12 (Force Support) Engineer Group

The group can trace its origins to 12th Engineer Brigade which was originally created to command the reserve Airfield Damage Repair regiments. In 1989 the brigade was under the command of the Eastern District, United Kingdom Land Forces and was headquartered at Waterbeach. By 1989, the brigade had a mix of regular and reserve units.{{Cite book|title=The Corps Of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889—2018|pages=217}} and the brigade had the following structure:

• Headquarters - RAF Waterbeach
• 39th Airfield Damage Repair Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
• 529 (Air Support) Special Team, Royal Engineers -
• Airfields Works Group, Royal Engineers
• 50 Construction Field Squadron, Royal Engineers
• 216 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)
• 217 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)
• 218 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)
• 219 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)

After the Options for Change force reductions, the brigade was re-titled as the 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group, however it remained at RAF Waterbeach.{{Cite book|title=The Corps Of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889—2018|pages=266}}

The 12th Engineer Group was formed after the conversion of the former 12th Engineer Brigade. In 2005, as a result of the Delivering Security in a Changing World White Paper, the group was moved under the command of the new 8th Force Engineer Brigade. Before the initial Army 2020 changes, the group had the following structure:{{Cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/units/29571.aspx|title=12 (Air Sp) Engr Gp - British Army Website|date=20 February 2019|website=army.mod.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221550/http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/units/29571.aspx|archive-date=4 October 2013|access-date=20 February 2019|url-status=live}} {{Failed verification|date=April 2019}}

• Headquarters - RAF Waterbeach
• 25th Air Support Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
• 39th Air Support Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
• 71st Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers{{Cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/units/28726.aspx|title=71 Engr Regt (V) - British Army Website|date=20 February 2019|website=army.mod.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311080623/http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/units/28726.aspx|archive-date=11 March 2013|access-date=20 February 2019|url-status=live}} {{Failed verification|date=April 2019}}
• 73rd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers

After the Army 2020 Refine reforms, the group was retitled as 12 (Force Support) Engineer Group remaining under the 8th Engineer Brigade. Its responsibilities changed from Airfield Support to "support to Theatre Entry, Route Maintenance, and Enabling Airfield Operations".{{Cite web|url=http://milengcoe.org:80/nations/Pages/United%20Kingdom.aspx|title=United Kingdom|website=Military Engineering Centre of Excellence|language=en-us|access-date=2019-02-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/force-troops-command/8-engineer-brigade/|title=8 Engineer Brigade|website=www.army.mod.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-02-20}} The group's current structure is:{{Cite web|url=http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0011.html|title=British Army - Formations - Force Troops Command - 1 Arty Bde - 8 Engr Brigade - 1 Signal Brigade - Armed Forces - a3a4|website=www.armedforces.co.uk|access-date=2019-02-20}}

