170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group


170 Engineer Group was an engineering group of the British Army's Corps of Royal Engineers.

History

Military Works Force

In 1978, following the 1975 Mason Review, the Military Works Force was formed at Chetwynd Barracks to control the Corps of Royal Engineers's works groups. It controlled the specialist engineering units and helped in commanding and providing those special services. The group was originally formed with the control of just two Commanders Royal Engineers each with three Specialist Teams Royal Engineers, but this force was later expanded. At one time, the command controlled 530 STRE, but it is unknown when this STRE was formed, disbanded, and assigned to the group. The four CREs of the command included;

170 Engineer Group

In 2003, the 2003 Delivering Security in a Changing World reforms were announced. By 2005, engineer groups were regulated and renamed, one the changes being the Military Work Force being renamed as 170 Engineer Group and placed under the 8th Force Engineer Brigade. In addition to the changed of the group, the CRE units were re-titled as Works Groups. The name was also brought to represent the group as a military organisation rather than a civil organisation. Between 2005 and 2023, the group saw many units come and go, those who were included, but no longer;
During the sub-groups' time within the engineer group, many saw themselves take on a territorial, later reserve, specialist team. Following the initial Army 2020 reforms, each works group control a reserve specialist team regularly, as opposed to randomly for deployments. Following these initial reforms, the group was due to take control of the Royal Monmouthshire Militia, but this was reverted in 2015 when the refine announced they were to move under control of Headquarters Royal Engineers, 3rd [Division (United Kingdom)|3rd (United Kingdom) Division].
In 2015, the Army 2020 Refine was published, as an "updated chapter" to the initial Army 2020 reform. Under this refine, the group HQ is to move to Gamecock Barracks, and is also due to have a decrease of 9 personnel.

Disbandment

170 Engineer Group disbanded in September 2022, with all the units resubordinating to 12 (Force Support Engineer) Group.

Structure on disbandment

At disbandment, the group had the following structure;

Commander

Commanders of the Engineer Group included:
  • 2005-2008: Col. J. David McIlroy
  • 2008-2011: Col. W.H. Smith
  • 2011-2013: Col. Steven P.W. Boyd
  • 2013-2015: Col. David J. Brambell
  • 2015-2017: Col. James Crawford
  • 2017-2020: Col. Peter T. Quaite
  • 2020-2023: Col. Gavin P. Hatcher