The Field Company of the Royal Engineers provided technical skill and know-how in support of the fighting units of the formation known as a Division.
Tip for researchers
The daily operational record of the Field Company is its war diary. They are held at the National Archives but many are now digitised and available online. You can get a general idea by following the movements of the Division to which the Field Company belonged, here on the Long, Long Trail. Once you find the Division in the tables below, click on “Order of Battle of Divisions” in the Links area to find the full structure and history of that Division.
The Field Companies formed on mobilisation
When the British government declared war on Germany, the War Office issued orders for mobilisation of the British Expeditionary Force in accordance with the existing plan. The 13 Field Companies then at home on a peacetime establishment were reorganised to create twelve Field Companies, two for each of the six Divisions of the BEF. Men required to bring these Companies up to war establishment units came from the RE Training Depot at Aldershot (mounted men) and the RE Reserve Battalion and Depot Companies at Chatham (dismounted men):
| Field Company | Allocation to Divisions |
| 5th | 2nd Division |
| 7th | 4th Division Aug 14 – Apr 15 then 48th Division to Jun 15 then 50th Division |
| 9th | 4th Division |
| 11th | 2nd Division Aug 14 – Dec 15 then 33rd Division |
| 12th | 6th Division |
| 17th | 5th Division Aug 14 – Mar 15 then 28th Division from Jun 15. Short-term attachments to 27th Division (Mar 15), 48th Division (May 15) |
| 23rd | 1st Division |
| 26th | 1st Division |
| 38th | 6th Division Aug 14 – Apr 15 then 28th Division |
| 56th | 3rd Division |
| 57th | 3rd Division Aug 14 – Apr 15 then 46th Division to Jul 15 then 49th Division |
| 59th | 5th Division |
The Field Companies formed for the new regular (7th and 8th) Divisions
Orders were soon given to recall regular units that were on garrison duty overseas (often once they had been replaced by an outgoing Territorial unit). As thet arrived in England, these units were formed into new regular Divisions:
| Field Company | Allocation to Divisions |
| 2nd | 8th Division (October 1914, from Egypt) |
| 15th | 8th Division (October 1914, from Gibraltar where it was 15th Fortress Company) |
| 54th | 7th Division (September 1914, from Chatham) |
| 55th | 7th Division (September 1914, from South Africa) then Guards Division September 1915 |
Field Companies per Division expanded to three
In September 1914 an urgent recommendation was received from GHQ in France that the needs of war required a third Field Company per Division. This had been recommended in 1912 but not implemented. Arrangements were made for eight Territorial Field Companies to fill these places in the first eight Divisions. The Companies were given numbers in February 1917:
| Field Company | Allocation to Divisions |
| 401st | 2nd (Highland) Field Company TF, joined 7th Division January 1915 and in January 1916 to 51st Division |
| 409th | 1st (Lowland) Field Company TF, joined 1st Division |
| 419th | 1st (West Lancashire) Field Company TF, joined 4th Division February 1915 and then 55th Division in February 1916. Briefly attached 48th Division in April 1915. |
| 438th | 1st (Cheshire) Field Company TF, joined 3rd Division |
| 483rd | 1st (East Anglian) Field Company TF, joined 2nd Division January 1915 |
| 490th | 1/1st (Home Counties) Field Company TF, joined 8th Division |
| 491st | 1/2nd (Home Counties) Field Company TF, joined 5th Division |
| 509th | 1st (London) Field Company TF, joined 6th Division |
Field Companies raised for the last regular (27th, 28th and 29th) Divisions
