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Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
 
 
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The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME; pronounced phonetically as "Reemee") is a corps
Corps

A Corps is either a large formation , or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service....
 of the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
 that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and AH64 Apache helicopters to dental tools and cooking utensils.


World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
's increase in quantity and complexity of equipment exposed the flaws in this system.






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Encyclopedia


The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME; pronounced phonetically as "Reemee") is a corps
Corps

A Corps is either a large formation , or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service....
 of the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
 that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and AH64 Apache helicopters to dental tools and cooking utensils.

History


Prior to REME's formation, maintenance was the responsibility of several different corps:
  • Royal Army Ordnance Corps
    Royal Army Ordnance Corps

    The Royal Army Ordnance Corps was a former corps of the British Army. It dealt only with the supply and maintenance of weaponry, munitions and other military equipment until 1965, when it took over most other supply functions, as well as the provision of staff clerks, from the Royal Army Service Corps....
     - weapons and armoured vehicles
  • Royal Engineers
    Royal Engineers

    The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the Structure of the British Army of the British Army....
     - engineering plant and machinery, and RE motor transport
  • Royal Corps of Signals
    Royal Corps of Signals

    The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and Information technology systems, providing command support to commanders and their headquarters, and conducting electronic warfare against enemy communicati...
     - communications equipment
  • Royal Army Service Corps
    Royal Army Service Corps

    The Royal Army Service Corps was a former corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of barracks; the Army Fire Service; and provision of staff clerks to headquarters unit...
     - other motor transport


World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
's increase in quantity and complexity of equipment exposed the flaws in this system. Pursuant to the recommendation of a committee
Committee

A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"....
 William Beveridge
William Beveridge

William Henry Beveridge, 1st Baron Beveridge was a British economist and social reformer. He is perhaps best known for his 1942 report Social Insurance and Allied Services which served as the basis for the post-World War II Labour government's Welfare State, especially the National Health Service....
 chaired, the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was formed in October 1942. It was unique in being granted the 'Royal' prefix at its inception.

Such a major re-organisation was too complex, however, to be carried out quickly and completely in the middle of a world war. Therefore the changeover should be undertaken in two phases. In Phase I, which was implemented immediately, REME was formed on the existing framework of the RAOC Engineering Branch, strengthened by the transfer of certain technical units and tradesmen from the RE and RASC. At the same time a number of individual tradesmen were transferred into REME from other corps. The new corps was made responsible for repairing the technical equipment of all arms with certain major exceptions. REME did not yet undertake:
  • Those repairs which were carried out by unit tradesmen who were driver/mechanics or fitters in regiment
    Regiment

    A regiment is a military unit, composed of variable numbers of battalions, commanded by a Colonel. Depending on the nation, military branch, mission, and organization, a modern regiment resembles a brigade, in that both range in size from a few hundred to 5,000 soldiers ....
    s and belonged to the unit rather than being attached to it.
  • Repairs of RASC-operated vehicles, which remained the responsibility of the RASC; each RASC Transport Company had its own workshop.
  • Repairs of RE specialist equipment, which remained the responsibility of the RE.


In 1949, it was decided that "REME Phase II" should be implemented. This decision was published in Army Council
Army Council (1904)

The Army Council was created in 1904 with other the institutional changes made in that year to the British Army.The disastrous campaigns of the Crimean War led to the consolidation of all administrative duties in 1855 under the Secretary of State for War, a Cabinet post....
 Instruction 110 of 1949, and the necessary reorganisation was carried out in the various arms and services in three stages between July 1951 and January 1952. The main changes were:
  • The transfer to REME of most of the unit repair responsibilities of other arms (Infantry
    Infantry

    Infantry are soldiers who are primarily trained for the role of fighting on foot. A soldier in the infantry is known as an infantryman. Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on fitness, physical strength and aggression....
    , Royal Artillery
    Royal Artillery

    The Royal Artillery, is the common name for the Royal Regiment of Artillery, is an Arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it is made up of a number of regiments....
    , Royal Armoured Corps
    Royal Armoured Corps

    The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old Cavalry regiments of the British Army, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army....
     etc).
  • The provision of Light Aid Detachment
    Light Aid Detachment

    A Light Aid Detachment is an attached independent minor unit of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers or Detachment of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers operating as a sub-unit of the supported unit....
    s for certain units that had not possessed them under the old organisation.
  • The provision of new REME workshops to carry out field repairs in RASC transport companies and to vessels of the RASC fleet.


