Last week saw me in Ripon at Claro Barracks providing support for the Royal Engineer Historical Society (REHS) during their study day. The key theme was looking at Innovation in warfare and I was asked if I could put together a display of topics that was link to Great War RE Innovations.
With such a vast choice of areas to choose from, I made a point of looking at items that were linked or related to the Mounted Sapper units.
The event allowed me to put on display a UP Saddle set up for a RE Field Squadron mounted Sapper.
The two key elements that make the UP Saddle Royal Engineers specific are the Royal Engineers tool bucket attached to the side of the saddle opposite the Rifle Bucket and then on the rear of the saddle is a sandbag filled with 10lbs of Gun Cotton, safety fuse, primers and detonators.
These two items allowed for the Mounted Sapper to be able to carry out Combat Engineering tasks independently and when on the move. There will be more details in a separate blog post on how the RE Tool Bucket would carry tools and equipment.
The event also allowed me to set out and trial my display boards for the first time. This is worked brilliantly. Covering a set of boards with a material to allow small velcro tabs to attach means that I can change the displays quickly and easily.
The other part of the event that was a first was that it allowed me to put together my early war RE uniform. This was made possible with a jacket tailored by Matt Palmer and a early war cap made by Dickie Knight at “Khaki on Campaign”. Added to that I’ve put together a double strap Sam Browne and the Sword frog.
The engagement with the attendees was great with lots of questions on saddles and the uniforms particularly the way that engineering tools could be carried on the saddle.
The other topic that picked up a lot of focus was the innovation on the carriage of water supply equipment on Pack Horse in Palestine. Chatting with a couple of serving personnel it appears that this is a topic that is current and back in focus again so for them to see this being looked at 110 years ago was fascinating for them.
So overall a successful event, proving that the display boards and early war kit works. Now it a case of getting back into the research and prep work to get ready for the next set of events in November.