THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS ASSOCIATION
c/o 23
Pioneer Rgt Royal Logistic Corps
St David’s Barracks
Graven Hill
Bicester
Oxfdshire
OX26 6HF
telephone
01869 360694
fax
01869 360695
email royalpioneercorps
@gmail.com
facebook tinyurl.com/b82ste
registered charity number 1024036
SHOW YOUR
SUPPORT ! 23 Pioneer Rgt
Wristbands
only
£1 each
" 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… "
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 !
Latest News
Past Events
Future Events
23 Pioneer News
168 Pioneer News
Details of the 2011 Reunion Weekend
Multi-Skilled Pioneers article
Pioneer Trades School
Reminiscing by Terry Martell
The Pioneer magazine, 8 Corps District, 1945
Military Curriculum Vitae
847 Smoke Company
Diary from Pte S Johnson from 1943/1945
AGM Minutes
Coco the Clown article
Diary from Pte S Johnson from 1943/1945
Your letters
Book reviews
RPC Association Shop
Last post / Obituaries
RPC Association shop
Lost Trails
It is now nearly 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 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.
Welcome to the Royal Pioneer Corps Association website...
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
and many thanks to all the ex-chunkies, serving
chunkies, relatives and everyone who has
submitted articles
and
stories to the association, for the benefit of everyone
Please
read the forums section
for more info
on how to use
them.
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.
26 Pioneer
Companies went ashore on D-Day in Normandy
on
6th June 1944.
By D-Day plus 79 there were 231 Companies.
Over 68,000 men.
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,
. suffered more
. than 26,000
. casualties.