From the Archives ─ An eclectic mix of stories from the history of REME

Modern soldiers depend on their equipment, from the weapons in their hands and the tanks that support them, to the communications equipment that connect them to their commanders. Formed in 1942, the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) have maintained the British Army's equipment and kept their machines moving for nearly 75 years. REME have been involved in every single operation undertaken by the British Army since World War II, and the Corps has some fascinating stories to tell.

This is a collection of some of the fascinating accounts unearthed in the archives and written about in the The Craftsman (the Corps Magazine) and The REME Journal (the publication of The REME Institution) – including the Birth of REME; Operation Grapple – UK Nuclear Testing on Christmas Island; and the Mystery of Mussolini's Boots. It provides unique insights into inspirational deeds and bravery and good-humoured fortitude that have characterised the British Army through the ages.

All profits from the book's sale will go to the REME Benevolent Fund and SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

Mike Sibbons was commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in 1968 and held a number of key appointments both in command and on the staff, before leaving the Army in 1994 to become a Director of The Prince's Trust. In 2007, to fulfil his passion for military history, he became the Archivist at the REME Museum. An avid and passionate researcher, he unearthed some remarkable historical snippets and shared these by writing numerous articles for the REME Corps magazine, which became a very popular feature. He was a military researcher for the BBC's “Who Do You Think You Are” programme and is an expert in interpreting military records of service.