I am writing to comment on the supplement, attributed to Corus, that I received with the November/December issue of CM. The article headlined ‘Getting it together’ describes the replacement of old Victorian barracks at Tidworth, where I was stationed as a young conscript in 1939.

Of particular interest is the reference to Gurkha military engineers and the modular form of construction used on this project. I find it ironic that civilian contractors should employ military engineers on this project. Until the late 1950s it was the other way round, when the responsibility for all military building construction lay with the Corps of Royal Engineers’ works services division.

Following the massive defence spending cuts in the 1950s the Corps was reduced to combat engineers only, with a small cadre of ‘works’ teams to operate in areas where the employment of civilian engineers might be impractical.

Lt Col D Densham-Booth OBE FCIOB

Source

Construction Manager