Magazine of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
In 2020, REME launched the Lifting the Decks initiative, with a focus on the mental wellbeing of serving REME personnel and veterans.
We are in the process of re昀ning Lifting the Decks, increasing accessibility with an added emphasis on reminding our REME Family to speak out about ‘what’s on their mind’ and that, whatever stage in their life, we will always be here to listen to and support them.
If there is something on your mind troubling you, big or small, whatever the cause, we are here to listen and to help. If you wish to get in touch regarding yourself or concern for someone else, please don’t hesitate to contact woym@remecharity.org
Editor: Mrs Sarah Eden + Corporate Communications Officer
RHQ REME, The Prince Philip Barracks, Lyneham, CHIPPENHAM, SN15 4XX
TEXT: should be submitted in MS Word and name saved as per the article. No formatting, columns, power point etc. Articles to be cleared by CO/OC/EME or appropriate REME CoC, or nominated substitute and should be submitted as soon as possible.
PHOTOGRAPHS: MUST be submitted separately, in jpeg format and be at least 500kb preferably 1mb or more. Only photos over 3mb can be considered for the front/back covers and please remember captions.
FILESHARE: websites, such as dropbox are ideal for submitting larger files.
EMAIL: The ONLY email address which should be used is: craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk. Not MODnet. Please use the article title not ‘Craftsman Article’ as the email title.
TIMINGS: The latest submission date is the first day of the month prior to publication. This does not guarantee the article will be published in that specific edition.
Births, Engagements, Marriages and Deaths: These will be inserted free to all past and present members of the Corps.
Contents:
The contents of The Craftsman are strictly copyright and all rights are expressly reserved. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the policy and views, official or otherwise, of the Editor, the Corps or the MOD, therefore no responsibility for these will be accepted. Whilst including an advertisement we are not necessarily endorsing the product and as a result, the publisher and its agents do not accept responsibility for any transaction between the reader and the advertiser. Whilst we take all precautions with regard to advertising, readers are advised to take professional advice before entering into any commitments. Letters concerning reproduction, contributions or any other matter should be addressed to the Editor.
This publication contains official information and should be treated with discretion.
The Master General REME, Lieutenant General David Eastman MBE
As we look to the future, the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) provides the backdrop for the Army’s next phase of transformation –a clear call for change, ambition, and action.
The SDR has rightly been viewed by many as a pivotal moment for Defence and for the Army. For the first time in recent memory, it sets a course for growth – not reduction –with an aspiration to increase the size of the Army to 76,000. It reinforces our role as NATO’s leading European land contributor and underlines the importance of the UK’s Strategic Reserve Corps.
It also places fresh urgency on delivery: time is now as much of a factor as money. We must move quickly.
For REME, this context presents both opportunity and responsibility.
Engineering Modernisation – REME at the Centre
The Master General REME, Lieutenant General David Eastman MBE
Modernisation is the golden thread running through the SDR. It’s not just about new equipment; it’s about how we integrate, maintain, and sustain capability across every domain.
The Army’s future force will rely heavily on our engineering agility and technical depth. As platforms become more complex and technologies more digital and AI-enabled, REME will be central to making them battle-ready and battlewinning.
Our people are already deeply engaged at the heart of capability development – whether in DE&S, frontline units, or Army HQ – helping to shape how the Army fields, sustains, and regenerates equipment across the force.
Our People – Building and Retaining Engineering Talent
Attracting, retaining, and developing talented people –especially from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) backgrounds – will be critical to our future success. The SDR highlights the need for a technically skilled and adaptable workforce, and the REME is already delivering.
Initiatives like skills-based pay for Avionics and Aircraft Technicians, VI pay, and the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that simplifies civilian accreditation for our Engineers are steps in the right direction. They represent our commitment to recognising professional expertise and ensuring a rewarding career pathway.
Our investment in apprenticeships, graduate entry routes, and technical upskilling is growing. We continue to develop partnerships with industry, academia, and training providers;
especially within key national initiatives like the Midlands Engine – tapping into one of the UK’s most vibrant engineering heartlands.
Leadership and Inspiration – Breaking New Ground
I am particularly proud to highlight the promotion of Major General Anna-Lee Reilly CB FREng to the rank of Lieutenant General. Her leadership journey, technical credibility, and unwavering professionalism stand as an inspiration to all our people, at every rank and stage of their career. You can read more about her story in this edition of our magazine.
Her promotion also reflects a wider truth: REME people are now operating and leading at every level of Defence, including six serving 2-star and 3-star officers, all with late REME backgrounds. This is a remarkable achievement for the Corps and a clear indicator of the value placed on REME leadership across the Army and wider Defence.
National Endeavour –Linking Defence with Industry and Innovation
The SDR also reinforces Defence’s alignment with broader national objectives. The REME is well-placed to support this National Endeavour. Whether through support to UK industry, engagement with STEM education, or our contribution to technological innovation, we are helping build a stronger Defence industrial base and enhancing national resilience.
Our links with industry and academia, as well as the wider focus on science, technology, and manufacturing, mean we are well connected to where future talent and innovation will emerge.
Looking Ahead – Embracing the Challenge
This is a time of genuine opportunity for the Corps, but it also brings challenge. Change will not be easy. Transformation is fast-paced, resource-constrained, and complex – but the REME has never been better placed to respond.
Our people, our engineering excellence, and our readiness to adapt will continue to underpin the Army’s operational capability. Let’s not be mistaken, there is still much to do. Looking inward, we need to think carefully about the way we operate on the modern battlefield, the skills we require as the Army’s professional Engineers, and the way in which we upskill our workforce at pace. I know we are ready for this challenge.
The message is clear: REME is not just part of the Army’s future – we are helping to shape it.
Arte et Marte
Lieutenant General AnnaLee Reilly CB FREng –Another promotion to 3*!
We are proud to share a momentous milestone in our Corps’ 83-year history: Major General AnnaLee Reilly CB FREng has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General – making her only the sixth 3* REME officer ever to achieve this honour. Even more remarkably, this marks the first time three REME officers have concurrently held the rank of Lieutenant General, joining Lieutenant General David Eastman MBE and Lieutenant General Simon Hamilton CBE.
In addition to this historic first for the Corps, Anna-Lee’s promotion is a landmark moment for the wider British Army. She becomes only the second female Army officer ever to hold 3-star rank – a truly extraordinary achievement that reflects her trailblazing leadership, exceptional technical expertise and deep commitment to service.
Commissioned into the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1997, Anna-Lee began her career serving in the armoured role in both the UK and Germany, deploying on operations to Bosnia and Kosovo. As a Captain, she made history as the first female Engineering Officer to command a Light Aid Detachment with the Household Cavalry Regiment during Operation TELIC.
Her path through the ranks has been defined by operational excellence, academic distinction and strategic impact. From commanding 9 Armoured Company, deploying to Cyprus, Iraq and Kuwait, to supporting NATO Assurance Missions in Poland, Anna-Lee has consistently demonstrated an ability to lead technical teams in some of the most complex operational environments.
She has held influential appointments across Army Headquarters, the Defence
Academy, and Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S). Her academic achievements – including two Master’s degrees and current PhD studies on the integration of women in the British Army – are matched by her operational record, particularly her pivotal role supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces. As a Major General, she led the £12bn Operations Directorate and was the UK lead for Task Force HIRST, regularly visiting Kyiv and managing strategic industrial partnerships.
From August 2025, Anna-Lee will assume the current role as Director General Core Delivery in DE&S, where she leads over 8,000 people responsible for delivering the UK Armed Forces’ core equipment programme. This position places her at the forefront of military engineering and procurement on a global scale.
A Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering – the only serving member of the British Army to hold this prestigious honour – Anna-Lee exemplifies what REME officers can achieve at the very highest levels. She is also a passionate advocate for the Corps outside of work, serving as President of Army Basketball, Chair of REME Scuba Diving and Basketball, and Admiral of REME Sailing. Throughout her career, Lieutenant General Reilly has remained steadfastly committed to REME’s values, leading by example with humility, technical excellence, and a clear vision of inclusive leadership. Her promotion is not just a personal triumph but a source of pride and inspiration for every member of our Corps.
We congratulate Lieutenant General Anna-Lee Reilly on her outstanding achievement and look forward to all that she will continue to accomplish in the service of the Corps, the Army, and the nation.
Scribe: Colonel Iain Wallace – Colonel REME
Rejoiner’s Campaign
Scribe: WO1 (ASM) Dave Bates – REME RHQ ARTE WO
As part of Col REME’s LoO 3, Operational Objective 3The Corps has the right number of people, in the right place, at the right time, of the right shape and size to deliver ES effect. I opted to initiate a rejoiners campaign with the aim to smooth out the process of returning those who had recently left the service and had realised that the grass is not always greener in civilian employment. Looking at Regular Soldier strength we are healthy at the bottom; however, it is between LCpl – Sgt, dependant on the CEGs, where we have an issue, and we do not have the technical infrastructure to train more, particularly more VMs. This means bringing back those without an associated trade training burden is considered vital ground. I therefore set the following essential criteria for the campaign:
1. More than two years left of previous Regular contract at point of discharge.
2. Left Regular service within the last three years (no longer essential, as the campaign progressed).
3. Left either MFD/MLD and had a discharge medical. It was important that Service Personnel (SP) had left within the last three years as this is consistent with the maximum time we assign our SP within non-trade related roles such as MTI. I advertised the campaign across the RAJA networks and
Corps social media to reach as many service leavers as possible. The chosen pathway to bring SP back is via the REME Reserves. As a member of the Reserves, you still have access to the Digital Transfers App via Defence Gateway. Transferring back into the Regulars is done in the same way as internal transfers between CEGs and cap badges. Applicants can apply for any trade group available; this will land on their Reserve Battalion RCMO’s desk who will approve it and move it along to APC where the brilliant Mrs Carol-Anne Forrest (APC-REME Soldiers) will reach out and offer terms for further service. Once agreed and a TAD (Transfer Assessment Day) interview is conducted either virtually or in person, a start date is then set and has been known to be done in a matter of weeks rather than the lengthy timelines rejoiners have previously endured. What I would say to anyone reading this or anyone who knows of a REME Veteran wanting to rejoin, is that the Corps wants you back! The experiences and skills gained on the outside will undoubtable add value to further military service. To those who left over 3 years ago, do not be put off, scan the QR code and have a conversation about rejoining, the result of which will most likely be joining the REME Reserve and redo the most recent trade course you undertook; whether that be Class One or Initial Trade Training (ITT) (space allowing). Below is a testimonial from one of our first rejoiners through the campaign, Cpl Dominic Bylett currently serving with 2 Bn REME.
