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Reference Sources for Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and their Commonwealth Counterparts

A short history of the Commonwealth's Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Corps

Increasing mechanisation during the 1930’s and the flaws within their existing systems exposed by operations lead the Commonwealth Armies to realise that their existing repair and maintenance organisations were inadequate. All the Armies developed Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers within a few years of each other.

This paragraph is taken from the South African Technical Services Corps (TSC) Mission statement but essentially describes all the Corps: "To keep operationally fit equipment in the hands of the troops through first, second and third line support. TSC artificers examine, modify, repair and recover all vehicles and other mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment of the Army beyond the capacity of unit non-technical personnel".

The following paragraph which describes the Canadian system of maintenance and repair can stand for all the Corps. There is essentially little difference between the Armies. Each division had a central workshop, where major repairs would be conducted, and within the division, RCEME units would be embedded to effectuate certain repairs (1st Line) on the spot. This included light aid detachments, which could deploy quickly to recover or repair equipment on the line, or in transit to the front. The RCEME triage system was divided into three groups: 1st Line, which would be embedded in the operational units, would carry out routine maintenance and minor repairs; 2nd Line, which was located in field workshops back from the front, carried out major overhauls and full component replacements; 3rd Line would be responsible for reconditioning and rebuilding equipment. Though the location of each and various tasks have changed, the structure is still in place today, with 1st Line maintenance platoons / troops embedded in combat units, while 2nd Line is located 20 minutes to 2 hours away, but still in theatre, and the 3rd Line workshop s may be in theatre or in the home base.

In writing this page use has been made of Wikipedia to obtain brief histories of the Corps.

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

On the left the original REME cap badge and on the right the later one with the Queen’s Crown.

History

Prior to REME's formation, maintenance was the responsibility of several different corps:

• Royal Army Ordnance Corps—weapons and armoured vehicles
• Royal Engineers—engineering plant and machinery, and RE motor transport
• Royal Corps of Signals—communications equipment
• Royal Army Service Corps—other motor transport
• Royal Artillery—heavy weapons artificers

During World War II, the increase in quantity and complexity of equipment exposed the flaws in this system. Pursuant to the recommendation of a Committee on Skilled Men in the Services chaired by William Beveridge, the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was formed on 1 October 1942. Two recommendations of the committee were implemented: Army recruits were enlisted for their first six weeks into the General Service Corps, so that their subsequent posting could take account of their skills and the Army's needs; and the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was created.

Phase I

Such a major re-organisation was too complex to be carried out quickly and completely in the middle of a world war. Therefore, the changeover was undertaken in two phases. In Phase I, which was implemented immediately, REME was formed on the existing framework of the RAOC Engineering Branch, strengthened by the transfer of certain technical units and tradesmen from the RE and RASC. At the same time, a number of individual tradesmen were transferred into REME from other corps. The new corps was made responsible for repairing the technical equipment of all arms with certain major exceptions.

REME did not yet undertake:

• Those repairs that were carried out by unit tradesmen who were driver/mechanics or fitters in regiments and belonged to the unit rather than being attached to it.
• Repairs of RASC-operated vehicles, which remained the responsibility of the RASC; each RASC Transport Company had its own workshop.
• Repairs of RE specialist equipment, which remained the responsibility of the RE.

Phase II

In 1949, it was decided that "REME Phase II" should be implemented. This decision was published in Army Council Instruction 110 of 1949, and the necessary reorganisation was carried out in the various arms and services in three stages between July 1951 and January 1952. The main changes were:

• The transfer to REME of most of the unit repair responsibilities of other arms (Infantry, Royal Artillery, Royal Armoured Corps etc.).
• The provision of Light Aid Detachments for certain units that had not possessed them under the old organisation.
• The provision of new REME workshops to carry out field repairs in RASC transport companies.
• Maintenance of vessels of the RASC fleet whilst in port was given to the fleet repair branch, a civilian organisation which came under the REME umbrella. This organisation was also responsible for arranging and overseeing ship refits.

REME have continued to maintain all Army equipment to the present day

Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Prior to being given the title of 'Royal', the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (AEME) were raised on 1 December 1942. Some 64 years later, on 1 December 2006, the last independent RAEME Workshop was disbanded. RAEME soldiers continue in their role to provide support through attachment to other units in Tech Support Troops, Sections or Platoons.

Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

The Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME) (French: Corps du génie électrique et mécanique royal canadien) is a personnel branch of the Canadian Armed Forces (CF). All members of the corps wear army uniform. From the 1980s to 2013 it was called the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch.

History

The Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers came into being officially on 15 May 1944, with the fusion of various elements from the Royal Canadian Engineers, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, following the model of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).