The Cap Badge: Various REME cap badges have been authorised since the Corps' formation and pictures of these can be found at the REME Museum. In 1947 the cap badge adopted the Horse and Lightning. This badge has a strong significance to the role of the Corps. The capbage consists of a Crown denoting the 'Royal' status granted them, the Horse and Chain represent mechanical power whilst the Lightning bolt represents Electrical and the Globe represents the application of Engineering universally.

The REME motto is 'Arte et Marte' which translated from Latin to English is 'By Skill and By Fighting'.

REME today

With minor exceptions only, REME is now responsible for the examination, modification, repair and recovery of all mechanical, electronic, electrical and optical equipment of the Army beyond the capacity of unit non-technical personnel. REME currently has its Arms and Service Directorate, DEME(A) and Regimental Headquarters collocated with the trade specific Level 2 training and advanced Level 3 training of Electronic and Aeronautical Technicians at Arborfield Garrison
Arborfield Garrison

Arborfield Garrison is an army base in the England county of Berkshire, about one mile to the south east of the village of Arborfield Cross. It is a training base for REME electronics and aeronautical branch and the location of the Regimental Headquarters of, the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers of the British Army....
, in the county of Berkshire
Berkshire

Berkshire is a Home Counties in the South East England of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1958, and Letters patent issued confirming...
. Levels 1, 2, 3 and Artificer training of Electro/Mechanical trades of REME and various related training to other units within the British army and the Navy and Air Force is conducted at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (SEME) at Bordon
Bordon

Bordon is a town in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It lies 5.4 miles southeast of Alton, Hampshire and forms a part of the civil parish of Whitehill, the adjoining village....
 in Hampshire
Hampshire

Hampshire , sometimes historically Southamptonshire, Hamptonshire, , or the County of Southampton, is a Counties of England on the south coast of England....
. 

Within REME there are a total of seven regular, two integrated and two TA
Territorial Army

The Territorial Army is the volunteer Military reserve force of the British Army, the army of the United Kingdom, and composed mostly of part-time soldiers paid at a similar rate, while engaged on military activities, as their Regular equivalents....
 battalion
Battalion

A battalion is a military unit of around 500-1500 men usually consisting of between two and seven company and typically commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel....
s:
  • Regular Army
    • 1 (Close Support) Battalion, REME - 4 Armoured Brigade
    • 2 (Close Support) Battalion, REME - 7 Armoured Brigade
    • 3 (Close Support) Battalion, REME - 20 Armoured Brigade
    • 4 (Close Support) Battalion, REME - 12 Mechanised Brigade
    • 19 Light Brigade Combat Service Support Battalion - 19 Light Brigade
    • 6 (Close Support) Battalion, REME - 1 Mechanised Brigade
    • 7 Air Assault Battalion, REME - 16 Air Assault Brigade


  • Integrated (mixed Regular and TA) 'Force Support' battalions
    • 101 (Force Support) Battalions REME - 102 Logistic Brigade
    • 104 (Force Support) Battalions REME - 101 Logistic Brigade


  • Territorial Army
    • 102 Battalion, REME (V) - Regional Forces
    • 103 Battalion, REME (V) - Regional Forces


REME also maintains the REME Museum of Technology
REME Museum of Technology

The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Museum of Technology is a museum located at Arborfield Garrison in the England county of Berkshire....
, which is situated at Arborfield Garrison and which is open to the public.

Former officers

  • William Russell
    Russell Hobbs

    Russell Hobbs is a manufacturer of Small appliancees in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, England....
     - left as a Major
    Major (UK)

    In the British military, major is a military rank which is used by both the British Army and Royal Marines. The rank insignia for a major is a Crown ....
     in 1947; later designed a coffee percolator in 1952, and the world's first automatic electric kettle in 1955, to be sold by his company Russell Hobbs.


  • Ivan Hirst
    Ivan Hirst

    Major Ivan Hirst , was a British Army officer who was instrumental in reviving Volkswagen from a single factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, into a postwar major automotive manufacturer....
     - left as a Major
    Major (UK)

    In the British military, major is a military rank which is used by both the British Army and Royal Marines. The rank insignia for a major is a Crown ....
    ; saved Volkswagen
    Volkswagen

    Volkswagen Passenger Cars, also known as VW, is an automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany and is the original as well as the largest brand by sales volume within the Volkswagen Group....
     from becoming a part of the spoils of the war reparations act at the end of WWII.


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