101 Engineer Regiment finds home at Carver Barracks
By Alistair Nelson THE Carver Barracks in Wimbish has become the home to a new regiment of Royal Engineers which will take on an identical role to the bomb disposal regiment which is already based there. Currently the home of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explos
By Alistair Nelson
THE Carver Barracks in Wimbish has become the home to a new regiment of Royal Engineers which will take on an identical role to the bomb disposal regiment which is already based there.
Currently the home of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), the barracks near Saffron Walden will now be shared with 101 Engineer Regiment (EOD).
Outgoing commanding officer of 33 Engineer Regiment, Lt Col David Southall, who is soon to be deployed in Afghanistan, said: "Our bomb disposal and specialist search community continues to flourish and I'm delighted to be handing over command of our EOD Squadrons to two commanding officers.
You may also want to watch:
"It demonstrates the growth and investment in this key military capability; the change is also matched by another major Wimbish deployment to Afghanistan and I look forward to leading the Counter-IED (improvised explosive device) Task Force in Helmand this summer.
"IEDs in Afghanistan pose a deadly threat to us, this indiscriminate tactic of desperation continues to kill and maim far more innocent Afghans. Whilst this IED fight is not easy, it remains critical to help secure Afghanistan, with the Afghan Security Forces, for the Afghans.
Most Read
- 1 Affinity Water: No compensation for customers in water softening row
- 2 Walden pub reopens after four years
- 3 Maisie the schnoodle returns to care home after year of 'fur'-lough
- 4 Boy George and Culture Club announce Audley End concert
- 5 Bar staff smash £1,000 target in charity challenge
- 6 Standing for election for a seat on Essex County Council on May 6, 2021
- 7 Your opinion matters: Help to shape the future of your newspaper
- 8 Coronavirus one year on: Stansted suffers 95% drop in passengers
- 9 Saffron Striders doing their bit for charity as racing returns
- 10 New pub opens: 'We had almost the whole village, and the one nearby'
"I'm confident we have the equipment, training and expertise to prevail and I'm immensely proud, and humbled, by what our young sappers achieve in this most testing and demanding of roles. I thank them, and their families for their unswerving commitment to make Afghanistan a safer place.
"It's been a privilege to command 33 Engineer Regiment and I now relish the challenge in Afghanistan."
33 Engineer Regiment will be commanded by Lt Col Simon Bell and 101 Engineer Regiment by Lt Col Aiden Smyth.
Soldiers from 21 Field Squadron, which is part of 33 Engineer Regiment, will be deployed to Afghanistan over the next few days. They will help to clear Helmand of roadside bombs, making the area safe for British patrols and civilians.