With the increase of mechanized equipment during World War II, the need to have one corps dedicated to service and maintenance thereof was becoming increasingly apparent. Trucks had become the de facto means of transportation and logistic support, armoured vehicles had replaced cavalry, weapons were becoming more complicated, as well as the advent of radios and radar, it was apparent that the previous model of having a different corps for each job was inadequate for a modern, mechanized army.

The RCEME Corps badge consisted of a laurel wreath, three shields, the Tudor Crown surmounting, and the letters R.C.E.M.E. on a scroll underneath. Emblazoned on the shields were: on the first, three lightning bolts, which represented the telecommunications trades, three cannons, which represented armament, and a large gear, representing the vehicle mechanics. On the second shield, above the three cannons are three cannonballs, which are larger than the cannons. This came from the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, which in turn inherited it from its British counterpart, the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

In 1949, the RCEME Corps adopted a new badge, nearly identical to the British one which had been struck in 1947. It consisted of a white horse (a mustang, as opposed to the Arabian horse of the British badge) superimposed over a lightning bolt, with a chain fixed around its neck running down its back, standing on a globe, to which the other end of the chain is attached, which pictured the Western Hemisphere (whereas the British badge pictured Europe, Africa, Australia, Antarctica and Asia). Behind the horse's head was a scroll with the letters R.C. on one side of the head, and E.M.E. on the other, surmounted by the Tudor Crown. The only modification ever made to this badge was in 1952 when Elizabeth II ascended to the throne, and the Tudor Crown was replaced with St. Edward's Crown.

RCEME to LORE

1968 saw the unification of the Canadian Forces, which saw the RCEME disbanded, and replaced with the Canadian Forces Land Ordnance Engineering Branch. In about 1980 the LORE title was decided to be inaccurate in its description of the craftsmen's trades. After several proposals (including odd ones such as CREME), the title Land Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was finally settled upon for a new title.

RCEME today

The concession to adopt the EME letters spurred an interest in reviving tradition, and bringing the horse badge back, which was spearheaded by Brigadier-General Jim Hanson, Chief Warrant Officer John Sloan and Chief Warrant Officer Ron Roy, and led into the early 1990s. The new badge would have to be modelled on the old horse, but at the same time, reflect the changes in the army and in the trades that had occurred since. The new badge had several proposals. It would definitely include the letters EME and GEM (Génie électrique et mécanique) in place of the former RCEME title. The original proposal had the title GEM on one side of the horse's head, and EME on the other, so that it conformed to the pattern of other Commonwealth services (REME (UK), RAEME (Australia), RNZEME (New Zealand)), but it was decided that "GEMEME" would not be used, and it was thus reversed to EME GEM to conform with CF rules on signs. There are other subtle differences between the old horse badge and the new one, such as the collar of fleur-de-lis being replaced with four maple leaves, and the horse's nose being shortened to accommodate three letters in front of it instead of two.

RCEME restored

On April 19, 2013, the Minister of National Defence announced the restoration of the name of Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Indian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

History

Soon after the formation of REME, the need for an equivalent of the REME was felt in British Indian Army too. Accordingly, the Commander-in-Chief of British forces approved the raising of the Indian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (IEME). On 1 May 1943, the Mechanical Engineering Directorate at General Headquarters was formed and units were allocated. On 15 October 1943, actual transfer of personnel from the Indian Army Ordnance Corps (IAOC) to IEME took place. Since then, 15 October is observed as EME Corps Day. On 15 September 1944, Lt. Gen. Sir Clarence Bird was appointed as the Colonel Commandant of IEME. After Indian independence, the corps dropped the 'I' from its name and came to be known as the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME). With the proliferation of high technology, the modernisation of the Indian Army in the 1980s and 1990s resulted in use of electronics in all types of equipment which necessitated the corps to change its outlook from electrical to electronics. Thus, the corps was re-christened as the "Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers" on 1 January 2001.

Crest

The crest of IEME was designed by Major General DR Duguid, the first DME and remained in vogue from 1943 to 1955. It was in bronzed brass with fine-pointed 'Star of India' surmounted by a crown and encircled by a thick wreath of laurels. I.E.M.E. were embossed on the base of the wreath. The Corps motto 'Omnia Facimus' meaning 'We can do everything' was inscribed.

The present badge was designed by Major SE Doig and was taken into use from 26 January 1955. In 1967 the size of the crest was reduced to two-thirds of the original size. The badge is bi-metallic with the horse, chain and globe in white metal and the rest in gilt. The horse chained to the globe symbolises harnessed mechanical power with the lightning flashes depicting electrical energy. The globe is indicative of the impact of engineering on the world. On the top of Crest is the National Emblem of India and the Corp's motto inscribed Karm Hi Dharm in Devanagri Script.

Motto

Omnia Facimus (in Latin), which translates to 'We can do everything', was the Corps motto used during the formative years of Corps. After the IEME was transformed into the EME, a new Corps motto was selected which should be in line with the Indian ethos. To reflect the work culture amongst the craftsmen, the motto 'Karm Hi Dharm' was selected. Translated into English the motto is, 'Work is Supreme Duty'.