• 12th (Force Support) Engineer Group, at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire
• 32nd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Marne Barracks, Catterick Garrison{{Cite web |date=22 November 2018 |title=Army, Question for Ministry of Defence — current Order of Battle by manpower and basing locations for the corps. |url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2018-11-22/194616 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226013531/https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2018-11-22/194616 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |access-date=20 February 2021 |website=United Kingdom Parliament — Written questions, answers, and statements}}{{Cite web |date=23 December 2020 |title=Transforming A 'Super Garrison': Construction At Catterick |url=https://www.forces.net/news/transforming-super-garrison-construction-catterick |access-date=2021-02-11 |website=Forces Network |language=en}}{{Cite web |author=Ministry of Defence |date=July 2013 |title=Transforming the British Army an Update |url=http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2014-0042/20140110-PQ01968B-SOames-A2020-Update-Glossy-U.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325181706/http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2014-0042/20140110-PQ01968B-SOames-A2020-Update-Glossy-U.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2014 |access-date=31 January 2021 |website=Parliamentary Publishments}}
• 36th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Tim |title=Queen's Gurkha Engineers Celebrate 73rd Birthday |url=https://www.forces.net/services/gurkhas/queens-gurkha-engineers-celebrate-their-73rd-birthday |access-date=2021-10-09 |website=Forces Network |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=22 November 2018 |title=Written Question for the Ministry of Defence regarding Army basing and personnel |url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2018-11-22/194616 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226013531/https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2018-11-22/194616 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |access-date=18 February 2021 |website=Parliamentary Replies}}{{Cite web |title=36 Engineer Regiment |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/corps-of-royal-engineers/36-engineer-regiment/ |access-date=2020-08-18 |website=www.army.mod.uk |language=en-GB}} — regiment doubles as HQ Queen's Gurkha Engineers{{Cite web |title=36 Engineer Regiment |url=https://twitter.com/36_Engr_Regt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506212726/https://twitter.com/36_engr_regt |archive-date=6 May 2019 |access-date=7 March 2021 |website=36 Engineer Regiment — Twitter}}
• 39th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Kinloss Barracks, Kinloss{{Cite web |title=39 Engineer Regiment |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/corps-of-royal-engineers/39-engineer-regiment/ |access-date=2020-08-18 |website=www.army.mod.uk |language=en-GB}}
• 71st Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V), at Waterloo Lines, Leuchars Station — paired with 32 Engineer Regiment
• 75th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V), at Peninsula Barracks, Warrington — paired with 36 Engineer Regiment
• 43 Headquarters and Support Squadron, at Chetwynd Barracks, ChilwellWatson & Rinaldi, p. 281.{{Cite web |title=OC 43 HQ & Sp Sqn RE |url=https://twitter.com/OC43HQ_SpSqnRE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205201800/https://twitter.com/oc43hq_spsqnre |archive-date=5 December 2019 |access-date=7 March 2021 |website=OC 43 HQ & Sp Sqn RE — Twitter}} (moving to Beacon Barracks, Stafford){{Cite web |date=2024-12-07 |title=170 Engineer Group + Chetwynd Barracks - a Freedom of Information request to British Army |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/170_engineer_group_chetwynd_barr#incoming-2866992 |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=WhatDoTheyKnow |language=en}}
• 20th Works Group (Air Support), Royal Engineers, at RAF Wittering (Hybrid){{Cite web |title=20 Works Group RE (Air Support) |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/units/35495.aspx |access-date=2017-09-25 |publisher=British Army |language=en}}
• 510 Specialist Team (Airfields), Royal Engineers (V){{Cite web |date=6 July 2020 |title=Information regarding locations of Army Reserve units |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/664382/response/1596315/attach/3/20200706%20FOI05506%20Arbeely%20Response%20Letter%20ArmySec.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706215250/https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/664382/response/1596315/attach/3/20200706%20FOI05506%20Arbeely%20Response%20Letter%20ArmySec.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1 |archive-date=6 July 2020 |access-date=7 March 2021 |website=What do they know?}}Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 335–338. (RE Order of Battle Army 2020)
• 62nd Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell (moving to Beacon Barracks, Stafford)
• 63rd Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell (moving to Beacon Barracks, Stafford)
• 65th Works Group, Royal Engineers (V), at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell (moving to Beacon Barracks, Stafford)
• 66th Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell (moving to Beacon Barracks, Stafford)

Commanding Officers of the group included:[http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/REGIMENTAL%20COs.pdf Regiments and Commanding Officers, 1960–].

• 2005–2008: Col. Andrew M. Mills
• 2008–2010: Col. Frank R. Noble
• 2010–2013: Col. Andrew W. Phillips
• 2013–2014: Col. Jason C. Rhodes
• 2014–2017: Col. Matthew Quare
• 2017–2020: Col. Thomas G.J. Marsden
• 2020–Present Col. Simon D. Millar

{{Reflist}}

Category:Groups of the Royal Engineers

Category:Military units and formations established in the 1970s

Category:Organisations based in Moray

Category:Group sized units of the British Army