What did Royal Engineers do in WW1?
WW1, Royal Engineer tunnelling companies, nicknamed “the Moles”, were specialist units of the Corps of Royal Engineers within the British Army, formed to dig attacking tunnels under enemy lines during the First World War.
What is a sapper in the Royal Engineers in WW1?
A sapper, also called pioneer or combat engineer, is a combatant or soldier who performs a variety of military engineering duties, such as breaching fortifications, demolitions, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, preparing field defenses, and road and airfield construction and repair.
What was the job of a sapper in WW1?
Formed in 1716, this corps helps keep the British Army in the field by providing engineering and technical support. Known as ‘Sappers’, Royal Engineers have served in all of the Army’s campaigns.
Why are the engineers called sappers?
The name is derived from the French word sappe (“spadework,” or “trench”) and became connected with military engineering during the 17th century, when attackers dug covered trenches to approach the walls of a besieged fort. These trenches and tunnels were called “saps,” and their diggers came to be called “sappers.”
What did sappers do?
Sappers are responsible for tasks facilitating movement of allied forces and impeding those of their enemies. “A sapper is an engineer – most of the time a combat engineer – who is a subject matter expert in a variety of engineer duties, whether that be bridging, demolitions or general construction,” said Master Sgt.
What do the Royal Engineers do?
The Royal Engineers are combat soldiers with a technical edge and have a role in every area of the battlefield. At the front they support the rest of the Army, bridging rivers, using explosives to destroy bridges or clearing routes through minefields.
What is the rank of a sapper in the Royal Engineers?
The rank of ‘Private’ in the newly formed Corps of Royal Engineers was changed to ‘Sapper’ and still exists today. The Royal Engineers’ interest in aeronautics began in the 1860’s when they explored the possibilities of using air balloons for aerial observation purposes. This interest developed into an interest in fixed winged aircraft.
Who was the wireless sapper in WW1?
B. Neyland served from September 1916 to December 1919 as a Sapper, in a Royal Engineers (Signals), Wireless Section and his account is posted here. An account by Mike Gater of his father, 252696 Sapper Gater RE is given here. With the gradual introduction of the wireless as the war developed so the Signals Companies embraced this new technique.
How did the Royal Engineers change in WW1?
The First World War saw a rapid transformation of the Royal Engineers as new technologies became ever more important in the conduct of warfare and engineers undertook an increasing range of roles.
What is a royal engineer called in the UK?
Royal Engineers. The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is headed by the Chief Royal Engineer.