Modern Times
In 1936 the post of Chief Royal Engineer was recreated and Sir Bindon Blood was appointed by King George V. Sir Bindon was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1860 and had a distinguished active career until he retired in 1907 aged 65. He was thus 94 years old when appointed Chief Royal Engineer. He resigned in 1940 and died a month later aged 97.
Since 1941 the professional head of the Corps has been the Engineer-in-Chief (EinC) who as 'Director of Royal Engineers', acts as the engineer advisor to the Chief of the General Staff (CGS) as well as to the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and other government ministries on matters of military engineering on behalf of the CGS. On the domestic (regimental) side of the Corps he issues instructions on behalf of the 'Chief Royal Engineer'.
Today the Chief Royal Engineer is head of the Corps of Royal Engineers and is invariably a distinguished officer of the Corps, his tenure in the post is normally for a period of five years. He is responsible for seeing that the Corps' traditions and customs are preserved and the continuity of important matters of Corps policy. He keeps the Colonel-in-Chief (as of 2009 Queen Elizabeth II) informed on Corps matters and maintains contact with engineer units in the Commonwealth. He will usually have previously served as a Colonel Commandant and will continue to fill one of the vacancies.
Read more about this topic: Chief Royal Engineer
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