Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, in her role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), attended the 25th anniversary celebration of 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion REME at their headquarters in Tidworth.
The commemorative event, held in front of invited guests and families, included an inspection of the Battalion’s personnel by The Duchess, accompanied by music from the Band of the Coldstream Guards.
Speaking at the celebration, The Duchess said: “Congratulations to all of you for a truly magnificent parade. We are here today to celebrate this wonderful milestone, and I would just like to wish you all a happy 25th anniversary.”
Formed on April 1, 2000, 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion REME was established by amalgamating 9 Armoured Close Support Company, 10 Armoured Company, and 17 Field Support Company. The Battalion is responsible for providing close equipment support to the British Army’s armoured units. Originally based in Bordon, the Battalion moved to Tidworth Camp in March 2010.
During the event, Her Royal Highness also planted a Maple tree outside the Battalion Headquarters — a symbolic nod to the unit’s historic ties to the Canadian Army during both World Wars, stemming from its time at Bordon Camp.
Lieutenant Colonel Matt Cary, Commanding Officer of 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion REME, reflected on the significance of the day:“Today is very significant for us. Many of the soldiers may have missed parades in the past because of Covid restrictions or due to training or being deployed on exercises, so to have the opportunity to march in front of their families and march in front of our Colonel-in-Chief is really special.”
Her Royal Highness assumed the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps of REME in 2022, succeeding The Duke of Edinburgh, who held the position for over five decades.
The Battalion continues to play a vital role in NATO operations and European defence initiatives. It has supported Operation Cabrit and participated in Exercise Black Eagle in Poland, working alongside the King’s Royal Hussars Battlegroup to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. The unit also contributes to the wider NATO initiative, Operation Steadfast Defender.
Looking to the future, Lieutenant Colonel Cary added: “Looking ahead, we continue to modernise. We have our own validation training next year and we continue to support our NATO partners on Operation Cabrit. So, lots to look forward to.”
Following the anniversary celebrations, a well-earned summer break awaits the personnel of 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion REME, before operations resume in the autumn.
Image: MOD Crown Copyright News / Editorial Licence.
