25/10/2024
There is so much history to discover in the Great Siege Tunnels! Did you know about the the Gibraltar Soldier Artificers? They are often seen as the forebears of modern combat engineers, demonstrating how military forces could leverage construction and engineering expertise in active operational contexts.
The Gibraltar Company of Soldier Artificers, established in 1772, was a pioneering military unit within the British Army. Formed primarily to address the challenges of maintaining and fortifying Gibraltar's strategic position, this unit was composed of soldiers trained in various trades, like masonry, carpentry, and blacksmithing, rather than traditional combat roles. Their creation marked a significant innovation in military engineering, and they became the precursor to the Royal Engineers.