Royal Engineers, with Cavalry in France 1914-18.
On the 16th September 1916 at Doaours, under the 4th Army, 5 Cavalry Divisions were formed with Royal Engineer support. This was in readiness for the second phase of the Battle of the Somme. One of the RE units was 3rd Field Squadron.
October 4th 1916, 3rd Field Squadron went forward to near Covin, in the reserve army area. There task was to build waterpoints near Colin Camp and a cavalry track that was eventually was not used. They were withdrawn on October 31st 1916.
Febuary 10th 1917 saw preliminary recconaissance for cavalry tracks east of Arras. On March 4th detachments from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Field Squadrons and dismounted cavalry of their division, under Capt Davidson and Majors Richards and Shannon, commenced work on cavalty tracks. Lt E. Rait Kerr was dangerously wounded working on 3 Cavalry Divisions track. He was awarded a bar to his Military Cross for gallantry. At the same time detachments built water points near Aubigny.
On 9th May, the Corp with 2nd and 3rd Field Squadrons moved down to the Peromne area between Omigron and Cologne.
Major V.A.Simonof 3rd Field Squadron and Captain D. Wise 2nd Field Squadron were killed on June 3rd and 15th May respectively, east of Ronssay.
26th July, 3rd Field Squadron moved to Westoutre to prepare for operations in the 2nd Army area. They were employed on waterpoints and Corp Reinforcement and Remount Camp near Baillesl and advanced Corp Hq at Dickenbusch and later Omignon. Detachments from 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Field Squadrons on 16th September, constructing huts and stables between Cologne and Omignon.
Mid October saw the 2nd, 3rd, Field Squadrons move to hutting work at Brusle and Flamicourt. At the end of October operations commenced in readiness for Cumbrai, detachments of 3 Field Squadron built waterpoints at Fins. A bridge was prepared by 3rd Field Squadron under LT Maconnochie and loded onto two tanks. On 20th November operations commenced, the bridge was used to improve an existing bridge east of Masmnerres this facilitated the withdrawal of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade. Lt Maconnochie was awarded the Military Cross.
The division then conentrated west of Amens for the 4th Army attack on 8th August 1918. Due to the secrecy regarding these operations little preliminary engineering work was possible. 1st and 3rd Field Squadrons prepared tracks through trenches for the division and the A.D Roads. 3rd Field Squadron also reconiaterred crossings over the Luee.17th December saw the Squadron settled into its winter area at Schelisson.
Source of information, RE Library, RE Journal 1926, Volume 40page 43