Back In
After 12 years of service I made the difficult decision to leave the Corps (Army). At that time the lifestyle no longer suited my family, especially with two young children. During my two-year hiatus I primarily worked as the U23 Head Coach for Middlesbrough and Sunderland Women’s football teams. This experience was incredibly rewarding, providing me with new ideas and skills. It also made me realise how much I had learned about management and leadership from my time in the REME.
Since many women’s teams are not full-time, I also took on employment as a logistics and warehouse Manager. Although I enjoyed coaching, it could not compete with the Army salary. While the logistics and warehouse Manager roles were financially viable, it did not offer the job satisfaction or team ethos I had experienced within the REME.
I found myself missing the Army, something I never thought I would say. The overall package the REME offered was more appealing than other jobs. Upon leaving I signed up for the Army Reserve, which I highly recommend to anyone. Even if you are hesitant it is a great option to support your transition and provides extra income for skills you already possess. More importantly, if you wish to rejoin, it makes the process much faster and easier, as it did for me.
After applying through my REME Reserve Chain of Command to transfer back into the Regulars, I was contacted with a slot for a TAD interview to discuss my reasons for leaving and my motivation for rejoining. The process was quick and easy, and I felt very welcomed.
Initially I thought I was done with the Army, but I found myself missing the camaraderie and range of opportunities available. With my children now a few years older I felt ready to rejoin. My advice to anyone considering rejoining is that it is okay to have a change in circumstances. Just because it was not right for you then it does not mean it will not be in the future. The skills and experience you have gained are still valuable. You may worry about being judged for rejoining, but apart from some good-natured banter all I have received from ex-colleagues are positive comments and messages.
I highly recommend rejoining the Corps. After six months I have already been reunited with many old friends, deployed across Europe, gained further qualifications and continued to play and coach Football, whilst being paid to do it.
For further information on the rejoiner’s campaign please contact me – david.bates883@mod.gov.uk or info@rajareme.org
5 Battalion Change of CO
Scribe: Lt Tim Curley
May 25 was Lt Col S Beevor’s (left) last day as 5 Force Support Battalion’s Commanding Officer, handing over the position to Lt Col D Couldridge (right); who is eager to lead the Battalion to success through his tenure just as Lt Col Beevor did. On his last day, the Battalion had paraded to listen in to the wise last words of Lt Col Beevor, notably honouring the new CO as ‘The perfect individual to lead you through the coming era’. Following this the REME flag was lowered in a ceremonial fashion and presented to the Colonel with impressive co-ordination from the Adjt. Finally, it was time to say farewell to Lt Col Beevor who had led us successfully through many of the most challenging operations and exercises some of our Service Personnel (SP) had seen, for example Op LINOTYPER as a whole Bn deployment, where the CO amongst many others had solved a broad spectrum of engineering challenges. He was extremely fit and known for being both an Army Commando and a Para. However, at this Battalion, he will be known for his raw courage to stand up for what was right and to stand up for all of the SP he
represented, whilst also having a great intellect for solving engineering problems through hard data and analysis.
In his last moments as CO he stepped up onto the Late Queen Mother’s custom Land Rover kindly provided by The REME Museum and drove out of camp with a great smile on his face as the whole of 5 Bn gathered behind him cheering him on, wishing him a successful future and career. Thank you and good luck for the future Colonel.
And now the Battalion welcomes the dawn of a new era; Lt Col Dan Couldridge, who has recently returned from a deployment to Germany in support of Ukraine; coordinating international equipment donations to Ukraine. He has hit the ground running; the Battalion is well underway in its preparations for Ex IRON STORM later in the year, which will see the majority of the Battalion deploy during this period. On behalf of all Officers and Soldiers – welcome to the Battalion Sir.
Exercise PINION STORM
Scribe: LCpl Forde (Avionics Technician)
3Regiment Army Air Corps Battlegroup (3 AAC BG) has deployed on Ex PINION STORM, to North-East Europe as part of a large-scale NATO training exercise. The aim of this deployment is to demonstrate the UK’s enduring commitment to NATO and to reassure our partner countries of our resolve to protect the sovereignty of NATO countries. The ascent of Finland to NATO in April 2023 and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine gives renewed importance to our presence in the region. 3 AAC BG deployed 2,000km into Finland and Estonia with APACHE E-Models from 3 AAC and AW159 Wildcats from 1 AAC, in total, 650 people and 18 aircraft. The Finnish Army operates NH90 and MD500 helicopters.
Ex PINION STORM is the overarching name for 1 Aviation Brigade’s contribution to activity in the Euro-Atlantic Joint Area of Operations. The exercises are a multinational overseas training exercise, aimed at developing interoperability with NATO partners; including allied troops from Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Germany. The training exercise began with the armoured Brigade-led exercise MIGHTY ARROW 25 from 24 April to13 May, with the AH-64E attack helicopters providing close air support to the Finnish defence mechanised forces. The next air defence exercise, MALLET STRIKE 25, was held from 13 to 22 May, with the objective of exercising the total air defence system and developing the interoperability and connectivity of air defence with allied forces. Ex NORTHERN STAR 25 ran from 2631 May with the objective of executing a multinational land operation in Northern Finland. The final exercise, Ex KARELIAN
662 Sqn with Finnish Army
AH-64E Fly Over
AH-64E Return from mission
SWORD 25, was held from 23 May to 1 June with the total strength of troops c. 5,000 personnel.
The first group of 662 ES PL soldiers reached the main operating base in Säkylä, Finland, two weeks prior to the arrival of the aircraft from Wattisham. This early arrival allowed us sufficient time to prepare our working areas at the airfield, including establishing the 700 office, crew room, and tool store. Once we had set up the working area in preparation for the arrival of the AH64Es, this gave us an opportunity to integrate with the Finnish Army soldiers before the aircraft arrived. They invited us for a lesson in Close Quarters Battle (CQB), taught by the Finnish Pori Brigade, who train Finnish conscripts as Finland has compulsory national military service for all adult males. They took us through high-intensity engagements in a confined urban environment using their RK 62 assault rifle. We also got firsthand experience with their sniper rifles and light machine guns. After the CQB training, we were invited for tours and rides in their armoured personnel carriers, the Patria AMV XA-360, Patria 6x6 XA-300 and Sisu GTP. This was a fantastic opportunity to get to know the Finnish soldiers who we would be sharing their base with, and to see their specialised amphibious vehicles, designed for Finland’s 180,000 lakes. The Finnish soldiers then invited us for some friendly sport competition, including Football, Basketball and Volleyball in their gymnasium and sports complex. I must admit, seeing our team beat the Finnish soldiers at Football was a highlight of the trip!
The APACHE helicopters arrived in Säkylä on 25 April after a delay due to high winds. The first maintenance required by technicians was compressor rinses to ensure the engine compressor blades were free from salt build-up after flying over the sea to Finland from Wattisham via Denmark. This maintenance included a change from normal procedures by using a chemical capture system, used to collect the contaminated fluid from the engines after cleaning to reduce the effect on the environment. Armourers and technicians conducted pre-firing checks due to the live firing involved in the exercise. Avionic Technicians then boresight the AH-64Es’ 30mm Area Weapon System (AWS) to align the sighting systems, pilot helmets, and AWS for precise firing during flight. Following initial maintenance, the Pl divided into A and B crews, implementing a 24-hour rotating shift. This schedule effectively supports pilots in both day and night operations,
Chemical capture
Compressor wash
Main rotor blade removal
ensuring aircraft readiness for live-fire ranges and mission assignments.
Sharing our forward operating base with the Finnish allowed us to socialize with them when off shift and play football. This also allowed us opportunities to look around at their NH-90 and MS-500 helicopters, which provided us with a wider knowledge of other aviation platforms. I was one of the lucky few who got a flight on the NH-90 around the training area, an experience I will never forget! We also got opportunities to visit the Finnish Armoured Brigade soldiers and have a tour in their Leopard 2A6 main battle tank and MT-LB tracked armoured vehicle. There was also a 48-hour rest and relaxation period allocated to experience Finnish culture. This included a visit to the nearby city of Turku to see the cathedral and castle, and provided time to sample Finnish cuisine and observe the local lifestyle. On May 17, we attended Finland’s biggest running event, the Helsinki City Marathon. Participants ran various distances, including a full marathon, half-marathon, and 4person relay. We represented REME against 20,000 runners by the sea in Helsinki. Running through the beautiful streets of Helsinki, surrounded by enthusiastic spectators and fellow runners, was an unforgettable experience. It was a perfect way to immerse myself in the local culture and connect with the community.
Reflecting on my time in Finland during Ex PINION STORM, I am filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment. This exercise was a testament to the strength and cooperation between our forces, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it. The cultural exchanges were particularly memorable. We had the opportunity to participate in various activities with the Finnish soldiers, including shared meals, sports events, and joint training sessions. These interactions allowed us to learn about each other’s traditions, customs, and ways of life, creating a deeper understanding and appreciation for our differences and similarities. The camaraderie built during these exchanges was invaluable, as it strengthened our cooperation and teamwork; making the exercise even more successful.
3 Regiment AAC, 663 Squadron Equipment Support Platoon
Scribe: LCpl Heper (Aircraft Technician) 3 Regiment Army Air Corps Battlegroup (3AAC BG) has deployed on Ex PINION STORM, an exercise that has been undertaken annually, however, this year has taken on a more serious and stronger tone in regard to ongoing world affairs. The NATO exercise encompasses many allied forces, including Norway, Estonia and the newest member of NATO, Finland, in which multiple missions are taking place concurrently within these nation states. Specifically, the overarching objective of 3AAC BG was to utilise the capabilities and air support that the APACHE 64-E brings to our eastern allies’ armoured Divisions. The Ministry of Defence’s top priority is our involvement with Ex HEDGEHOG (EX HH). Ex HH is a large-scale exercise encompassing primarily Estonian and British forces in which the APACHE 64-E will conduct life-
Preventative maintenance daily at dusk
Engine Bay maintenance
Tail rotor blade checks
like simulated war scenarios with the Estonian military in a show of force to deter pariah states.
What exercise life looks like for me.