Pakistan

The Pakistan Army Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) was formed as a separate maintenance arm into the Pakistan Army from the partition of the British Indian Army's Corps of EME— only twenty officers joining the arm. It was the British officers in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) that provided the support and training to raise the corps to help maintain the equipment of the Pakistan Army. Brigadier Vivian Edgar Beards was the first officer commanding of the EME when it was commissioned in the Pakistan Army as a corps on 20 October 1947.

From its early years, the education on electrical and mechanical engineering was provided by the Loughborough University with a mutual agreement between the British Army and the Pakistan Army. In 1957, the Pakistan Army established the College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering with support from the United States Army.

The Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Prior to 1946 NZEME functions were carried out by New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, consisting of Ordnance Workshops, responsible for the repair of all armaments, instruments, wireless, radar and general stores were controlled by the Chief Ordnance Mechanical Officer, Armourers Workshops, responsible for the repair of small arms and machine Guns were controlled by the Director Of Ordnance Services (DOS) The MT Branch responsible for the provision, storage, issue of all classes of vehicles and spare parts and the repair of such vehicles was controlled by the Director of Mechanical Transport.

The New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers(NZEME) were created as a separate corps in New Zealand on 1 September 1946 under the control of the Director of Mechanical Engineering. Control of MT Sores was retained under Ordnance Control. During WW2 in 2NZEF in the Middle East, NZEME had been formed in 1942 to keep the organisation in line with the British Army which was providing support at the time. In 1947 the Royal prefix was awarded to NZEME creating the Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RNZEME). RNZEME soldiers serve din Vietnam.

Due to New Zealand Defence Force restructuring, in 1996 the RNZEME was amalgamated along with the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (RNZAOC) and Royal New Zealand Corps of Transport (RNZCT) into the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment (RNZALR).

South African Technical Service Corps

From left to right the South African Ordnance Corps badge and the Technical Srrvices Corps

In South Africa the general rule is the Corps are derived from British parents, The Technical Service Corps (TSC) is an exception. Although they share similar insignia, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) were only established in 1942 are three years junior in seniority to the TSC, who were established in its current form in 1939.

The provision of technical services remained largely ad hoc in SA until the establishment of the Union Defence Force on April 1, 1913, which included the SA Service Corps, the SA Ordnance Corps and the SA Administrative, Pay and Clerical Corps. These were disbanded in the early days of World War Two and out of the ashes, on November 10, 1939, arose a new “T” Services Corps as well as a “Q” Services Corps. In July 1950 the “T” Corps was renamed the Technical Service Corps.

Between the two world wars, the supply and maintenance of all technical stores and equipment, including ammunition and guns, for the Union Defence Force, was the responsibility of the South African Ordnance Corps which was established on 1 February 1923. Reorganisation was in progress when the World War II broke out. In November 1939 the SA Ordnance Corps, the SA Service Corps and the SA Administrative, Pay and Clerical Corps were replaced by the Technical Services Corps and the 'Q' Services Corps. The 'Q' Services Corps expanded out of all recognition during the war. It was renamed 'Administrative Services Corps' in 1949, and disbanded in 1975. One of its successors is the present South African Ordnance Services Corps.

The badge was based on that of the British Board of Ordnance. In 1683 the Board became a Civil Department of State, under a Master General. A shield bearing three field-guns in pale, and three cannonballs in chief was adopted as the Seal of the Board.

From 1923 to 1933, the SAOC badge was the Board of Ordnance shield above a scroll bearing the initials S.A.O.C. and S.A.K.D. (Suid-Afrikaanse Krygsbehoeftediens). From 1933 onwards, the shield was surrounded by a wreath of protea flowers and leaves.

The Board of Ordnance shield was later incorporated into that of the Administrative Service Corps which in turn resembled that of the Royal Logistic Corps.

References

Museums

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Museum

https://www.rememuseum.org.uk/

Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

https://www.army.gov.au/community/engage-and-learn/army-museums/australian-army-museum-bandiana

The Australian Army Museum Bandiana was established in October 1997. It collects, preserves and exhibits the history of various corps of the Australian Army including:

• Royal Australian Army Chaplains Department
• Royal Australian Corps of Transport
• Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
• Royal Australian Army Dental Corps
• Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps
• Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• Australian Army Catering Corps
• Australian Army Psychology Corps
• Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps
• Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (disbanded)
• Royal Australian Army Service Corps (disbanded).

Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

https://rcememuseum.ca/en-ca/

Indian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

There does not appear to be a separate Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Museum.

Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Comes under the National Army Museum https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/

South African Technical Service Corps

Comes under the National Museum of Military History. See https://ditsong.org.za/en/?venue=national-museum-of-military-history