We often get asked questions about trades: what badges did they wear, what sort of equipment did they work on, which trades did they develop from? This last question is particularly interesting when you consider that REME started with over 50 different trades and now fields only eight.

In 2011, Malcom Heppolette (Pictorial Archivist at the Museum at the time) put together an excellent article on the changes, losses, and amalgamations of the trades: History of REME Trade Changes Since its Formation in 1942 (pdf, 5.9MB). This led to the creation of this handy chart.

Click on the chart to open a version you can explore more easily by zooming in! (opens in new window, pdf, 1.6MB)

For a deeper dive into how the current trades are represented in the Archives, take a look at the REME Trades blog series written by our former Archivist, Celia Cassingham.

Trades in the museum

The Trades Gallery at the REME Museum features 'pods' that explain the history and training required for the current eight trades of REME. These were designed with assistance from a small focus group of serving tradesmen and women from each trade.

A timeline, based on the article and chart by Heppolette, is available on an interactive screen. This lists all of the trades from the Corps' formation to the present day, including where trades were amalgamated, transferred to another Corps, or ceased to exist due to changes in technology or military requirements. The REME Museum is committed to preserving and telling the history of all trades.

Further displays in the gallery discuss REME's first Director, Major General Rowcroft, the Corps' patron saint, St Eligius, National Service and more.