Operating with 663 SQN ES Platoon first started with setting up our operating base in UTTI, just 30Km from the border of Russia. It was a full team effort to set out our engineering areas ready to receive the aircraft within a few days. Our focus was to ensure all the aircraft were ready to be deployed when needed, specifically ready for the weeklong Ex HH. Many PMDs, and sneaky faults kept us all on our toes.
Including large maintenance packages like 125’s. As we crept closer to Ex HH, I was nominated as part of the compressor rinse team. An important role in ensuring the aircraft could be serviced and maintained ready for the next sortie. The work itself was an excellent opportunity to hone my skills as well as the skills of the fresh technicians who had yet to experience exercise life.
I was lucky enough to be a part of the advance party. This involved a small team deploying early to receive the aircrafts ready for the exercise commencing. In this period, we conducted CQB combat training with the Finnish military police. This was a fantastic experience and an opportunity for me to learn new skills and tactics as well as a nice exchange of Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs). Along with a cheeky badge swap to add to the collection. We had another day which involved a walk-round talk about the kit and equipment the Finnish Military operate with daily. Usually working solely with aircraft, it was exciting to broaden my perspective on different fields of work within the military and a breath of fresh air.
Working nights has been a blessing so far. Just the right amount of work combined with the regular trip to the gym followed by a 45-minute bathing session in the sauna, a tradition and daily affair for the Finnish. The days spent in the sun before work usually consisted of a group game of volleyball. A great team bonding activity that looked like it was straight out of the film ‘Top Gun’. Another extracurricular activity involved individuals from 663 Sqn participating in the annual ‘Helsinki Running Day’. Of which, I took part in the half-marathon, representing Britain in the race. Receiving silverware and a lemon ‘Long drink’ (Finnish beverage) was the highlight.
With the completion of Ex HH our team has begun to prepare for the assistance of our sister Squadron 662 with Ex MALLET STRIKE and Ex KARELLIAN SWORD, which is a joint effort of British and Finnish armed forces to simulate a direct land invasion of armoured vehicles in which we are supplying two APACHEs to demonstrate to the Finnish President the fierce capabilities of the APACHE attack helicopter.
All in all, it has been a spectacular experience for me and the rest of 663 Sqn. It’s been a great exercise working alongside our fellow NATO countries and a fantastic send off for 663’s final exercise as a flying squadron.
Volleyball with the Finnish Army
Weapon system boresight
Wildcats flying over
Exercise GAULISH: C Company
Fitter
Section – 1 Royal Welsh
Scribe: SSgt Murray
Charlie Company, 1 Royal Welsh have recently deployed on Ex GAULISH to Centre d’entraïnement aux actions en Zone Urbaine (CENZUB), one of the largest urban training areas in Europe. They were attached to 13th DemiBrigade, French Foreign Legion as a Combined Arms Combat Team, with attachments from the King’s Royal Hussars (KRH), Royal Artillery and their very own Fitter Section comprising of a CRARRV crew from KRH. The exercise was designed to test the ability of the Royal Welsh and French, providing the opportunity to learn French Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) and demonstrate the close training relationship between British and French Armed Forces.
The deployment provided a great opportunity for a relatively newly formed Fitter Section to demonstrate their ability to support Charlie Company at reach, with minimum ES MAT to ensure that non availability issues were overcome quickly and effectively, returning vehicles back into fight at the earliest opportunity.
LRF(S) HOTO
Cpl Lock VM1
The deployment started with an advance party, comprising of vehicle crews and the Fitter Section deploying to Land Readiness Fleet (Sennelager) (LRF(S)) to complete the HandOver/Take-Over (HOTO) of vehicles required for the exercise in France. As expected, this proved to be a long winded and meticulous task. Extra attention to detail was vitally important as we knew, as a team, that we had limited spares moving forward and therefore any issues had to be rectified prior to all the vehicles being loaded and road moved via civilian Heavy Equipment Transporter System (HETS) to France. Overall, the fleet that we acquired was in a relatively good state and any issues that we found were highlighted to the team at LRF(S) who provided high quality assistance and rectified any problems we found straight away. This was greatly
C Fitters and KRH CRARRV Crew
Cfn Marlow preparing the CR2 for a new pack
appreciated by the team and me as it allowed us to deploy on time and in good order.
KRH and French Integration
Cfn Laming VM Cl2
During our time in France, we had a mix of training, teamwork, and cultural exchange. We worked with the infantry within their Rifle Company, learning how they clear rooms and buildings, which gave us useful insight into their methods and how they operate. It was interesting to see how the French forces handle these high-pressure situations.
A highlight for me was working alongside the KRH, which opened doors to a platform we are not used too. Having the opportunity, although not ideal, to conduct a pack change alongside the CRARRV crew, utilising our 512, was invaluable experience which allowed us to familiarize ourselves with equipment we had never encountered before. What caught me off guard was the level of expertise possessed by the CR2 crew when it came to the tanks. Their confidence and knowledge were astounding and how much work they do themselves to the tanks to get it ready for us to take over.
One of the highlights was socialising with the members of the French Foreign Legion, a hardened group known for their bravery and unique esprit de corps. There’s nothing quite like sharing a laugh and having a social drink breaking down barriers, swapping stories and realising how much we all have in common.
Training and 1st Line ES
Cpl Kirby-Ashmore VM Cl1
Ex GAULISH gave us, within the Fitter Section, a fantastic opportunity to ingrate ourselves with the Rifle Company, working alongside the dismounts and conducting urban training that we as REME personnel rarely get the opportunity to conduct. The Fitter Section was divided out between the rifle platoons and were taken through how the French forces manoeuvre through urban environments utilising our Challenger 2 and Warrior platforms. The training delivered allowed us to be swift on the break into an urban area, allowing synchronised movement between the vehicles, commanders and the infantry on the ground, learning to move systematically from building to building, clearing the area and taking ground and pushing the enemy back. Some
of the training the French conducted contradicted how the British Army like to conduct urban warfare; but this was an opportunity for us to all learn from one another and perhaps adapt our own training and methods for future deployments.
LCpl Parker and Cfn Laming getting the brews on
CR2 Pack Change
Once the pre-exercise training was coming to an end the Fitter Section then switched back to doing their job, being on call for fixing all vehicles coming back from the exercise area, turning spanners and getting the casualty vehicles back into the fight. Our WARRIOR 512 crew headed up by Sgt Jones was permanently located on the ground utilising their PEP to complete quick repairs and drag back casualty vehicles to rear location off the training area where the majority of the Fitter Section was on standby to conduct larger repairs. Some vehicles suffered minor damage/issues such as losing power or minor cosmetic damage, while others had more major faults like generators failing meaning getting packs in and out in only a couple of hours. Utilizing our SVR and Recovery Mechanic, LCpl Druavesi to conduct a pack change, allowed the WARRIOR 512 to redeploy in support of the exercise on the ground.
The experience for the Fitter Section was great for strengthening our core soldiering skills and showing our engineering knowledge in repairing and maintaining the fleet, supporting Charlie Company on such an important and monumental training exercise for us and our allies.
First Deployment
Cfn Marlow VM Cl3
Joining C Company’s Fitter Section was an exciting step in my career, filled with new experiences and opportunities that I hadn’t anticipated. One of the most memorable early highlights was getting the chance to take part in my first exercise with the Company, which included an incredible opportunity to conduct Close Quarters Battle (CQB) training at CENZUB. This was something I never expected to experience at such an early stage, and it pushed me out of my comfort zone while rapidly building my confidence and tactical awareness. As a newly qualified Class 3, I quickly
found myself learning at a fast pace, supported by experienced mentors within the Fitter Section who were always willing to share their knowledge and guide me through real-world scenarios.
Being on exercise showed me just how critical and fast-paced our role can be. Vehicles need to be repaired and returned to the field quickly to keep operations moving smoothly, and that urgency taught me the value of working under pressure. This momentum, carried into my first overseas deployment, which, although busy and demanding, proved to be incredibly rewarding. It was during this time that I truly began to understand the importance of our trade and how every small contribution plays a part in the bigger picture. The sense of purpose, camaraderie, and professional growth I experienced during these early moments in C Company Fitters reinforced my excitement to be part of such a dynamic team.
Warrior pack change
Sgt Jones cracking a rare smile
remerhq-corpssocialmedia@mod.gov.uk
Use a standalone camera
! Shoot RAW (if you can edit this) or JPEG.
! Do not use in-built filters.
! For a shallower depth of field open the aperture and zoom in.
Use your smartphone
! Never digital zoom.
! Don’t use computational photography modes. Shoot natural and edit later.
OR
! Use natural lighting, smartphones don’t cope well in the dark.
! Clean your lens.
! Keep subjects face towards the light.
Achieve EngTech, IEng, or CEng status through a dedicated route. With a streamlined application process, costs reimbursed by REME and eligibility for the Engineering Professional Registration Award (EPRA) - now is the ideal time to get professionally registered.
Strengthen your military career
Benchmark your skills and training against industry standards
Expand your professional network and connections
Apply today
For support contact our Defence Liaison O cer dlo@imeche.org
8 Trg Bn REME Over Seas Visit Football Tour – Ex DRAGON STRIKE
8Trg Bn REME organised an overseas football tour for 21 Service Personnel (SP) to Cyprus 12 – 20 April 2025. Led by the exercise OIC, SSgt G Baker. Designed to build leadership, confidence, team spirit and cohesion amongst all members. Both Permanent Staff (PS) and Initial Trade Training (ITT) personnel took part in multiple football fixtures against British Forces Cyprus (BFC) military units (RAF Cyprus. The Joint Service Signal Unit (JSSU) and 1 Rifles).
The exercise was a great opportunity for the ITT personnel to experience their first Overseas Visit (OSV) since joining the British Army and gave them an insight into what was achievable when they journeyed onto the Field Force.
Our arrival in Cyprus was met not with the expected Mediterranean sunshine, but with a steady downpour. Undeterred, we used the day to acclimatise and explore the historic city of Paphos. The rain lent a quiet charm to the ancient ruins and cobbled streets, offering a peaceful, almost cinematic start to our journey. It was a day of slow steps, warm drinks, and quiet reflection –a gentle welcome to the island.
Happy with the performance against the RAF
Visiting the monastery
Scribe – Cpl O’Toole
The sun finally broke through on day two, just in time for our first football training session. Under clear skies, we pushed through drills and tactics, energised by the warmth and the view. After training, we headed to Limassol’s beaches, where golden sands and turquoise waters offered the perfect recovery. It was a day of balance – effort in the morning, relaxation in the afternoon, and a growing sense of unity among the team.
