise and vibration problems. Advanced Manufacturing (AdM) and Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) technologies are improving all the time. 5 Force Support Battalion, has been tasked with establishing the Army’s only AdM Centre of Excellence and Additive Manufacturing (AM) Platoon. In other aspects of the Corps, we have seen a Women’s Network formed, Brigadier Faithful-Davis CBE became the very first female Brigade Commander and a mental awareness campaign called ‘Lifting the Decks’ has been formed. The Lifting the Decks campaign which started during COVID is now an annual event, which takes place as the Lifting the Decks Challenge (throughout October) and the Lifting the Decks 10 km run; both organised to improve mental wellbeing as well raise awareness and funds for The REME Charity. In terms of Career paths, there have been new changes to the Potential Assessment Board (PAB), formerly known as the Potential Artificer Assessment Board (PAAB). The new format allows
Queen Elizabeth II State Funeral, ‘Crown Copyright 2022’
time. The biggest event, sadly for the wrong reasons, was the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Thursday 08 September 2022, aged 96 years old. Her State Funeral was held on Monday 19 September, such an iconic day which will be remembered for a very long time especially for those who witnessed it. It was only eighteen months ago, Queen Elizabeth II, sadly lost her husband, her rock, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, our Colonel-in-Chief, who died on Friday 09 April 2021, who passed away aged 99 years old. His funeral was held on 17 April 2021, with a representation from the REME. Prince Philip’s replacement as the Colonel-in-chief was announced on the 30 March 2022, that Sophie, The Countess of Wessex GCVO GCStJ CD was to become the new Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
For 2020, very few would have predicted the Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic, but the nation pretty much came to a standstill at the time. As directed by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the time, the
for more career opportunities such as the Officer and MTI career paths as well as the Artificer route. On completion of the Class 1 Upgraders Course, SP now receive their new rank slides which have a Hammer and Pincers above their rank.
The Future Soldier 2021 marks a beginning of an exciting change to the way the British Army operates, a new Theatre Support REME Battalion will be established in Aldershot next year 9 (Theatre Support) Battalion REME. Unit roles and names have changed, one change in particular are the 4 x LADs which have formed to support the RANGER Battalions.
Over the last 5 years there have been many deployments such as Op NEWCOMBE, Op CABRIT, Op SHADER, Op TANGHAM, Op TORAL, Op PITTING and Op TEMPERER, which have all been supported by soldiers and officers of the Corps. These events are annotated throughout The Craftsman magazine, over the last 5 years and this article would not do it justice as a quick summary.
The past 5 years have seen the Corps and its people achieve some outstanding things, here is a quick recap of the last 5-years.
In June 2018, LCpl Connor Roe of 21 Signal Regiment LAD REME, deployed to Thailand to assist in the rescue of 12 schoolboys and their football coach who were trapped in a flooded cave for 18 days. LCpl Roe is a Cave Dive qualified diver, an expert diver with the skills required of level headedness and commitment. He has been building up both his caving and cave diving experience throughout his career in the REME. LCpl Connor Roe received his MBE in 2019. In September 2018, the PAAB, which only assessed feeder trade groups, changed to the PAB with the focus on all REME Soldiers. The PAB which now includes TSS, Recovery Mechanics and Metalsmiths, has opened multiple career paths. The PAB now includes an interview, a presentation and an essay. In May 2019, the ‘Hammer and Pincers’ appointment badge has traditionally been worn by Artificers of the Corps to signify a higher level LCpl Connor Roe, 2018 of technical training. This was extended to all JNCO Class
The first Recovery Mechanics to trial the PAB Pilot, with CI RAS (right) and PAB ASM left, 2018
One Personnel with the purpose of signifying a higher level of technical training as a JNCO and as an Artificer, highlighting a sense of achievement and recognition. It is often referred to as ‘Hammer and Tongs’, however it is officially known as ‘Hammer and Pincers’.
In March 2020, Brigadier Lizzie Faithful-Davies CBE became the first woman in the REME to become a Brigade Commander and the first woman to command a Logistic Brigade (102 Logistic Brigade). During her career she was selected as the first female to be selected for Company Commander at Sandhurst. She was promoted to Colonel in 2017, where she was assigned to Class 1 recognition, 2019 Army HQ before becoming Brigade Commander of 102 Logistic Brigade in March 2020.
