I have received a letter of thanks from the OC 26 AES, he would like me to pass on his sincerest thanks and that of the SSM and the officers and men of the squadron for giving them an excellent weekend at Coventry and that it was a great honour to be part of a momentous weekend. He says that the picture that was presented to him by General Tony Younger is proudly on display on the wall directly outside his office.

150th ANNIVERSARY
26 ARMOURED ENGINEER SQUADRON

By the Branch Secretary
Kevin Bradley

The 150th anniversary celebration of the formation of 26 Armoured Engineer Squadron took place at the Royal Court Hotel Coventry over the weekend 18th – 20th February with a 3 course Gala Dinner on Saturday 19th February 2005.

Many members of past and present 26 AES made a huge effort to attend this prestigious event, some travelling from as far afield as Canada and Germany.

Except for the Gala dinner, the weekend was a non formal event and this gave people the much valued time they needed to reacquaint themselves with their old friends, many of whom they had not seen since the end of the Second World War.

The Gala Guest of Honour was Major General Tony Younger DSO OBE MA who was the Squadron’s OC on D-Day 1944, he gave a short speech on his experiences during his war time service and as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers.

General Younger was asked to make two presentations to the current OC Major Neil Carson RE. The first presentation was a framed picture entitled The Pioneers of the Nile Expedition leaving Sarras for Dal on November 2nd 1884 and was given to the Squadron by the Members of Armoured Branch (REA). The picture is a laser enhanced line drawing of the Officers and Men of the Squadron’s expedition up the Nile to Dal in 1884 and is an exact copy of the drawing which is on display in the RE museum at Chatham.

Presented to 26 Armoured Engineer Squadron
to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Squadron
by the Armoured Engineers Branch, Royal Engineers Association

The Pioneers of the Nile Expedition leaving Sarras for Dal on November 2nd 1884
Drawing showing soldiers of 26 Field Company in boats, proceeding up the river Nile.
Drawn by Mr M. Prior of the Illustrated London News.
The original is on display in the Royal Engineers Museum Chatham.

The second presentation was a piece that was specially commissioned by the officers and SNCO’s of 26 AES to commemorate this occasion. The piece was a 12” square solid block of dark hard wood. On both sides it depicted the Squadrons winged fist and five lightening bolts in solid silver.

Down one edge it listed the names of the officers and SNCO’s who contributed to the piece and down the other it depicted the story of where King George V gave his permission for the permanent use of the 26 shoulder title.

The OC graciously accepted the gifts from the General and then he gave a short briefing on the Squadrons current activities. He also updated the guests on the forthcoming 150th celebrations which are due to take place at Hohne between 13th – 19th June 2005.

Each male guest was then given a specially engraved whisky tumbler which was produced by Mark Bizley.

The weekend was concluded by a curry lunch on the Sunday.

General Younger presenting the Picture to the OC 26AES

The OC giving his speech holding the 26 Squadron Plaque

General Younger (seated)
Dr David Pratt (left) and his driver Vic Pearman, who all came ashore
on D-Day H Hour with 26 Sqn.