Game day arrived, and with it, our first real test: a match against RAF Cyprus. The game was evenly contested, with both sides showing grit and determination. Cfn Brooks led the charge with two goals, while Cfn Gurung added another to the tally. Cfn Brooks’ performance earned him Player of the Match, and the team walked away proud of a strong showing in a hard-fought encounter.
Our second match, against JSSU, proved even tighter. The game ended in a 1–1 draw, with Cfn Langford scoring our lone goal. The match was a showcase of discipline and teamwork, with Cfn Cody earning Player of the Match for his commanding presence and tireless effort. Though the scoreboard was level, the performance showed growth and resilience.
After two intense matches, Day Five was all about recovery. A light training session in the morning was followed by a relaxing beach visit, where we recharged
under the Cypriot sun. In the afternoon, we explored the Agios Neophytos monastery, a peaceful retreat nestled in the hills, and later visited the Adonis Baths waterfalls, a lush, mythic site that offered both beauty and a refreshing dip. It was a day that reminded us of the importance of balance – between body, mind, and spirit.
The final match of the tour saw us face 1 Rifles, and all the hard work paid off. We played with confidence, cohesion, and heart – securing a 3–1 victory. Goals came from Cfn Brooks, Cfn Fielding, and Cpl O’Toole to wrap up the game with Cpl O’Toole also earning Player of the Match for his standout performance. It was the perfect ending to a week of growth, both on and off the pitch.
The tour was a success, remaining undefeated against good opposition with 3 games in 4 days. The team displaying great physical and mental resilience to overcome the soreness and tiredness to ensure everyone played to the best of their abilities.
Enabling different people of different backgrounds and cultures to come together and experience what Cyprus had to offer and what the British Army can offer. A big thank you must go out to the OIC SSgt Graham Baker and his coaching team, SSgt Bri Mooney and Cpl Anthony McNaught, without whom the tour would not have happened.
The team prior to the game with JSSU
8 Trg Bn REME pictured with 1 Rifles before the final game
REME Climbing
Scribe: LCpl Stephen
REME Climbing has now had its first year as a recognised sport within the Corps, with competitions being held and the profile of the sport increasing slowly but surely. To round this year off, on 19 March, the REME Climbing Committee hosted its first Regimental bouldering competition. This saw 30 competitors (of various categories) attempting 25 climbs in order to achieve as many points as possible. The format followed the same premise as the Armed Forces Bouldering League (AFBL), with more points being granted if you completed the climb with less attempts, doing so on your first attempt (AKA a ‘Flash’) giving 10 points.
Our host, Avid Climbing Gym, had their work cut out with a huge range of abilities among the competitors, meaning we needed climbs for everyone to have fun on, but still hard enough to split the field and achieve clear cut winners.
The route setters achieved this, seeing all competitors climbing for multiple hours, trying their best to edge out their fellow climbers! The scorecards provided helped everyone stay on top of how the competition
Competitor, LCpl Fielder, attempting a tricky route
The back of the scorecard, showing the map of all competition routes
LCpl Shannon slowly making his way up a sketchy slab
was being scored, as well as guiding climbers through the gym with a topo map of the routes.
This first bouldering competition saw a great turn out of all abilities, varying from some complete beginners, all the way up to members of the Army Climbing Team. The Climbing centre did a great job of making the climbs inclusive, but challenging, to keep the full audience engaged throughout the competition. This resulted in a competitive podium finish, seeing the following results from each category:
Open Male
1st Place L/Cpl Shannon
2nd Place Capt Richards
3rd Place L/Cpl McClughen
Elite Male
1st Place Sgt Price
2nd Place Cfn Williams
Elite Female
1st Place L/Cpl Priest
Looking to the future of REME Climbing, the committee plans to host as much as practically possible over the year. Currently in planning is: a booth at the REME Festival of Sport, Ex STALLIONS SEND and a sport climbing competition.
The committee is doing all they can to increase attendance and mold climbers in preparation for the InterCorps Climbing Competitions that take place annually. REME Climbing have an excellent track record at the Inter-Corps, coming 1st in 2024 and 2nd in 2025; beating the 12 other Corps teams that made an appearance.
This year, the Climbing Committee is trying to maximise attendance in all the disciplines of Climbing; hosting indoor and outdoor meets to capture the interest of the masses.
If people would like to compete, help out, or simply ask questions about what the future holds for REME Climbing, they should contact LCpl Kieran Stephen (kieran.stephen102@mod.gov.uk) or Capt Matthew Walter (matthew.walter101@mod.gov.uk) for more details.
Sgt Price attempting one of the most difficult routes of the competition, which no one completed
Open Male podium finishers, presented by Lt Col Huggins
2025 Inter-Corps Hockey Tournament – Men’s Senior Squad
Scribe: Cpl Morris
This year’s 2025 Inter-Corps Hockey Tournament saw the best of Corps hockey meet at Aldershot on the 12-14 May. After 2 years of making the final and finishing second; the REME men’s team have come back in force this year, ending the tournament as champions!
A tough group stage saw the men’s team finish top, winning every game and conceding 0 goals. The teams defence, headed up by LCpl Stocker, was very strong, a big confidence boost for a team that is a fairly new re-build. With just 3 players representing both the Masters and Senior squad, (Lt Col Morse, WO1 Thomas and SSgt Worth,) the squad saw a young, new team emerging.
The Semi-finals took place on the Wednesday against the Infantry who have won the tournament for the past 2 years. A performance of the year saw the REME team win 7-3; with a forward masterclass from Scott Rawlings.
The final saw REME take on our old nemesis, the Royal Engineers. At the hottest part of the day the final game of the tournament ensured a great game. End to end, both teams knew each other were equal on talent, grit and determination was going to win this game. Skipper Cpl Chris Randell gave a truly inspiring team talk before the game, with Lt Col Morse adding at half time. An early goal enabled the team to settle into the game, with the RE claiming a goal back before half time. The second half saw REME take full control of the game playing the style of Hockey that suited the team, Cpl Morris and SSgt Worth protecting the gaps, Capt Adam Woodyear running the opposition round in midfield and the teams forwards putting on a very effective high pressure game with the team claiming another 2 goals which ended the game 3-1; seeing the REME men’s senior squad take the trophy for 2025.
5 Battalion Golf Society Day
Scribe: Cfn Britchford
On 28 of May, 5 Battalion golfers headed to Chippenham Golf Club for the Golf Society Day with two new Craftsmen looking to join the Golf Society. On arrival the golfers were met with tea, coffee and a bacon roll to prepare them for the round of Golf which was about to take place.
One of the new Craftsmen, Cfn Britchford said that he enjoyed the day and had lots of fun with some help from the more experienced players helping him. He felt that he had improved whilst he went round the course and it was worth missing work to take part in the day.
The second new Craftsman, Cfn Massey, said that ‘as I am new to the unit it was a great experience to get to play golf for the day and get to know people that I work with within the unit. Everyone was so welcoming and very helpful in helping me improve my game. I would highly recommend to everyone to give it a go and come along to future society days if you have a slight interest in the sport.’
The day was topped off with a chicken curry and a few pints to congratulate the winners of the round.
Congratulations to all the 7 winners who walked away with prizes:
Low handicap stableford winner – Cpl Elsworth
Low handicap stableford runner up – Maj Brown
High handicap stableford winner – WO2 Percival
High handicap stableford runner up – Maj Lawson
Nearest to the pin – WO2 Hughes
Longest drive – WO2 Hughes
Most golf played – Cfn Britchford
Race to the Start 25
Scribe: Major Alexander Taylor-Raine
In 2015 the Corps of The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers relocated from Bordon and Arborfield to our current home at MOD Lyneham. As this year marks 10 years since the move, an event was planned to commemorate the anniversary.
On Wednesday 25 June, two teams of nine runners set off from their previous Training Battalions (10 and 11 Trg Bns REME) on a 68-mile relay race to our current home at MOD Lyneham. The 68 miles were broken down into nine legs, given each runner between 7.5 and 8.5 miles of South-Western countryside to enjoy.
The routes were a mixture of pavements, bridleways and public roads which brought with them their own challenges of navigation, logistics and support from local councils and police forces. Thankfully, there were some significant hills along the way, providing the runners with
glorious views as they charged along their respective routes.
Officers and Soldiers were chosen to represent their teams with those graduating from the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SEME) representing the Bordon team and pre-2015 Commissioned Officers along with those who graduated School of Electrical and Aeronautical Engineering (SEAE) and Defence College of Aeronautical and Electronic Engineering (DCAE) representing the Arborfield team. With trade pride at stake, high levels of fitness, endurance and smooth handovers between runners would prove key to success.
At 0600, both teams were ready to start at their respective start lines. Using a support rider as navigation in
A smooth handover between SSgt Tamang and Sgt Cherryholme
Team Bordon prior to race start outside the clock tower
Some of Team Arborfield before starting their race outside the Arborfield Garrison church
front, and a safety vehicle to the rear of the runner, the race began with the Corps Colonel and Corps ASM running their team’s first legs. As legs were completed, the handovers between runners became more efficient and both teams reached their halfway marks with only six minutes between them. With the Arborfield team navigating roadworks and the dreaded Marlborough hill, and the Bordon team taking advantage of a four-mile flat route along a canal, the gap began to widen.
Temperatures reached 23 degrees Celsius as runners continued the epic race over midday and into the early afternoon with the Bordon team passing through Fyfield Down National Nature Reserve and Arborfield passing the Hackpen White Horse. Both teams then had to navigate the narrow lanes of Clyffe Pypard and Preston before approaching Lyneham from the East.
For the final leg of the Arborfield route, the team were joined by Major General Faithfull-Davies, herself a graduate of Arborfield who led the team along their final seven miles and across the finish line – where Team Bordon were waiting, having crossed the finish line, stretched off and cooled down almost 30 minutes earlier!
After a significant amount of planning and commitment from support staff and runners, the event concluded following almost nine hours of running in the June heat. It was not uncommon to see runners at 11mph, equating to 5.5 minutes per mile across severely undulating terrain –highlighting the seriously impressive levels of fitness within the Bordon team.
A huge thanks to all staff involved, and especially the runners who truly put in an exceptional level of effort to make the race a success. Roll on 2035 for Team Arborfield to try and regain some trade pride.
Team Bordon at the finish line after their dominating victory
SSgt Cooper overtaking the support rider…
All runners and support staff who took part in the event at the finish line at MOD Lyneham
We need YOUR photographs!
The calendar requires input from your units to ensure we are able to produce a high-quality product.
