National Archive Reference: WO 171/1606
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
1st | Month opens in a very cheerful spirit with complete Company located at | ||
Hermanville for rest period. General overhaul of M.T. and administration | |||
continues. At 1000 hrs, Orders are received to prepare to move at 2 hours | |||
notice. Loading of stores and preparation for move under way. O.C. | |||
proceeds to H.Q.R.E. for conference. Lt. C.M. Strachan proceeds to recce | |||
for temporary Coy. area at BIEVILLE. at 1700 hrs, orders for move to-day | |||
are cancelled but Coy, stands by for early move to-morrow. 1830, Lt. Strachan | |||
returns from recce. | |||
2nd | Fairly quiet night. Some shells land near Coy Area. Slight air activity. | ||
0700 hrs. - Company moves to temporary location at BIEVILLE and stands by | |||
for further move at 1500 hrs. 2 ABCA lectures are given to part of | |||
company by Lt. Strachan. | |||
1550 hrs which Company moves off to new location arriving at LONGRAYE at 2020 | |||
hrs. Company settles down for the night. Roads were extremely dusty and | |||
reminded one of the desert. | |||
2030 hrs. O.C. proceeds to HQRE for 'O' Group returns at 2200 hrs and | |||
calls 'O' Group of all Pl. Comds. Orders are issued for work to-morrow. | |||
No. 1 Pl. to work on repair route LE BISSON - GRANVILLE, No.2 Pl. on | |||
routes CAUMONT - ST. MARTIN, and CAUMONT - Le LANDE SUR DROME, No. 3 pl. | |||
on route VILLENUVE - ST. MARTIN. | |||
3rd | Quiet night. Pls move out on route repairs at 0800 hrs leaving small rear | ||
parties with Coy. H.Q. 0830 hrs. Lt. R.D. Crooks departs on recce for | |||
Coy. area forward. Coy. H.Q. and rear parties of Pls stand by to move at | |||
1100 hrs. Lt. Strachan departs on recce of Quarry near St. Martin. | |||
1230 hrs. Coy. H.Q. and Pls rear parties move to forward location at | |||
LA LANDE SUR DROME arriving at 1335 hrs. Pls join Coy. HQ after | |||
completion of day's work. O.C. proceeds to HQRE for 'O' Group at 1600 hrs, |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
3rd (contd) | Day ends quietly with nothing of importance to report. Pls make good | ||
progress on route repairs. | |||
4th | Quiet night. Everyone enjoyed a good night's sleep. Pls move out on | ||
route repairs at 0830 hrs and day passes quietly. Shower baths are | |||
erected and Canteen goods are in good supply. | |||
5th | Another quiet night is enjoyed by all. Pls move out on route repairs | ||
at 0830 hrs. Lt. R.D. Crooks proceeds on recce at 1130 hrs for forward | |||
Coy. location. Coy. H.Q. and rear parties of Pls move to area FORET | |||
L'EVEQUE at 1405 hrs and arrive at 1500 hrs. | |||
O.C. calls 'O' Group at 1830 hrs. No.1 pl. ordered to stand by ready to | |||
move out in support of 4 Armd. Bde. No2 Pl to stand by to make track | |||
route south of Beny Bocage. No 3 Pl to stand by ready to move out in | |||
support of 9. Br Inf Bde, Coy. standing. by ready to move to area | |||
LA DIABLERE at 0800 hrs. 2115 hrs, C.S.M. in Scout Car proceeds on | |||
recce for Coy. area near LA DIABLERE. | |||
6th | No. 2. Pl moves out at 0515 in support of 4 Armd Bde. | ||
0800 hrs - Coy move to LA DIABLERE commences in stages. Move completed | |||
by 1330 hrs. 9 Br Inf Bde operation commences at 1030 hrs and 3 Pl | |||
move out in support for mineclearance. During operation, No1 Pl is | |||
ordered to build Bailey Bridge over river ALIERE near VIRE and No 3 Pl | |||
to make a ford over the same river. | |||
No.2 Pl. ordered to report to 9 Br Inf Bde for night work. No.3 Pl | |||
task completed. No.1 Pls task on Bailey bridge held up by enemy action. | |||
7th | 0800 hrs. No1 Pl started work on 60' Bailey Bridge. The site was | ||
