211 Field Park Company RE War Diary: September 1944
The September 1944 War Diary for 211 Field Park Company covers their
advance from Vernon France, through Belgium into Holland to area
Nijmegen.
National Archive Reference: WO 171/1591
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Page 1 of 5
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France. VERNON. 425744 | 1 | Lost contact with Adv. H.Q. 2000 hrs. Guide reported from Adv. HQ now located at barracks | ||
| AMIENS. Adv. H.Q. expecting to move to ARRAS area almost immediately. Rear HQ to concentrate at ARRAS area as quickly as possible. 12 E & M Section, Workshops Section to move to ARRAS area 2. | ||||
| Balance of unit at VERNON to move 3. i.e. Coy H.Q. F/Stores. 15 additional G.T. lorries (133 Coy RASC ) attached this unit. | ||||
| 2 | 1000 | 12 E & M Section and Workshops Section moved. Rain and mist. Arrangements put in hand as follows. (a) Rear Party at ARGENTAN to join Coy H.Q. today. (b) Coy H.Q. and Field Stores to move 3. (c) | ||
| Small Real Party to remain consisting of Lt. BERRIDGE and 5 O.Rs. (F/Stores) and No. 8 Sec. 44 Coy Pioneer Corps; this party to control ferrying of stores earmarked for Adv. Coys and to close dump | ||||
| and hand over stock to Army. 1 - 4 ton roller. 1 - 6 ton roller and following plant previously used to operate mobile "Tarmac Factory" handed over to Army:- 1 Concrete Mixer. 1 Stone Crusher | ||||
| mounted on U.S.A. Frauhauf trailer. Drawn Grader out of action. Cl. I tractor being ferried from ARGENTAN. | ||||
| 1800 | Rear Party arrived from ARGENTAN. Again shortage of transport causing acute difficulties which are overcome only by judicious switching of vehicles allotted specific loads in War Establishment. | |||
| E.g. In order to transport 2 Sections of 44 Coy Pioneer Corps tomorrow, it is necessary to use vehicles allotted to F/Stores for carriage of G. 1098 scale of Engineer stores. Additional items to be carried | ||||
| is Engineer Plant and only suitable transport for this is Medium Tractor and Low Loader primarily intended to Carry G. 1098 Mechanical Equipment Scale. The only answer to this problem is to ferry | ||||
| from location to location. This is unsatisfactory and the limitations of this solution have been fully exposed during the present advance towards the Belgium frontier. At this moment Rear H.Q. is | ||||
| approx 100 miles from adv. Tomorrow most of the leeway will be made up, but on arrival at new location transport must be off-loaded and returned to VERNON a return journey of 200 miles. | ||||
| Obviously, before ferrying is completed adv. H.Q. will have moved again and unit will once more be widely dispersed. The only permanent solution, if this type of unit is to carry out its full effective | ||||
| active service role, is the attachment, as an itegral part of the unit, of sufficient RASC G.T. transport to enable moves to be carried out in lift. Otherwise unit can only fulfill a semi- | ||||
| mobile role and will be 25%, non-effective. | ||||
| 1800 | W/Shops and 12 E & M Sect arrived ARRAS. |
Page 2 of 5
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France, ARRAS 4501 | 3 | 0830 | Rear HQ moved to ARRAS. Arrived 1700 hrs. Adv. HQ moved during day to TOURNAI (9332) taking | |
| Balgium. | W/Shops Section with them. Rear H.Q. to move again to NINOVE (3955) 20 K. west of BRUSSELS. | |||
| NINOVE 3955 | 4 | 0830 | Roar HQ moved. Arrived NONOVE 1830 hrs. Adv moved again today Location not know. Capt. HARRIS on recce 1930 hrs to try to restore contact with Adv. H.Q. | |
| Belgium. BRUSSELS 618507 | 5 | 1030 | Departed NINOVE for BRUSSELS. H.Q. now located at BRUSSELS 618570. Unit to remain in BRUSSELS for several days to reorganise and settle any administrative difficulties and to prepare to renew | |
