Aberdeen Fortress Royal Engineers

Last updated

City of Aberdeen Fortress Engineers
319th (City of Aberdeen) Searchlight Battery
Badge, regimental (AM 790955-1).jpg
RE Cap badge (King George V cipher)
Active1908–1945
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army.svg Territorial Army
RoleCoast Defence
Field Engineering
Air Defence
Size1–2 Companies
Garrison/HQ Aberdeen
Engagements Western Front (World War I)
The Blitz
Normandy
North West Europe

The Aberdeen Fortress Royal Engineers was a Scottish volunteer unit of the British Army formed in 1908. Its main role was defence of the Scottish coast, but it served on the Western Front during World War I. In the 1930s it was converted into an air defence unit, in which role it served in World War II.

Contents

Origin

The unit was formed in 1908 when the Territorial Force (TF) was created from the former Volunteers under the Haldane Reforms. The 1st Aberdeenshire Engineer Volunteers, which had existed since 1878, was split to form the 1st Highland Field Company and Highland Divisional Telegraph Company of the Highland Division, and the City of Aberdeen (Fortress) Royal Engineers. The latter unit consisted of a single Works Company, which continued to share its headquarters at 80 Hardgate, Aberdeen, with the Highland Field and Telegraph companies. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

World War I

The TF was mobilised on the outbreak of war in August 1914 and the City of Aberdeen Fortress Engineers took their place in the Scottish Coast defences. [7]

Once it was clear that the threat to Britain's coastal defences was small, six of the fortress engineer units reorganised as 'Army Troops' companies for service on the Lines of Communication of the British Expeditionary Force. One of these was the Aberdeen Fortress Company, which embarked for France on 24 April 1915 and arrived at Calais. [8] [9] [10]

When the TF's RE companies were numbered in February 1917, it became 552nd (Aberdeen) Army Troops Company, RE. [11] [8] Little is known of its service, other than it was on the Lines of Communication in January 1917, with IX Corps in September 1918, and Fifth Army at the time of the Armistice. [8] [12]

The unit was demobilised in January 1920. [8] [13]

In addition, 553rd (Aberdeen) Works Company was formed in 1915, probably as the 2nd Line duplicate of the original City of Aberdeen unit, and was numbered in February 1917. Nothing is known of its service. [8]

Interwar

When the TF was reconstituted as the Territorial Army (TA) in the 1920s, the City of Aberdeen Fortress Engineers reformed at Fonthill Barracks, Aberdeen, consisting of No 1 (Works) Company, listed as Coast Defence Troops in 51st (Highland) Divisional Area. [14] [15] [16]

With the recognition of the increased threat of aerial bombing in any future war, the company was converted into an Independent Anti-Aircraft (AA) Searchlight Company in 1934 as 319th (City of Aberdeen) AA Company, RE. It gained a Regular RE officer as Adjutant, who was shared with 320th (City of Dundee) AA Company (converted at the same time from the Dundee Fortress Royal Engineers). [16] [17]

World War II

See main article: 51st (Highland) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery

With the continued expansion of the TA's air defences, 319th (Aberdeen) Company and 320th (Dundee) Company combined with a newly raised battery at Cowdenbeath in 1938 to form 51st (Highland) AA Battalion, RE. [16] [18] [19] [20] In August 1939, Anti-Aircraft Command was mobilised and 51st AA Bn took its place in the air defences of Scotland. A year later the RE searchlight battalions were transferred to the Royal Artillery (RA), and the unit became 51st (Highland) Searchlight Regiment, RA (TA), serving throughout the Battle of Britain and The Blitz. [16] [19] [21] [22] [23]

In February 1942, the regiment was converted to the Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) artillery role as 124 (Highland) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (TA) and it served with Second Army in Normandy and North West Europe. [19] [21] [24] [25] [26]

Postwar

When the TA was reconstituted in 1947, the regiment was reformed as 586 (Highland) LAA Regiment, RA (later 586 (Highland) LAA/Searchlight Regiment), based at Dundee, and the link with Aberdeen was severed. [21] [27] [28] [29] [30]

