The
Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (
REME; pronounced phonetically as "Reemee") is a
corpsA 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 ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
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 WAH64 Apache helicopters to dental tools and cooking equipment/utensils.
History
Prior to REME's formation, maintenance was the responsibility of several different corps:
- Royal Army Ordnance Corps
The Royal Army Ordnance Corps was a 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...
—weapons and armoured vehicles
- Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
—engineering plant and machinery, and RE motor transport
- Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
—communications equipment
- Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a 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...
—other motor transport
- Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
-heavy weapons artificers
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
's increase in quantity and complexity of equipment exposed the flaws in this system. Pursuant to the recommendation of a
committeeA 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 BeveridgeWilliam Henry Beveridge, 1st Baron Beveridge KCB was a British economist and social reformer. He is best known for his 1942 report Social Insurance and Allied Services which served as the basis for the post-World War II welfare state put in place by the Labour government elected in 1945.Lord...
chaired, the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was formed in October 1942. Maj Gen Sir
E. B. RowcroftMajor General Sir Eric Bertram Rowcroft CB, KBE, M.I.Mech.E., M.I.E.E.; 1891 – 12 March 1963), was a British Army officer. His military career started in 1908 as a TA Officer in the Royal Engineers and retired at the rank of Major General in 1946...
, who was instrumental in its creation, was appointed the first director of the Corps. The Corps had the rare honour of being granted the 'Royal' prefix at its inception.
Phase I
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 was 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
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
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.
Phase II
In 1949, it was decided that "REME Phase II" should be implemented. This decision was published in
Army CouncilThe Army Council is a governing board for the British military organization. It was created in 1904 along with other institutional changes made in that year to the British Army....
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
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, Royal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, Royal Armoured CorpsThe Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
etc.).
- The provision of 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.
Cap Badges
Various REME cap badges have been authorised since the Corps' formation and pictures of these can be found at the
REME MuseumThe REME Museum of Technology is located south east of Reading. The museum holds collections of various technological artifacts associated with the work of the REME, the corps of the British Army responsible for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of electrical and mechanical equipment hence...
. In 1947 the cap badge adopted the Horse and Lightning. This badge has a strong significance to the role of the Corps. The cap badge consists of a Crown denoting the 'Royal' status granted them, the Horse and Chain represent the harnessing of mechanical power whilst the Lightning Bolt represents Electrical and the Globe represents the application of Engineering universally.
Maj Ivan Hirst REME and Volkswagen
At the end of the war, the Allies occupied the major German industrial centers to decide their fate. The
VolkswagenVolkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
factory at
WolfsburgWolfsburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the River Aller northeast of Braunschweig , and is mainly notable as the headquarters of Volkswagen AG...
became part of the British Zone in June 1945 and No. 30 Workshop Control Unit, REME, assumed control in July. They operated under the overall direction of Colonel Michael McEvoy at Rhine Army Headquarters, Bad Oeynhausen. Uniquely, he had experience of the KdF Wagen in his pre-war career as a motor racing engineer. Whilst attending the Berlin Motor Show in 1939 he was able to test drive one. After visiting the Volkswagen factory he had the idea of trying to get Volkswagen back into production to provide light transport for the occupying forces. The British Army, Red Cross and essential German services were chronically short of light vehicles. If the factory could provide them, there would be no cost to the British taxpayer and the factory could be saved. To do this though, a good manager with technical experience would be needed.
Maj.
Ivan HirstMajor Ivan Hirst , was a British Army officer and engineer who was instrumental in reviving Volkswagen from a single factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, into a major postwar automotive manufacturer.-Education:...
was told simply to “take charge of” the Volkswagen plant before arriving in August 1945. He had drains fixed and bomb craters filled in, land in front of the factory was given over to food production.
At first, the wartime Kubelwagen was viewed as a suitable vehicle. However, once it became clear it could not be put back into production, the Volkswagen saloon or Kaefer (Beetle) was suggested.
Hirst had an example delivered to Rhine Army headquarters where it was demonstrated by Colonel McEvoy. The positive reaction lead to the Military Government placing an order for 20,000 Volkswagens in September 1945.
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,advanced Level 3 and Artificer training of Electronic and Aeronautical Technicians at 11 Training Battalion REME based in
Arborfield GarrisonArborfield Garrison is a British Army garrison in the English county of Berkshire, approximately south east of the village of Arborfield Cross. The Garrison and its associated housing estates are split between the civil parishes of Arborfield and Newland and Barkham...
, in the county of
BerkshireBerkshire is a historic county in the South 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 1957, and...
