29 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search) Group

The 29 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search) Group, formerly 29 Engineer Brigade, is an engineer formation of the British Army responsible for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search. Its headquarters were at Aldershot, now at Didcot.

29th Engineer Group
29th Engineer Brigade
Brigade badge during the Cold War
Active1967–1992
1997–present
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeEngineers
RoleCorps Support Engineers
SizeBrigade
Part ofUnited Kingdom Land Forces (1972-1995)
Garrison/HQDidcot

History

The brigade had its origins as 29 Engineer Group formed in Glasgow in 1961.[1] It was expanded and became 29th Engineer Brigade in 1967.[1] By 1982, the brigade headquarters moved from Edinburgh to Imphal Barracks York with signals support at Fenham Barracks in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.[2][3] Isby and Kamps wrote that around 1984-85 the brigade consisted of 72 Eningeer Regiment, 73 Engineer Regiment, 74 Engineer Regiment and 105 (V) Plant Squadron, with 72 and 73 Regiments supporting 2nd Infantry Division and 74 Regiment supporting 1st Infantry Brigade.[4]

In around 1989, the brigade's units included 71, 72, 73 Engineer Regiments, 105 Plant Squadron, 117 Field Support Squadron, and 873 Movement Lights Squadron.[5] After the Options for Change reforms, the brigade disbanded.[6]

In 1997, the brigade was reformed as 29 (Corps Support) Engineer Brigade from the Central Volunteer Headquarters, Royal Engineers.[7] It was given responsibility for administering a series of Specialist Teams Royal Engineers ('STRE's).[7] Its headquarters was established at Aldershot.[8] It had been renamed 29 (Land Support) Engineer Group by 2008[9] and, because its main capability was Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), it had been renamed 29 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search) Group by 2011.[10]

Structure in 1997

The following was the structure when it was reformed as a corps support engineer brigade in 1997:[11]

After reformed as an engineer brigade for the ACE Rapid Reaction Corps, plans were made for the brigade to take under command other units from other ARRC engineer regiments. Therefore, under an operational deployment 101st (Netherlands) Engineer Battalion, 5th (Polish) Engineer Regiment (two battalions), 6th (Italian) Engineer Regiment, and A (Turkish) Engineer Company would all fall under its operational control.[6]

Current Organisation

The brigade exists as 29 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search) Group under 8th Engineer Brigade. The structure is as follows:[14][15]

The group is tasked with "[Supporting] both deployed operations and Homeland Defence. The Group locates and disposes of conventional and improvised explosive threats. It provides technical expertise to ensure that the Army’s ammunition is fit for purpose and all forms of Search capability including Military Working Dog support."[14]

Group Commanders

Group Commanders included:[17]

  • 1997–1998: Col. Robert J. Griffiths
  • 1998–2005: Col. John M. Heron
  • 2005–2007: Col. Nigel H.W. Fenn
  • 2007–2008: Col. Stephen P. Hodder
  • 2009–2012: Col. Jonathan A.H. Welch
  • 2012–2017: Col. A. Gareth Bex
  • 2017–2018: Col. Adam D. McRae
  • 2018–2021: Col. Daniel A. Reyland
  • 2021–Present: Col. Brian K. Howard

Notes
  1. Originally the regiment was supposed to disband, but did not happen.

References
  1. "Headquarters TA - Royal Engineers". British Army Units 1945 on. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  2. Hewitson (2006), p. 178.
  3. "1982 Corps Annual General Meeting" (PDF). Royal Engineers Journal. 1 September 1982. p. 148. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  4. Isby & Kamps (1985), p. 253.
  5. Vieuxbill, Louis (2013). "BAOR ORDER OF BATTLE JULY 1989" (PDF). pp. 54–55. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  6. Rinaldi & Watson (2018), p. 317.
  7. "The Forgotten Reserves: Non-Territorial Engineer Units 1877-1998" (PDF). Royal Engineers Journal. p. 125. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  8. Charles Heyman, The Armed Forces of the United Kingdom 2007-2008, Casemate Publishers, 107, 135.
  9. Mackinlay, Gordon Angus (2008). "A moment in time" (PDF). Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  10. "The Royal Engineers". Armed Forces. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  11. Rinaldi & Watson (2018), p. 312.
  12. Rinaldi & Watson (2018), p. 313.
  13. Rinaldi & Watson (2018), pp. 315–316.
  14. "8 Engineer Brigade". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  15. "Written evidence - Ministry of Defence". data.parliament.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  16. "821 EOD & SEARCH SQUADRON". army.mod.uk. British Army. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020. 821 Squadron is a multi-traded, Royal Logistic Corps led Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search (EOD&S) Squadron based in Wimbish, Essex. It is part of the UK's Rapid Reaction Force and regularly deploys around the world as part of both the Air Assault Task Force (AATF) and the Lead Commando Group (LCG). It is the sole RLC Squadron that comes under the command of a Royal Engineer Regiment.
  17. Regiments and Commanding Officers, 1960–.

Sources
  • Hewitson, T L (2006). Weekend Warriors. Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-3756-9.
  • Isby, David C.; Kamps, Charles, Jr. (1985). Armies of NATO's Central Front. Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0341-X.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Rinaldi, Richard A.; Watson, Graham E. (29 August 2018). The Corps of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889-2018. Independently Published. ISBN 978-1-7179-0180-4.

Further reading
  • Peedle, Bob, 'Encyclopedia of the Modern Territorial Army', England : Patrick Stephens, 1990.
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