| advance. | ||||
| 6 | Reorganisation of unit continued throughout day. Nothing to report. | |||
| 7 | 1200 | Following attached 210 Fd Coy. for move forward to-day. Lt. RENNISON with MDRS. 15 G.T. vehicles carrying Engr. Stores (Basic Element) with 2 O.Rs. from F/Stores 1 Cl II tractor and crew | ||
| proceed also. | ||||
| 8 | Quiet day. Nothing to report. LAD. REME forwarded to Lt. RENNISON'S party att. 210 Fd Coy | |||
| 9 | 1200 | Took over from 2101 Fd Coy. R.E. water Point at MR 559598. Urgent demand for timber dogs from Corps R.E. 12 E & M Section employed on manufacturing same. Large German Engineer Dump located | ||
| in BRUSSELS and inspected by O.C. and S.O.R.E. (Stores) 30 Corps. 1 Sec. 33 Coy Pioneer Coy detached to 128 Br. Coy. RASC. | ||||
| 10 | 0900 | 2nd section 44 Coy Pioneer Corps detached to 72 Fd Coy. R.E. | ||
| 11 | - | Nothing to report to 1100 hrs. 1100 hrs - O.C. to Coy Comds. Conference. MEOS and F/Stores to | ||
| move forward today. Coy HQ and 1 Sec Pioneer Coy. 12. . 1400 hrs - MEOS and F/Stores moved. 2000 hrs - Forward party ceased to be attached to 210 Fd Coy. moved to DIEST. K129698. At App 'B' | ||||
| is copy of report of recces of Engr. Stores carried out in this area. | ||||
| 13 | 0900 | 1 O.R. severly wounded by accidental discharge of 'Sten' machine gun. | ||
| 0920 | Coy H.Q. and 1 sec of 44 Pioneer Coy moved to DIEST. Arrived 1200 hrs and settled in. Arrangements in hand to move 12 E & M Section to this location 14 ad W/Shops Section on 15. | |||
| 14 | 1030 | 12 E & M Section moved from BRUSSELS. Arrived this H.Q. 1500 hrs. Quiet day Nothing to report. | ||
| 15 | CRE 30 Corps Troops (Lt. BLACK) ordered Coy. to move to BOURGE LEOPOLD area as soon as possible. | |||
| Lt Reonison. proceeded to recce. W/Shops Section joining unit from BRUSSELS to-day. Decided to |
Page 3 of 5
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium. DIEST. K.129698 | send on to new location at present being recced. 1200 W/Shops section arrived. Lt. RENNISON | |||
| returned - suitable location at Barracks BOURG LEOPOLD M.R. K.277830. W/Shops sent forward to occupy and prepare area for arrival of main body on 16. | ||||
| Belgium. BOURG-LEOPOLD | 16 | 0900 | Coy moved. Arrived new location 1200 hrs. C.R.E. visited this location and decided disposition | |
| of unit for next advance forward. Quiet day. Nothing to report. 1 CL.II and 2 Cl.III Angle- dozers with crews attached 210, 209 and 11 Field Coys respectively. Quiet day. Routine works. | ||||
| 17 | 0900 | O.C. to Coy Comds Conference at H.Q. 30 Corp Troops Engrs. Returned 1100 hrs. Coy to provide detachments with 209 and 210 Fd Coys for next advance into HOLLAND. 209 Detachment to consist | ||
| of L.A.D. M.D.R.S. and 1 Workshop Lorry (carrying circular saw). i.e. 7 vehicles - 23 O.Rs. 210 detachment to consist of 6 vehicles being Compressor, Crane, 2 water supply vehicles, 1 tipper | ||||
| carrying Bitumen. 2 Power Rammer's. 2 Cold Emulsion Sprayers with Lt. REMNISON i/c and 10 O.Rs. | ||||
| 1800 | Detachments outlined above joined 209 and 210 Fd Coys. | |||
| 1830 | 1 N.C.O. and took over maintenance of 2 bridges (1 Bailey 1 Trestle) over MEUSE-ESCAUT canal. H.R. of bridge K.350960. Quiet night, nothing of importance to report. | |||
| 18-19 | Nothing to report. Routine works. Water supply of BOURG-LEOPOLD repaired and put in order by 12 E & M Section. R.E. Temporary electricity supply installed for 2 A.D. Stations RAMC in | |||
| BOURG LEOPOLD. | ||||
| 20-21 | Nothing to report. | |||
| 22 | 0800 | Ordered to prepare to move in RICHARD column to NIJMEGEN HOLLAND. | ||
