A pioneer (/ˌpaɪ.əˈnɪər/) is a soldier employed to perform engineering and construction tasks. The term is in principle similar to sapper or combat engineer. Pioneers were originally part of the artillery branch of European armies. Subsequently, they formed part of the engineering branch, the logistic branch, part of the infantry, or even comprised a branch in their own right.
Historically, the primary role of pioneer units was to assist other arms in tasks such as the construction of field fortifications, military camps, bridges and roads.[1] Prior to and during the First World War, pioneers were often engaged in the construction and repair of military railways.[2] During World War II, pioneer units were used extensively by all major forces, both on the front line and in supporting roles.
The word pioneer is originally from France. The word (French: pionnier) was borrowed into English, from Old French pionnier, which meant a "foot soldier", from the root 'peon'[4] recorded in 1523.[5] It was used in a military sense as early as 1626–1627.[6] In the late 18th century, Captain George Smith defined the term as:
PIONEERS, in war-time, are such as are commanded in from the country, to march with an army, for mending the ways, for working on entrenchments, fortifications, and for making mines and approaches: the soldiers are likewise employed in all these things. Most of the foreign regiments of artillery have half a company of pioneers, well instructed in that important branch of duty. Our regiments of infantry and cavalry have 3 or 4 pioneers each, provided with aprons, hatchets, saws, spades, and pick-axes.[7]
Extensive use was made of pioneers in the British Indian Army because of the demands of campaigning in difficult terrain with little or no infrastructure. In 1780, two companies of pioneers were raised in Madras, increasing to 16 in 1803 divided into two battalions. Bombay and Bengal pioneers were formed during the same period. In the late nineteenth century, a number of existing Indian infantry regiments took the title and the construction role of pioneers.[8] The twelve Indian Pioneer regiments in existence in 1914 were trained and equipped for road, rail and engineering work, as well as for conventional infantry service. While this dual function did not qualify them to be regarded as elite units, the frequency with which they saw active service made postings to pioneer regiments popular with British officers.[9]
Prior to World War I, each sepoy in a Pioneer regiment carried a pickaxe or a light spade in special leather equipment as well as a rifle and bayonet. NCOs and buglers carried axes, saws and billhooks. Heavier equipment, such as explosives, was carried by mule. The unit was therefore well equipped for simple field engineering tasks, as well as being able to defend itself in hostile territory. During the War, the increased specialisation required of Pioneers made them too valuable to use as regular assault infantry. Accordingly, in 1929, the Pioneer regiments were taken out of the line infantry and grouped into the Corps of Madras Pioneers (four battalions), the Corps of Bombay Pioneers (four battalions), the Corps of Sikhs Pioneers (four battalions), and the Corps of Hazara Pioneers (one battalion).[10]
All four Pioneer Corps were disbanded in 1933 and their personnel mostly transferred into the Corps of Sappers and Miners, whose role they had come to parallel. It was concluded that the Pioneer battalions had become less technically effective than the Sappers and Miners, but too well trained in specialist functions to warrant being used as ordinary infantry. In addition, their major role of frontier road building had now been allocated to civilian workers.[11] An Indian Pioneer Corps was re-established in 1943.
Pioneers in the British Army
Historically, British infantry regiments maintained small units of pioneers for heavy work and engineering, especially for clearing paths through forests and for leading assaults on fortifications. These units evolved into assault pioneers. They also inspired the creation of the Royal Pioneer Corps.
During World War I, on paper at least, each division was allocated a pioneer infantry battalion, who in addition to being trained infantry were able to conduct pioneer duties. These pioneer battalions were raised and numbered within the existing infantry regiments; where possible recruits were men who possessed transferable skills from civilian life.
The Royal Pioneer Corps was a British Army combatant corps used for light engineering tasks. The Royal Pioneer Corps was raised on 17 October 1939 as the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps. It was renamed the Pioneer Corps on 22 November 1940. It was renamed the Royal Pioneer Corps on 28 November 1946. On 5 April 1993, the Royal Pioneer Corps united with other units to form the Royal Logistic Corps.
All British infantry regiments still maintain assault pioneer units. The Pioneer Sergeant is the only rank allowed to wear a beard on parade.[13]
Israeli Army
The Israeli army has an infantry brigade called the Fighting Pioneer Youth, in Hebrew Noar Halutzi Lohem or just "Nahal". The title of Israeli military pioneers is a back-derivation from the civilian term. The Israeli army's pioneers were formed in 1948 from Jewish civilian pioneers, i.e. settlers, who were permitted to combine military service and farming.
During World War I, Australia raised six pioneer battalions within the First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) for service on the Western Front, one per division:[19]
2/1st Special Pioneer Company (Formed in New South Wales in 1942 from the 9th Pioneer Training Battalion. Absorbed by 2/11th Army Troops Company in September 1943.)
2/2nd Special Pioneer Company (Formed in New South Wales in 1942 from the 9th Pioneer Training Battalion. Absorbed by 2/11th Army Troops Company in September 1943.)
