The Life & Military service of
Col. Douglas Victory Hutchinson M.B.E.
Memoirs of a Royal Engineer in the British Army
From humble beginnings
Growing up on a farm taught Douglas the practicalities of life & death at an early age. He recalls his halcyon days during those early isolated years in primitive conditions and a great interest in his school Engineering Society and the Officer Training Corps, especially the field days.
12th Field Company RE
Shortly after World War II was declared, as the evacuation of Dunkirk took place, Douglas found his initial posting to a Royal Engineers unit in Europe soon became embarkation to a posting in the Middle East. Learn all about the 12th Field Company in WWII, and their proud history.
Post War & Military Survey
As World War II finally came to an end in Europe and the Far East, Douglas was now in Germany, a full-time soldier having been recommended for regular commission to the British Army in 1943 whilst serving with the Royal Engineers in India. A career that lasted until 1972.
“Partly by accident, that was WWII starting during my training in 1939, and partly by design, as in when I decided to join the regular Army in 1943, what began as twelve months training became thirty-two years regular service, which, I have never regretted that my life took such a course”.
Opening extract taken from ‘Ubique’ – The rambling recollections and reminiscences of a retired Royal Engineers Officer by Col DVH MBE.
Blog spot
12th Field Company RE & the Dummy Tanks of Matruh – December 1940
H.Q. Matruh Fortress 2/Lt D.V. Hutchinson had now been stationed with the 12th Field Company RE at Mersa Matruh for just over 3 months, having disembarked on 28 August 1940. He arrived to a continuous scene of heavy bombing from enemy aircraft, with hundreds of shells falling in the area on a daily basis. In between…
12th Field Company War Diary (9 Nov) #OTD 1941
The Flaming Football of Plonk 46 days into their time in the garrison of Tobruk, recently promoted Captain D.V Hutchinson M.B.E. and the 12th Field Company R.E. were now settled in to the day to day routine of life under siege, having taken over the positions vacated by 20th Australian Brigade in the Southern Sector. The…
12th Field Company War Diary October 1941
Tobruk Lieutenant D.V Hutchinson M.B.E. and the 12th Field Company R.E. had now been in Torbruk Garrison for four days, situated at a camping area near the prisoner of war cages (22 on the map) to the east. Work mainly involved mine laying, defence work on the Blue Line (Red Line at night only), building…
Ubique Vir 