Orders were given by the War Office to form three more regular Divisions from the last units recalled from overseas garrisons. As the regular Field Companies had all by now been allocated, arrangements were made for nine Territorial Field Companies to fill the places in the three new Divisions. The Companies were given numbers in February 1917:
| Field Company | Allocation to Divisions |
| 410th | 2nd (Lowland) Field Company TF, joined 29th Division in February 1915 to February 1916 then 52nd Division |
| 446th | 1st (Northumbrian) Field Company TF, joined 28th Division in December 1914 to June 1915 then 50th Division |
| 455th | 1st (West Riding) Field Company TF, joined 29th Division in March 1915 |
| 465th | 1st (North Midland) Field Company TF, joined 28th Division in December 1914 to April 1915 then 46th Division |
| 474th | 1st (South Midland) Field Company TF, joined 27th Division in December 1914 to March 1915 then 3rd Division briefly then 5th Division to April 1915 then 48th Division |
| 500th | 1st (Wessex) Field Company TF, joined 27th Division |
| 501st | 2nd (Wessex) Field Company TF, joined 27th Division |
| 510th | 2nd (London) Field Company TF, joined 29th Division in December 1914 |
| 517th | 3rd (London) Field Company TF, joined 28th Division in December 1914 to April 1915 then 47th Division |
Field Companies raised for the formation of Kitchener’s Armies
When the expansion of the army was sanctioned in August 1914, it required four Armies each of six Divisions to have two Field Companies each; that is, 48 new Field Companies:
| Field Company | Allocation to Divisions |
| First New Army, K1 | |
| 61st | 14th (Light) Division |
| 62nd | 14th (Light) Division |
| 63rd | 9th (Scottish) Division |
| 64th | 9th (Scottish) Division |
| 65th | 10th (Irish) Division to July 1918, then 3rd (Lahore) Division |
| 66th | 10th (Irish) Division |
| 67th | 11th (Northern) Division |
| 68th | 11th (Northern) Division |
| 69th | 12th (Eastern) Division |
| 70th | 12th (Eastern) Division |
| 71st | 13th (Western) Division |
| 72nd | 13th (Western) Division |
| Second New Army, K2 | |
| 73rd | 15th (Scottish) Division |
| 74th | 15th (Scottish) Division |
| 75th | 16th (Irish) Division to August 1915 then Guards Division |
| 76th | 16th (Irish) Division to August 1915 then Guards Division |
| 77th | 17th (Northern) Division |
| 78th | 17th (Northern) Division |
| 79th | 18th (Eastern) Division |
| 80th | 18th (Eastern) Division |
| 81st | 19th (Western) Division |
| 82nd | 19th (Western) Division |
| 83rd | 20th (Light) Division |
| 84th | 20th (Light) Division |
| Third New Army, K3. In January 1915 it was decided to add a third Field Company to each New Army Division and those Companies that had been raised for K3 were reassigned to the Divisions of K1 and K2. | |
| 85th | 21st Division to January 1915 then 10th (Irish) Division |
| 86th | 21st Division to February 1915 then 11th (Northern) Division |
| 87th | 22nd Division to February 1915 then 12th (Eastern) Division |
| 88th | 22nd Division to February 1915 then 13th (Western) Division |
| 89th | 23rd Division to January 1915 then 14th (Light) Division |
| 90th | 23rd Division to January 1915 then 9th (Scottish) Division |
| 91st | 24th Division to January 1915 then 15th (Scottish) Division |
| 92nd | 24th Division to January 1915 then 18th (Eastern) Division |
| 93rd | 25th Division to January 1915 then 17th (Northern) Division |
| 94th | 25th Division to January 1915 then 19th (Western) Division |
| 95th | 26th Division to January 1915 then 16th (Irish) Division then in August 1915 to 7th Division |
| 96th | 26th Division to January 1915 then 20th (Light) Division |
| Fourth New Army, K4. In the reassignment noted above, the Companies raised for K4 were transferred to K3 Divisions. | |
