View MapView MapNational Archive Reference: WO 171/1591
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOLLAND STEIN. 643653 | 1- 4 | Unit static. All sections performing normal functions. Nothing exceptional to report. | |
| 5 | Chief Engineer visited unit and inspected Workshops and Field Stores. He interviewed C.Q.M.S. Larkman and recommended his application for a Quartermaters commission. | ||
| 5 - 10 | Still routine works. Hutting work being carried out under supervision of S/Sgt. Beaver R.E. at M.R. ______ completed a.m. 8. Unit allotted one days use of range at MR. 499628 - Coy revision | ||
| on firing of rifle and bren and practised in firing of live P.I.A.T. Weather continues fine but cold. R.A.F. RD Squad ceased to be u/comd and returned to parent unit - this action welcomed on account of | |||
| lack of bomb disposal work and consequent inability to keep squad fully employed. Since unit left FRANCE there has been practically no bomb disposal work except minor instances during stay at NIJMEGEN. | |||
| 11 | Detachment of some dozen tradesmen left to fit up 30 Corps H.Q. in secret location. 30 Corps Tps. R.E. come under command 12 Corps. All Corps flashes removed from tunics and painted off vehicles. | ||
| 12 | Very little to report during whole of this period. Unit static and normal routine works carried out. | ||
| 19 | 1600 | Received warning order from C.R.E. 30 Corps Tps. Engrs. to move. Adv. party to be prepared to move | |
| w.e.f. 1200 hrs 20. Following transport allocated to effect speedy move:- 15 GT 3 tonners of 288 Coy. RASC. 30 GT lorries of 67 Coy RASC. followed by 50 vehicles of 128 Br. Coy. RASC. The two | |||
| sections of Pioneers at present with this H.Q. to move forward with first lift of Engineer Stores and to assist in off loading arriving vehicles at new location. Two further sections of Pioneers in | |||
| present area are allocated daily for loading. Rear party of 1 Offrs. 15 O.Rs. to remain to supervise clearance of Engr Stores, effect handover of Sawmill and any other outstanding matters. | |||
| 20 | No instructions during whole day. Coy standing by to move. | ||
| 2300 | Ordered to move 0100 hrs 21. | ||
| BELGIUMBOURG LEOPOLD, | 21 | 0100 | Moved to BOURG LEOPOLD. Arrived 0730 hrs. Corps Tps. revert to under command 30 Corps. Leagured night 21/22. |
| 22 | 0900 | O.C. and Lt. WHITE carried out accommodation recces in area between LOUVAIN AND AERSCHOT, Intention to move today if possible. O.C. returned 0730 hrs - Coy to move to new location at LOUVAIN on 23. | |
| LOUVAIN J.872596 | 23 24 | 0730 | Coy moved. Arrived LOUVAIN 0945 hrs. |
| Coy settled in and prepared billets for occupation. 400 tons of Engineer Stores held in Field Stores. Weather extremely cold. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | No works today. Xmas dinner attended by C.R.E. 30 Corps Tps. (Lt. Col. R.E. BLACK. D.S.O., R.E.). Weather again cold. Leave ballot held today for U.K. leave. 42 Vacancies to this unit | ||
| for Jan. | |||
| 26 | Routine works resumed. Some enemy air activity during night 26/27. Frosty weather continued. | ||
| 27 | Nothing to report. Routine works continued. | ||
| 28 | Informed that H.Q. 30 Corps Tps Engrs. and Fd Coys moving to new location 29. Ordered to provide | ||
| maintenance party to assist in move of H.Q. 30 Corps (Main). 128 Br. Coy Adv. H.Q., 23 Mech Eqpt Pl. and 4 Dog Pl. to come under command on move of H.Q. 30 Corps Troops Engrs. | |||
| 29 | 1000 | O.C. visited C.E. 30 Corps and informed Coy to prepare to move in next two or three days. | |
| 1200 | Maintenance party for H.Q. 30 Corps (Main) moved. | ||
| 1400 | O.C: visited C.R.E. 30 Corps Tps. Engrs in new location at JENEFFE MR. 3232 15 kilometer W of LIEGE. Routine works. Weather still very cold and roads icy, | ||
| 1800 | O.C. returned. Accommodation recces to go out a.m. 30 to area approx 10 miles N of NAMUR. Move if recce successful to take place 31. Shortage of transport for ferrying Field Stores necessitates | ||
| leaving rear party consisting of whole of Field Stores and 2 Section of Pioneers to continue loading of vehicles engaged in ferrying to new location. | |||
| 30 | 0900 | Lt. BERRIDGE and Interpreter proceeding on accommodation recces. Coy preparing to move. | |
| 1700 | Lt. Berrid ge returned. Suitable location found at EGHEZEE .872596. Coy to move 1100 hrs 31. | ||
| EGHEZEE | 31 | 1100 | Coy moved. Reached new location 1400 hours. Coy billeted mainly in private houses. Weather continued exceptionally cold but fine. Rest of day spent settling in. 30 basic loads of Field |
| Stores being ferried down. Remaining 300 tons left at LOUVAIN with small rear party. | |||
| SUMMARY. For the first 3 weeks of this month the unit carried out its static role being chiefely engaged on routine works. In last ten days however unit has been in three different locations. | |||
| It, at first, appeard that Xmas arrangements would have to be cancelled, but the short breathing space at LOUVAIN enabled unit to spend Xmas day in traditional atmosphere and spirit. Dinner was | |||
| attended by C.R.E. 30 Corps Tps. Engrs. (Lt. Col. R.E. BLACK D.S.O., R.E.) and immediately prior to the dinner the first for ballot for leave in the U.K. was held. This units allotment for January 1945 | |||
| is 42. | |||
| Sections have been kept moderately busy. M,D.R.S. dealt with 21 detectors, 19 of which were repaired |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUMMARY (conta). | |||
| and 2 B.L.R'd. In this campaign to date 542 detectors have been received for repair. Total repaired 505. B.L.R'd 37. Total number of units served 58. | |||
| Field Stores have been moderately busy with nothing exceptional to report. Workshops Section and 12 E & M Pl. working as combined team carried out the following works:- | |||
| Making and painting of more than 1900 signs. 400 temporary wooden crosses, building wooden body on trailer, painting, construction of numerous carpentry jobs. e.g. wooden crate, dough trough | |||
| (for Fd Bakery),filing boxes and cabinets etc. In addition to general maintenance at H.Q. 30 Corps following were constructed - 1 map table 26' X 13', 6 map tables of miscellaneous sizes. | |||
| 4 map boards. A Jeep was winterproofed, partitions and blackouts made and fitted etc. Metal workers were engaged in routine work e.g. M.T. repairs, plant maintenance, construction of brackets | |||
| etc. with considerable welding and turning work done. In addition preparation and maintenance of unit billets on moving and during occupation fell to these sections. |