Brigadier Faithful-Davies CBE
In 2019, the REME officially launched a Women’s Network. The Network which is open to all female, Regular and Reserve, serving Officers, Soldiers and Veterans. The aim of the network is to keep people in contact, share ideas and experiences and improve retention, progression and mentoring. Search on Facebook REME Women’s Network, to join the current 389 members or email:
REMERHQ-WomensNetwork@mod.gov.uk
Lt Col Laura Ellis and now Brigadier Claire Phillips CBE co-chaired the very first meeting and it continues to grow. Last year Brigadier Claire Phillips CBE was nominated for the Inspirational Award, recognising her work to inspire colleagues across her 27-year career. She has also been appointed as the co-chair of the Army LGBT+ Network. In October 2020, Black History Month was celebrated in the UK was celebrated. SSgt Thomas Agyekum was appointed the REME Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Representative, he said ‘it is an honour and a privilege to be appointed as the REME Representative on the Army BAME Network Committee’. For those wishing to join the Army BAME Network, you can email:
Army-BAME-Network-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk
In September 2020, REME personnel were stood up for Op MOONSHOT, which was a Government initiative to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 through the implementation of mass testing to enable maximum precision of future lockdowns. The ambition was to eventually deliver over ten million tests per day, which
was to be achieved using new technologies. Service Personnel from across the REME have been helping the UK government retrofit civilian vehicles with all the necessary equipment to turn them into mobile laboratories. Their herculean effort made a huge difference in projecting the NHS’s testing programme. By the time the team had finished, they had been on task for eight months and 20 members of the Corps contributed to Op MOONSHOT. Capts Fionidi Parker and Ian Taylor were awarded for their Engineering Excellence as they both received a Churchill Medal Award in 2021, in recognition for their efforts during the COVID pandemic. At short notice, they were tasked to design and build a mobile processing laboratory prototype that delivered an organic sample processing capability for Mobile Testing Units to be used in COVID-19 outbreak response, they achieved this in just 30 days.
Representatives from REME present during HRH Prince Philip’s Funeral, 2021
Capts Parker and Taylor receiving their Churchill Award in 2021
In January 2021, The Craftsman magazine celebrated its 75th anniversary, with over 900 editions in the 75 years, it continues to be the only monthly Corps magazine within the Army. Each month over 4000 magazines are sent to the REME Family. Currently on its 27th editor Mrs Katie Tarbard, the constant thread of the magazine remains the same: every story is written by members of the REME Family!
In April 2021, six soldiers from 8 Trg Bn REME, the Corps ASM, the Corps Colonel and the Master General attended the funeral of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. A specially modified Land Rover Defender, carried the coffin, which was driven by Corporals French and Murray. The Corps Colonel, Colonel Andy Rogers ADC; the Corps ASM WO1 Dan McNeill; Sgt Mitten and Cfn Archie Dymer took part in the ceremonial parade, recognising the Corps’ special relationship with The Duke of Edinburgh.
In May 2021, saw the very first REME Virtual 10km challenge, an idea initiated by WO2 (AQMS) Gaz Hooson and SSgt John Payne. The challenge not only helped raise money for The REME Charity but also helped promote mental health. Over 1400 participants entered and just over £11,000 was raised. Now an annual event, it comes under the ‘Lifting the Decks’ campaign.
In June 2021, The Craftsman magazine featured HRH The Prince Philip’s Memorial Edition. HRH was appointed as the new Colonel-in-Chief in July 1969, he succeeded HRH The Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, who had died in August 1968, making him the second Colonelin-Chief of the Corps. In the Memorial edition, The Craftsman magazine looks back over the 52 years of his time as the Colonel-inChief, with tributes from those who had met him and a historic timeline of his visits to various REME locations in the world.
