What was a Field or Signals Company of the Royal Engineers?
The Royal Engineers carried out a number of different roles for the army both in the battlefield and along the lines of communication. The various specialisms were organised into different types of units, none of which was bigger than a Company in size. These units were attached to Divisions, or to larger formations at Corps, Army or even GHQ. The main ones, of which there were many, were the Field Companies and the Signals Companies. As they were attached to the fighting portions of the Divisions, these Companies often saw action and took part in the fighting. The Divisions of the early part of the war also had on their strength two Fortress Companies and works units for bridging and lines of communication. Various other units of Royal Engineers were attached to Corps, Army and GHQ. In November 1914, the Royal Engineers was composed of almost 17,000 officers and 340,000 other ranks.. This memorial to nine men of 82nd Field Company RE is a reminder that the Royal Engineers were in the
