22 Engineer Regiment
History.
22 Engineer Regiment came into being in June 1948 and consisted of 6, 12, 17 and 23 Field Squadrons. The regiment drew its antecendents from 1st Infantry Division during both the First and Second World Wars. During the Second World War 1st Division Engineers served in Dunkirk (1940), England (1940-43), North Africa (1943), came ashore over Anzio Beach during the D-Day landings (1944), and fought through Northern Europe with 1st Infantry Division (1944-45). The Regiment deployed to Palestine in 1945 and eventually returned to England in 1947.
Time in England was short lived and in 1948 the Regiment deployed overseas once again, this time to Libya. In October 1951 the Regiment (Joined now by 3 Sqn) deployed from Libya to the Suez Canal Zone in the midst of the oil crisis with Egypt and spent its time blocking routes, protecting bridges and ferries from attack and on internal security duties against hostile Egyptians. The Regiment returned ti Libya in 1954.
It was 1957 before the Regiment was finally able to return to England after an unbroken spell of 9 years abroard. The Regiment settled in Chiseldon Camp near Swindon before moving to Mooltan Barracks in Tidworth in 1961. The Regiment was deployed to Zimbabwe and assisted in Dominica in 1979 after Hurricane David left the country in ruins. The Regiment completed a 6 month tour in Bosnia in 1996 and recently returned from a second Regimental deployment to Bosnia in September 1999.
Squafrons have always deployed independently from the Regiment and since 1945 suadrons have seen active service in Aden, Rafan, Cyprus, Belize, the Falkland Islands, the gulf and the Former Republic of Yugoslavia.
As well as deploying as a Regiment to Bosnia in 1996 and 1999, there have been numerous squadron level deployments over the last 3 years. 6 Headquarters Squadron finished a 3-month construction tour in Kenya in March 1998. 3 Armoured Engineer Squadron and 5 Field Squadron returned from 6 month tours in Bosnia nd Northern Ireland in March and May 1998 respectively, whilst 8 Armoured Engineer Squadron completed a 6 month tour with 36 Engineer Regiment in Bosnia in March 1999.
During 2000 the Regiment completed a full training year culminating with a Regimental exercise over a three week period. It was also during this period that 8 Armoured Engineer Squadron transferred to the newly reformed 26 Engineer Regiment and subsequently deployed to Kosovo. The remainder of 2000 was spent preparing for thr Regiment's High Readiness year and the deployment of 3-Armoured Engineer Squadron to Bosnia in March 2001. The Regiment also carried out several exercises, including a trekking expedition through the Grand Canyon in America and a sailing/sub aqua package off the coast of Zanzibar, Eastern Africa.
As part of the HR year commitment in 2001 the bulk of the Regiment is now at R2, 5 Fd Sqn have troops currently deployed i to Kenya to support Ex Gradnd Prix and a section flew to Sierra Leone in support of HQ 1 Mech Bde during the early part of January. 5 Fld Sqn have several other deployments in the near future including Ex Northern Quest in Norway and a troop exchange with the Regiments twinned French Engineer Regiment, 13 Regiment du Genie, based at Epernay in France. The next fall Regimental operational deployment is as the Pan Balkans Regiment based in Kosovo in March 2002.
Source.
http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/org/22regt/history.htm
Accessed 20/07/03
22 Engineer Regiment.
Opening of
Swinton Barracks
10th Apri 1975.
A Brief History of 22 Engineer Regiment.
(Taken from official programme)
22 Engineer Regiment was formed in 1948 for duty in Libya. The Regiment returned to England in 1957, joined 3 Division and was based at Chiseldon Camp near Swindon. In 1960 the title of the Regiment was changed and it became 3 Division Engineers and in 1961 the unit moved into the old ex-cavalry Mooltan Barracks in Tidworth. With the establishment of a Commander Royal Engineers (Colonel) together with his small staff at HQ 3 Division in 1971 the unit was then re-designated 22 Engineer Regiment.
The four engineer squadrons which form the Regiment are :
3 Field Squadron.
8 Field Squadron.
34 Field Squadron.
6 Field Support Squadron
Each squadron has a history of itsown and 3 and 8 Field Squadrons can trace links back to the original twelve companiesof Royal Military Articifers formed in 1787. However only 3 Field Squadron and 6 Field Support Squadron formed part of the Regiment in 1960. 34 Field Squadron was amalgamated with the unit on return in 1964 from its independent role in Kenya and 8 Field Squadron was reformed in Tidworth in July 1967, having some years previously been disbanded as a Railway Squadron RE. The most recent addition to the Regiment is the Independent AMF(L) Troop RE which was placed under command for administration and training in April 1974 when 37 Engineer Regiment was disbanded at Longmoor.
In January 1975 the Regiment moved into its newpurpose builtbarracks at Perham Down. The buildings have been constructed on the site of the old Cachy/Cambria Barracks which for some time was the home of 32 Assualt Regiment RE. However the site has stronger links with the Royal Armoured Corp and so the name Swinton Barracks was chosen. Major General Sir Ernest Swinton was Colonel Commandant Royal Armoured Corps. As a Lieutenant Colonel Royal Engineers he was largely responsible during the First World War for the introduction of the tank and the subsequent formation of the first tank units.
22 Engineer Regiment together with the AMF (L) Troop RE has an established strength of 870 all ranks. The Regimentprovides engineer support for 3 Division and the three field squadrons are organised so that they can be deployed independently in support of divisional units or formations. Since 1969, Field Squadrons completed several tours in Northern Ireland and have taken part in numerous exercises or engineer projects overseas. The pattern and pace of regimental life over the last 18 years has been such that the Regiment justifiably lives up to the Corps motto "UBIQUE"
