This page is a long term work in progress. The Quarry Companies are not well documented and I am adding details as I find them. The information shown here is accurate but inevitably incomplete.
Imperial War Museum photograph Q9708. Officers of the Royal Engineers and men at the marble quarries at Marquise, 25 November 1918.
198th Quarry Company RE
Formed at Tunneling Depot at Clipstone Camp 1916
Moved to France
199th Quarry Company RE
Formed at Tunneling Depot at Clipstone Camp 1916
Moved to France
The Selkirk ‘Southern Reporter’ included this information in its edition of Thursday 25 January 1917
320th Quarry Company RE
Formed at Buxton RE depot
Landed at Le Havre 26 February 1917, consisting of 1 officer, 100 men. An additional officer, 164 men, 2 horses arrived next day
321st Quarry Company RE
Formed at Buxton RE depot, mainly from men of Guernsey
Landed at Le Havre 17 February 1917, consisting of 3 officers, 264 men, 2 horses
322nd Quarry Company RE
Formed at Buxton RE depot
Landed at Le Havre 18 March 1917, consisting of 2 officers, 264 men, 2 horses
Moved to Calais 28 March 1917
323rd Quarry Company RE
Formed at Buxton RE depot
Landed at Le Havre 12 May 1917, consisting of 4 officers, 264 men, 2 horses
Moved to Marquise 14 May 1917
324th Quarry Company RE
Formed at Buxton RE depot
Landed at Le Havre 28 March 1917, consisting of 2 officers, 265 men, 2 horses
Left Le Havre 1 April 1917
325th Quarry Company RE
Formed at Buxton RE depot
Landed at Le Havre 2 June 1917, consisting of 4 officers, 264 men, 2 horses
Moved to Marquise 5 June 1917
326th Quarry Company RE
Formed at Buxton RE depot
Landed at Le Havre 23 May 1917, consisting of 4 officers, 264 men, 2 horses
Moved to Marquise 27 May 1917
327th Quarry Company RE
Formed at the Curragh Camp (Ireland)
Landed at Le Havre 2 June 1917, consisting of 4 officers, 241 men, 2 horses
Moved to Beaulieu 5 June 1917
328th Quarry Company RE
Evidence of formation in Ireland by 11 April 1917
Moved to France
329th Quarry Company RE
Formed at Boulogne on 29 May 1917
348th Quarry Company RE
Formed at Aldershot 12 October 1917
Landed at Le Havre 28 October 1917, consisting of 4 officers, 264 men, 2 horses
Moved to Boulogne 31 October 1917 and then to Calais
Responsible for provision of roadstone for repair and construction in Boulogne and Calais areas
Good war diary exists covering up to December 1918
Composition
The structure of a Quarry Company RE as defined in July 1916:
1 Captain in command of company
3 subalterns (Lieutenants or Second Lieutenants)
2 Warrant Officer Class II, appointed Company Sergeant Major and Company Quartermaster Sergeant
4 Sergeants
8 Corporals
12 Lance Corporals
228 Sappers (197 being skilled quarrymen; 16 steam engine drivers; rest assorted trades)
1 Cook
4 Batmen
1 attached driver of the Army Service Corps
Employment
Most of the companies were engaged at the quarries at Rinxent near Marquise, producing road and other stone for repair and construction work.
Sources
War diary of Le Havre Base
War diary of 348 Quarry Company RE (WO95/4057)