▁properties ▁of ▁a ▁piece ▁of ▁unknown ▁land ▁by ▁comparing ▁it ▁with ▁known ▁similar ▁terrain ). ▁ ▁History ▁and ▁organisation ▁ ▁The ▁Military ▁Engineering ▁Ex perimental ▁Est ab lish ment ▁had ▁its ▁roots ▁in ▁the ▁Ex perimental ▁Br id ging ▁Company ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁Engine ers ▁( RE ), ▁formed ▁from ▁the ▁last ▁un - dis band ed ▁batt alion ▁of ▁First ▁World ▁War ▁assault ▁engine ers , ▁and ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁a ▁British ▁Army ▁major . ▁ ▁This ▁unit ▁developed ▁into ▁the ▁Ex perimental ▁Br id ging ▁Est ab lish ment ▁of ▁ 1 9 2 5 ▁under ▁an ▁RE ▁super int endent ▁( from ▁ 1 9 3 3 ▁a ▁chief ▁super int endent ). ▁ ▁This ▁was ▁reform ed ▁into ▁the ▁Military ▁Engineering ▁Ex perimental ▁Est ab lish ment ▁( ME X E ) ▁on ▁ 2 2 ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 6 ▁under ▁a ▁chief ▁super int endent ▁( br ig ad ier ) ▁after ▁ 5 ▁April ▁ 1 9 5 6 ▁the ▁commander ▁was ▁referred ▁to ▁as ▁director ▁and ▁was ▁sometimes ▁a ▁civil ian . ▁ ▁M EX E ▁was ▁am alg am ated ▁with ▁the ▁Fight ing ▁Ve h icles ▁Research ▁and ▁Development ▁Est ab lish ment ▁on ▁ 1 ▁April ▁ 1 9 7 0 ▁to ▁form ▁the ▁Military ▁Ve h icles ▁and ▁Engineering ▁Est ab lish ment ▁based ▁out ▁of ▁Ch ert sey , ▁Sur rey ▁and ▁Christ ch urch , ▁Dor set ▁and ▁commanded ▁by ▁Brig ad ier ▁RA ▁Lind se ell