SOLDIERS and officers from one of the Army’s oldest corps marked their anniversary in style.

Members of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) came together at Tidworth Garrison, Wiltshire, for a parade and service to celebrate the corps’ 72nd birthday.

The celebration was attended by the Master General REME, Lieutenant General Andrew Figgures CB CBE, along with members of the REME Association, Chelsea Pensioners and 16 standard-bearers who travelled from all over the country to be a part of the occasion.

The colourful parade, which featured musical performances by the Band of the Royal Logistics Corps, concluded with the presentation of honours and awards by Lt Gen Figgures.

The REME was formed on October 1, 1942, after the early days of the Second World War to support the massive scale of equipment being deployed.

The first members of the corps were engineers and tradesmen from Royal Army Ordinance Corps, Royal Engineers and the Royal Army Service Corps, along with skilled men from other regiments.

By 1951, REME had assumed engineering responsibility for the majority of the Army’s equipment and the engineering manpower was transferred to the corps.

The corps has gone on to serve on the front line of every major theatre of operation in which the Army has been engaged.

Colonel Dan Scott, Colonel REME, said: “The REME has served worldwide both on exercises and at home for decades.

“The anniversary of our corps’ formation is a day to celebrate and I am particularly pleased to see a cross-section of our REME family here today.”