Royal Engineers
RE Unit General HQ RE Italy – (12 Bn DCLI Labour battalion) Staff Sergeant 131932 David W Ellis, Royal Engineers. 8 January 1919, St Barnabas’s Church, Hengoed
Sapper 160668 Edwin E Hancocks, Royal Engineers, att. Royal Flying Corps . Died 31 January 1917, Bois-Guillaume Communal Cemetery attached Royal Flying Corps
Special Battalions
The Special Battalions Royal Engineers were specialists dealing with poisonous gas. The first poisonous gas attack on the Western Front had been during the German offensive at Ypres in 1915. Its use was deplored by the Allies – even though the French had previously used tear gas as a weapon – regardless they soon began developing their own gas response and the British would use gas themselves during the Battle of Loos in 1915. After its partially successful use at Loos special battalions made up of volunteers from units already in France were formed. Gas would be used by both sides as both an offensive and defensive weapon for the rest of the war. The “ Special Bn RE particularly responsible for the release of gas from cylindrs rather than gas shells. The cylinders were connected together with hoses running out into no man’s land.
2 Special Battalion RE
94 Field Coy Royal Engineers. – 19 (Western) Division
DoW 3 May 1917 WHERE
Lance Corporal 48543 John Jones, 94 Field Coy Royal Engineers. KIA 3 May 1917, Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery – one of 40 joiners/carpenetrs in 94 CoyRE
Royal Engineers 13 Divisional Signal Coy
Sapper 62361 Austin Ledwith, Royal Engineers 13 Divisional Signal Coy (Telegraphist) died of disease 31 July 1915. Helles Memorial (Died at sea en route)
83 Field Coy. Royal Engineers
Divisional engineers for (21) Divison (6bnKSLI division) see also Private 12306 Andrew Price, 6 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. DoW 14 July 16, Poperinghe New Cemetery
128 Field Company Royal Engineers – 23 Division
137 Army Troops Coy. Royal Engineers
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