| 97th | 30th Division to January 1915 then 21st Division |
| 98th | 30th Division to January 1915 then 21st Division |
| 99th | 31st Division to February 1915 then 22nd Division |
| 100th | 31st Division to February 1915 then 22nd Division |
| 101st | 32nd Division to January 1915 then 23rd Division |
| 102nd | 32nd Division to January 1915 then 23rd Division |
| 103rd | 33rd Division to February 1915 then 24th Division |
| 104th | 33rd Division to February 1915 then 24th Division |
| 105th | 34th Division to February 1915 then 25th Division |
| 106th | 34th Division to February 1915 then 25th Division |
| 107th | 35th Division to February 1915 then 26th Division |
| 108th | 35th Division to February 1915 then 26th Division |
| Fifth New Army, K5. As new units continued to be raised, some were allotted to become the third Company in K4 Divisions and other joined K5 Divisions. | |
| 121st | 36th (Ulster) Division |
| 122nd | 36th (Ulster) Division |
| 123rd | 38th (Welsh) Division |
| 124th | 38th (Welsh) Division |
| 126th | 21st Division from March 1915 |
| 127th | 22nd Division by June 1915 |
| 128th | 23rd Division from April 1915 |
| 129th | 24th Division from April 1915 |
| 130th | 25th Division May 15 – |
| 131st | 26th Division from 25 April 1915 |
| 150th | 36th (Ulster) Division from March 1915 |
| 151st | 38th (Welsh) Division from April 1915 |
| 152nd | 37th Division from April 1915 |
| 153rd | 37th Division from April 1915 |
| 154th | 37th Division from April 1915 |
| 155th | 16th (Irish) Division from August 1915 |
| 156th | 16th (Irish) Division from August 1915 |
| 157th | 16th (Irish) Division from August 1915 |
| 200th ‘County Palatine’ | 30th Division from January 1915 |
| 201st ‘County Palatine’ | 30th Division from January 1915 |
| 202nd ‘County Palatine’ | 30th Division from January 1915 |
| 203rd ‘Cambridge’ | 35th Division from January 1915 |
| 204th ‘Empire’ | 35th Division from January 1915 |
| 205th ‘Dundee’ | 35th Division from January 1915 |
| 206th ‘Glasgow’ | 32nd Division from January 1915 |
| 207th ‘Norfolk’ | 34th Division from February 1915 |
| 208th ‘Norfolk’ | 34th Division from February 1915 |
| 209th ‘Norfolk’ | 34th Division from February 1915 |
| 210th ‘Leeds’ | 31st Division from January 1915 |
| 211th ‘Leeds’ | 31st Division from January 1915 |
| 212th ‘Tottenham’ | 33rd Division from July 1915 |
| 218th ‘Glasgow’ | 32nd Division from January 1915 |
| 219th ‘Glasgow’ | 32nd Division from January 1915 |
| 222nd ‘Tottenham’ | 33rd Division from July 1915 |
| 223rd ‘Leeds’ | 31st Division from January 1915 |
| 224th | 40th Division from November 1915. Raised in Doncaster |
| 225th ‘Stockton-on-Tees’ | 39th Division from November 1915. Raised in Marton Hall, Yorkshire |
| 226th ‘Tottenham’ | 33rd Division from July 1915 then in December 1915 to 2nd Division |
| 227th ‘Stockton-on-Tees’ | 39th Division from November 1915. Raised in Marton Hall, Yorkshire |
| 228th ‘Barnsley’ | 41st Division from September 1915 |
| 229th | 40th Division from November 1915. Raised in Doncaster |
| 231st | 40th Division from November 1915. Raised in Doncaster |
| 233rd ‘Ripon’ | 41st Division from September 1915 |
| 234th ‘Stockton-on-Tees’ | 39th Division from November 1915. Raised in Marton Hall, Yorkshire |
| 237th ‘Reading’ | 41st Division from September 1915 |
Field Companies of the Territorial Force
Some of the pre-war TF Field Companies were allotted early in the war to serve with the regular Divisions, as shown above. The following tables lists the allocation to Divisions of the remaining First-Line TF Companies and the Second- and sometimes Third-line units that were created from them. The Companies were numbered in 1917.
