Catalogue description Ministry of Supply and War Office: Military Engineering Experimental Establishment and predecessors: Registered Files

The Military Engineering Experimental Establishment (MEXE) was formed in 1946 as a result of the amalgamation of the Experimental Bridging Establishment (formed at Christchurch in 1919 as the Experimental Bridging Company, Royal Engineers and redesignated in 1925) with the Experimental Demolition Establishment and the Experimental Tunnelling Establishment, both formed at Christchurch during the Second World War. Until 1959, MEXE was the responsibility of the Ministry of Supply, but was then transferred to the War Office. In 1970, it was amalgamated with the Fighting Vehicles Research and Development Establishment as the Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment (MVEE).

MEXE and its predecessors carried out a wide range of research and development tasks connected with military engineering equipment, particularly the crossing of wet and dry gaps and aids to amphibians; earth moving; road and airfield construction equipment; mechanical handling plant and equipment and mine laying techniques and equipment. In particular, the famous "Bailey Bridge" was developed under the chief designer (and later director), Mr. D C Bailey. In addition, the work of MEXE involved problems relating to fuel storage and distribution, water supply, electricity supply and transmission, power driven watercraft, water purification and the testing of different types of materials.