What was a Field or Signals Company?

Home > Army Definitions > A Field or Signals Company of the RE

The Royal Engineers carried out a number of different roles for the Army both in the field and along the Lines of Communication. The various specialisms were organised into different types of units, none of which was bigger than a Company in size. These units were attached to Divisions, or to larger formations at Corps, Army or even GHQ. The main ones, of which there were many, were the Field Companies, and the Signals Companies. As they were attached to the fighting portions of the Divisions, these Companies often saw action and took part in the fighting. The Divisions of the early part of the war also had on their strength 2 Fortress Companies and works units for bridging and lines of communication. Various other units of Royal Engineers were attached to Higher Formations. In November 1914, the Royal Engineers was composed of almost 17,000 officers and 340,000 other ranks.

The Field Company

In 1914, each infantry Division included 2 Field Companies. A third was added during January 1915, as more units came up to strength and passed training. Click here for a list of Field Companies. The Field Company was composed of 217 men, as shown here.

Officers 6 in total	Major, in command of the Company Captain, second in command 4 Lieutenants (or 2nd Lts), each in command of a section
NCOs 23 in total	Company Sergeant-Major Company Quartermaster Sergeant Farrier Sergeant 6 Sergeants, 7 Corporals, and 7 2nd-Corporals (a rank peculiar to the Royal Engineers and Army Ordnance Corps)
Other ranks 186 in total	1 Shoeing Smith 1 Trumpeter 1 Bugler 138 Sappers (the RE rank equivalent to Private) 37 Drivers 8 Batmen
Attached	2 Privates of the RAMC, for water duties

The Company also had a Driver of the ASC, who was actually counted as part of the Divisional Train. A detachment of the Field Company was left at the Base, as reinforcements. The men were organised into two areas: Mounted (which included the CQMS, the Farrier, the Shoeing Smith, trumpeter, 3 NCOs and the drivers and batmen), and Dismounted. The latter represented many kinds of trades required by the Army in the field, including in the numbers shown above 15 Blacksmiths, 20 Bricklayers, 40 Carpenters, 5 Clerks, 12 Masons, 6 Painters, 8 Plumbers, plus surveyors, draughtsmen, wheelwrights, engine drivers and so on.

As with all other units, the Field Companies relied heavily on horses for transport, and had an establishment of 17 riding horses for the officers and NCOs of the Mounted Branch; 50 draught heavy horses, and 4 pack horses. There were also 5 spare draught horses as replacements.

With the exceptions of the Trumpeter and Bugler, all Other Ranks were armed as infantrymen, carrying the SMLE rifle.

The list of Field Company equipment is far too long to detail here, as you might imagine. As an example, the Company had in its care 111 shovels and 107 pickaxes. It also carried a store of sandbags and guncotton charges.

The Signals Company

In 1914, each infantry Division included a Signals Company, with a total strength of 162 men. It was organised into a Company HQ and 4 Sections, of which No 1 Section was responsible for communications with Divisional HQ, and Nos 2-4 with the Brigades of the Division.

Officers 5 in total	Major or Captain, in command of the Company 4 Lieutenants (or 2nd Lts), each in command of a section
Company HQ 25 in total	Company Sergeant-Major Company Quartermaster Sergeant 1 Sergeant at HQ, plus 1and a Corporal in Signallers Group 1 Sergeant and 8 Corporals in the Despatch Riders Group 1 Shoeing Smith 1 Trumpeter 7 Drivers 2 Batmen
No 1 Section 48 in total	2 Sergeants, 2 Corporals and 3 Second-Corporals 1 Shoeing Smith 26 Sappers 12 Drivers 2 Batmen
Nos 2-4 Sections 72 in total	3 Sergeants, and 3 Second-Corporals in the telephone sections 24 Sappers and 6 Drivers also in the telephone sections 3 Sergeant and 3 Corporal in the Signallers and Despatch Riders sections 18 Sappers in the Signallers and Despatch Riders sections 6 Batmen, 3 Drivers and 3 Sappers in the 3 Section HQ's
Attached	2 Privates of the RAMC, for water duties

The Company also had a Driver of the ASC, who was actually counted as part of the Divisional Train. A detachment of the Signals Company was left at the Base, as reinforcements.

The Signals Companies relied heavily on horses for transport, and had an establishment of 33 riding horses; 47 draught and packhorses. There were 32 bicycles and 9 motorcycles.

With the exception of the Trumpeter, all Other Ranks were armed as infantrymen, carrying the SMLE rifle but no bayonet.

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