101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment: Difference between revisions

101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) is a regiment of the British Army's Royal Engineers. Today it includes both Regular & Army Reserve subunits. It is predominantly based at Carver Barracks, near Saffron Walden. The Regiment’s Reserve component has detachments in Catford, Rochester, Tunbridge Wells and Reigate.^[1] It is part of 29 EOD & Search Group, 8th Engineer Brigade.

The regiment draws some heritage from 56th (London) Divisional Engineers. 56th (London) Div RE was reformed in 1947 with seniority derived from 1 Middlesex Engineer Volunteers (1860). It became part of 56th (London) Armoured Division.^[2] In 1956 the Division was reorganized as an infantry division. In 1961 the regiment absorbed the remnants of 121 Regiment and reorganized as 101 (London) Corps Engineer Regiment. It was disbanded on 1 April 1967.

A new regimental headquarters grouping four (preexisting) EOD squadrons was formed on 1 June 1988, using the old 101 designation.^[3]

Today it includes:^[1]

• 22 Headquarters and Support Squadron (EOD)
• 17 Field Squadron (EOD)
• 21 Field Squadron (EOD)
• 221 Field Squadron (EOD)(V) {Rochester/Catford}
• 579 Field Squadron (EOD)(V) {Tunbridge Wells} - This squadron is descended from the Cinque Ports Fortress Royal Engineers. Under the Army 2020 proposals released on 3 July 2013, 579 Field Sqn (currently located at Tunbridge Wells, Reigate and Brighton) will close its Brighton centre and take over two troops at Rochester from 221 Field Sqn.^[4]

The Regiment has retained an unbroken link with the London Divisions (47th, 56th, 58th, and 60th) over nearly 60 years which included both World Wars.^[1] Elements of the Regiment have been actively involved in securing the City of London from the threat of unexploded ordnance since The Blitz, which included direct support to Operation Olympics, providing military forces to assist with the Security for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Operation Olympics was, according to the regimental webpage, the longest and largest military security operation on the mainland United Kingdom since World War II.

In April 2000 the then Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Clive Martin, granted “City of London” status to the Regiment in recognition of its long and distinguished association with the Corporation; the Regiment retains close affiliations even today with the Curriers, Patternmakers, Fan Makers, Lightmongers and Constructors.^[1] In its 150 year history the Regiment has undergone no less than thirteen changes of name, however, ‘London’ has been the one constant for the past 102 years.

These further references were collected courtesy of T.F. Mills' excellent Regiments.org site.

• Regimental centenary : 101st (London) Field Engineer Regiment (T.A.), 1960, 1st Middlesex Engineer Volunteers, 1860. Aldershot : Gale & Polden, 1960
• Edwards, D. K. A history of 1st Middlesex Volunteer Engineers (101 (London) Engineer Regiment, TA) 1860-1967, together with extensive notes on the formation of the volunteer and territorial forces, and complete with appendices containing matters of regimental pride. [Heathfield, Sussex], 1967.

• British Army units from 1945 on