We need photographs of your unit on operations, in barracks, on exercise, adventurous training or participating in sport – all within the last 12 months.
Send your high-resolution JPEG photographs (minimum 1MB) with accompanying captions to craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 01 OCTOBER 2025
18 AUG -12 DEC 2025*
SENNELAGER, GERMANY
ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEXT CHALLENGE?
20 ARMOUREDCOMPANY ARE DEPLOYING TO GERMANY AND WE NEED SKILLED TRADESPEOPLE TO KEEP THE ARMY’S EQUIPMENT READY
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
• EXPERIENCE GERMANY
• WORK WITH CUTTING EDGE EQUIPMENT
• EARN DEPLOYMENT BENEFITS
• BOOST YOUR TRADE SKILLS
ALL LAND TRADES AND CLASSES NEEDED.
CRITICAL SHORTFALLS:
-Class 1 VM -Class 2 VM
INTERESTED? SPEAK TO YOUR CoC OR CONTACT 3REME OPS
*Dates subject to change.
POC: DEAN.REASON280@MOD.GOV.UK
Army Offshore Regatta 2025
TScribe: Major Alex Thomson
he Army Offshore Regatta (AOR) is the premier Army level offshore racing event where teams from the various Army cap badges compete against each other in a series of offshore and passage races. This year the event was based from Cowes on the Isle of Wight; with racing each day over the period 12-16 May 25.
Building on success of the previous year, REME entered two teams, one onboard Seahorse which is one of the two Corps yachts, along with, a Joint Services yacht called Teal. The crews were a mix of Regular and Reserve REME from 4REME, 5REME, 9REME, 160X and 1AAC, joined by the Corps Bosun; who is permanently based in Gosport.
This year’s AOR, a highlight in the Army’s Sailing calendar, saw crews from various units competing in challenging offshore conditions. The REME’s success underscored their dedication and skill in the sport; further enhancing their reputation within the Army’s sailing community.
Day 1 included sailing safety briefings provided by the Joint Services Adventurous Sail Training
Centre (JSASTC), followed by a crew orientation and handover of the vessels. Once all these were completed it was time to get on the water and go through essential man overboard drills and skills that may be used over the week of racing. This was also the prime time to get the spinnakers out, for some this was the first time they have touched the spinnaker, while others used this time to review and refine their techniques. Once everyone was happy with their training it was time to head to Cowes for a team brief in the Cowes Yacht Club, during which the schedule and details for the week were outlined.
Day 2 was a slow start due to the low/no wind availability, with a few of the races having to be scrapped. However, later in the morning the wind came through and the races began. With both REME teams placing well in the races.
Day 3 consisted of the passage race, the longest one of the week, it started well, there was a slight breeze and after 30 mins the wind stopped creating more of a drifting race than a sailing one, however teams persevered and after 6 hours the race was over with one of the REME teams finishing 1st in their class.
Day 4, the most important day of racing, the wind came out
to play, with some gusts reaching 16 knots, with teams competing in 3 races overall. One of which is the compass race, which is all about tactics, currents and hoping wind was on our side. We started at different times and the course we took was up to individuals. After a very successful day, the crews headed back to Cowes Yacht Club for an evening function and celebrations.
The final day consisted of cleaning and fuelling the boats, handing them back and getting ready for the prize giving. With REME taking home a total of 5 trophies, and the REME Bosun taking home the Bell Trophy. However, the Dolphin Trophy for best cap badge victory adds to REME’s growing list of achievements in military sailing competitions as this is the 3rd year in a row that we have brought home this trophy.
This reflects our commitment to excellence and the growing community within REME Sailing which includes dinghy, windsurf and kite surfing.
If you would like to get involved in REME Sailing, we can be found online at remesailingclub.com or through the Army Sailing Association website. Several taster sessions are run throughout the year as well as unit and club organised AT events.
REME Clay Target Shooting Championships 2025
Scribe: Cpl Josh Ward
During the first week of June this year, the Corps held its annual Clay Target Championships at Bramley Training Area; the ground at the heart of the Corps sporting target shooting. The ground hosted 12 stands of English sporting targets, which varied in ability allowing all to have a go and at least hit a few, allowing everyone to go home smiling. There were 77 individual REME competitors (63 Regular, 14 Reserve) and 14 unit teams from the Corps this year. This is the most we have seen in a long while, who all proved they could hit the array of targets on display. This event saw fierce competition this year, and competition that was narrowly separated across all levels. One of the best yet seen!
The sun shone, and the targets were fantastic, allowing for some serious sport to be had. Throughout the day all levels of shooting ability competed at the event, and everyone came in smiling and excited to hear the much anticipated results. Exactly what the sport is about. Within the Corps, our aim is to get all levels out there having a go and there is something for even the complete novice to hit; allowing anyone to come and compete and even use this to try the sport for the first time.
Corps Committee and Instructors are on each stand to help and make sure those who are less experienced at least
hit something and have fun in line with the spirit of the competition. There are stands that are designed to separate the novices and even make the very experienced shooter think. There are prizes across the classifications, which are aimed at the novice to experienced level all work out on a percentage across those that shoot. Ultimately, and after a well contested battle, a winner had to be announced, and the winner this year was Cpl
WO2 Mike Tyler showing how it’s done Members of the Corps out in full swing
Cpl Ward receiving the championship trophy from Corps Captain, Capt Pete Meager
The shooters of the Corps eagerly await the results
Joshua Ward, with an outstanding score of 86/100; closely followed by Sgt Ben Hunt, last year’s Champion.
Below details the results of what was a fantastic Championship, which couldn’t have happened without the help of Maj Barbieri and his team, WO1 Meager, and all the Corps Committee that helped.
Overall Corps High gun – Cpl Josh Ward (5Bn REME)
Overall runner up – Sgt Ben Hunt (Reserve 103Bn REME )
Ladies High Gun – LCpl Elena Dunn (Reserve 101Bn REME) Under 23 champion – Cfn Max Jones (1RRF LAD)
Under 23 runner up – Cpl Tom Cracknell (39 Engr Regt LAD)
Unit 1st – 103Bn REME
2nd – 4Bn REME
3rd – 5Bn REME
4th – QDG LAD
5th – 2 PARA LAD
A Class winner – Capt P Meager (4Bn REME)
A Class runner up – WO2 Mike Tyler (Army HQ)
B Class Winner – LCpl Pat Amey (1AAC Wksp)
B Class runner up – Cfn Stephen Byram (103Bn REME)
C Class winner – WO1 Daniel Sellors (101Bn REME)
C Class runner up – LCpl Joshua McGrath (1AAC Wksp)
The Corps is extremely proud of all its shooters and how they are taking the sport to the next level. Think you have what it takes? Or do you think this sounds like something you’d like to try? Reach out and get in touch with either the Corps Captain: Capt Pete Meager (4 Bn REME), Corps Adj: SSgt Craig Hill (4 Bn REME) or Corps Media & Liaison: Cpl Joshua Ward (5 Bn REME).
Members of 103Bn REME with the Major Unit winner’s trophy, including Army team shots Sgt Ben Hunt, Cpl Jase Lane and Cpl Darren Gubby
What a Beauty
The more I know, the less I understand
Scribe – John Sibley, Branch President
The Recovery Mechanic Branch of the REME Association has just returned from a superb visit to the beautiful Polish city of Krakow. 16 of us gathered at our hotel on 23 May ready for a packed programme of visits organised by our events coordinator, Mark O’Mahony very ably assisted by his daughter Olivia (obviously the brains of the team).
We got straight into it with a visit that very afternoon to the factory of Oskar Schindler, made famous by Liam Neeson in the Steven Spielberg film Schindler’s List. Afterwards we made our way back to the hotel via various eateries, sampling the very best of what Krakow had to offer
The next day we boarded a bus for a visit to the famous Wieliczka salt mine. An absolutely fascinating place and on the original 1978 world heritage sites list. The mine has been around for over 700 years and has 9 levels, 245 Km of galleries and is 327 metres at its deepest point; it’s so huge that visitors only have access to 2%. Full of carvings, chapels and natural phenomenon made by the miners and nature over hundreds of years. Our guide told us we could lick the walls to taste the salt, most of us refrained but there’s always one!! Today, you can get married in the underground cathedral and have your reception in the great hall, it even has a health spa. Obviously for our group a tour of historical winches was not to be missed, some of our group had even used
Schindlers Factory entrance
one or two for real!! If you ever have a chance to visit jump at it, truly amazing and the best tasting walls I’ve ever tried! Our final day saw us visit the death camps of AuschwitzBirkenau. We had a guided tour by a superb guide who had a wonderful way of explaining things but leaving you with your own thoughts. As you can imagine it is a harrowing experience especially for those who had not previously visited a concentration camp. That said, I think it’s true to say that we were all deeply affected by the visit.
Even now I find it quite difficult to put into words my feelings at the time. Anger, certainly, despair, sorrow, madness, suffering, injustice, I could go on but it’s all been said before.
What should be said is that by visiting these places of evil doings is to remember those who perished here and in all other such places at the hands of wicked people and to keep alive their memory in the hope that such things are never seen again. “The more I know, the less I understand” not a quote from Einstein or Paul Weller but the title of a book I noticed on the shelves in the gift shop and one that totally summed up my feelings after the visit. I learned so much about the suffering of the people taken to this place and how the Nazis processed them like commodities, yet for all that I still have little understanding of how this could have been allowed to happen?
On our final night we all got together for a group meal in a typical Polish restaurant on Krakow town square, a fitting end to a truly memorable trip. Looking forward to next year where we hope to travel over to France and visit the Normandy beaches and Pegasus Bridge.
Birkenau Camps Infamous Rail head
Arbiet Macht Frei
Potteries & District REME Association
Scribe: Maurice Hope.
North Staffs REME Breakfast Club
An excellent turnout on Saturday 7th of June for this month’s North Staffs REME Breakfast Club, with fifteen attending, raising the sum of £75 to go into the pot for the end of year donation to the Corps Charity… currently standing at £285; which hopefully will nearly double by the end of the year.
Branch Lunch Event
Our monthly branch lunch event was held on Tuesday 10th of June which saw a good attendance with eighteen members present at The Royal Oak in the Staffordshire Moorlands village of Dilhorne, one of our favourite venues, and one of few that you don’t have to pre-book your menu choice.
