" 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

Summer / Autumn 2024 - we are updating the site at last !

So far I have put on all the newsletters upto the last one we did last December. The updated links are over on the right of this message!

Also I have updated the Contact details, the research details (now moved to National Archives, from Personnel Office) and varous other out of date details.

This is an on-going process. I am looking at finally getting online, now that we have capacity to upload all of our photo galleries !

Please bare with me as we are also working on The Fighting Pioneer Book and in addition another book, that I will let you all know more about in due course!

In addition this year we have the 75th Reunion Weekend taking place in Bicester.

 Events Calendar

Events are now published on the Facebook Group Events Page,
which can be accessed by clicking the above link. We also publish details in our newsletter.

 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.

Patrons
HRH The Duke of Gloucester  KG GCVO

Vice Patrons
Major General G W Field  CB OBE

President
Brigadier D Clouston MBE

Controller
Lt Colonel Billy Dilkes (Retd)

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 a very large magazine once a year (we used to do 2 smaller ones, but it is cheaper to produce one large one, than 2 smaller ones!). 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