Looking for some info om R.A.E.M.E.

[muskey]

As a former gun plumber (weapons tech.) with the Canadian Forces, I have chosen for my next display would be to collect Electrical Mechanical Engineers cap badges from the Common Wealth nations. I have been doing some research on the Royal Australian Electrical Mechanical Engineers, and I am sorry to hear that it was disbanded in 2006. My question is what cap badge did the R.A.E.M.E. wear before 1944. The only information that I have is the earliest cap badge was in 1944, which looked like the one worn by R.C.E.M.E. and R.E.M.E. after 1949 and 1947 respectively. If there was before 1944, could someone post a picture if it

[colin 17]

As a current Gun Plumber in the CF, this is always an interesting subject. REME, RCEME, RAEME and all the others were created in 1944 and before that techs were part of the RAOC and equivalents. Before that Armourers were part of the Regt they belonged to. A simplification but close.
Colin

[Pylon1357]

I doubt there was anything before the dates you have provided. IIRC The R.E.M.E. cap badge design was not finalized until June 1943.

I am assuming that Australia would have followed suit, in the same manner Canada did. According to my Mazeas reference, the original R.C.E.M.E. Cap badge design was authorized by G.O. 236/1944

[muskey]

According to the R.A.E.M.E. History RAEME was raised on 1 December 1942 almost 2 years before the Canadians and British units were formed

[REMEVMBEA1]

Originally Posted by muskey

According to the R.A.E.M.E. History RAEME was raised on 1 December 1942 almost 2 years before the Canadians and British units were formed

The formation of REME was authorised by Royal Warrant dated 19 May 1942, it was formed on the "ruling date" of 1st October1942.Originally it included all RASC and RAOC workshops and later under what was called Phase 2 included all regimental tradesmen in disciplines that were now REME responsibility.

[Pylon1357]

Originally Posted by muskey

According to the R.A.E.M.E. History RAEME was raised on 1 December 1942 almost 2 years before the Canadians and British units were formed

Actually from my notes, the R.E.M.E (British) was actually formed in October 1942.

[slick_mick]

Originally Posted by muskey

As a former gun plumber (weapons tech.) with the Canadian Forces, I have chosen for my next display would be to collect Electrical Mechanical Engineers cap badges from the Common Wealth nations. I have been doing some research on the Royal Australian Electrical Mechanical Engineers, and I am sorry to hear that it was disbanded in 2006. My question is what cap badge did the R.A.E.M.E. wear before 1944. The only information that I have is the earliest cap badge was in 1944, which looked like the one worn by R.C.E.M.E. and R.E.M.E. after 1949 and 1947 respectively. If there was before 1944, could someone post a picture if it

RAEME is still a current corps within the Australian Army.

If your research took you to the wiki page, the 2006 disbandment mentioned there was that of an independent RAEME workshop.

Before 1948, the AEME would have worn the Rising Sun badge. From 1948 to 1953 they wore the King's Crown version of the current badge.


Mick

[muskey]

Originally Posted by slick_mick

RAEME is still a current corps within the Australian Army.

If your research took you to the wiki page, the 2006 disbandment mentioned there was that of an independent RAEME workshop.

Before 1948, the AEME would have worn the Rising Sun badge. From 1948 to 1953 they wore the King's Crown version of the current badge.


Mick

thanks Mick for the info. As for wikipedia, I don't use that site, I will have to look up the site that I got that information from.

[Harrymorant]

For a minute there you had me worried. I was in RAEME and I thought I must have missed something. Try this site for current information - it belongs the the RAEME Association

http://www.raeme.org.au/

[jeep]

Muskey. Are you confusing RAEME with the RNZEME, which was disbanded in 1996. In that year RNZEME, RNZAOC and RNZCT amalgamated to form the current RNZ Army Logistic Regt.

