1 Close Support Battalion REME

1st Close Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers File:1 Battalion REME Badge.png 140px Badge of the 1st Close Support Battalion 1993–Present; 1993 9 1 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland United Kingdom Combat Service Support unitWatling Bronk 2019 16 Battalion278 PersonnelCraftsman Magazine January 2022, p.8 102 Operational Sustainment Brigade Catterick Garrison Op TelicOp Herrick 1st Close Support Battalion, REME is a Combat service support unitWatling & Bronk, p. 16. of the British Army's Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Background Following the end of the Cold War, a massive reorganisation of the Armed Forces took place, known as the Options for Change. Under this paper, new 'REME battalions' were to be formed by grouping previously independent REME workshops and companies within the two deployable divisions. At first all independent REME units would be grouped into these battalions, but this was later reduced to just three based in Germany.Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 132–134, 137–138.British Army units from 1945 on - Major Units http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-electrical-and-mechanical-engineers/major-units-4.html 2021-02-20 british-army-units1945on.co.ukSeptember 2022 Formation In September 1993, 1st Battalion REME was formed through the grouping of the following independent units: 12 Armoured Workshop HQ, 4 Close Support Company, and 12 General Support Company. The battalion was based at Mercer Barracks, Osnabrück Garrison. The new battalion's role was to provide second line equipment support to the 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division, in addition to supporting 4th Armoured Brigade, based in Osnabrück. From May to October 2005 the battalion deployed for the first time, to Iraq on Operation Telic VI as part of the 'National Support Element'. From October 2007 to April 2008 it again deployed, this time to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick VI. Shortly after returning, the battalion was redesignated as part of the 2003 Defence White PaperAlso known as 'Future Army Structure reform' to become 1st Close Support Battalion REME. As part of this reform, one brigade, 4th Armoured Brigade, was selected to move to Catterick Garrison in 2008, and the battalion followed, settling at Megiddo Lines, where they remain today. Army 2020 Under the Army 2020 programme announced in 2010, the battalion would leave the operational command of the 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division and re-subordinate to 102nd Logistic Brigade. 1 Battalion REME would now work alongside 2 Btn REME to provide maintenance and technical support to the, now renamed, 1st (United Kingdom) Division. Under the reform, the battalion was paired, for the first time with a reserve unit, 102 Battalion based in Newton Aycliffe.Ministry of Defence Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) July 2013 Transforming the British Army an Update http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2014-0042/20140110-PQ01968B-SOames-A2020-Update-Glossy-U.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20140325181706/http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2014-0042/20140110-PQ01968B-SOames-A2020-Update-Glossy-U.pdf 2014-03-25 31 January 2021 Parliamentary Publishments2016-08-14 Regular Army Basing Matrix by Formation and Unit http://www.aff.org.uk/linkedfiles/aff/latest_news_information/cregulararmybasingannouncementgridunclas.pdf 2021-02-20 Army Families Federation https://web.archive.org/web/20160814181412/http://www.aff.org.uk/linkedfiles/aff/latest_news_information/cregulararmybasingannouncementgridunclas.pdf 2016-08-14 The battalion's last deployment would be from November 2012 to April 2013 on Operation Herrick VII.4th Mechanized Brigade to replace 12th Mechanized Brigade in Helmand https://www.gov.uk/government/news/4th-mechanized-brigade-to-replace-12th-mechanized-brigade-in-helmand 2021-03-20 Ministry of Defence 11 July 2022 en In mid 2013 the battalion along with the Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band marched through Richmond, North Yorkshire on their return from their last deployment to Afghanistan.1csbnreme 989828977639481344 27 April 2018 1 CS Bn REME parading at the freedom of Richmond Parade. 