Notes

  1. ↑ Beckett, Appendix IX, p. 320.
  2. ↑ Westlake, p. 4.
  3. ↑ London Gazette, 20 March 1908.
  4. ↑ Aberdeen Fortress Engineers at Regiments.org
  5. ↑ Watson & Rinaldi, p. 22.
  6. ↑ Monthly Army List, August 1914.
  7. ↑ Conrad.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 63, 68, 83.
  9. ↑ 'Embarkation Dates', The National Archives (TNA), Kew file WO 162/7.
  10. ↑ Morling, p. 38.
  11. ↑ Fortress Companies RE at Long, Long Trail.
  12. ↑ "Question at Great War Forum". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  13. ↑ The War Diary in The National Archives, Kew, runs from February 1917 (when the unit was numbered) to January 1920.
  14. ↑ Monthly Army List, January 1923.
  15. ↑ Titles and Designations, 1927.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 103, 111–2.
  17. ↑ Monthly Army Lists 1934–35.
  18. ↑ Army List.
  19. 1 2 3 "3 AA Division 1939 at British Military History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  20. ↑ Glasgow Herald 13 January 1938.
  21. 1 2 3 Litchfield, pp. 274–5.
  22. ↑ 51 S/L Rgt at RA 39–45 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ "3 AA Division 1940 at British Military History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  24. ↑ 124 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45 Archived 2008-01-10 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ↑ Joslen, p. 463.
  26. ↑ Routledge, pp. 314–5, 319, 326, 366
  27. ↑ Watson, TA 1947 Archived 5 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ↑ 564–591 Rgts at British Army 1945 on Archived 10 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ↑ 67–106 AA Bdes at British Army 1945 on Archived 2014-08-12 at archive.today
  30. ↑ Litchfield, Appendix 5.

Related Research Articles

36th (Middlesex) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

The 36th (Middlesex) Searchlight Regiment was a volunteer air defence battalion of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) from 1936 until 1961, at first as part of the Royal Engineers, later in the Royal Artillery. As part of 40th Anti-Aircraft Brigade it defended air bases in East Anglia through the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. Towards the end of 1944 the unit underwent infantry training, serving briefly in Norway at the end of the war. After the war, the 36th continued as a TA unit, with some women serving with it. In 1961, the remnants of the regiment amalgamated with others to form a combined infantry battalion, and all links with air defence were severed.

The London Electrical Engineers was a Volunteer unit of the British Army's Royal Engineers founded in 1897. It pioneered the use of searchlights (S/Ls) for port defence before World War I and for anti-aircraft (AA) defence during the war. In the interwar period it formed the two senior searchlight regiments of the Territorial Army, which defended Southern England during The Blitz. Detachments later served in the Battle of Crete and Siege of Tobruk.

The 28th (Essex) Searchlight Regiment was a volunteer air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) from 1935 until 1961, at first as part of the Royal Engineers, later in the Royal Artillery. During the Second World War it defended the approaches to London in The Blitz and Operation Diver before becoming a garrison unit in the liberation of Norway.

29th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) before and during the Second World War. It defended East Anglian airfields and ports during the Battle of Britain and The Blitz. It was reformed in the postwar TA.

1st Hampshire Engineers Military unit

The 1st Hampshire Engineer Volunteer Corps was first formed in 1862 and then reformed in 1891 with special responsibility for the port defences of the South Coast of England. It carried out this role during World War I, as well as forming field units that served on the Western Front and at Salonika. Before the outbreak of World War II it formed an air defence regiment that saw service during The Blitz and field companies that fought in the Western Desert and Italy, The unit continued in the postwar Territorial Army before finally disbanding in 1967.

51st (Highland) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

The 51st (Highland) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery was a Scottish unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) formed for air defence just before World War II. It later served as an anti-aircraft (AA) artillery unit in the North West Europe Campaign 1944–45, and continued in the postwar TA into the 1950s.

59th (Warwickshire) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

The 59th (Warwickshire) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery was an air defence unit of the Territorial Army (TA), part of the British Army, and was raised in Birmingham in 1938 just before the Second World War. It later served as a light anti-aircraft gun unit and continued in the postwar TA.

The Tyne Electrical Engineers (TEE) is a Volunteer unit of the British Army that has existed under various titles since 1860. It has been the parent unit for a large number of units fulfilling specialist coastal and air defence roles in the Royal Engineers (RE) and Royal Artillery (RA), many seeing service during both World Wars. TEE companies currently form part of the RE and of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in the Army Reserve.

