Corps History - Part 3
The Corps of Engineers (1716-1832)

In the aftermath of the Treaty of Utrecht (1714) that ended the War of Spanish Succession (1701-13) the Trains were again disbanded, but Britain found itself in the possession of Gibraltar, Minorca and Nova Scotia. All these territories required extra engineer staff to maintain their defences - a requirement that demanded the Board's attention. At same time it was also becoming apparent that the functions of gunnery and engineering were not entirely compatible and that the Artillery officers also resented being subordinate to the Engineers.

Corps of Engineers - 1716

These circumstances led to a recommendation by the Chief Engineer, The Honourable Brigadier Michael Richards that two distinct Corps be created within the Ordnance; one being the Royal Regiment of Artillery (responsible for gunnery) and the other the Corps of Engineers (responsible for military engineering).

On 26 May 1716 that proposal was implemented by Royal Warrant and thus the Corps of Engineers was formed and was staffed entirely by officers.

The following year another Warrant (1717) was issued outlining the Engineer Establishment as:

By 1748 in addition to above locations, Engineers were stationed at; Annapolis, Newfoundland, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisburg, Rattan and Jamaica, as well as, India. In 1755 the West Coast of Africa was added to the list – the spread of locations was an early indication of the Corps' future battle honour of 'Ubique' (Everywhere).

In 1740 the first code of instructions for the new Corps of Engineers entitled "General Instructions for the Engineers, to be sent to several Garrisons" was published. Among other items it contained instructions on inspections of ordnance and how to prepare plans and the scales to use on those plans.

Officer training at Royal Military Academy, Woolwich - 1741

The need for protection of the expanding British interests abroad highlighted to the Board of Ordnance the necessity for adequately trained officers competent to carry out those responsibilities.

In 1741 the Royal Military Academy (The Shop), was established in Woolwich, London to instruct “the people of its Military branch to form good Officers of Artillery and perfect Engineers".

Ordnance Survey - 1747

The aftermath of the Jacobite Rising of 1745 brought a new responsibility to the Corps. It was the compilation of a map of the Scottish Highlands, which became the precursor of the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain and was to develop into a distinct Survey Section within the Corps.

Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) David Watson (?-1761), the Deputy Quartermaster-General in Scotland began the task in 1747 and it was concluded by his assistant (and nephew) Practitioner Engineer (later Major General) William Roy (1726-90) two years later.

In 1765, Roy was appointed by Royal Warrant to be Surveyor General of Coasts and the Engineer responsible for making and directing military surveys in Britain.

By 1890 the whole of the British Isles had been surveyed.

Military rank granted - 1757

In 1757 military ranks were granted to members of the Corps of Engineers:

Prior to 1757, engineer officers who held a military rank had either purchased the commission or had had it granted to them.

Corps of Royal Engineers - 1787

A Royal Warrant, dated the 25 April 1787, bestowed the Corps with the 'Royal' title so it became the Corps of Royal Engineers.

On 10 July 1832 William IV (1830-7) granted the Royal Regiment of Artillery and the Corps of Royal Engineers, permission to wear, on their appointments, the Royal Arms and Supporters, together with a cannon and the mottoes Ubique (Everywhere) above the cannon and Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt (Where right and glory lead) below it. In 1868 the cannon was omitted from the Corps Badge. Since then the actual design of the Royal Arms has changed slightly with each reigning monarch.

History of the Corps of Royal Engineers Vol I. Porter W (Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, 1951)

A Short History. The Royal Engineers. Compiled by Maj DP Aston RE (Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, 1993)

Follow the Sapper. Napier G (Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, 2005)

Links to further reading:

Biography - Major General William Roy (1726-1790) - Developer of the Ordnance Survey

Article - Royal Military Academy, Woolwich