5th Field Company - Engineers
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Brief History
Each Division had three Field Engineer Companies under command, numbered the same as the Brigades of the Division. The 2nd Division thus had the 5th 6th and 7th Field Company of Engineers on strength.
They undertook a broad range of tasks including preparation and supervision of the construction of defensive and gun positions, excavation of trenches and dugouts, erection of wire and other obstacles, preparation of command posts, signaling and water supply, field engineering, road and bridge construction and route maintenance. They also undertook obstacle breaching and crossing. For example in the lead up to the attack at Mont St Quentin the Engineers were required to carry out two river crossing / bridging operations.
Unit Personnel
- Charles Bird ?? Apr 1916 - 4 Apr 1917
Individual Honours
- 2 Distinguished Service Order
- 9 Military Cross
- 5 Distinguished Conduct Medal
- 19 Military Medal
- 4 Meritorious Service Medal
- 5 Mention in Despatches
- 3 foreign awards
Notes
Content for the history and honours sections has come from a combination of Wikipedia and the Australian War Memorial websites.