overlooked by an enemy. O.P. and mortar and shell fire was continuous. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
7th (contd) | Owing to the unhealthy situation, only 3 men were allowed to | ||
work on the abutments with the compressor at a time. | |||
No.2 Pl resting after night work. Two sections of 3 pl advancing with | |||
infantry employed on mineclearance. During the evening, the recce carrier | |||
of No 1 pl is struck by a shell and heavy casualties are suffered. Pl. | |||
officer wounded, 1 Sgt wounded, 1 L/Sgt Killed, 4 O.Rs killed and | |||
7 O.Rs wounded. Two sections of No 3 Pl advancing with infantry suffer two | |||
casualties - 2 O.Rs wounded. This is quite the blackest day of the | |||
campaign. Work on Baily Bridge ceases. Seven reinforcements received | |||
to-day. | |||
8th | Quiet night with slight enemy shelling. No 2 pl build three ramp crossings | ||
near River ALIERE for wheels and tracks. No 1 Pl employed on route | |||
maintenance and maintaining crossings on River ALIERE. No. 3 Pl still | |||
under comd. 9 Br Inf Bde as follows - No. 9 Section- 1 KOSB, No.10 Section | |||
2 Lincoln, No 11 Section - 2 RUR with No 12 section in reserve. Day | |||
passed quietly with nothing of importance to report. | |||
9th | Another quiet night - No. 2 Pl is ordered to complete 60' Bailey bridge | ||
started by No. 1 Pl The time table of construction was as follows:- | |||
Excavation commenced 0900 hrs. Nearbank seat completed 1400 hrs. Far | |||
Bank seat completed 1615 hrs. Construction commenced 1430 hrs. Construction | |||
completed 1700 hrs. Bridge open 1730 hrs. Finally completed 1830 hrs | |||
No.1 Pl employed on route maintenance and maintaining river crossings. | |||
No.3 Pl under comd 9 Br Inf Bde as day previous. Day ends quietly with | |||
nothing further to report. | |||
10th | A quiet day is spent by the company. No. 2 Pl employed on maintenance | ||
of Bailey Bridge. Remainder of company employed on route clearance, - | |||
Route LE PONTE DE VAUDRY. Nothing of importance to report to-day. | |||
11th | Nothing of importance to report, during night. Company moves to area |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
11th (contd) | LA PLANCHE at 1015 hrs (less No. 2 Pl who are under comd. 9 Br Inf Bde | ||
for operation "WALLOP") Company, less No. 2 Pl. in reserve under CRE | |||
with road sweeper parties from No.1 & No 3 Pls standing by to assist | |||
3 Recce Regt if required. | |||
12th | A quiet night and day is spent by the company. Nos 1 & 3 Pls are employed | ||
on maintenance of routes and No2 PI on erection of Water Point. Nothing | |||
else of importance to report. | |||
13th | All Pls employed on route maintenance. 1800 hrs - Lt R.D. Crooks and Lt. | ||
Dickson depart with 246 and 17 F'd Coys on Operation WALLOP to recce any | |||
obstacles encountered. Lt. Dickson wounded by shell splinter while on | |||
this recce. Lt. EDWARDS joins unit on posti ng. and takes over comd | |||
No. 1 Pl. Lt. Strachan replaces Lt. Dickson as recce officer. | |||
14th | Quiet night with nothing of importance to report. Pls standing by at | ||
1 hrs notice to move forward. During the afternoon, 50 O.Rs go to an | |||
ENSA concert given by George Formby. | |||
15th | Night and morning passes quietly with Pls standing by at 1 hrs notice to | ||
move forward. 1315 hrs. 2 Recce parties ordered forward with 17 Fd Coy RE | |||
Orders received to build S.S. Bailey Bridge in TINCHEBRAY area. No 3 Pl | |||
move out under comd 9. Br Inf Bde for route clearance at 2230 hrs. | |||
No. 2 Pl advance party for bridging operations move out at 2000 hrs. | |||
Delay was caused at the site owing to the confused tactical situation and | |||