Lifting the Decks Virtual 10k, 2021
In August 2021, Op PITTING took place, it was a British Military Operation to evacuate British Nationals and eligible Afghans from Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban offensive. 2 PARA LAD were deployed consisting of 0 + 16, an AQMS, 4 x Armourers and 12 x Vehicle Mechanics, were tasked with maintaining an R1 fleet consisting of 52 vehicles and an R2 fleet of 118 vehicles; which needed to be to kept at 100% and 90% availability respectively.
Op PITTING, 2021
In October 2021, saw the very first ‘Lifting the Decks’ challenge commence, with over 1600 participants entered to complete seven challenging tasks, these included running 100km, tabbing 50km, lifting 40,000kg in weight and zero consumption of alcohol throughout the month. Now an annual challenge, it is linked to the REME’s Mental Health Plan.
Lifting the Decks Challenge 2021
In September-November 2021, saw 92 soldiers and officers from across 3, 4 and 6 Battalion REME given the honour of conducting State Ceremonial Public Duties in London. The Company consisted of a HQ and four Platoon size detachments providing ceremonial guards and QRFs at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, the Tower of London and Windsor Castle to reinforce the existing Foot Guard’s commitment.
In February 2022, Op TEAMWORK was established, a new Army initiative looking to improve the working relationships within the work place, with the aim of performing better as a team. The initiative is aimed at everyone employed by the MOD, Regulars, Civil Servants and contractors. Everyone is individual, with different backgrounds, skill sets and can offer something different to the team, by understanding these in your team, will help the team perform better. #TEAMWORK.
The Royal Guard, 2021 Op TEAMWORK, 2021
In March 2022, it was announced that Sophie, The Countess of Wessex, GCVO GCStJ CD was to be the new Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps. On the day her appointment was announced, the Master General REME Lieutenant General Paul Jaques CB CBE, Colonel REME Colonel Jason Phillips ADC and the Corps Adjutant Captain Rayner Shelmerdine-Hare had an audience with HRH The Countess of Wessex.
HRH The Countess of Wessex, 2022
In June 2022, the REME Museum commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, with a new digital exhibition ‘Remembering the Falklands: 40 Years On’, it explores the experiences of REME personnel during the conflict and serving on the islands in the following years.
October 2022, Lt Col (Retd) John Cosh, served as OIC TAC HQ T & 9 Battery Second Line Support during the Falklands conflict and is planning to visit the Falklands with Ian MacDonald (who served with him during the Falklands conflict) and present Mr Mike Poel-Evans (a Falklands resident) a presentation piece to acknowledge those that were stationed in the Falklands at the time.
Commemorating the Falklands War, 2022
“I love it when a plan comes together.”
The life and career of General Eric Rowcroft
Scribe: Richard Davies, Curator, The REME Museum
Although the words of John ‘Hannibal’ Smith will be familiar to those of us who watched the American TV programme The A Team during the 1980s, they could equally have been uttered by one man as he oversaw the creation of REME during the 1940s: quite simply, without the plan of Major General Sir Eric Bertram Rowcroft KBE CB MIMechE MIEE, there would be no REME Corps.
It is fitting that we spend some time during 2022, the 80th anniversary of REME, to consider the life of this remarkable man, as well as his extraordinary achievement.
Eric Rowcroft was born on 28th January 1891 in the West Kensington area of London; both his parents had strong connections to the military and also to India. His mother, Florence Marion Eva Rowcroft (nee Hennessy), was the Daughter of Major General John Hennessy who served with the Indian Army’s 2nd Grenadiers. Eric’s Father, Colonel George Francis Rowcroft DSO, saw action with the 15th Ludhiana Sikh Regiment and was later the Indian Army’s Surgeon Major.
An image of Eric and Mollie on their wedding day, 26th September 1917 This carte de visite shows Eric (seated), with his older Brother and Sister. Ruby Frances was born on 16th August 1886, while Maurice George was born on 1st September 1887. They were both born in Muree, which was then in India but now forms part of Pakistan. This photograph dates from about 1900
Eric was educated at Caterham School in Surrey, Haileybury School in Hertfordshire and Regent Street Polytechnic, now the University of Westminster, where he studied engineering. He joined the Royal Engineers’ Territorial Army in 1908 at the age of seventeen. A year later he decided to take up a military career, and followed his Father into the Royal Military College at Sandhurst.
