R.E.M.E. duties in WWII?

[WWIIBuff]

Hello all,

Please excuse my ignorance, but this is my first venture into the British Militaria world. Can someone please tell me if R.E.M.E. units during WWII were solely responsible for repairing machinery and electronics, or did they have other duties as well, like being a sapper or something?

Also would the duties have been any different for a R.E.M.E. attached to an airborne unit?

Thanks

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi John, this should help a bit:

http://www.rememuseum.org.uk/remeass/history.htm

Airborne REME units did the same tasks as non airborne units, but with the obvious limitations due to lighter equipment carried. They did have their own special trailers fitted with work bench, vice, grinding tools etc.

Sapper type work such as bridge building demolition etc was still carried out by the RE. Ordnance & ammo supply etc was the work of the ROAC.

Cheers, Ade.

[WWIIBuff]

R.e.m.e.

Thanks Adrian. Would a R.E.M.E. have gone into battle with the 6th para in Normandy or Market Garden? What would they have there to fix?

Thanks

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi John, both 1st and 6th had REME elements:

1st Airborne Div Workshops REME
1 LAD
2 LAD
3 LAD
5 LAD
13 LAD
14 LAD

6th (Airborne) Divisional Workshops, REME
10th Airlanding Light Aid Detachment, REME
12th Airlanding Light Aid Detachment, REME

See the excellent book "With Spanners Descending" by Joe Roberts which is all about 1st A/B REME.

The job of all these units was to fix vehicles and weapons.

Cheers, Ade.

[WWIIBuff]

R.e.m.e.

Thanks Ade! You've been a great help as always.