8th Engineer Brigade (United Kingdom)

In August 2001, Headquarters Royal Engineers, Theatre Troops was established as a subdivision of HQ Theatre Troops based in Upavon. On 1 April 2005, the headquarters was redesignated as part of the LANDmark review as 8th Force Engineer Brigade and subsequently took control of the three engineer groups: 12th (Air Support), 29th (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search), and 170th (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Groups. The new brigade's headquarters was also based at Upavon, now at Trenchard Lines.[1]

As part of the Army 2020 reorganisation following the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010, HQ Theatre Troops was redesignated as Force Troops Command, while the brigade headquarters was moved to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley and subsequently took control of 25th (Close Support) Engineer Group. However, in 2016 as part of the subsequent Army 2020 Refine changes, 25 Engineer Group was moved under direct control of 3rd (United Kingdom) Division. Consequently, two regiments of 25 Engineer Group; 32nd and 35th Engineer Regiments were moved under 12 Engineer Group.[1]

In August 2020, a reorganisation of the Field Army, the brigade was moved under control of 1st (United Kingdom) Division. The Brigade has been also regionally aligned with the South Asian region as part of defence engagement.[2][3][4]

The current structure of the brigade as of November 2021 is as follows:[5][6]

• Headquarters, 8th Engineer Brigade, at Gibraltar Barracks, Minley[5][6]
  • 8th Engineer Brigade Combat Information Systems (CIS) Troop, Royal Engineers (V), at Aldershot Garrison[7]
  • 12th (Force Support) Engineer Group, at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire
    • 32nd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Marne Barracks, Catterick Garrison[8][9][10]
    • 36th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone[8][11][12][13] — regiment doubles as HQ Queen's Gurkha Engineers[14]
    • 39th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Kinloss Barracks, Kinloss[8][12][15]
    • 71st Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V), at Waterloo Lines, Leuchars Station[8][12] — paired with 32 Engineer Regiment[10]
    • 75th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V), at Peninsula Barracks, Warrington[8][12] — paired with 36 Engineer Regiment[10]
  • 29th (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search) Group, at Montgomery House, Aldershot Garrison
    • 660 Signal Troop (EOD), Royal Corps of Signals[16][17]
    • 29 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search) Group Support Unit, at Carver Barracks, Wimbish[8][18]
    • 28th Engineer Regiment (Counter-Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear), Royal Engineers, at Rock Barracks, Woodbridge (NRBC Defence)[19][20]
      • Falcon Area Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron, Royal Tank Regiment,[21] at Harman Lines, Warminster Garrison
    • 33rd Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search), Royal Engineers, at Carver Barracks, Wimbish[8][12]
    • 35th Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search), Royal Engineers, at Carver Barracks, Wimbish[8]
    • 101st (City of London) Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search), Royal Engineers (V), at Hudson House, Catford[8][12] — paired with 33 Engineer Regiment[22]
    • 11th Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Vauxhall Barracks, Didcot[8][12]
    • 1st Military Working Dog Regiment, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, at Saint George's Barracks, North Luffenham (Hybrid)[8][12]
      • 101 Military Working Dog Squadron (V), in Oakham[23]
  • 170th (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell[24]
    • 43 Headquarters and Support Squadron, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell[25][26]
    • 20th Works Group (Air Support), Royal Engineers, at RAF Wittering[8][12] (Hybrid)[27][28]
      • 510 Specialist Team (Airfields), Royal Engineers (V)[23][29]
    • 62nd Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell[8]
    • 63rd Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell[8]
    • 65th Works Group, Royal Engineers (V), at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell[8]
    • 66th Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell[8]

• Watson, Graham E.; Rinaldi, Richard A. (2018). The Corps of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889 – 2018. United Kingdom: Tiger Lilly Books. ISBN 978-1717901804.
• Lord, Cliff; Watson, Graham (2004). The Royal Corps of Signals : unit histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and its antecedents. Solihull, West Midlands, England: Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1-874622-92-5. OCLC 184820114.

• Official website