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THE ROYAL
PIONEER CORPS
ASSOCIATION
c/o 1
Regiment. Royal Logistic Corps
St David’s Barracks
Graven Hill
Bicester
Oxfordshire
OX26 6HF
telephone
01869 360694
fax
01869 360695
email
royalpioneercorps
@gmail.com
facebook
facebook.com/
groups/chunkies
registered
charity number
1024036

SHOW YOUR
SUPPORT !
23 Pioneer Rgt
Wristbands
only
£1 each
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" It was the removal of beach obstacles, the building of
ammo, food and supply dumps and construction that the
majority of the 6,000 Pioneers, who landed on D-Day, were
engaged. Much of the work was carried out under artillery |
and small-arms fire with the ever present risk of touching
off a land-mine… "
Major E H Rhodes-Wood
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Latest
News
last updated -
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Association members should be finding the latest issue of The Pioneer dropping through their letterboxes... With this Newsletter you will, as usual, receive tickets for the Christmas Draw (unless you have already indicated that you are unable to sell them). It would be appreciated if you would give this your fullest support.
We know that there are many causes requiring your hard earned money (especially in these difficult times!) but our two Draws per year help to keep the Association going. Please keep your letters coming in and I hope you enjoy reading the many great stories inside this issue !
Pioneer Weekend
Latest News
Past Events
Future Events
Pat Morley demonstates to Dusty
Burns Night Reunion
PTSD
Sgt Butlers War
Postcard from France
A Conscripts Tale
Digging through the Archives
AGM Minutes
Pioneers on Juno Beach
Press Cuttings from 1946
Letters to the Editor
Blast from the Past
Photo Gallery
Your letters
Book reviews
Last post / Obituaries
Lost Trails
and much more !
Newsletter - October 2015
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Events Calendar
Events are now published on the Facebook Group Events Page,
which can be accessed by clicking the above link.
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Joining the Royal Pioneer Corps Association
It is now over twenty years since our Corps converged with the other Forming Corps' to form the Royal Logistic Corps, it is pleasing therefore to report that the Association is standing the test of time and still going strong. So far this year we have recruited hundreds of new members, some who served during World War 2, many from the National Service days of the Fifties and a great number from the Sixties and Seventies who for one reason or another failed to join when they were serving.
Over 21,000 have joined the RPCA since its formation. When you make contact with ex Corps members or ex RLC Pioneers ask if they receive the newsletters - tell them it is FREE! If they do not please send me their address. If you would like to join the RPCA, drop me an email and I will send you details on how to join. Our reunions are open to all Pioneers and we look forward to seeing you all.
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A group photo from the Reunion in 2013.
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The Royal Pioneer Corps Association Online... |
Patrons
HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO
Vice Patrons
Major
General G W Field CB OBE
President
Brigadier CB Telfer CBE
Chairman of Council
Colonel A Barnes TD JP
Controller
Mr N Brown Esq
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Although the
Royal Pioneer Corps disbanded in 1993 when it was amalgamated
with 4 other Corps to form the Royal Logistic Corps,
the Royal Pioneer Association still runs and does valuable
work with the financial help of the Army Benevolent
Fund. It's main work is the relief of "need, hardship
and distress" of ex-Pioneers, their wives, widows
and dependants.
The Corps has quietly got on with business
in hand, sometimes with recognition, often with none
at all. A price was paid and you will find the graves
of Pioneers in most War Cemetaries overseas - they paid
heavily. Our overseas Pioneers must never be forgotten;
they too gave their lives and served loyally. The Association
will provide the focal point for the Royal Pioneer Corps
affairs both socially and supportively. It will need
your involvement and encouragement.
The Association publishes two
newsletters a year. These newsletters
are published on this website. Under the umbrella of
the Association there are also a number of organisations
- details of their activities are also to be included. In the main these are:
- 39/93 Club Dinners
- Warrant Officers and Senior
NCO's Pioneer Reunion Club
- Northampton Branch of the
Royal Pioneer Corps Association
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» website, editorial & assistance- Paul
Brown
» historian & research - Lieutenant
Colonel John Starling
» hosted by - 123.reg
and many thanks to all the ex-pioneers, serving
pioneers, relatives and everyone who has
submitted articles
and
stories to the association, for the benefit of everyone
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Facts
The strength of the
Corps in May 1945
was probably one
of the largest in the Army and included
12,000 officers,
16,000 UK
personnel and
400,000 Pioneers
from other parts of
the Commonwealth.
It was responsible
for a civilian labour
force of 1,074,000
and a prisoner of
war force of
173,000.
Very little has been
said about the
Pioneer units that
landed on the
beaches on D-Day,
June 6, 1944 and
they are the
forgotten Corps.
. The Pioneers
however played an
essential role on
D-Day and many
other campaigns
and suffered many
casualties.
At 7.45am, the first
Pioneers landed,
53 Coy, and, after
them, in quick
succession the men
of 129 Coy, 170
Coy, 225 Coy and
209 Coy. The
smaller men were
up to their necks in
the heavy swell
which accounted
for a number of
those reported
missing by nightfall.
26 Pioneer
Companies went ashore on D-Day in Normandy
on
6th June 1944,
some 6,000 men.
By D-Day plus 79
there were 231 Companies. Over
68,000 men.
With each group
that landed on
D-Day was a
Pioneer Corps
Unit. Their task
was to clear mines
and underwater
obstacles, unload
landing craft, build
ammunition and
other dumps,
construct beach
tracks to carry the
guns, armour and
vehicles to the firm
land beyond, act as
stretcher bearers,
collect and
evacuate the
wounded, guard
prisoners and, if
necessary, join the
assault forces in
the battle. Many
of the tasks
undertaken by the
Pioneers were done
under enemy fire.
Army Commanders
in every theatre of
war paid tribute to
the work of the
Corps without
which they freely admitted that the
war could not
have been won.
Over 2,800 British personnel of the
Corps laid down
their lives overseas,
. suffering more
. than 26,000
. casualties.
This website is
here to remember
the role of the
Pioneers and to
honour those whom
have made the
ultimate sacfifice.
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