| Field Company | Allocation to Divisions | Remarks |
| 400th | 51st (Highland) Division. | 1st (Highland) |
| 402nd | 64th (2nd Highland) Division | 1/3rd (Highland) |
| 403rd | 64th (2nd Highland) Division | 2/1st (Highland) |
| 404th | 51st (Highland) Division. | 2/2nd (Highland) |
| 405th | 64th (2nd Highland) Division | 3/2nd (Highland) |
| 406th | 4th Division from May 1916. | 1st (Renfrew) |
| 411th | 65th (2nd Lowland) Division | 1/3rd (Lowland) |
| 412th | 52nd (Lowland) Division from March 1915. | 2/1st (Lowland) |
| 413rd | 52nd (Lowland) Division from March 1915. | 2/2nd (Lowland) |
| 414th | 65th (2nd Lowland) Division | 3/1st (Lowland) |
| 415th | 65th (2nd Lowland) Division | 3/2nd (Lowland) |
| 416th | Moved in December 1915 to Egypt, and there attached as Army Troops. Moved to France and joined 56th (London) Division in May 16. | 1st (Edinburgh). Originally a Fortress Company. |
| 419th | 55th (West Lancashire) Division but sent independently to France 3 January 1915 and placed under 4th Division. Had a short period 18-28 April 1915 under 48th (South Midland) Division before returning to 55th Division when it was reformed on 28 February 1916. | 1st (West Lancashire) |
| 420th | 55th (West Lancashire) Division to June 1915. Moved to Gallipoli then 42nd East Lancashire) Division from August 1915. In May 1916 joined a Composite Brigade at Mudros. Moved to Salonika June 1917, being attached as Army Troops. | 2nd (West Lancashire) |
| 421st | 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division. | 1/3rd (West Lancs) |
| 422nd | 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division then January 1916 to 55th (West Lancashire) Division. | 2/1st (West Lancs |
| 423rd | 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division then January 1916 to 55th (West Lancashire) Division. | |
| 427th | 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. | 1st (East Lancs) |
| 428th | 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. | 2nd (East Lancs) |
| 429th | 42nd (East Lancashire) Division from July 1916. | 3rd (East Lancs) |
| 430th | 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division. | 2/1st East Lancs |
| 431st | 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division. | 2/2nd East Lancs |
| 432nd | 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division. | 2/3rd East Lancs |
| 436th | 53rd Division Aug 14 – | 1st (Welsh) |
| 437th | Left UK Oct 15, to Gallipoli. Attached as IX Corps Troops Oct 15 – Dec 15 then 53rd Division | 2/1st (Welsh) |
| 439th | 53rd Division Sep14 – Apr 18 then 74th Division | 2/1st (Cheshire) |
| 447th | 50th Division Aug 14 – | 2nd (Northumbrian) |
| 448th | 63rd Division Jan 15 – Sep 15 then 15th (Indian) Division | 1/3rd (Northumbrian) |
| 449th | 28th Division July 15 – | 2/1st (Northumbrian) |
| 450th | 63rd Division Jan 15 – Sep 15 then 15th (Indian) Division | 2/2nd (Northumbrian) |
| 451st | 63rd Division Jan 15 – Sep 15 then 15th (Indian) Division | 3/1st (Northumbrian) |
| 456th | 49th Division Aug 14 – | 2nd (West Riding). Formed Sheffield. |
| 457th | 62nd Division Jun 15- | 1/3rd (West Riding) |
| 458th | Formed in Sep 14, then attached to 62nd Division until June 15 when moved to 49th Division, where it stayed to | 2/1st (West Riding) |
| 459th | Formed in Sep 14, then attached to 62nd Division until Oct 15 when moved to 6th Division, where it stayed to | 2/2nd (West Riding) |
