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The Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps was set up at the outbreak of the Second World War. Formed from Work Labour Companies and Reservist Groups like the ones in operation in the First World War, it was a British Army combatant unit used for light engineering tasks.

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Whilst heavier engineering work remained the domain of the Royal Engineers,  light engineering tasks would be carried out by the Pioneer Corps under the supervision of the Royal Engineers, who were trained and knowledgeable. 

Tasks mainly involved building and maintenance work such as:

Building anti – aircraft emplacements on the Home Front
Building airfields 
Camp construction including Nissen huts ( military structures for barracks)
Repairing railways and bridges
Moving stores and supplies
Carrying stretchers 
Laying pipeline and minefields
Defence work

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In November 1940, the AMPC was renamed the Pioneer Corps. It was the only British military unit in which “enemy aliens”, like Grandpa, could serve. Thousands of Jewish and anti- Nazi refugees, who had fled Austria, Germany and Eastern Europe wanted to assist the Allied war efforts and liberation of their home countries. These men were often dubbed “The King’s Most Loyal Enemy Aliens” and many went on later to serve in fighting units.

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A Company, or Coy, as it was known, was commanded by a Major and usually consisted of approximately 10 sections of 25 men. Each section was led by a Sergeant with a Lieutenant to every two sections, including the small headquarters element of cooks and clerks etc. The average number of men was 288. A Group Headquarters commanded between 5 and 18 Companies in its geographical area. 

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On 28th November 1946, the Pioneer Corps was granted the “Royal” prefix in its title, in recognition of its performance during the Second World War. 

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Updated 2023
JR