3 Squadron RE

A Brief Review Of Its

Origins, Titles, Bases and Tours.

Formed.

1787: In Dover as the 3rd Company Royal Articifers? (1).

1811: In Dover? (2). 

Conflicting formation dates-issue to be resolved through continuing research.

1914: 16th September, 3rd Field Squadron,ordered to form at Ludgershall. Men collected and trained at Aldershot.

Scource. RE Journal 1926, page 45.

1914: 19th October. Joined Division at Passchendale.

Scource. RE Journal 1926, page 45.

1916: 16th September.5th Cavalry Division formed. 3rd Field Squadron, becomes part of the Divisions Engineer Support.

Scource. RE Journal 1926, page 305.

1941: April/ May Crete and Greece then Alexandra.

Scource: Listings from Commonwealth War Graves Commision.

1948: 3 Sqn reformed from Airborne Squadron S.

Tours 1951 to 56.

Libya May to October 1951, Egypt Cctober 51 to January 53. Also  served in Jordan, Suez Canal Zone, Tripoli. 1955, Detached to Egypt then Cyprus. 1956, Op Musketeer.

From Tony Gibbs memories, The Sqn arrived from Moasca Egypt to Cyprus. Tony with demob group 5610 reached Cyprus in time to take part in the Port Said Landings, returning to Cyprus in December

Scource. members  details and The History of the Corp of Royal Engineers Vol X, 1948 to 60

December 1957: Arrives in the UK as 3 Independent Field Squadron, RE. Based at Chiseldon Camp near Swindon.

Tours 57 to 58.

Cyprus.

1960: Formed part of 3 Division Engineers as part of 22 Engineer Regiment.

Tours 60 to 64.

Kenya 60/1. Libya 61/2. Cyprus 62. Aden 63 and Radfan , Operation Flamingo, 64.

1964: Re-named 3 Field Squadron RE, (after return from Radfan).

Tours 64 to 75.

Aden/ Radfan, May 64. Cyprus 67. Hong Kong sometime between 73/5. Libya 66 and again between 67/8 (El Adam). Northern Ireland 79/70, 71, 74. Norway between 66 and 70 (more than 1tour).

Scource. Members details

1975: 10th April, Move to Swinton Barracks, Perham Down. (3).

Scource. Opening of Swinton Barracks programme.

Tours 74 to 93.

AMP 82. Australia 79. Belieze sometime between 76/8 and again in 87. Canada 84, 85, 89. Cyprus sometime between 73/5 and again in 77,80,90,92. Denmark 83 and again between 84 to 90. Falkland 82,83, 89. France sometime between 89/93. Gulf 90/1. Kenya 81/2, 85 and 88. Northern Ireland 76,78/9 and 81. Oman 77. Rhodesia 80. 92 Yugoslavia (5)

Scource. Members details.

1993: August, Re-name 3 Armoured Engineer Squadron(4).

Scource. One More Bridge To Cross.

Tours 93 to 2000.

Kenya 93. Canada 93, 96 Ex Medicine man 98, 99 then again in 2003. Yugoslavia Ex Oakapple 95, (5). Bosnia 96 and 98. Cyprus Ex Pinestick October to December 99. Scource. Members details, MOD site, Squadron news, courtesty of Captain Bailey, 3 Armoured Engineer Squadron, Training Officer. Sapper Magazine articles.

Tours 2000 to Present.

Trials on Close Support Armoured Troop ORBAT, with 1 Mechanica Brigade 2000. Balkans, with 38 Engineer Regiment, March 2001. Op Fresco, Firefighters Strike . Canada 2003, Op Telic 04, Iraq 2004.

 

(1). Source. 22 Engineer Regiment programme on the Opening of Swinton Barracks, 10th April 19755, (Donated by Leslie Wood).  Also in One More River To Cross,page 366. J.H.Pointer, 2001. Publisher Leo Cooper.

(2). Source. MOD web-site http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/org/22regt/3sqn.htm

(3). Scource. Opening of Swinton Barracks Programme, donated by Leslie Wood.

(4). Scource. One More River To Cross, page 366. J.H.Pointer, 2001. Publisher Leo Cooper.

Options for Change.

In Jully 1991 the Secretary for State of War announced changes in the organization of the Regular Army, known as Optionsfor Change, to take account of the changing international scene, with perticular regard to the demise of the soviet threat.Changes  involved the intended disbandment of a number of Sapper Regiments and took  account of lessons learnt during Operation Granby, the Gulf War. Ir was decided that  the future War ORBAT for the Corps would include Close Support Regiments, rather than Close Support Squadrons. ..... The reorganization under Options for Change necessitated the setting up of two new Armoured Engineer Squadrons in the UK, ...... 3 Field Squadron RE, originally formed at Dover, as the 3rd Company Royal Military Artificers in 1778 was re-roled in August 1993.Forming part of 22 Engineer Regiment in peacetime, based at Perham Down,on the Wiltshire-Hampshire border.

(5). Yugoslavia 92, first Engineer unit into the country, supporting medical unit. The medics had a female CO, who was the first to command a army unit on active service. 3 Sqn was the first British Army unit to enter Sarajevo since 1945, were we took 3 casualties in 3 days. Ex Oakapple 95, see memory lane a message board.

Info from Jon.

WILL BE EXTENDED IN THE DUE COURSE OF TIME, ANY INFORMATION GREATLY APPRECIATED.