Cyprus

16 Squadron

There is an established 16 Sqn social site at http://16fldsqnre.com/ which seems very popular. Once you've registered on here, why not pop over there and take a look at it? Meanwhile, I've had this lot from Derek Stevenson;

POCKET HISTORY OF 16th FIELD SQUADRON
The beginning The oldest squadron in the Corps today is lst Fortress Squadron, which was formed in 1772. Our squadron was, however, not far behind, being formed in 1825. 16th Survey Company of the Royal Sappers and Miners was formed under Royal Warrant dated the 20th October 1825, at Chatham. The Company remained at Chatham until April 1826, is which month it set sail for the West Indies. Unfortunately the Company vas Ship wrecked off Barbados, losing all its equipment. Later the same year, the Company arrived in Ireland and for the next five years were employed on the Survey of Ireland. The next 80 years were spent in a variety of stations engaged in surveying tasks, and detachments from the Company were employed on many boundary commissions end surveys all over the world. In 1906 the Company was reformed as 16th Fortress Company, being part of a Coast Battalion based on the Tyne, Tees, Humber and Mersey. It was employed on the construction of coastal defences of all these areas. In 1914 the name was changed to 16th Tyne Fortress Works Company and, in 1918 the company was split into four for draft-finding purposes to provide the basis of 594, 595. 596 and 597 TA Fortress Companies. In October 1919, however, 594 TA Fortress Company was renamed 16th Coast Battalion Company. In 1927, the Company was once more renamed as 16th Fortress Company and as such it remained until being absorbed in 1932 at Gosport as part of 4th Fortress Company, and 16th Company thus, temporarily, ceased to exist.

Malta
This sad demise was, however, wisely not allowed for long and in Malta on the 1st September 1934 the Company came to life again as the 16th Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Company, with the task of manning 12 searchlight stations for the defence of the island. In 1935, the Company was renamed once again as 16th Fortress Company, although its role was not changed. With its varied experience as Royal Engineers, the Company found no difficulty in constructing its own emplacements as well as operating the searchlights. It also helped to construct the permanent defences of the island. In 1939 the Company incorporated a Maltese section and was capable of operating 24 searchlights although never were more than 19 brought into service. As soon as war was declared in 1939, the Italian Air force attacked Malta in strength, and from early 1941, the island was subjected to almost incessant air attacks by the German Luftwaffe who attempted to beat the population into submission. The record of 16th Fortress Company throughout this period was a proud one and its part in the successful defence of the island should never be forgotten. Among other decorations, the CSM was awarded the George Medal and a sapper the Military Medal. By October 1943, as the enemy retreated up the leg of Italy conditions had improved, and the Company was withdrawn from Malta.

North West Europe
In early 1944, the Company became the 16th Electrical and Mechanical Company Royal Engineers and, on the 6th June 1944, it embarked from England to arrive on the beaches of Normandy on D + 3. Tasks included lighting of the beaches and provision of electrical and water installations at hospitals and prisoner of war camps. As an L of C unit in 21st Army Group, the Company was employed over most of Normandy on servicing and maintenance work.

The Far East
In 1945 the Company embarked for the F, East and it finished the Second World War in India and later in South East Asia. In October 1946, however the Company was placed in suspended animation.

Egypt
On the 9th February, 1950, 16th Field Squadron was reformed as part of 35 Engineer Regiment, in Egypt. During the riots of October 1951 the Squadron was employed in constructing desert camps, construction of an ice-making plant at Fort Said, and on road maintenance. In early 1954, however the regiment moved on rotation to Cyprus and the Squadron followed in June. The massive task of sorting out the aftermath of the Suez operation was completed in Cyprus by the end of 1956 and so the Squadron was able to return with the rest of the Regiment to Ripon, to rejoin their families, in January 1957.

Ripon
The Squadron now spent nearly a year in the UK, but in November 1957, it was moved, at six weeks notice with the rest of the Regiment, to Osnabruck. The Squadron remained as part of 35 Corps Engineer Regiment, at Osnabruck, for the next seven years until 1964. In 1963 a troop was sent to Skopje, in Jugoslavia, to build emergency hutting.

2 Division Engineers
In 1964, the Squadron joined 2 Division Engineers when 35 Corps Engineer Regiment moved to Hameln. The Squadron was affiliated to 6 Infantry Brigade. In 1966, when 6 Infantry Brigade returned to the UK, by a staff officer error, 7 Field Squadron was ordered to return with it, and so 16 Field Squadron became affiliated to 12 Infantry Brigade at Osnabruck.

23 Engineer Regiment
However, in April 1969, the organisation of Engineers in BAOR was radically reorganised, so that each Brigade was to be supported by an Engineer Regiment of two Field Squadrons, 16 Field Squadron was re-affiliated to 6 Infantry Brigade support, together with 7 Field Squadron. From late 1967 to mid 1969, the Squadron was the nucleus and administrative hub of the Engineer Task Force for the earthwork construction of a German civilian airport at Greven, near Munster, and was thus responsible for the largest earthmoving operation ever undertaken by the Corps.

The Future
From April 1971, the Squadron will experience yet another change of affiliation, when, together with 37 Field Squadron, who will replace 7 Field Squadron as the other Field Squadron in 25 Engineer Regiment, we will be responsible for engineer support to 4 Guards Brigade at Munster.

Summary
Thus it can be seen that 16 Field Squadron has behind it a varied history which represents almost every facet of the history of the Corps itself. Founded as a survey Company, it has such wide experience of so many different roles as to qualify it fully for anything that the future may hold. 16 Field Squadron faces the future with confidence.
R B HILL Major RE Officer Commanding

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