3rd Special Pioneer Company (Formed in Victoria in March 1942. Redesignated 30th Employment Company in September 1942.)
2/4th Special Pioneer Company (Formed in Victoria in March 1942. Redesignated 29th Employment Company in September 1942.)
2/5th Pioneer Company (Formed in Victoria in March 1942. Redesignated 34th Infantry Training Battalion in May 1942.)
7th Special Pioneer Company (Formed in Queensland in April 1942 from the 7th Infantry Training Battalion. Disbanded September 1942.)
8th Special Pioneer Company (Formed in Queensland in April 1942 from the 29th Infantry Training Battalion. Disbanded September 1942.)
20th Pioneer Battalion (Formed by redesignation of the 20th Motor Regiment, February 1945. Disbanded September 1945)
Torres Strait Pioneer Company (Formed from Torres Strait islanders, 1943. Disbanded January 1945)
The Headquarters Companies of Infantry Battalions serving in the South West Pacific included Pioneer Platoons, giving Battalion Commanders the authority over deployment of Pioneer troops as required in combat pioneering, infantry combat or service roles.[21][22]
Canada
2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force with over a thousand men whose training gave them a combination of engineering and infantry skills.
48th Battalion served in the field as the 3rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion (48th Canadians), with the 3rd Canadian Division
67th "Western Scots" (Pioneer Battalion), Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1916
107th Pioneer Battalion
123rd Infantry Battalion repurposed as a Pioneer Battalion in January 1917, and replaced the 3rd Pioneer Battalion in May 1917 as the Pioneer Battalion of the 3rd Canadian Division
124th Infantry Battalion repurposed as a Pioneer Battalion in January 1917, and became the Pioneer Battalion of the 4th Canadian Division
British Indian Army Pioneer Battalions enlisted, drilled and trained as any other native infantry battalion of the line, but received additional construction training.
1st Jangi Auxiliary Pioneer Battalion (1000 strong), Nepalese Army
Jagannath Auxiliary Pioneer Battalion, Nepalese Army
France
The Foreign Legion Pionniers, members of the Foreign Legion, open all the Legion's parades as a matter of tradition.They grow full beards, wear leather aprons and carry axes during these parades.[23]
Germany
First World War
Imperial German Army pioneers (Pioniere) were regarded as a separate combat arm trained in construction and the demolition of fortifications, but they were often used as specialist infantry, serving the role of combat engineers.[24] One battalion was assigned to each Corps.
The Guard Pioneer Battalion 1. (6 companies, each with 20 large and 18 small flame-throwers)
The Guard Pioneer Battalion 2.
The Guard Pioneer Battalion 3.
The Guard Reserve Pioneer Battalion – created from reservists who had been civilian firemen, the battalion was issued with experimental flame-throwers
1st Bavarian Pioneer Battalion, First Bavarian Division (12 destruction squads)
2nd Bavarian Pioneer Battalion
Prussian Army pioneer battalions:
1 Prussian Pioneer Battalion of the Guards – 3 Field companies, one Reserve company
12 Prussian Pioneer Battalions of the Line (18 officers, 495 men and 6 other people)
^Smith, George (1779). An Universal Military Dictionary, or A copious explanation of the technical terms &c. used in the equipment, machinery movements and military operations of an army. Whitehall, London: J. Millan.
^Carman, W.Y. (1969). Indian Army Uniforms under the British: Artillery, Engineers and Infantry. London: Morgan-Grampian.
^Gaylor, John (1992). Sons of John Company – the Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991. Spellmount. ISBN0-946771-98-7.
^Summer, Ian (2001). The Indian Army 1914–1947. Oxford: Osprey. pp. 46–47. ISBN1-84176-196-6.
^Gaylor, John (1992). Sons of John Company – the Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991. Spellmount. p. 17. ISBN0-946771-98-7.
^Seven infantry battalions were converted to divisional pioneers in 1917 with a strength of about 600 personnel that could also be used as infantry
^At Field-Marshal Earl Kitchener's suggestion, a pioneer battalion formed part of each of the field infantry divisions, and by June 1916 all divisions possessed a pioneer battalion
^They established great reputations for their prowess as diggers and contained many highly skilled men among the miners in their ranks
^Digging assembly and communication trenches, in providing in advance for the Forwarding of ammunition and supplies, in mining and sapping before the attack
^The only Territorial battalion to take part in the march into Germany, and to help to establish 'Die Wacht am Rhein'.
^"Pioneers". AIF Project. ADFA. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
Dooley, Thomas P., Irishmen Or English Soldiers?: The Times and World of a Southern Catholic Irish Man (1876–1916) Enlisting in the British Army During the First World War, Liverpool University Press, 1995
Lane, Kerry, Guadalcanal Marine, University Press of Mississippi, 2004
Showalter, Dennis E., Tannenberg: Clash of Empires, 1914, Brassey's, London, 2004
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