1 Field Engineer Squadron (United Kingdom)

The 1st Field Engineer Squadron is an engineer unit of the Corps of Royal Engineers within the British Army. The squadron was first formed in 1914 following the mobilisation of the Army for World War I. The squadron later supported The Cavalry Division and the first British Army of the Rhine. The squadron later saw service in World War II and today supports the 21st Engineer Regiment of the new 1st Strike Brigade.

Early Years
In October 1887 the 1st Fortress Company was formed in Bermuda. The formation was part of the major expansion and numbering of the Corps of Royal Engineers following the Childers Reforms. In May 1890 the company moved to Chatham and by October moved to Cork. By January 1903 the company moved to Gibraltar where they remained as one of the major fortress companies in the area. Before mobilisation, the company was still based in Gibraltar in the same role as a fortress company supporting the engineering units in the area. In addition to supporting the troops, the company was assigned to support the fortifications and bases in the area.

In 1915 Sir Ian Hamilton proposed a planned invasion of the Ottoman Empire via the Dardanelles. This expedition later became known as the Gallipoli Campaign, of which would become world known for many of the wrong reasons many years later. Because of this expeditionary force, known as the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force was assembled. Among the troops assigned for this force was the 1st Fortress Company of the Corps of Royal Engineers. The company embarked from Gibraltar en-route for Egypt where it joined the force later moving to Mudros that same month. By January 1916 the expedition was called off due to failures of moving through the peninsula. The company as a result moved to France on the Western Front where it joined the BEF.

After moving to France, the company was retitled and reroled as the 1st Advance Park Company, and later that year as the 1st Base Park Company. The company was finally disbanded in 1919.

World War II
By July 1925 the company was reformed as the 1st Fortress Company and based in Gibraltar. This reformation came as part of the reorganisation of the Corps of Royal Engineers. The company was formed from the former 15th Fortress Company. By 1935 the company was reorganised as a mixed Electrical and Antiaircraft Searchlight Company, this reorganisation came after the War Office realised the importance of antiaircraft defences and searchlight support.

While based in Gibraltar, the company was under command of Gibraltar Command Royal Engineers. The company spent the entire war in Gibraltar providing support for the troops there and construction and maintenance of the defences.

Postwar
Following the end of the war, the company continued to be based in Gibraltar in 1971 when it was disbanded. In 1948 the 1st Field Squadron was reformed after the end of the war, this was the 2nd regiment to be part of the lineage of the squadron. By later 1948 the squadron moved to Singapore, in 1949 was in Hong Kong in the independent role, and by February 1950 moved to St Georges Barracks in Minden under the 27th Field Engineer Regiment. After moving to Minden, the 27th Field Regiment was formed, and the squadron was designated as the senior unit of the regiment.

In 1957 the 27th Field Regiment was disbanded and the squadron moved under the control of the 4th armoured divisional engineer regiment. After moving to Alanbrooke Barracks in Paderborn, the squadron was assigned to the 20th Armoured Brigade for operational support. By 1960 the squadron was placed under the control of the 1st Divisional Engineers, and by 1962 moved to Assaye Barracks in Neinburg as a result of the regiment's move.