| 25 Engineer Group 25 (Close Support) Engineer Group Headquarters Royal Engineers, 3rd (United Kingdom) Division | |
|---|---|
| 25 Eng Grp | |
 Icon of the Group | |
| Active |
1948–1957 1957–1961 2014–Present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Role | Military Engineering |
| Size | Group |
| Part of | 3rd (United Kingdom) Division |
| Group Headquarters | Picton Barracks, Bulford Garrison |
| Nickname(s) | HQ RE, 3 (UK) Div |
Headquarters, Royal Engineers 3rd (United Kingdom) Division is an engineering group of the British Army's Corps of Royal Engineers. The group was first formed to support Eastern Command but was disbanded following the 1957 Defence White Paper. In 2014 the group was re-constituted and subsequently activated under command of the 8th Engineer Brigade, but transferred to the direct control 3 (UK) Division in 2018.
First Formation (1948)
In 1948, following the re-constitution of the Territorial Army, the 25th Engineer Group was formed. This new groups's task was to control the engineer units formed within or assigned to Eastern Command's HQ.[1][2] After formation, the group had the following structure;[1][2][3]
- Group Headquarters, at Colchester Garrison
- 120th (Kent) Construction Regiment, Royal Engineers (TA), in Gravesend
- 122nd (Cambridge) Field Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (TA), in Cambridge
- 134th (Essex) Construction Regiment, Royal Engineers (TA), in Loughborough
Following the group's formation, the units based within it were tasked with the same tasks as their "semi-paired" regular engineer regiments. The 129th and 134th tasked with construction duties supporting the civilian populations and RAF, and the 122nd supporting the HQ of Eastern Command for deployment duties and training. In 1950, the 129th Construction Regiment was disbanded and not replaced. Finally in 1957, following the 1957 Defence White Paper, the group was disbanded.[1][2]
In 1957, following the disbandment of the former 25th Engineer Group of the TA, a new engineering group of the same number was formed within the army emergency reserve.[1] After formation, the group had the following structure;[1]
- Group Headquarters
- 116th Army Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (AER)
- 129th Plant Park Regiment, Royal Engineers
- 251st Construction Regiment, Royal Engineers
- 570 Army Park Squadron, Royal Engineers
The group was finally disbanded in 1961, following the disbandment of the Army Emergency Reserve.[1]
Second Formation (2014)
In 2014, following the Army 2020 reforms, the group was reconstituted by re-designation of 3rd Division Engineer Group, and placed under control of the 8th Engineer Brigade. This new group controlled the five close support engineer regiments; 21, 22, 26, 32, and 35 regiments. In 2016, following the Army 2020 Refine, the group was reduced to four units; 21, 22, 26, and 32 engineer regiments. Also as part of the re-designation, the group was moved under direct control of the 3rd (UK) Division.[4][5]
Following this move, the group is officially known as Headquarters, Royal Engineers 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, but operationally still referred to as 25 (Close Support) Engineer Group.[5] After the Army 2020 Refine, the group now has the following structure (Volunteer units have RHQ shown);[6]
- Group Headquarters at Picton Barracks, Bulford Garrison[5][6][7]
- The Royal Monmouthshire Militia, Royal Engineers (V), at Monmouth Castle (supporting HQ 3 (UK) Division)[8]
- Jersey Militia Field Squadron (V), in St Helier, Jersey
- 21st Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Claro Barracks, Ripon (to support Strike Brigade)
- 22nd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down (to support 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
- 26th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down (to support 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
- 32nd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, Marne Barracks, Catterick (to support Strike Experimentation Group)
Following this refine, the group now has all of the close support and armoured engineers under its disposal to support HQ, 3rd (UK) Division. The group is also moved under the full tactical command of 3 (UK) Division, and no longer under 8 Engineer Brigade.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Watson and Rinaldi Corps of Royal Engineers, Page 288
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 “British Army Units from 1945 On.” British Army Units from 1945 on - Headquarters TA - Royal Engineers, http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/territorial-army-royal-engineers/headquarters-ta-royal-enginners.html
- ↑ Graham Watson (10 March 2002). "United Kingdom: The Territorial Army 1947" (in en). http://www.orbat.info/history/historical/uk/ta47.html. Retrieved 13 September 2020
- ↑ Watson and Rinaldi Corps of Royal Engineers, Page 266
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Army 2020 Refine Changes" FOIA, Army 2020 Refine Changes in 2018-19 https://www.dropbox.com/s/x5wmywjd2hnaard/Recruiting%20Areas%2C%20FOI.pdf?dl=0
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Transforming the British Army, an Update" http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2014-0042/20140110-PQ01968B-SOames-A2020-Update-Glossy-U.pdf
- ↑ "Corps of Royal Engineers" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/corps-of-royal-engineers/. Retrieved 2020-09-13
- ↑ "Information on the Army 2020 refine exercise" FOI, Army 2020 refine changes https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/632554/2017-02130.pdf
Sources
- Watson, Graham E, and Richard A Rinaldi. The Corps of Royal Engineers: Organisation and Units 1889-2018. Tiger Lilly Books, 2018. ISBN 9781717901804
