Author Archives: Will Mac
Correcting the Corps History- 3 Ton Lorry in Field Squadrons
Chapter 16’s author makes the assertion that the RE Field Squadrons would have been more mobile and effective if they had been completely mechanised and mounted in 3 ton Motor Lorries. I’m not convinced by this so I thought that … Continue reading
Correcting the Corps History – The 1 in 4 Horse Holding Myth
The next point that I need to address from Chapter 16 of the Corps History is that the Author attributes the lack of available manpower available for tasking is the fact that the majority of the Squadron’s personnel were occupied … Continue reading
Correcting the Corps History – RE Field Sqn Manning
This will be the first of a number of blog posts over time that will look to correct some of the incorrect details and negative views put forward in The Royal Engineers History, Volume 51. So what’s my problem with … Continue reading
The First RE Casualties of the Great War
Firstly I must give an apology for the lack of posts. however I have not been idle, there has been a lot of digging into archives and war diaries and planning for the coming spring and summer while I am … Continue reading
Blowing the Bridges at Mons 23/24 Aug 1914
Introduction Having now arrived and settled into Mons, it has been a case of get out and look at the Great War History on my doorstep and it is pretty much on my door step. There is a lot about … Continue reading
Preperation for Moving to Mons
I’m down to a month until I move to my new job in Belguim and the accommodation that I’ve been allocated puts me right next to so much of the history of August 1914. So what is the plan? While … Continue reading
The Origin of the Garrison Engineer
As many of you know I am a Garrison Engineer (Construction), which is basically a commissioned Clerk of Works (Construction). But what is the origin of the Garrison Engineer? The general practise of the 1700s and early 1800s was to … Continue reading
Busy but still here
Just a very quick update on what is happening. At the moment work and home life is very busy so the work on articles has slowed down. Life on the “Estate” is in the summer busy phase with hay making … Continue reading
The Officer’s Kit
We are used to seeing modern officers wearing a Sam Browne as a piece of parade kit but during the Great War this was the equipment worn by Officers of all types of units as field equipment. The Officer of … Continue reading
Web site relaunch
Morning Everyone, I’ve finally managed to get the website moved from it’s previous domain and on to the new platform. Hopefully we are now visible to the world again. The move was mainly based on cost and also the old … Continue reading