Tobruk
51 Squadron
This is the main page for the squadron or unit. More info will be added here as I get the time, but for now it's a "base" for establishing comms with other members of the same unit. You can post messages for other members of the same unit using the messages link above this blurb, and you can also search for other members of this unit. Once you find them, click on their name to send an email direct to them. Please note that this website doesn't "remember" your emails, they are sent direct from you to the recipient without sappers.co.uk getting in the way. That helps you get in touch quickly and it keeps everything simple and free. Have fun. Gordon
The following brief history of 51 Sqn was submitted by Paul "Scouse" Wylde - thanks very much to him for this. Can anyone fill in the next bit?
The Squadron was formed in 1965, filling its establishment and working up at Claro Barracks in Ripon in the latter half of that year. It was one of four Squadrons forming or converting to the Airfields role, to take over responsibilities of support to the RAF from the “Airfield Construction” Branch of the RAF.
At the end of January 1966 the bulk of the Squadron started on the 24+-hour journey to join the advance party in what was to be the largest Engineer Squadron on establishment for nearly 3 years. This started with a session of concentrated acclimatisation training which was to last until our arrival at Paya Lebar Airport Singapore.
The Squadron settled down to life on an RAF station, RAF Seletar to be precise, and started the take-over and work up to replace 5001 Squadron RAF. We inherited some strange equipment, exchanged some good for some rather dated and tried to keep some of the “spare” toolkits that the RAF had, to little or no avail. We also inherited some personnel from the RAF, mostly to the great benefit of the Squadron as it helped ease the process of familiarisation with RAF procedures. The Squadron was withdrawn from Singapore as part of the “withdrawal from East of Suez” plan in 1968.
Since October 1970 the Squadron has had a number of name and role changes and even returned to Ripon around 1977, the Squadron today I am sure is just as successful as its predecessors and hopefully the “Black Ant” lives on somewhere.
51 reformed in June 1968 at Waterbeach Barracks as part of 39 Engineer Regiment (Airfields). The Squadron stayed here till 1977, but then moved back to Claro Barracks, In Sunny Ripon again, were it was to undertake yet another change taking on the role of 51 Field Squadron (Construction) but still carried on its Airfield Damage Repair job at RAF Gutersloh, I am not sure what happened to the Squadron after 1981 because I was posted to 21 Engineer Regiment in Nienburg. I would hope that maybe someone could fill in the blanks from 1981 to whenever 51 Field Squadron were disbanded as I would be interested to find out
Inland Water Transport Squadron
I know nothing about this squadron, so if you have any information, memories, funny stories or whatever then please please add them in the comments below. REgards, Gordon
Middle East Land Forces
After 1945, the Middle East Command was reformed as Middle East Land Forces. Middle East Land Forces commanded the forces in Libya (25th Armoured Brigade, which was later subsumed into 10th Armoured Division) until 1957, and the 1st Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, two armoured regiments and other forces, in the Suez Canal Zone until the early 1950s.
In 1959 Middle East Command was divided into two commands split by the Suez Canal.
The two parts were British Forces Arabian Peninsular, which was based at Aden, and the rump of the former Command which was based in Cyprusand which in 1961 was renamed Near East Command.
Middle East Command was disbanded on 28 November 1967 and the command of British forces in the Persian Gulf was transferred to Headquarters, British Forces Gulf which was based in Bahrain.
taken from Wikipedia
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