Monthly Branch Meeting
Following the present uncertainty of where we put down our roots after this month, it was very welcome that our branch vice president Lt Col John Edwards OBE had pre planned for us to hold this month’s branch meeting at his residence, taking the form of a barbecue in the garden following a rather informal get together of members passing as a branch meeting. In total eighteen people attended, and all enjoyed the ample food on offer, so many thanks must go to John’s wife Rosemary for all her efforts. Somewhat surprisingly there was not a Stoke City Potters Apron in sight! The recently
awarded Vincent Metcalfe Trophy took pride of place in the group photo taken in the garden.
Battlefield Presence
Thursday the 12th saw branch president Maurice Hope join up with a “mini-bus” World War One Battlefield Tour of five nights and four days around the Somme and Ypres area organised by our friends at The Tri-Services and Veterans Centre in Hassell Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme. A very mixed group of badges formed the group of twelve from one Corps member, a couple of Royal Engineers, two ex RAF Veterans, a Navy Veteran and Infanteers from both the Cheshire and Staffordshire Regiments, and even one from The Household
Brian Billings
Adrian Walker
Joan Hubber
June Breakfast Club
Cavalry Regiment.
The advantage of having a small group as opposed to an organised package tour is that there is no hard and fast itinerary to keep to, which allows stops at the small and inaccessible memorials and locations that a large coach cannot reach.
Two of the more notable places visited were the WW1 grassy airfield at St Omer and a derelict railway station. St Omer had been the headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force during the early years of the war and the key centre for The Royal Flying Corps having established its HQ there in October 1914 and was thus the birthplace of today’s Royal Air Force on 1st of April 1918.
The other place of note, which is so easily bypassed by the bigger tours, was a now dilapidated and derelict railway station situation on a spur from the main Abbeville line, which was where thousands of troops and equipment disembarked prior to the long hard slog on foot on to the frontline trenches. So sad to see it decaying when it played such an important role in the war.
The two main reasons for taking part in the tour was to
lay a branch wreath at The Menin Gate during the nightly Last Post Ceremony, and to visit the grave of Maurice’s grandfather, L/Sgt Edward William Hope MM of The Royal Fusiliers, who was buried at the Hooge Crater Military Cemetery following his death during 1917 at the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).
The wreath laying was seven years almost to the day since the last branch wreath was laid at the venue, and this year was a far bigger affair; which coincided with the centenary of the formation of the Ypres branch of The British Legion.
Wreath Layer
Grandads Grave
Kimberley Meeting
Menin Gate Wreath
The tragic story of the
It is believed this aerial view was taken in 1958, shortly after the aircraft was discovered. Image is in the public domain and is reproduced courtesy of the U.S. Air Force. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement
An image of the Lady Be Good’s nose section taken in 1960, probably during Operation CLIMAX. The remarkable state of preservation is obvious. Image is in the public domain and is reproduced courtesy of the U.S. Air Force. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement
A wider view of the Lady Be Good, showing some of the equipment and parts that were thrown from the aircraft when it crash-landed. This was also probably taken during Operation CLIMAX. Image is in the public domain and is reproduced courtesy of the U.S. Air Force. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement
Lady Be Good
Scribe: Richard Davies - REME Museum Curator
On 4th April 1943, a Squadron of twenty-five Liberator bombers from the United States Air Force took off from their base in Libya to attack the Italian city of Naples, approximately 700 miles North.
All but one of the planes made it safely home. The wreckage of the missing aircraft, named the Lady Be Good, was discovered, entirely by accident, 15 years later. The connection with REME is unusual, as one of the most unprepossessing objects in the Museum’s permanent collection sheds light on an important aspect of these remarkable and tragic events.
On 9th November 1958, a plane carrying a team of Geologists working for the D’Arcy Oil Company spotted some aircraft wreckage about 440 miles South of Suluq Airfield (this is the base from which the bombing mission to Naples had taken off).
The authorities at the American Wheelus airbase near Tripoli were alerted, but as there were no recent reports of any missing US aeroplanes, the site was not visited again until March 1959.
What the investigators, also from the D’Arcy Oil Company, found upon arrival was the Lady Be Good in a remarkable state of preservation. One of the machine guns still worked, as did the radio transmitter; even a flask of tea was perfectly drinkable. More importantly however, the Inspectors did not find any human remains, although they did discover some clothing with name tags that had clearly once belonged to the crew.
The leader of the D’Arcy expedition wrote to the commander of the Wheelus base and listed the names of all the men whose belongings they had found. This prompted the staff there to take the matter seriously, and the help of the American Quartermaster Mortuary in Frankfurt was enlisted.
The American military investigators were on-site from May until August 1959, examining the aircraft in an effort to piece
remaining four men could also be found, and a formal search, named Operation CLIMAX, was launched by the US Army and Air Force at the end of April 1960. This was a wellorganised and well-resourced project, including nineteen men, six vehicles and two helicopters. The discovery of the initial five bodies had generated significant media interest, so an Army Public Information Group accompanied the searchers to take images and silent film footage (some of the latter is available on YouTube).
The D’Arcy group were still surveying the region at this time, and it was they who found the sixth crew man on 12th May 1960. Staff Sergeant Guy E. Shelley (Gunner and Assistant Flight Engineer), was located twenty-one miles North of the group of five. Five days later, one of Operation CLIMAX’s helicopters found Technical Sergeant Harold J. Ripslinger (Flight Engineer), an additional twenty-six miles from Sergeant Shelley.
together what had happened. The remains of the first crew members were not located until 11th February 1960 however, when once again, employees of the D’Arcy Oil Company were surveying the area. Five of the nine men were located at this time, nineteen miles North of the Lady Be Good: 1st Lieutenant William J. Hatton (Pilot), 2nd Lieutenant Robert F. Toner (Co-Pilot), 2nd Lieutenant D.P. “Deep” Hays (Navigator), Technical Sergeant Robert E. LaMotte (Radio Operator) and Staff Sergeant Samuel E. Adams (Gunner). These discoveries gave hope that the bodies of the
Five months after Operation CLIMAX was completed on 23rd May 1960, another oil prospecting expedition discovered the remains of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Woravka (Bombadier). His body was recovered by the US Air Force.
The body of the final crew member, Staff Sergeant Vernon L. Moore (Air Gunner), has never been officially found. However, a British Army desert patrol did find some human remains in 1953 and buried them. They were unaware any Allied air crews were missing in the area, so no further investigations were conducted although the discovery was recorded.
In 1994, the wreckage of the Lady Be Good was recovered from the desert and brought to the Gamal Abdel Nasser Airbase, by a Libyan team led by Dr. Fadel Ali Mohammed, Director of the Royal Maintenance Corps of the Jordanian Armed Forces. The aircraft remains at the base to this day.
Alongside the investigation of the crash site and the discovery of the crew, the American investigators examined the surviving military records to piece together exactly what happened on the Lady Be Good’s final journey.
An example of a petrified tree located near El Kurru in Northern Sudan. While alive many millions of years ago, this tree would have been part of a rain forest that resembles those found in the Amazon basin today. Reproduced under the terms of the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. This photograph was taken by Clemens Schmillen, and no changes have been made to the image (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrified_wood#/media/File:ElKurru Petrified_Wood.jpg)
This story can now be fully told.
After leaving Suluq airfield during the afternoon of 4th April, the Liberators began the long journey to Naples. The Lady Be Good was the last to take off. It never caught up with the other twenty-four bombers.
The mission to Naples in which the Lady Be Good took part was one of hundreds flown by Allied aircraft against Italy in 1943. The overall aim was to destroy as much Italian military and civilian infrastructure as possible, prior to the invasions of Sicily and mainland Italy, in order to cripple the ability of the Italian armed forces to fight back.
This particular mission was unsuccessful. Poor weather meant that some of the aircraft were forced to attack secondary targets while others did not reach Italian airspace at all, and had to return to Libya; the Lady Be Good was in this latter group.
The aircraft’s problems began on the return trip as the Liberator’s automatic direction
Images of the front and rear of the piece of petrified wood in the Museum’s permanent collection (2016.47.1)
finder failed. The last radio communication from the aircraft was the navigator asking Suluq to broadcast a homing signal. Although this was received, they were unable to tell from which direction it originated due to the limitations of the Liberator’s equipment, and so they kept flying without changing course. Eventually the pilot and navigator became disorientated, and with no means of establishing their position (they were flying over a flat, featureless desert plain with no landmarks), and also with fuel running low, the crew decided to bail out.
Unbeknown to them, they had actually overflown the Suluq airfield and travelled a further 440 miles into a region of the desert so dry that it is even avoided by Bedouin tribesmen.
After bailing out, the men located one another by firing their pistols and flair guns. It is likely they realised that not all of them had survived, as they were unable to locate two of their number (these were 2nd –Lieutenant Woravka and Staff Sergeant Moore).
The now-crewless Lady Be Good flew on for another sixteen miles but eventually crash landed. It broke into two pieces on impact.
To add to this story’s poignancy, the flight to Naples was the first and last mission both for the crew and their aircraft. This image from 1943 shows, from left to right, 1st Lieutenant Hatton, 2nd Lieutenant Toner, 2nd Lieutenant Hays, 2nd Lieutenant Woravka, Technical Sergeant Ripslinger, Technical Sergeant LaMotte, Staff Sergeant Shelley, Staff Sergeant Moore and Staff Sergeant Adams. Image is in the public domain and is reproduced courtesy of the U.S. Air Force. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement
The survivors thought they were only about one hundred miles South of the Mediterranean and decided to follow a breeze they believed was coming from the coast. Although they were heading in the correct Northerly direction, they were over four hundred miles from safety and sadly had no chance of survival.
Suluq Airfield sent out a search aircraft, but they assumed the Lady Be Good had ditched in the Mediterranean on their return from Naples so they were looking in completely the wrong area. Finding nothing, they returned to base and the investigation was closed. As we have seen, it was not officially reopened for another sixteen years.
The reason the aircraft and its contents, and also the crew members’ clothing, were perfectly preserved was due to the total lack of moisture in the desert’s dry, arid environment. Metals cannot rust in such conditions as the air contains no water vapour, and although naturally occurring textiles like leather become desiccated, they do not deteriorate.
The object that connects REME with this story is also one that has been preserved, but by a process not of evaporation but one where the wood becomes slowly waterlogged over a very long period. It is a piece of petrified wood taken from the many forests that could once be found in what is now the Sahara.
