15 Squadron RE

15 Squadron Royal Engineers
Cap Badge of the Corps of Royal Engineers
Active	1825 – Present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Part of	Royal Engineers
Garrison/HQ	Claro Barracks, Ripon
Motto(s)	Ubique (Everywhere) Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt (Where Duty and Glory lead)
March	Wings (Quick march)
Anniversaries	27 April 1825
Insignia
15th Field Squadron Royal Engineer Badge

The 15 Field Squadron was a Field Squadron of the Royal Engineers of the British Army based in Ripon which has a long and distinguished history. It has been disbanded.

The current title of this unit is 15 Field Squadron (Search) and it is located at Claro Barracks, Ripon.

15 Field Squadron (Search) is a specialist counter-IED search squadron, part of 36 Engineer Regiment (Search), which itself comes under command of 29 EOD & Search Group, under control of 8 Force Engineer Brigade. Whilst it is co-located in Claro Barracks, Ripon, alongside 21 Engineer Regiment, its own Regimental Headquarters is 36 Engineer Regiment (Search) located in Maidstone, Kent.

The Squadron is one of only five specialist search squadrons within the UK Armed Forces and is at the forefront of the fight to defeat improvised explosive device (IED) threat to forces deployed on operations. When not conducting search operations, it retains the capability to conduct the full range of specialist military engineer support.

Prior to its current role, the Squadron was a Field Support Squadron role supporting 3 (UK) Divisional Engineer Group. As a Field Support Squadron its role was focused on the management and delivery of specialist military engineer logistic support.

One of its most notable members, Lt Philip Neame, is the only holder of both the Victoria Cross and Olympic Gold Medal.

The Squadron's unit badge is the Native American Indian Chieftain's head, with XV imprinted in the middle, denoting 15 Squadron. Whilst its actual origins are unknown, it is believed to represent its early work in Canada, where it was sent as part of the military construction force to build the Rideau Canal.

The Royal Warrant of 27 April 1825 authorised the formation of a Service Company of the Royal Sappers and Miners for service at Portsmouth. After training at Chatham, the new Company, the 15th, moved to Portsmouth.

Since its formation 15 Squadron has been amalgamated and disbanded many times, only to be reformed ready to take on a new roles. Its history is one that includes service in almost all of the United Kingdom's major conflicts over a period of history spanning nearly 190 years.

On 26 March 1827 a Royal Warrant was issued that ordered the augmentation of two Companies of 81 men each for works on the Rideau Canal. The officer commanding the 15th was Captain Victor. When the Company was up to strength it sailed on the transport ship "Southworth" and landed in Canada on 1 June 1827.