[Mike_2817]

From Wikipedia, and certified as correct (which I agree it is not always)

History

Prior to REME's formation, maintenance was the responsibility of several different corps:

Royal Army Ordnance Corps—Weapons and Armoured A Vehicles plus Issue & Receipt of B Vehicles
Royal Engineers—Engineering C Plant and Machinery, and RE Motor Transport
Royal Corps of Signals—Communications Equipment
Royal Army Service Corps—Other motor transport
Royal Artillery—Heavy Weapons Artificers

World War II's increase in quantity and complexity of equipment exposed the flaws in this system. Pursuant to the recommendation of a committee William Beveridge chaired, the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was formed on the 1st October 1942 [ref https://www.army.mod.uk/reme/32002.aspx ]

Phase I

Such a major re-organisation was too complex, however, to be carried out quickly and completely in the middle of a world war. Therefore the changeover was undertaken in two phases.

In Phase I, which was implemented immediately, REME was formed on the existing framework of the RAOC Engineering Branch, strengthened by the transfer of certain technical units and tradesmen from the RE and RASC. At the same time a number of individual tradesmen were transferred into REME from other corps. The new corps was made responsible for repairing the technical equipment of all arms with certain major exceptions. REME did not yet undertake:

Those repairs which were carried out by unit tradesmen who were driver/mechanics or fitters in regiments and belonged to the unit rather than being attached to it.

Repairs of RASC-operated vehicles, which remained the responsibility of the RASC; each RASC Transport Company had its own workshop.

Repairs of RE specialist equipment, which remained the responsibility of the RE.

Phase II

In 1949, it was decided that "REME Phase II" should be implemented. This decision was published in Army Council Instruction 110 of 1949, and the necessary reorganisation was carried out in the various arms and services in three stages between July 1951 and January 1952. The main changes were:

The transfer to REME of most of the unit repair responsibilities of other arms (Infantry, Royal Artillery, Royal Armoured Corps etc.).

The provision of Light Aid Detachments for certain units that had not possessed them under the old organisation.

The provision of new REME workshops to carry out field repairs in RASC transport companies.

Maintenance of vessels of the RASC fleet whilst in port was given to the fleet repair branch, a civilian organisation who came under the R.E.M.E umbrella.

This organisation was also responsible for arranging and overseeing ship refits.

Cap badges

After some interim designs, the badge of the Corps was formalised in June 1943 for use as the cap-badge, collar-badge, and on the buttons.

It consisted of an oval Royally Crowned laurel wreath; on the wreath were four small shields at the compass points, each shield bearing one of the letters of "REME".

Within the wreath was a pair of calipers. Examples of these early badges can be found at the REME Museum. In 1947 the Horse and Lightning was adopted as the cap badge.

REME continued to wear its 'predecessor' Cap Badges at first, and until 1947 still mostly part of the RAOC Association, and received the RAOC Gazette,. with most major workshops attached to RAOC 'Ordnance Field Parks (OFP) for admin. [my edit]

[REMEVMBEA1]

In the REME museum there is an example of the 1st pattern badge that was produced in the Far East with only a printed description and no picture. On this badge the wreath is round not oval , I would imagine it's an extremely rare badge and could be described by some as a fake.

[fougasse1940]

The Quetta badge, Buywise had one for sale not too long ago.

Rgds, Thomas.

[REMEVMBEA1]

Slick Mick, You say "Before 1948, the AEME would have worn the Rising Sun badge. From 1948 to 1953 they wore the King's Crown version of the current badge."
Is this a typo or weren't RAEME Royal from their formation as REME was?

[jeep]

In the REME museum there is an example of the 1st pattern badge that was produced in the Far East with only a printed description and no picture. On this badge the wreath is round not oval , I would imagine it's an extremely rare badge and could be described by some as a fake.

The Quetta badge, Buywise had one for sale not too long ago.

Thomas. can you expand on this 'Quetta' badge. Is it as described by REMEVMBA1 above? What exactly is 'Quetta', is it a place name or something else? Is there any other history?