ROYAL ENGINEERS RANKS
by
Lieutenant
Colonel Edward De Santis, MSCE, PE, MInstRE
(updated, April 2020)
The following is a list of some Royal Engineer ranks that are quite different from those found in other units of the British Army. The abbreviations shown after each rank are those officially used by the Royal Engineers. They may or may not be as used to name medals.
1. GENERAL ROSTER
The following four ranks were found on the General Roster during the 1920's and 1930's:
a. Quarter Master Sergeant Instructor (Q.M.S.I.)
b. Company Sergeant Major Instructor (C.S.M.I.)
c. Bugle Major
d. Second Corporal (2nd Cpl.). This was a uniquely RE rank
which fell between the ranks of Lance
Corporal and Corporal.
2. MOUNTED ROSTER
The rank of Trumpet Major was carried on the RE Mounted Roster in the 1920's and 1930's.
3. ESTABLISHMENT FOR ENGINEER SERVICES (E.E.S)
During the 1920's and 1930's this element of the Royal Engineers had, by far, the greatest number of unusual ranks.
a. Mechanist Sergeant Major (Mech. S.M.)
b. Mechanist Quarter Master Sergeant (Mech. Q.M.S.), also (M.Q.M.S.)
c. Mechanist Staff Sergeant (Mech. S.S.)
d. Clerks of Works Sergeant Major (C.W. S.M.)
e. Clerk of Works Quarter Master Sergeant (C.W.Q.M.S.)
f. Foreman of Works Staff Sergeant (F.W. S.S.), also (F. of W. S.S.) also (S.-Sjt. in place of S.S.)
g. Superintending Clerk (S.C.)
h. Engineer Clerk Quarter Master Sergeant (E.C.Q.M.S.)
i. Engineer Clerk Staff Sergeant (E.C. S.S.), also (E.C.S.-Sjt.)
j. Engineer Clerk Sergeant (E.C. Sjt.)
k. Engineer Clerk Lance Sergeant (E.C. L.-Sjt.)
1. Engineer Clerk Corporal (E.C. Cpl.)
m. Superintending Clerk and Draughtsman (S.C. & D.)
n. Engineer Clerk and Draughtsman Quarter Master Sergeant (E.C.&D. Q.M.S.)
o. Engineer Clerk and Draughtsman Staff Sergeant (E.C. & D. S.S. )
p. Engineer Clerk and Draughtsman Sergeant (E.C. & D. Sjt.)
q. Engineer Clerk and Draughtsman Lance Sergeant (E.C. & D. L.-Sjt)
r. Engineer Clerk and Draughtsman Corporal (E.C. & D. Cpl.)
s. Engineer Ledger Keeper and Storekeeper Superintending Clerk (E.L.K. & S. S.C.)
t. Engineer Ledger Keeper and Storekeeper Quarter Master Sergeant (E.L.K. & S. Q.M.S.)
u. Engineer Ledger Keeper and Storekeeper Staff Sergeant (E.L.K. & S. S.S.)
v. Engineer Ledger Keeper and Storekeeper Sergeant (E.L.K. & S. Sjt.)
w. Engineer Ledger Keeper and Storekeeper Lance Sergeant (E.L.K. & S. L.- Sjt.)
x. Engineer Ledger Keeper and Storekeeper Corporal (E.L.K. & S. Cpl.)
Prior to and during the early part of the Great War, the following additional ranks were used by the Royal Engineers:
1. SHOEING AND CARRIAGE SMITH ROSTER
a. Shoeing and Carriage Smith Corporal (S. & C.S. Cpl.)
b. Shoeing and Carriage Smith (S. & C.S.)
2. MOTOR CYCLE SECTION.
Artificer Corporal (Cpl.)
3. ESTABLISHMENT FOR ENGINEER SERVICES
a. Mechanist Electrician Quarter Master Sergeant (Mech. E. Q.M.S.)
b. Mechanist Electrician Staff Sergeant (Mech. E. S.S.)
c. Foreman of Works Quarter Master Sergeant (F.of Wks. Q.M.S.)
d. Engineer Storekeeper Quartermaster Sergeant (E.S. Q.M.S.)
e. Engineer Storekeeper Staff Sergeant (E.S. S.S.)
f. Engineer Clerk Corporal (E.C. Cpl.)
g. Engineer Clerk Second Corporal (E.C. 2nd-Cpl.)
h. Engineer Clerk Lance Corporal (E.C. Lce.-Cpl.)
The following ranks existed in the Royal Engineers during the periods indicated:
a.. For Submarine Mining duties (1886)
(1) Mechanist Coxswain
(2) Mechanist Electrician
(3) Mechanist Engine Driver
(4) Mechanist Instrument Repairer
(5) Storekeeper (S.M.)
(6) Mechanist (Brennan Worker)
b. Military Mechanists (1884)
Military Mechanist (Steam and Hydraulic)
c. Military Mechanists (1905)
Machinery Mechanist
REGIMENTAL SERGEANTS MAJOR
The rank of Regimental Sergeant Major was used in the Royal Engineers for Warrant Officers Class I serving in the following capacities:
1. When serving as the senior non-commissioned officer under the Commander Royal Engineers (C.R.E.) in a division (usually in a command with two or more field companies).
2. When serving as the senior non-commissioned officer on the staff of the headquarters of one of the Indian Sapper and Miner Corps (Bengal, Madras & Bombay).
3. When serving as the senior non-commissioned officer with one of the Engineer Volunteer or Militia Corps (Submarine Miners, Fortress Engineers, etc.).
The sources of the information provided above are:
1. "The Sapper". Journal of the Corps of Royal
Engineers. Various issues from 1914 to 1935.
2. History of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Volume IV, Chatham,
1952.