19 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20220919185220/https://twitter.com/1csbnreme/status/989828977639481344 19 September 20221CSBnREME 27 April 2018 1 CS Bn REME parading at the Freedom of Richmond Parade 989829017367928833 https://web.archive.org/web/20200528204026/https://twitter.com/1CSBnREME/status/989829017367928833 2020-05-28 19 November 2020 Army 2020 Refine Under the Army 2020 Refine announced in 2015, the battalion's role was again changed, now tasked with supporting what will become known as the 1st Strike Brigade. In preparation for this, the battalion is due to leave 102nd Logistic Brigade and transfer to 101 Logistic Brigade. By 2025 the battalion will either amalgamate or group with 1 Regiment RLC to provide a 'combined logistic support capability to the Strike Brigade'.10 March 2017 Information on the Army 2020 refine exercise https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/632554/2017-02130.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20180615140804/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/632554/2017-02130.pdf 2018-06-15 29 July 2020 Parliament Publishing ServicesWritten statements - Written questions, answers and statements https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2016-12-15/HCWS367 2021-02-20 Parliament of the United Kingdom en 102 Logistic Brigade was due to be disbanded by 2017, however as of March 2021 this still hasn't occurred, with the battalion still under command of this brigade.102 Logistic Brigade https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/1st-united-kingdom-division/102nd-logistic-brigade/ 2021-02-20 Ministry of Defence en-GBArmy2020 Following the Army 2020 Refine, a new 'Echelon Company' was formed, following the announcement that the battalion would increase in size by 76 personnel. (Watling & Bronk, p. 16.) (Information on the Army 2020 refine exercise) On 26 June 2015 the battalion was awarded the Freedom of Stockton, where they were supported by members of their paired battalion 102 Battalion REME (Volunteers). This was followed by the Freedom of Richmond, granted 3 years later on 27 April 2018, this time supported by the Band of the Royal Armoured Corps. Future Soldier Under the Future Soldier reforms, the battalion re-subordinated to the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team in April 2022.Craftsman Magazine, January 2022 p. 8 It has since re-subordinated to 102 Operational Sustainment Brigade. Organisation As of March 2021, the battalion is based at Megiddo Lines, Catterick Garrison, where it will remain for the foreseeable future.10 March 2017 Information on the Army 2020 Refine exercise https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/632554/2017-02130.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20180615140804/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/632554/2017-02130.pdf 2018-06-15 19 November 2020 Parliament of the United KingdomVisit to 1 Close Support Battalion, REME, Catterick https://nearyou.imeche.org/near-you/UK/North-Eastern/event-detail?id=15839 2020-11-19 Institution of Mechanical Engineers 1 Close Support Battalion REME is composed of the following sub-units: Battalion Headquarters1_cs_bn_reme CGR_DL7BLnw 13 October 2020 Today is the Battalion LBSG study day seeing members across the Bn attend to develop and mature their understanding of key concepts associated to LBSG. 19 November 2020 Headquarters Company 4 Close Support Company1_cs_bn_reme CGh58dRhULB 19 October 2020 As the week begins, Recovery Mechanics ( LCpl Bryson, LCpl Bevan, Cfn Bagguley and Cfn Tompos ) from 4 Coy are busy resetting the crane on the SV(R) as part of a routine maintenance post repair. 2020-11-191_cs_bn_reme CF_3hgtBhlb 6 October 2020 4 CS Coy conducted a 5 Mile TAB this morning in preparation for an AFT at the end of the month. 19 September 2022 12 Close Support Company1CSBnREME 3 October 2017 Well done to 12 Coy putting on an excellent coffee and cake morning for Winston's Wish. 915155593555476481 https://web.archive.org/web/20210912190503/https://twitter.com/1CSBnREME/status/915155593555476481 2021-09-12 19 November 20201_cs_bn_reme CGkCmAlBSvC 20 October 2020 This morning saw CSM 12 Coy delivering a 'six section battle drills' lesson with the trainees on the LCpl ALDP. 2020-11-191_cs_bn_reme CGARhWgha0o 6 October 2020 A member of 12 Coy working on a Jackal armoured vehicle. 19 November 2020 Echelon Company1_cs_bn_reme CGlCk0KBWsi 20 October 2020 Here's a quick round up of October so far with Echelon Coy. 2020-11-19Army2020 References Notes Sources Watson Graham The British Army in Germany (BAOR and after) : an organizational history, 1947-2004 Tiger Lily Publications for Orbat.com 2005 978-0-9720296-9-8 Takoma Park, MD 241300352 none Watling Jack Bronk Justin Occasional Paper: Strike from Concept to Force Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies June 2019 Whitehall, London, United Kingdom 2397-0278 Category:Battalions of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Category:Military units and formations established in 1993