21 October 2022 – El Alamein Conference

21 OCTOBER 2022 —EL ALAMEIN 80

Fri 21st of October at 0930:  REHS El Alamein Conference “The Corps of Royal Engineers at El Alamein: Lessons for today?” The event was a great success with past decisions, actions and consequences were discussed and connected to new challenges.  The resulting video will be available to members.

The Royal Engineers Historical Society (REHS) 2022 Annual Conference focussed on the El Alamein battles of 1942, marking their 80th anniversary, analysing the lessons and highlighting their relevance for today.

This Conference, drew on military engineering specialists from across the British military and its Allies.  The study in detailed this pivotal aspect of the North African desert campaign of the Second World War, examining the military engineering lessons and drawing out their relevance on the modern battlefield.

Speakers include:
Major General (Retd) Mungo Melvin, Dr Niall Barr, Dr Peter Lieb, Dr John Peaty and Maj Gen (Retd) John Drewienkiewicz.

The Conference was preceded by the REHS Annual General Meeting (0830-0915). Following the Conference there was a lunch reception at the Royal Engineers Museum. Coinciding with lunch, in the Museum Research Centre, the Royal Engineer Troop Commanders Course completed the El Alamein Wargame under the direction of Maj Gen (Retd) Drewienkiewicz.

Key Messages:

• In the 21st Century, the ability and equipment to successfully undertake Counter-Mobility tasks has been reduced or taken as an acknowledged risk in many Western militaries. This shortfall warrants urgent attention.

• An understanding and the correct application of Combined Arms Obstacle Integration remains an enduring tenet for successful defensive battlefield activity.

• Whilst Mobility remains a strength of many Western militaries, it requires the careful orchestration of combined arms manoeuvre to successfully overcome a determined defender and skillfully prepared defences.

Timetable of Events

Ser	Time	Event / Speaker	Subject / Participation
1	0800	Start setting up venue	Brompton Auditorium
2	0830	REHS AGM	Brompton Auditorium and online
3	0915	Conference registration open	Supported by InstRE
4	0930	Maj Gen (Retd) Mungo Melvin CB OBE, Chair REHS.	Welcome to the Conference
5	0935	Dr Niall Barr – Keynote Speaker	Alamein – Pendulum of War
6	1000	Q&A Period
7	1010	Panel I – The Germans and Engineers at El Alamein (Chaired by Maj Gen (Retd) Mungo Melvin CB OBE, Chair REHS)
8		Dr Peter Lieb	The Afrika Corps at El Alamein
9		Maj Gen (Retd) John Drewienkiewicz CB CMG	Sappers at El Alamein: Build up and training
10		Dr John Peaty	Mapping and Survey at El Alamein
12	1115	Q&A Period
13	1130	Coffee Break
14	1145	Panel II – The Contemporary Perspective (chaired by Maj Gen (Retd) Nick Cavanagh, President of the Institution of Royal Engineers)
15	1145	Col X	Commander 25 (CS) Engr Group
16	1205	Maj Mark Davies, SO3 Mobility, Close Support Manoeuvre Support, Futures Directorate, Army HQ
17	1225	Q&A Period
18	1245	Lt Gen Sir Tyrone Urch KBE, Chief Royal Engineer.	Closing Remarks
19	1300	Conference closes	Move to RE Museum
20	1315	Lunch in RE Museum

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