with the further expansion of the army the kent fortress re organised the 1/6th and 1/7th kent fortress companies to which the cinque ports fortress royal engineers also contributed personnel. in late 1916 the 1/6th and 1/7th were converted to field companies and had joined 73rd division by 22 november. 73rd division was a newly organised home service formation concentrating at blackpool. once organised, the division moved in january 1917 into essex and hertfordshire to form part of southern army (home forces); the engineers were stationed at witham and chelmsford. the two field companies were numbered 546th (1/6th kent) and 547th (1/7th kent) in february 1917.