37th (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

The 37th Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery was an air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) during World War II. It served in the Battle of France, when it was one of the last British units evacuated. It then served in Anti-Aircraft Command defending the UK, particularly against V-1 flying bombs.

3rd Anti-Aircraft Division (United Kingdom) Military unit

The 3rd Anti-Aircraft Division was an air defence formation of the Territorial Army, part of the British Army, created in the period of tension before the outbreak of the Second World War. It defended Scotland and Northern Ireland during the early part of the war.

The 73rd Searchlight Regiment was a volunteer air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) from 1939 until 1955, at first as part of the Royal Engineers, later in the Royal Artillery. It served during the Battle of Britain and The Blitz.

The Renfrewshire Fortress Royal Engineers was a Scottish volunteer unit of the British Army under various titles from 1888. Its main role was defence of the ports and shipyards on the River Clyde, but it also provided detachments for active service in the field during both World Wars. Its successors continue to serve in the Army Reserve.

Dundee Fortress Royal Engineers Military unit

The Dundee Fortress Royal Engineers was a Scottish volunteer unit of the British Army formed in 1908. Its main role was the defence of the harbours and shipyards on the River Tay, but it also provided a detachment that saw active service in North Russia at the end of World War I. In the 1930s, it was turned into an air defence unit, in which role it served in World War II. A brief postwar revival ended in disbandment in 1950.

The Lancashire (Fortress) Royal Engineers was a volunteer unit of Britain's Royal Engineers formed in 1884 to defend the Mersey Estuary. As well as serving in this role it also provided specialist engineer units in both World Wars, losing many men in a shipping disaster during the Greek Campaign. Its descendants continued to serve in the Territorial Army until 1967.

East Riding Fortress Royal Engineers Military unit

The East Riding (Fortress) Royal Engineers was a volunteer unit of Britain's Royal Engineers formed for the defence of the Humber Estuary in the East Riding of Yorkshire. As well as serving in this role it also provided field and specialist engineer units in both World Wars. Its successors continued to serve in the Territorial Army until 1991.

The North Riding (Fortress) Royal Engineers was a volunteer unit of Britain's Royal Engineers formed for the defence of the Tees Estuary in the North Riding of Yorkshire. As well as serving in this role it also provided specialist engineer units in both World Wars. Its descendants continued to serve in the Territorial Army until 1999.

The Essex (Fortress) Royal Engineers was a volunteer unit of Britain's Royal Engineers formed to defend the Essex coast. It served in this role in World War I and then converted to a searchlight regiment for air defence in World War II. The unit ended the war as a garrison infantry battalion. Its descendants continued to serve in the Territorial Army until 1955.

Cornwall Fortress Royal Engineers Military unit

The Cornwall Fortress Royal Engineers, was a volunteer unit of Britain's Royal Engineers formed in 1908. It helped to defend the coastal towns of Cornwall and sent engineer units to work on the Western Front. Converted to an air defence role before World War I, it served as a searchlight unit during the Battle of Britain, the Blitz, then, as a light anti-aircraft gun unit, it served in the most heavily attacked part of the South Coast of England throughout 1942–44, including the V-1 flying bomb campaign.

Dorsetshire and Wiltshire Fortress Royal Engineers Military unit

The Dorsetshire & Wiltshire Fortress Royal Engineers was a part-time unit of Britain's Royal Engineers formed in 1908. It helped to defend the naval base of Portland Harbour during World War I and provided a detachment to serve with the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front. Between the World Wars the unit took on the additional role of anti-aircraft searchlight defence and during World War II it was expanded into a full searchlight regiment that served during the Plymouth Blitz.

The Glamorgan Fortress Royal Engineers was a Welsh Territorial Army (TA) unit of Britain's Royal Engineers, first raised in 1885 as a Volunteer unit of Submarine Miners to defend the Severn Estuary. During World War I it carried out defence work in England and Gibraltar, and detachments served on the Western Front. In World War II it served in the North African campaign, including the Second Battle of El Alamein, and the Allied invasion of Sicily. Postwar, the unit continued in the TA until 1961.

References

Online sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.