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From: "Ted HARRIS" <>
Subject: Re: Field Companys
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 18:09:31 +1000
References: <002301c52bb3$3af5e120$9817d5cb@PRECIOUS> <000d01c52cf7$f24c7b50$0301010a@ted> <423D5E23.3050007@spitfire.com.au>


Ooops, Sorry Keven,

you were correct about "Facimus et framgimus" as a motto for the Engineers.
It was /is an old Militia one used from about the time of Federation until
WW2

Sorry Mate

Cheers,
Ted Harris
----- Original Message -----
From: "Keven's Mail" <>
To: "Ted HARRIS" <>
Cc: <>
Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2005 9:27 PM
Subject: Re: Field Companys


> Hi Folks; I have recently rejoined this link after a couple of years
> absence.
>
> My I add a few words to this discussion regarding RAE formations?
>
> I served in the RAE for a number of years (in CMF & ARA) and would like
> add that when I served in the mid 50s to late 60s the RAE was formed a
> little differently to Ted Harris description.
>
> Engineers had two motto s (apart from the badge motto) (1) which means
Make and Break. The formal motto Ubique,
> everwhere or in all places.
>
> Make and break of course signifies what Army Engineers do; make roads,
> airfields, buildings, bridges et al in advance and break them in
> withdrawal..
>
> Ubique signifies that the Engineers are where ever the Infanttry, Arty,
> Armd etc, go to fight battles. RAE has a unique position within the
> Australian Army it is both an Arm and a Service.
> Being an Arm means we were fighting soldiers and as a Service we did the
> most recognizable activity related to Army engineering. Engineers were
> attached to other units and fought along side the soldiers of those
> units. One consequence of this is that the RAE does not have battle
> honours like R Aust Inf, Armd Corps, Arty, etc. but we were there,
> hence Ubique.
>
> When I served the Engineer soldier was a fighter as well as a road-,
> bridge-, waterpoint, builder (in Const Sqn), he(now also she). He also
> provided water transport. Now only inland water transport because the
> RAN took on the open sea transport. I served for a while on an ocean
> going vessels of the RAE.
> The Engineers provided Stores and Supplies of a specific construction
> natre quite seperately to that provided by RAAOC (Ordnance).
>
> We were formed into Sections (6-7 personnel), Squadrons (4-5 Sect),
> Battalions (4-5 Sqn) & Regiments where and when necessary.
>
> My father served in the RAE in the 1920s and his rank was Artificer.
> When I served we were ranked Sapper (Spr), Lance-Corporal (Lcpl),
> Corporal (Cpl), Sergeant (Sgt), Ssgt (Staff-Sergeant) who was mostly in
> the Q-store in smaller units. Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) one of whom
> was the Sqn Sgt-Major (SSM); other WOs2 in units in which I served were
> Clerks of Works, Senior Clerks in larger establishments.
>
> I think I will stop there. I hope not to have been boring on my return
> to the web ring.
>
> cheers
>
> keven
>
>
>
>
> Ted HARRIS wrote:
>
> >The Engineers have many roles.
> >
> >" We make and we break" is an unofficial motto of the Gingerbeers.
> >
> >A Field Squadron would be involved in bridge building, road making,
blowing
> >things up and making basic buildings and other small engineering jobs.
> >
> >A Field Company would be attached to a larger Infantry unit to supply
> >engineering expertise.
> >
> >A Company is a very small unit. Several Companies make up a Squadron. A
> >Squadron is a small unit but obviously bigger than a Company. Several
> >squadrons make up a Regiment but rarely would a Regiment all be in the
same
> >place at the same time.
> >
> >Engineers rarely get any glory. ( I am a former Sapper as well as a
former
> >Infantryman). The books are written about the "fighting" units and the
> >support units like the Engineers are usually in such small numbers that
> >little is said about them except references in books about larger
(usually
> >Infantry) units.
> >
> >Cheers,
> >Ted Harris
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "old address" <>
> >To: <>
> >Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 10:08 PM
> >Subject: Field Companys
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ====
> >Anzac Research
> >http://anzacresearch.tripod.com/index.htm
> >
> >
> >
>

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