Pioneer Sgt

[anitacorbett]

Thanks for that, I John Nye was very good looking, ! ! ! !

And are still Bro.
Love you
Anita xx

[ap1]

I think I’d better add my comments to this one of the oldest traditions of the Royal Welch Fusilier Pioneer Sergeant and the reasons why he wore and still wears the beard.

Dai Martin 70
(Pnr Sgt/Pl Cmdr – Berlin, Tidworth, Brawdy and Chepstow)

Excellent response Dai, and very interesting. Everything happens for a reason, and your description of a group of men with beards indicating the forward line to the CO is very plausible and makes great sense.

[BennytheBall]

Dai
A great load of sensible info there, Well Done- researched it well.
Hope it answers Beefy's Question?
Hope you are keeping well
Best Regards
BennytheBall 1

[rob jones 60]

Dai you were a great asslt pnr i learnt a lot of good skills from you in my time in the plt . (some of which would make the health and safty brigade have kittens) one of the best skills was to make do or make some thing out of nothing ... good times ..

[beefy22]

Thank you for all your input, and i have all that i need to answer the question.

[BennytheBall]

22 & Dai

Thought you would like this:
Extract taken from a scroll on the wall in the bar of the TA Centre, Queensferry.

WHAT IS AN ASSAULT PIONEER ?

He is an Infantryman with Specialist Skills.

His Trade Lineage can be traced back over 2000 years ago, when a Roman General described him as "One of a body of Soldiers, marching in advance with spades to prepare the road for the main army".

Today, he still goes in advance of the main body to prepare the way ahead, still often using a shovel or axe or more sophisticated equipment like the Combat Power Tool Kit or the Husquvana Chain Saw.

He can find himself clearing a route through a minefield using only his eyes and hands or blowing a gap in the wire obstacles that lie in advance of an attack.

He can get the whole Battalion across a wide river by constructing an Infantry Assault Bridge and from that same river, he can supply them with gallons of fresh drinking water.

He can build a house or latrine and "Booby Trap" both with fiendish skill.

He can construct an underground Command Post or dig a 4 man Battle Trench and fight from it.

He can delay an enemy advance with mines and wire obstacles.

"HE LIVES WITH DANGER BUT WORKS WITH CAUTION!"

He can operate the latest Assault boats or build a raft. He can lead an attack with a Bangalore Torpedo or be the last out in a withdrawl, whilst blowing a crater or laying an Anti Tank mine.

All this he can do or he can lay down his tools, take aim with his rifle and fight as an Infantryman.

"THIS IS AN ASSAULT PIONEER!"

[daibeer]

Do you know, I always thought they wore beards because they had scary faces.