12 (Force Support) Engineer Group

12 Engineer Group is an engineer formation of the British Army.

History

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. and the brigade had the following structure:

Headquarters - RAF Waterbeach
* 39 Airfield Damage Repair Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
* 529 Special Team, Royal Engineers -
* Airfields Works Group, Royal Engineers
* 50 Construction Field Squadron, Royal Engineers
* 216 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers
* 217 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers
* 218 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers
* 219 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers

After the Options for Change force reductions, the brigade was re-titled as the 12 Engineer Group, however it remained at RAF Waterbeach.
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:

Headquarters - RAF Waterbeach
* 25 Air Support Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
* 39 Air Support Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
* 71 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
* 73 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers

Structure

After the Army 2020 Refine reforms, the group was retitled as 12 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". The group's current structure is:

12th Engineer Group, at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire
* 32 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Marne Barracks, Catterick Garrison
* 36 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone — regiment doubles as HQ Queen's Gurkha Engineers
* 39 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Kinloss Barracks, Kinloss
* 71 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Waterloo Lines, Leuchars Station — paired with 32 Engineer Regiment
* 75 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Peninsula Barracks, Warrington — paired with 36 Engineer Regiment
* 43 Headquarters and Support Squadron, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell
* 20 Works Group (Air Support), Royal Engineers, at RAF Wittering
** 510 Specialist Team, Royal Engineers
* 62 Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell
* 63 Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell
* 65 Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell
* 66 Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell

Commanders

Commanding Officers of the group included:

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