. 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 10 Training Battalion REME, based at
BordonBordon is a town in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It lies 5.4 miles southeast of Alton and forms a part of the civil parish of Whitehill, the adjoining village. Both settlements are on the A325 road and close to the A3 road between London and Portsmouth...
in
HampshireHampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
.
REME employs both male and female personnel.
Within REME there are a total of seven regular, two integrated, two training and two TA
battalionA battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s:
- Regular Army
- 1 (Close Support) Battalion REME, based in Catterick, provides Equipment Support to 4 Armoured Brigade
- 2 (Close Support) Battalion REME, based in Germany, provides Equipment Support to 7 Armoured Brigade
- 3 (Close Support) Battalion REME, based in Germany, provides Equipment Support to 20 Armoured Brigade
- 4 (Close Support) Battalion REME, based in Tidworth, provides equipment support to 12 Mechanised Brigade
- 19 Light Brigade Combat Service Support Battalion—19 Light Brigade
- 6 (Close Support) Battalion REME, Based in Tidworth, provides Equipment Support to 1 Mechanised Brigade
- 7 Air Assault Battalion REME, based in Wattisham, provides Equipment Support to 16 Air Assault Brigade
- REME Training Battalions
- 10 Training Battalion REME, based in Bordon, provides trade training to 'black hand' trade groups
- 11 Training Battalion REME, based in Arborfield, provides trade training to technician trade groups
- 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
Note: The five REME (Close Support Battalions), although embedded within the Brigade, are under command of a Commander Equipment Support working at a Divisional Headquarters; these Battalions are Divisional troops.
REME also maintains the
REME Museum of TechnologyThe REME Museum of Technology is located south east of Reading. The museum holds collections of various technological artifacts associated with the work of the REME, the corps of the British Army responsible for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of electrical and mechanical equipment hence...
, which is situated at Arborfield Garrison and which is open to the public.
REME assists service leavers from the Corps to find future employment on completion of their colour service through the REME Association Job Agency
(RAJA)
Former officers
- William Russell
Russell Hobbs is a manufacturer of household appliances based in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, England.-Formation:After working with REME in World War II and leaving in 1947 as a Major, Bill Russell , from High Wycombe, joined Morphy Richards and helped to design the pop-up toaster, the electric...
—left as a MajorIn 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 HobbsRussell Hobbs is a manufacturer of household appliances based in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, England.-Formation:After working with REME in World War II and leaving in 1947 as a Major, Bill Russell , from High Wycombe, joined Morphy Richards and helped to design the pop-up toaster, the electric...
.
- Ivan Hirst
Major Ivan Hirst , was a British Army officer and engineer who was instrumental in reviving Volkswagen from a single factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, into a major postwar automotive manufacturer.-Education:...
—left as a MajorIn 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 from becoming a part of the spoils of the war reparations act at the end of WWII.
- Edward Southwell Russell, 26th Baron de Clifford
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Southwell Russell, 26th Baron de Clifford, OBE, TD was the only son of Jack Southwell Russell, 25th Baron de Clifford, and Eva Carrington....
—left as a Lt.-Col.; the last peer to be tried for a felony by the House of Lords (1936) - acquitted.
- Andrew Figgures
Lieutenant General Andrew Collingwood Figgures CB CBE is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Educated at Loughborough Grammar School, Welbeck College and St Catharine's College, Cambridge, Figgures was commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1970.In...
Former soldiers
- Former Lance Corporal Maik Taylor
Maik Stefan Taylor is a professional footballer who plays for Leeds United and is a former Northern Ireland international....
left the Corps in 1995 to play Association Football for BarnetHigh Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London...
. He has since played at the highest level with SouthamptonSouthampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, FulhamFulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
and BirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. He has been capped and indeed captained his adopted home nation Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Maik Taylor still maintains strong links with the REME Football Association.
- Former Craftsman Martin Woodhouse left the corps in 1973. Using his Bmec training, he founded the garage business Woodhouse Engineering. In 2000, the business was awarded the Motor Trader national award for innovation due to its original use of video in recording every aspect of a cars visit to its works in Rayleigh, Essex and beating many established multi national businesses to the award such as Vauxhall Motors. In 2001, it received a further national award for its after market care. The BBC used its workshops in the making of Rogue Traders, Watchdog and Whistleblower programs from 2001 to 2008. Martin was an expert for all series during this time. He continues to run the business with his wife Wendy to date. His youngest son David continues the family connection with REME and is a serving helicopter technician at Watisham, Suffolk, England.
External links