Royal Engineers Depots

A list of the various home depots and training locations of the Royal Engineers

RE Unit or DepotDepot locationRemarks
(1st) Reserve Battalion and Depot BattalionChathamOrganised on mobilisation in August 1914 but essentially similar to what had already existed at Chatham. Reserve Battalion (A to F Companies) trained new recruits. Depot Battalion (G, L and M Companies) received men returned from Expeditionary Force and also men enlisted for Tunnelling Companies, Special Companies and other specialist units
Billeting Battalion, later called 2nd Reserve BattalionChatham, late moved to ChattendenFormed when original Reserve Battalion could no longer cope with numbers of recruits
Provisional CompaniesChathamFormed when original Depot Battalion could no longer cope with numbers of recruits. Two Groups of Provisional Companies were formed: No 1 included G, L and M Companies and a new Provisional Bn; No 2 was made up of four new Provisional Bns. Additional J and Q Companies were added to No 1 in early 1918
Dismounted Training Centre. Formed 3rd Reserve Battalion in Jan 1918NewarkFormed to help cope with flow of recruits into New Army units.
Dismounted Training Centre. Formed 4th Reserve Battalion in Jan 1918DeganwyFormed to help cope with flow of recruits into New Army units
5th Reserve BattalionChristchurch (Bournemouth)Formed in Jan 1918 from what had been the reserve Field Companies grouped in Southern Command. Abolished in October 1918 to make room for a new Bridging Training Centre
6th Reserve BattalionIrvineFormed in Jan 1918 from what had been the reserve Field Companies grouped in Scottish Command
Royal Monmouth Reserve BattalionMonmouth
Royal Anglesey Reserve BattalionBeaumaris
Mounted Training DepotAldershot
Special Brigade DepotWithnoe (Devonport)Originally called Special Brigade Reserve Company
Signal DepotFenny Stratford
Signal Service Training CentreWoburnAl;so established a number of other sites in the vicinity. HQ moved to Bedford in October 1917
Signal ServiceBedford “A”Recruit Depot
Signal ServiceBedford “B”Signalmen and Linesmen Depot
Signal ServiceBedford “C”Operators Depot
Signal ServiceBiggleswadeAir and Permanent Line Depot
Signal ServiceHaynes ParkRiding, Driving, Saddlers etc Depot
Signal ServiceHaynes ParkSwitchboard Operators Depot
Signal ServiceHaynes ParkCadet Battalion
Signal ServiceHitchinDraft depot
Signal Service Wireless Training CentreWorcesterMoved to Fenny Stratford in August 1917
Signal Service DepotHoughton Regis (Dunstable)Moved to Wellingborough in March 1918
Army Signal SchoolDunstableArmy-wide centre for training signals instructors, under command of Signal Service Training Centre HQ, formed March 1918
Source of above: Work of the RE in the European War 1914-19. “The organization and expansion of the Corps”
2nd Reinforcement CompanyFranceLocated at RE Base Depot at Rouen

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