Cap badge Royal Mecanical and Mecanical Engineers R.E.M.E. (plastic)

both lugs present MMMC marked but minimal oxidation on brass lugs, light bent

UITVERKOCHT / SOLD
Betaalwijzes

The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME; pronounced phonetically as "Reemee" with stress on the first syllable) is a corps of the British Army. Soldiers and officers employed within the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) are the technicians, mechanics and fabricators that consistently inspect, repair, modify and maintain the large array of equipment that the British Army has to offer. Wherever the British Army are, whatever the unit is, there you will find REME. As technologies advance and equipment becomes more complex, men and women of REME have to be up to the challenges of training and keeping up to date with modern engineering. Whether its maintaining the Apache Attack Helicopter, repairing a Multiple Launch Rocket System or recovering a Challenger tank, REME ensures that the equipment of the British Army is ready for action.

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

World War II's increase in quantity and complexity of equipment exposed the flaws in this system. Pursuant to the recommendation of a committee William Beveridge chaired, the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was formed on the 1st October 1942.

Phase I

Such a major re-organisation was too complex, however, 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 which 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.

 

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