our infantry refused to allow a compressor to work because of the noise. | |||
This meant the use of long ramps. The bridge was however, completed by | |||
down. Coy. standing by to move early next day. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
16th | Coy H.Q. move to ST. QUENTIN LE CHARDONNETS at 0900 hrs. No.3 Pl still | ||
under comd 9 Br Inf Bde. for route clearance. Nothing of importance to | |||
report. Company standing by for another move to-morrow. | |||
17th | Coy. H.Q. and No. 1 & 2 Pls move to area FRENES at 0900 hrs arriving at | ||
1130 hrs. No2 Pl on route clearance LANDISACQ area.. No. 1 Pl constructing | |||
tank track, TINCHEBRAY - FLERS and clearing air landing strip on airfield | |||
at FLERS. No.3 Pl with 9 Br Inf Bde. All work proceeds smoothly and | |||
day passes quietly. | |||
18th | We are now some way behind the front line and the peace and quiet is enjoyed | ||
by all. No 3 Pl rejoins unit from 9 Br Inf Bde. No.2 Pl. clear route | |||
LANDISACQ-FLERS - and FLERS - LA CHAPELLE AU MOINE and FLERS - LA CHAPELLE | |||
BICHE. No.1 Pl. continues on tank track and maintenance and surfacing | |||
Bailey Bridge in TINCHEBRAY area. | |||
19th | Pls employed as previous day. Day passes quietly and the company settle | ||
down to a static period. We have a good allotment of cinema and ENSA | |||
concert seats and a good time is had by all. 1500 hrs Coy moves to area | |||
FLERS. | |||
20th | Quiet day with Pls on works as previous day. Nothing of importance to | ||
report. 11 Reinforcements received to-day making our fighting strength | |||
7 Officers and 239 O.Rs the nearest we have been to W.E. since 'D' Day. | |||
21st | Nothing of importance to report. | ||
22nd | It is learnt to-day that we are to train the Division in assault river | ||
crossings and for this training period, the company moves to LA CHAPELLE | |||
BICHE. The day is spent on the construction of Class 9 Assault rafts and |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
22nd (contd) | Class 40 Bailey Rafts. A Bde. Water Point is also erected during the day. | ||
23rd. | Training in Assault River Crossings commences, which includes night | ||
crossings. Tanks are ferried across on Class 40 Bailey rafts and infantry | |||
on Class 9 Assault Raft and storm boats. | |||
24th | The Company is inspected by Divisonal Comdr., Major General L.G. Whistler, | ||
D.S.O. Remainder of day is spent in general overhaul of M.T. and | |||
administration. During night 24/25 assault river crossings continue. | |||
25th - 26th | Assault river crossing is our main job and we complete it with only a few | ||
slight mishaps and no. casualties. The Company. Surveyor takes a detailed | |||
survey of FLERS airfield, and odd jobs of route repairs are still carried | |||
on. Two old members of the company rejoin us to day. | |||
27th | Company moves to area FLERS at 1900 hrs after completion of Assault River | ||
crossings. | |||
28th | Normal day. | ||
29th | H.Q. Pl. Sgt proceeds to Div H.Q. to supervise mine training course for other | ||
arms. Change in weather - raining. No.2 Pl. loading storm boats and stores | |||
on training site and filling bomb craters in FLERS. No.1 Pl road repairs | |||
FLERS - ARGENTAN. No.3 PI on recce and preparation of FLERS drome for | |||
demonstration of CONGER. | |||
30th | Pl. tasks continue. Demonstration by No.3 Pl. of CONGER. | ||
31st. | Warning order received at 0045 hrs to prepare to move. Lt. R.D. Crooks | ||
moves off at 1200 hrs to recce area for new location. Month ends in a very |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
31st (contd) | cheerful note with Company well rested. | ||
Total casualties for month. | |||
Killed 5 O.Rs. | |||
Wounded 1 Officer, 10 O.Rs. |