Many millions of years ago, the desert was a tropical rain forest full of animal and plant life. As the climate changed and the gigantic tectonic plates moved slowly across the Earth’s surface, the forest physically relocated from a temperate zone where it had thrived, to the equator, where the temperature was far too high for it to continue as before. Numerous fossils have been discovered in the desert that show the kind of life that once existed there. These include the remains of trees, part of which is now in our collection and is the link to this story.
It was donated to the Museum in 2016 by a man named Malcolm Tanner. Malcom passed out from Carlisle as a Gun Fitter 3rd class in 1961. He had a long career with REME and
served in Borneo and Iran. The piece of wood was given to him by a member of RAOC’s 10 Vehicle Company (this unit reputedly included REME personnel), who were based at another Libyan airfield, El Adem (this is the former name of the base where the wreckage of the Lady Be Good is located. The RAOC occupied it from 1959).
We believe 10 Vehicle Company may have assisted with the American investigative expedition in 1960, and it is thought the petrified wood was collected at the same time.
Ultimately, this is clearly a very tragic story but it is one that exemplifies the power of the human spirit. These men did everything they could to save themselves and each other. The distance they covered before they succumbed, in almost unendurable conditions, was astonishing, given they had very little water with them. It is to the crew of the Lady Be Good and their incredible bravery that this article is respectfully dedicated.
The Lady be Good was assigned to 514th Squadron, which was part of 376th Bomb Group. These are the insignias of those units. Both images are in the public domain and are reproduced courtesy of the U.S. Air Force. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement
Corps History
“World War II Waterproofing and Wading in Weymouth” Preparation for the D-Day landings on the Normandy beaches
Loving memory of REME Craftsman L/Sgt REME W.E. Price Class B II Driver/Mechanic, Instructor (Ted) 1916-1993
Scribe: Mike and Ann Jones
have been blessed with many privileges in my lifetime, however, the most current is the opportunity to share a very important WWII REME Craftsman story; via the REME Craftsman Magazine courtesy of the Editor, Sarah Eden.
My wife and I are honoured to serve as volunteer REME ambassadors in sharing this story. During our numerous visits to the REME and D-Day museums across the UK, as well as at various events and presentations, we have observed that many people remain unaware of this significant history. Even residents of Weymouth, both past and present, were unfamiliar with the events that took place in their vicinity during WWII, from September 1943 to October 1945. Our goal is to raise awareness of this important historical event, fostering greater understanding of its role in the freedoms we enjoy today.
image of
One of my greatest lifetime privileges was meeting William Edmund Price (Ted), my father-in-law. I started courting his daughter Ann in the late 1970’s, who I met working at a REME Workshop in Bridgend, South Wales. Ted loved talking about his WWII experiences. One of my greatest regrets in life was not listening enough, not asking enough questions and not making notes. At this early time in our romance, I was otherwise distracted and occupied with romancing his daughter. The L/Sgt above is his rank i.e. a “Local” Sergeant as stated in his Army record, the REME Museum informs me that this was a war time rank structure created due to the shortage of men. He was issued with the rank more than likely due his desperately needed experience in waterproofing procedures. His Army record was modified at this point to “Home Duties” securing his waterproofing skills and knowledge on British soil.
The annotation prevented him from being posted to any war theatre away from British soil. The book takes you in detail through his Army career, step by step, resulting in the creation and closing of M.E.13 No.1 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading) Weymouth.
I did not have to go through an MOD positive vetting process to be courting his daughter, Ann and I both working at MOD 39 Command (Det) REME Workshop Litchard Cross, Bridgend, South Wales. Ann worked in the Admin Block, and I was a REME Workshop Tech. Consequently, when I asked Ted for his daughter’s hand in marriage, I passed muster parade instantly.
Ted’s only wish when alive, (he passed in 1993), was to hopefully meet up with his WWII REME mates. We tried; he launched an article in the Dorset Echo in the late 1980’s, however no one came forward. Whilst he was still with us, I
L/Sgt William Edmund Price standing up testing a small-tracked vehicle, a Universal Carrier or a Bren gun carrier with a colleague driving. Looming in the early morning mist behind them is the fantastic Weymouth Pavilion. Built in 1908 and destroyed in a fire in 1954, built in its place in 1958 is Weymouth’s current theatre. Note this particular Universal Carrier is not being tested with its waterproofed side, front and back panels. I assume that this was a wading experiment for the Universal Carrier that was going to be part of the follow-up force. If this is the case, they deemed that, provided the vehicle waded in just 1.6 ft of water and speed was restricted, waterproofing was not required.
The War Office approved this requirement for all follow-up vehicles; consequently, it reduced the immense cost for waterproofing materials, let alone the time and effort required from all of those involved
An
Ted circa mid 1950’s sporting is Hollywood celeb “Errol Flyn” look, emphasised more through the bespoke Hollywood photographic lighting techniques
managed to take him to the REME Museum when based in Arborfield. This was an incredible day for him and the Museum Archivist. Ted came alive as every image he saw from the Waterproofing archives brought back incredible memories for him. Brian, the Museum Archivist, was equally enlightened with Ted correctly identifying people, places, vehicles and events for the museum records. Whilst he thoroughly enjoyed the day, he still did not make contact with any of his WWII REME mates. Ted was a very unique character in more ways than one. An incredible resolve and sense of humour, that was no doubt shaped and formed during his time in the REME during WWII. Arte et Marte was most definitely his mantra, his garage, or should I say his storage bunker, was bursting at the gills. Absolutely nothing was thrown away, lengths of timber of all shapes and sizes, metal and anything discarded he deemed could be upcycled. Ann, whilst living at home, would occasionally clear out her bedroom of unwanted junk. A few months after one clear out she discovered some of her junk had been rescued and recycled. Ted was a master of up-cycling long before TV programmes of today.
during WWII in Weymouth not wasting anything. Taking a vehicle that had catastrophically failed its wading experimentation then cannibalising this vehicle to repair other vehicles, particularly with the shortage of spares and resources at this time, not wasting one nut, bolt or washer, Arte Et Marte or what!
Before Ann’s Sisters’ family emigrated to Australia they temporarily lived back home with Ann’s mum and dad, their tumble dryer running in the garage stopped working. This was early 1980’s, no internet, PC’s, laptops or Mobile phones and very poor access to information especially technical information. Ted, with zero electrical diagrams, no fluke or any form of electrical test meter, zero technical knowledge of the product and basic tool kit, managed to diagnose the problem. He deduced that the tumble dryer stopped working due to a temp thermostat, he by-passed the stat and got the tumble dryer working again. Slight snag was they had to manually shut off the tumble dryer when it got too hot with the stat by-passed. He was selftaught in these skills and many more, he taught himself to play the accordion and electric organ. I can visualise Ted
The book front cover; it is Ted conducting and experimental wade with a Jeep. Sporting his usual Woodbine in his mouth, which he continued until his death. Time as always to pose for the camera, whilst conducting the experimental wade. He was one of the key testers, being 6.5ft in height afforded him the advantage of surviving a wave swell whilst wading in excess of 4ft.
REME Major T Hall was the OC of this WWII Workshop, he had no time to waste with a project to complete in a very short time frame. One of his early tasks was to ensure that he had the right men with the right attitude, skills set and experience on his team to complete this task. Without little empathy in the early days of the Workshop, he had to weed out, through a more suitable transfer posting the men with the wrong attitude and wrong skill set. The book also takes you step by step through the Major Hall’s journey with waterproofing and the creation of M.E.13 No.1 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading) Weymouth. His role in this story is pivotal, had he not generated a report directed to the War Office concerning issues with waterproofing techniques or should I say the lack of them in some cases M.E.13 No.1 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading) Weymouth would not have come into existence. We have two key aims through this article as follows:1. To inform as many REME Craftsmen of this untold story as is possible.
2. To hopefully make contact with some of Ted’s WWII REME mates, we appreciate this is unlikely as all would be well into their 90’s and beyond. However, if we were able to reach out to the families of these craftsmen, I am sure they would want to learn more about what their loved ones achieved during WWII. Ted too if he were still here would be delighted if we managed to reach out to the families of his WWII REME mates.
Ann and I published the book “World War II Waterproofing and Wading in Weymouth” Preparation for the D-Day landings on the Normandy beaches early in 2024. It details Ted’s activities preparing the vehicles for the D-Day landings on the Normandy beaches during WWII.
Ted served as a project Sergeant at M.E.13 No.1 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading) Weymouth during WWII, where he and a team of over 50 REME Craftsmen, had sole responsibility for experimental trials and the waterproofing of wheeled military vehicles. “B” vehicles was their main role however, on occasion when time was tight and projects overran, they also worked and experimented with “A” vehicles at Weymouth. Instow
Officers of No.1 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading) pose for their photo. From left to right: Captains Gentry, Lewis, Forber. Fourth from the left, the Officer Commanding Major T. Hall, and, finally, Captain Spencer on the far right
M.E.13
No.2 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading)
Instow (North Devon) was the main centre for waterproofing experimentation of “A” vehicles.
At Weymouth they concentrated on the first wave of the D-Day Assault Force numbering around 8,000 vehicles, with over 96% successfully completing the wading distance of 300 yards of water at a depth of up to 6 feet for armoured vehicles. What an achievement! The low percentage of failures was not due to their ingenious methods or procedures, but due to driver error, rookies panicking and stalling the vehicle in water. The next biggest failure were inexperienced unit Drivers who had not followed the correct method and procedures for waterproofing their vehicles. In September 1943, the War Office commandeered a garage on Lower Bond Street for these activities, and they remained there until October 1945.
Chicken or Egg what came first REME Experimental Beach Recovery Section BARV or Ted’s BARV at Weymouth?
We are all familiar with the story of the creation of REME Corps in 1942, its founder and first director Major General Sir Eric Bertram Rowcroft. We are all equally familiar I am sure with the story of the formation of REME Experimental Beach Recovery Section. Design began in mid-1943, initially trialling the Churchill before the M4A2 Sherman was settled on and adapted as a push/pull Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle (BARV). This is the first display as you enter the REME Museum.
The chassis in question was a Sherman M4A2, why, one hell of a machine perfectly suited to beach recovery. It had two, yes two, GM Detroit 126046 twin 6-cylinder super charged diesel engines, producing an incredible 410HP, two stroke, with much improved torque over gasoline engines. Improved overall pulling power, more reliable, better at wading in sea and fresh water due to less trouble with water ingress and further problems with rapid cooling as it plunged into cold sea water. The white square flange right of the engine is the supercharger inlet. The beautiful sound track it produced is very
similar to those American Greyhound coaches that had the same engine but times two in the case of the Sherman M4A2.
