The latest instalment of the official history of the Corps of Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) will be written over the next two years, following a contract signing at the Australian Army Museum of Military Engineering.
Volume 5 of the corps' history will cover the period 1973 to 2002, a time that RAE Head of Corps Brigadier Mick Scott said was marked by significant change.
"Accurately capturing the history of the Royal Australian Engineers, like other histories of the Australian Army, is essential to the corps' identity, culture and commitment to learning," Brigadier Scott said.
The previous volumes cover the period from 1835 to 1972.
Dr Robert Wyse, a military history expert and winner of Army's 2019 CEW Bean Prize for Military History, was awarded the contract.
The histories serve as resources for the education of serving officers and soldiers.
"The history underpins the corps' distinct ethos, character, identity and purpose in the eyes of its serving members and veterans, their families and the nation," Brigadier Scott said.
Sappers have deployed on every Australian military operation, often first in and last out.
"Australian Army sappers are respected by those whom they support, often out the front clearing the way or making life safer and easier for our teammates," Brigadier Scott said.
"The history of the Corps of Royal Australian Engineers is a very proud one, as we live up to our motto of Ubique, meaning everywhere."
