Traditions
NICKNAME(S)
Gingerbeer's
MOTTO(S)
Ubique
(Everywhere)
Facimus et Frangimus
(We make and we break) appeared on the engineer hat badge until 1947. It now only appears on the Corps Cipher
It was then replaced on the current engineer hat badge with
Honi soit qui mal y pense.
(Evil be to him who evil thinks) mirroring the Order of the Garter. This honour was awarded to the RAE in 1947 for their efforts during World War 2
CORPS MARCH SONG
SAPPERS
The Royal Australian Engineer's also adopted the Royal Engineer's practice of calling their private soldiers "Sappers", in recognition of the fact that the very earliest engineer's
had been driving saps (tunnels) toward the enemy lines, and underneath fortifications.
ENGINEER'S PRAYER
We lay down all their rolling roads
And cut down all their trees
And if the orders ever come
We'd forge the raging seas.
Whenever they want to sleep awhile
We put them up a town,
And we build the blasted bridges
So the Infantry wont drown.
We get them over rivers
And across mountain streams
Do everything but tuck them in
And wish them pleasant dreams.
And when the going's really tough
And shells burst in their ears
A whole division apt to pray,
GOD SEND FOR ENGINEER'S
Amen
ENGINEER'S SONG
We are, we are , we are, we are, we are the Engineer's,
We can, we can, we can, we can demolish forty beers,
Drink rum, drink rum, drink rum and come along with us,
For we don't give a dam,
For any old man
Who doesn't give a dam for us.
Chorus (to the tune of "Glory,Glory, Glory Hallelujah)
COLOURS
Although the Corps does not carry official regimental colours such as those carried by Infantry units, the basic Royal Australian Engineer's colours are red and blue. Colour patches consist of a red feature on a purple field. The banner or flag depiction of the colours consists of a red field with two horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom of the field.
This in keeping with the Corps of Royal Engineer's, represents two rivers shown in blue with the red background representing all the lives lost to achieve the crossing
POEM
The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel with the Fuzzy Wuzzy Hair
Many a mother in Australia
When the busy day is done
Sends a prayer to the Almighty
For the keeping of her son
Asking that an angel guide him
And bring him safely back
Now we see those prayers
Answered on the Owen Stanley track.
Though they haven't any halos
Only holes slashed through their ears
And their faces marked with tattoos
And with pins in their hair
Bring back the badly wounded
As steady as a rock
Using leaves to keep the rain off
And gentle as a horse
Slow and careful in bad places
On the awful mountain track
And the look upon their faces
Makes us think Christ was back
Not a move to hurt the wounded
As they treat him like a saint
It's a picture worth recording
That an artist yet paint
Many a lad will see his mother
And husbands see their wives
From mortar or machine gun fire
Or chance of surprise attack
to safety and care of doctors
May the mothers in Australia
When they offer up a prayer
Mention these Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels
With the Fuzzy Wuzzy Hair
Written by a sapper on the Kokoda Trail 1942