The Electrical Engineers (RE) Hopkinson Technical Competition medallions

2 Medallions awarded to A Coy CPL A.E.DIXON in 1905.

One bronze medallion, the second being 25grams of hallmarked silver.

In 1906, the Electrical Engineers were part of the Volunteer Force, specifically:

A specialist volunteer unit attached to the Royal Engineers.

• They were founded in the late 19th century as a technical volunteer unit composed of men experienced in engineering, telegraphy, signalling, and early electrical systems.

• Their official title varied slightly, but common contemporary terms include:

• London Electrical Engineers (Volunteers)

• Electrical Engineers, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)

• They later became:

• The London Electrical Engineers (Territorial Force, 1908)

• Eventually folded into the Royal Engineers’ searchlight and anti-aircraft units (WW1 and WW2)

What did Electrical Engineers do in 1906?

They handled electrical and scientific military tasks, particularly:

• Searchlights (for coastal defence)

• Telegraph and communications equipment

• Electrical power for fortifications

• Experimental applications of electricity for military use

• Technical and engineering competitions, like Hopkinson’s Technical Competition .

So in 1906, A.E. Dixon was part of a Volunteer Force engineering unit aligned directly under the Royal Engineers.

Why the medal mentions “The Electrical Engineers”

This was a unit-specific award. The Hopkinson Technical Competition was an internal competition for technical skill within the Electrical Engineers (Volunteers). These competitions were common among volunteer and territorial units before WW1.

1906 Electrical Engineers (Volunteers) Volunteer Force, attached to Royal Engineers

1908 onwards London Electrical Engineers Territorial Force (later Royal Engineers)