" 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

 Newsletter - October 2009

Hot off the press is our latest newsletter... the printed newsletter should be dropping through your letterboxes anyday now, for which I have enclosed some Christmas Draw tickets - please give the draw your fullest support as this is now the main source of income for the Association.

Please keep your letters coming in and I hope you enjoy reading the many great stories inside this excellent issue !

Also in this Newsletter are details of the 23 Pnr Regt Medal Parade and March through Bicester on 28 November 2009. All members of the Association have been invited to spectate at these events and I hope to see you there.

• News section with details of past and future events
• Final part of George Pringles story
• Falklands - After the Battle with photos published here for the first time
• Lancastria Fatality
• Pioneers on D-Day
• My service with 120 Company
• Blast from the Past
• Massive Photo gallery
• Your letters
• Book reviews
• Last post / Obituaries / Lost Trails
• and much, much more !

Nov 15th 2009

 Joining the Royal Pioneer Corps Association


It is now over sixteen 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 over eighty 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.

Nov 15th 2009

Patrons
HRH The Duke of Gloucester  KG GCVO
Vice Patrons
General Sir John Stibbon  KCB OBE
Major General G W Field  CB OBE
President
Bridadier H J Hickman  CBE
Chairman of Council
Colonel A Barnes TD JP
Controller
Mr N Brown Esq

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
•  215 Company Reunion Lunch