12 (Nova Scotia) HQ & Support Sqn RE

12 (Nova Scotia) Headquarters and Support (Air Assault) Sqn RE can trace its history back to 1784 when a Corps of Royal Military Artificers unit was formed to build fortifications at Halifax in Canada. Under different identities and including at least five previous periods of suspended animation the squadron has served with distinction in the Crimea, Boer War, First and Second World Wars, Korea and Aden and was disbanded in 1999.

It was reformed in 2002 with the creation of 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) and has deployed on operations in Iraqand Afghanistan. Since returning from a third tour of Afghanistan in 2011 the squadron has supported the regiment’s standing commitment to provide close combat engineering to 16 Air Assault Brigade.

A reorganisation of Woodbridge-based 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) as part of the Army 2020 reforms has seen 12 (Nova Scotia) Headquarters and Support (Air Assault) Squadron mothballed. The disbandment was marked with a parade at Rock Barracks on 9 Oct 2013, which also saw 10 members of the squadron who deployed to Afghanistan presented with Operational Service Medals.

The troops deployed from March to September 2013 to run a resources cell in Camp Bastion. Their role was to ensure that engineers working with troops on the ground had the equipment and material they needed, as well as preparing 170 shipping containers of kit for return to the UK in support of the drawdown of British forces.

Major General Richard Davis CBE, Director General Army Recruiting and Training, presented the campaign medals before 12 Sqn marched off the parade square and into history.

12 Sqn’s specialist capabilities - reconnaissance, resourcing and bridging – will be retained and shared between 9 and 51 Parachute Squadrons, providing two larger and self-sufficient squadrons to deploy on contingency operations. Most of its troops will move to other roles within 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) and some will be posted to other units, while the regiment is gradually reducing in size by approximately 130 personnel.

Information courtesy of MoD.