Below is a completed REME Experimental Beach Recovery Section REME BARV. At Weymouth undergoing trials, on this specific occasion entertaining Major General Sir Eric Bertram Rowcroft’s P.A. Miss Jackson (Centre of the Image). No doubt on a very well-deserved “Jolly” day out from the War office in London, ice cream, fish and chips and a dip in the water in a BARV, the sort of stuff most people can only dream of.
Note the minor similarities to Ted’s BARV. The use of a
smaller catwalk and ropes to hoist yourself up and onto the hull. Ted and his REME buddies made this mama from a kit that was designed for wading this bespoke recovery Sherman for a 40 min wade off the LCT and up onto the beach. As they had to use this, on a daily basis, to recover vehicles that had failed their wading trials they made the temporary 40 min wade kit a permanent fixture.
This is what Ted and the REME Experimental Beach Recovery Section started with. They took a temporary wade kit for this chassis and made it permanent. Permanently welding the turret structure in place where the gun would have been located. The engine intake and exhaust
Ted (Far Left) with 3 of his REME WWII buddies. Behind them is their daily recovery i.e. their BARV. It is the same initial chassis as the REME Experimental Beach Recovery Section BARV
ducts where also permanently welded in place. They added cat walks, they also had to make the hull watertight. To their advantage this particular chassis had rubber pads on its tracks.
A major plus for them with Weymouth Council insisting that the tracks of all armoured vehicles did not destroy the roads in and around Weymouth town and Lower Bond Street. However, at the end of every day they had to squirt copious amounts of a mixture of diesel and engine oil over the track pins. The salt from the sea every day would cause the track pins to seize if they did not do this on a regular basis.
What do we know what the facts are:-
• REME Experimental Beach Recovery Section began their design in mid-1943 for M4A2 Sherman BARV.
• Ted at M.E.13 No.1 Experimental Workshop
R.E.M.E. (Wading) Weymouth commenced construction of their BARV around the same time i.e. August-September 1943. I tried during research for the book, to solve this conundrum along with many others. This one is still outstanding, maybe more experienced and knowledgeable REME Craftsmen out there can help me resolve this conundrum.
The coloured image is a modelers representation of the Sherman III ARV Mk1 M4A2. The model is the chassis shown as it left the factory, minus a gun. Note the two trap doors where the gun would have been located. This was a very basic ARV with a small light jib, the Mk 1 Sherman ARV’s were basic pull, push machines, they did not fit a heavy-duty hull winch. The much-improved Mk 2 Sherman ARV had a heavy-duty jib, a heavy-duty hull winch fitted, a raised box like super structure, with a lot more recovery equipment
Who was first in the creation of a BARV Ted and the Team at Weymouth or the REME Experimental Beach Recovery Section. Perhaps Ted’s BARV was the chicken for the REME Experimental Beach Recovery Section. Or maybe Ted’s team liaised with the REME Experimental Beach Recovery Section who were developing their BARV at the same time. I think the REME Experimental Beach Recovery Section were based at Bovington, ironically where Ted was posted before his final REME posting to Weymouth.
What is factual is that M.E.13 No.1 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading) Weymouth could not be afforded the luxury of a fully modified REME Experimental Beach Recovery Section BARV, all of these were being prioritised for D-Day.
Details of the book: - We have had the honour and privilege of gaining in-depth knowledge from Ted’s experiences, being directly involved in the preparation of the vehicles for the D-Day landings. Ted passed in 1993, so to ensure authenticity and detailed accounts of his countless stories, it has taken over 30 years to appropriately record, compile and complete the book. We launched the book last year to specifically commemorate and coincide with the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on the Normandy beaches.
Apart from the REME Museum gift shop, there are no available books in the marketplace or in museums that specifically cover the precise detail of the role of M.E.13 No.1 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading) Weymouth during WWII. This is the first book to cover the detailed, specific, and important role that M.E.13 No.1 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading) Weymouth performed during WWII. “The story is an untold story, the majority of the images in the book of Weymouth have never been in the public domain.”
The book has been created with the full collaboration of the R.E.M.E. Museum in Lyneham UK. They granted full permission to use images from their waterproofing archives and have proofread the book for historical authenticity and accuracy.
Here are their comments concerning the book:- R.E.M.E. Museum Lyneham, Wiltshire, UK: - A very interesting book which provides insights and highlights wider aspects of the whole waterproofing endeavour, such as driver training in order to drive off the LCTs; a nice overview of the logistics and how the many, varied, and different requirements all fitted into the big picture; learning about the use of ARVs and BARVs at Weymouth. What really comes to the fore is the amazing and meticulous research and hard work they all had to do. The demonstration and illustration of locations and context is particularly useful, and the colour images are fantastic. The old cliché that you learn something new every day is actually quite true.
Currently we are working with Weymouth Council Mayor and Major (Retired) Geordie Wright-Rivers, REME Corps Secretary to create and mount a plaque in commemoration of these 60 REME Craftsmen that served in M.E.13 No.1 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading) Weymouth during WWII. The plaque will be mounted very close to where the REME Workshop was located at the top end of Lower Bond Street. The plaque will be mounted on Weymouth Council Office building Southern end, this location would have overlooked the rear park yard entrance to the workshop.
I would like to write more and provide you with more images of Ted’s story in this article but with 138 pages over 44,000 words and 100’s of images in the book I had to draw a line somewhere. There is some incredible technical detail of what they did and how they did it, endorsed by Major (Retired) Geordie Wright-Rivers, REME Corps Secretary.
The book also contains details of their failures, important because you cannot gain success without failure. When you understand the failure and work with it one is bound to get success in abundance. Their sheer determination, tenacity and ingenuity to succeed with little resource, time and budget was an incredible feat.
Walking into their commandeered civilian workshop there was nothing, no workshop equipment, tools and zero office equipment. Just like the recent documentary covering the creation of the SAS, I am sure these REME Craftsmen utilising their skill and ingenuity acquired what they needed by similar methods to that adopted by the SAS during WWII.
Naturally there are many images of Weymouth in the book, the Workshop at Lower Bond Street and many images of vehicles conducting experimental wading on Town beach. Some images are unpublished, not seen in the public domain for over 80 years as they are from the Father-in-laws personal archives.
The book has a total of 138 pages, the whole book has been printed of good quality 115gsm silk paper to get the best from the many colour and Black and White images, the front and Back covers have been printed on high quality 250gsm gloss paper for durability.
Copies of the book can be purchased from the REME Museum shop.
Ted on Weymouth Town beach posing for a photo just before a day’s work of waterproofing and experimental wading commences. Ted located on front row far right
The garage they commandeered in September 1943. Throughout the 60’s it became a builder’s yard. Located at the top West end of Lower Bond Street in Weymouth town. Today it is the location of some new retail outlets and a multistorey car park. The Commemoration Plaque that will be mounted will be located on Southern end of the current Weymouth Town Council offices. This location would have overlooked the back gate Workshop entrance of the Workshop site
Letter to the Editor
Scribe: Jeremy Hall Longman (Retired) ASM REME
Iwill keep it short and sweet but wanted to let you and all other fellow REME Officers and Soldiers of the Corps know that Mr Bruce Powell (Retired Sgt) REME had a wonderful 107th birthday on the 26 May; surrounded by his family and friends.
I took it upon myself to visit Bruce last Wednesday at his home in Glenfield, Auckland, New Zealand to wish him a heartfelt birthday on behalf of our Corps. And what an honour and true privilege it was, to shake his hand and listen to his life stories; including the very start of REME when he moved from the Royal Army Ordnance Corps to our Corps.
Death Notices
BOND – Maj (Ret’d) Brian Bond died on 30th May 2025 aged 91 years old. Service dates 51-75.
BUTCHERS – Former Cfn Peter George Butchers passed away on 20th June 2025, aged 93. Proudly served the Corps between 1951-1953 (approx.)
HEAP – WO1(ASM) Dave Heap passed away on 3 June 2025 aged 77. Dave served in the Paras from Aug 71 to Dec 75 and then in REME until his retirement from Regular service in Aug 93. He continued to serve the Corps as a REME PSI SSgt with 32 Signal Regt after which he had served the Corps for 37 years. Dave Heap was highly regarded by all who knew him.
Death Notice Requirements
In order to publish a death notice we require the following information: Surname, first name, rank, full date of death, ages and dates of service. An obituary with additional career and life information is welcome. To inform us of the death, please contact Pamela Bailey-Yates, Corps Welfare Assistant, Email: welfare@remecharity.org
The Trustees of The REME Charity acknowledge with sincere thanks the donations received during the month of JUNE. They also wish to acknowledge the regular subscriptions received from the Officers and Soldiers of the Corps and retired members of the REME Institution:
If you would like to see how your money is spent, we welcome one or two observers at The REME Charity meetings. The meetings are held midweek, approximately every three weeks. If you would like to observe a meeting, please contact The REME Charity Secretary on ( Mil: 95481 4527 or Civ: 07936902415 in the first instance.
The REME Charity is here for both veterans and serving personnel in times of hardship or need. Contact via SSAFA ( 0800 731 4880 www.ssafa.org.uk or The Royal British Legion ( 0808 802 8080 www.britishlegion.org.uk or your Unit Welfare if serving. All enquiries and information is dealt with in the strictest confidence. If you wish to discuss any benevolence need you can contact us on ( 07936902415, welfare@remecharity.org.
Anyone wishing to leave a legacy to The REME Charity, which is exempt from inheritance tax, can add a codicil
Jeremy Hall Longman with Bruce Powell
London Gazette
10 June
REGULAR ARMY
Major General P. D. PROSSER CBE 539645 is appointed
Colonel Commandant Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 1 June 2025 in succession to Lieutenant General S. P. HAMILTON CBE 543296 tenure expired.
17 June
To be Ordinary Members of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:
Major Paul William YOUNG 25197733 Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Lieutenant Colonel Katherine Frances BADHAM-THORNHILL 553132 Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Staff Sergeant Emmanuel OPPONG 30102025 Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Captain Michael Wayne EYNON V.R. 24788396 Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Army Reserve
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen John CANDLIN 559450 Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Army Reserve.
24 June
No entries
30 June
No entries
The Craftsman is YOUR magazine…
Air your views and submit your news.
The Editor welcomes all stories – from REME Sport or raising money for the REME Charity to Exercises and Operations or personal stories from serving personnel and veterans. Please see the contents page for details on how to submit your story.
