The 8th Engineer Regiment Changes Base

Farewell to the Colour on Base 'Capitán Arenas' (Photo:Melilla General Command)

Final formation on the base (Photo:Melilla General Command)

March on foot to the new base (Photo:Melilla General Command)

The 8th Engineer Regiment and the 18th Signals Company have bid farewell to Base 'Capitán Arenas', in Melilla, which had been their home since 1910. Both units have been regrouped with others as a consequence of the implementation of Single Base 'Melilla'.

The farewell ceremony was held on 6th September, when the final hauling down of the flag took place, which was attended by retired personnel and those in the reserve, as well as relatives and friends. The commander of the 8th Engineer Regiment, Colonel Juan Gómez, remembered the beginnings of this base in a brief address. The base known as “Engineer Barracks” later took the name of the heroic Engineer Captain Félix Arenas Gaspar, killed on 29th July 1921, during the pullout from Annual.

Once the ceremony was concluded, both units undertook a march on foot to their new installations on Base 'Capitán de la Paz Orduña', where the Colour was once again hoisted.