| 460th | 62nd Division Jun 15- | 2/3rd (West Riding) |
| 461st | 62nd Division Mar 15- | 3/1st (West Riding) |
| 466th | 46th Division Aug 14- | 2nd (North Midland). Formed in Cannock. |
| 467th | 59th Division Early 1916 – | 1/3rd (North Midland) |
| 468th | 46th Division Aug 14-. Attached GHQ Mar to Jul 1915. | 2/1st (North Midland) |
| 469th | 59th Division Feb 15 – | 2/2nd (North Midland) |
| 470th | 59th Division Feb 15 – | 3/1st (North Midland) |
| 475th | 48th Division Aug 14 – | 2nd (South Midland) Formed Bristol. |
| 476th | 61st Division Nov 15 – | 1/3rd (South Midland) |
| 477th | 48th Division Jun 15 – | 2/1st (South Midland) Formed Sep 1914. |
| 478th | 61st Division Jan 15 – | 2/2nd (South Midland). |
| 479th | 61st Division Jan 15 – | 3/1st (South Midland). |
| 484th | 54th Division Aug 14 – | 2nd (East Anglian) |
| 486th | 54th Division Sep 14 – | 2/1st (East Anglian) |
| 492nd | 67th Division to Oct 17 then 71st Division to Feb 18, then to North Russia | |
| 495th | Left UK for Gallipoli. Attached 2nd Mounted Division Oct 15 – July 16 then 54th Division. Moved to 75th Division Apr 17, rejoining 54th Division May 18. | 1st (East Kent) |
| 496th | 74th Division Apr 17 – May 17 then 75th Division | 2nd (Kent) |
| 497th | 52nd Division – Feb 16 then 29th Division | 3rd (Kent) |
| 502nd | 57th Division Dec 15 – | 1/3rd (Wessex). |
| 503rd | 58th Division Feb 16- | 2/1st (Wessex) |
| 504th | 58th Division Feb 16- | 2/2nd (Wessex) |
| 505th | 57th Division Feb 16 – | 2/3rd (Wessex) |
| 506th | 28th Division Oct 15 – | 1/7th (Hampshire) |
| 511th | 58th Division Nov 15 – | 1/5th (London) |
| 512th | 58th Division Aug 14 – Feb 16 then 56th Division | 2/1st (London) |
| 513th | 58th Division Aug 14 – Feb 16 then 56th Division | 2/2nd (London) |
| 518th | 47th Division Aug 14 – | 4th (London) Formed Chelsea. |
| 519th | 60th Division Apr 15 – | 3/3rd (London) |
| 520th | 60th Division Oct 14 – Mar 15 then 47th Division Jun 15 | 2/3rd (London) Formed Oct 1914. |
| 521st | 60th Division Oct 14 – | 2/4th (London) Formed Sep/Oct 1914. |
| 522nd | 60th Division Apr 15 – Jul 18 then to 7th (Indian) Division | 1/6th (London). |
| 526th | 4th Division Sep 15 – | 1st (Durham) |
| 527th | 5th Division Sep 15 – | 2nd (Durham) |
| 528th | 51st Division Sep 14 – Jan 16 then 7th Division | 3rd (Durham) |
| 529th | 3rd Division Sep 15- | 1st (East Riding) |
| 546th | 73rd Division Nov 16- Mar 18 then to France, with Third Army from 7 July; Fourth Army 11 Nov; disbanded 4 June 1919 | 1/6th Kent Fortress Coy. |
| 547th | 73rd Division Nov 16- Mar 18 then to France, with Third Army from 7 July; disbanded 4 June 1919 | 1/7th Kent Fortress Coy. |
| 548th | 71st Division Nov 16- Mar 18 then to North Russia | 2/1st Dundee Fortress Coy. |
| 549th | 71st Division Nov 16- Mar 18 then to Western Front | 2/3rd Lancs Fortress Coy. |
| 645th | 71st Division Nov 16- Oct 17 then 67th Division | 6th Provisional Field Coy |
| 648th | 73rd Division Nov 16- Mar 18 then to France, with Fourth Army from 7 July; disbanded 1 May 1919 | 9th Provisional Field Coy. |
Field Companies raised for the Royal Naval Division
| Field Company | Allocation to Divisions |
| 247th | 63rd (Royal Naval) Division from March 1915. Originally No 1 Company, RND |
| 248th | 63rd (Royal Naval) Division from March 1915. Originally No 2 Company, RND |
| 249th | 63rd (Royal Naval) Division from March 1915. Originally No 3 Company, RND |