| 1230 | Moved. Slow convoy, roads completely full. Arrived MR. 3495 - ordered to remain stationery. | |||
| Later transpired that main Corps Axis to NIJMEGEN cut by enemy at VEGHEL 4535. Remained on roadside whole night. | ||||
| 23 | 22/23 and until 2100 hrs 23. Ordered to move immediately. Crossed Belgium-Holland frontier. Arrived | |||
| 24 | EINDHOVEN 0200 hrs. Convoy again halted. Clear of town by 1500 hrs. Continued move. Arrived | |||
| Holland. NIJMEGEN. E714590 | NIJMEGEN. 1700 hrs. Pound new location and settled in. Considerable artillery activity in this area during night 24/25. Position of enemy not at all clear as he attempts counter attacks on L of C | |||
| and bridges captured in recent airboing landings. |
Page 4 of 5
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holland. NIJMEGEN. | 25 | C.E. 30 Corps placed repair of assault boats as first priority. This unit ordered to give all possible | ||
| 714590 | assistance to 128 Br. Coy. RASC in repair of their assault boats. Very great air activity during day. over 100 German planes endeavoured to destroy bridge over RHINE. Detachments with 209 and Coy and 210 | |||
| Fd Coy rejoined unit. | ||||
| 26 | Very great air activity again today. Several enemy fighters 'straffed' vicinity of camp area. | |||
| No casualties. Electric Welding Plant of this unit required for repairing bomb damage caused by enemy NIJMEGEN bridge. Recce of captured enemy train at MR. 725565 carried out by Lt. G.L. AITKEN. R.E. | ||||
| Heavy air raids during night 26/27 | ||||
| 27 | Routine works. Day comparitively quiet. Considerable artillery active on both sides during night | |||
| 28 | 27/28 and early morning 28. Shells fell on flanks of present 'leaguer' and to rear. Considerable air activity morning 28. Routine works carried out. 2 UXB (anti-personnel) recovered by RAP. BD. | |||
| Squad and destroyed. 1900 hrs - 3 hr air raid on NIJMEGEN bridge. Raiders opposed by heavy flak | ||||
| More shelling during night. | ||||
| 29 | 0600 | 1 X D6 Angledoze: and 1 autopatrol which have been giving considerable mechanical trouble proceeded to 868 M.E. Park. Intention to exchange D.6 and autopatrol or in case of latter to obtain new tyres. | ||
| Considerable air activity during day. Neighbouring artillery very active during night 29/30. Enemy shelling in early hours but none fell in this location. | ||||
| 30 | Very fine weather. Again considerable aerial activity in this area. Light enemy shelling in afternoon and early evening. Routine works carried out. A Section of 23 B.D. Coy. R.E. attached | |||
| this unit w.e.f. 1800 hrs. | ||||
| SUMMARY. This month has been one of considerable movement. At the Commencement of the period under review the unit was at VERNON, FRANCE, and after initial crossing of the SEINE has followed up the | ||||
| advance across the borders of FRANCE/BELGIUM and BELGIUM/HOLLAND until reaching present location at NIJMEGEN. Except for a short 'breather' at BRUSSELS unit has been continually mobile. As a result | ||||
| W/Shop Section and 12 E & M Section have been unable to carry out extensive works. F/Stores Sect. has been moderately busy. Due to lack of mine warfare MDRS has not been seriously engaged. Only one | ||||
| casualty occurred and that was accidental. In the latter stages it has been necessary to 'dig in' for |
Page 5 of 5
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUMMARY contd protection against enemy bombing, ground straffing and shelling, but on each occassion to date | ||||
| the enemy has concentrated more on our neighbours. Towards the end of the month the weather worsened with increasing rain and cold nights. |
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