War Diary: 253 Field Company R.E.

Month and year: November 1944

The 253 Field Company November 1944 War Diary covers the units time in the Netherlands clearing and laying mines, building bridges and maintaining routes

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1606

All diaries for this unit:

Please use the contact us page to report any errors or inaccuracies.

Viewing map locations

Many of the location in this diary have been geocoded, these locations are highlighted Screenshot of highlighted location clicking on them will display them on a map. Many location also have historical maps and aerial photographs of the area available.

Found this useful?

If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.

« Return to war diaries

Page 1 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	1st		Unit location OVERLOONSHEVAAK nr OVERLOON. Maintenance work proceeding on routes and approaches to crossings. Assistance being given to 246 Fd Coy
			RE in construction of "Corduroy" road, by Nos 1 & 3 Pls. No.2 Pl preparing for the laying of minefield night 1/2. This order was cancelled at 1800 hrs
			Unit locality shelled 2130-2230.
	2nd		Training in the laying of mines given by No. 2 Pl to personnel of 2nd Bn. RUR and 2nd Lincolns. 40 civilians labourers assisting in the construction
			and maintenance of roads. 15 O.Rs of Canadian Forestry Coy also assisting in the felling of trees for this work. Maintenance continues on routes and
			approaches to crossings. Preparations were made during the day for the laying of minefields during hours of darkness commencing evening.
			1830 hrs. Under the supervision of Unit Recce Officers and N.C.Os, parties of Inf. from 2 RUR and Lincolns commenced the laying of 5 minefields at VENRAIJ.
			Map references of fields, 786284, 790296, 788285, 788299, 791289, Sheet 19 SW/E 1/25,000. Enemy patrol interrupted work at 786284. No Casualties.
			Total number of mines laid : 947 Mk. V. Work on the minefields was completed before midnight. Recording of the completed minefields was done by Unit
			personnel.
	3rd		Maintenance of routes and road work from 732324-761318 Sheet 19 SW/E 1/25,000 continues. Owing to enemy interference on the night of the 2nd with the
			RUR minefield party, 2 minefields were not laid. Minefields completed during night 3/4 with assistance of one Sec. from 2 Pl.

	4th		Maintenance of routes and road work. Canadian Forestry detachment ceased to be attached.
	5ith		Maintenance of routes and road work.

Page 2 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	6th		Lt. J.B. Bostock training Unit personnel (including recent reinforcements) Mines and Minelaying, No.1 Pl. training with the attached Dog Pl.
			No. 3 Pl and elements of Nos 1 & 2 Pls on routes and roads. During evening and night 6/7, sec. of No.1 Pl assisted 3 Recce Regt in boobytrapping and
			laying A/P mines.
	7th		Lt. J.B Bostock continues with Mine Training. Preparations were made during the day for Schu mine demonstration. Work on routes and roads
			continues, also the almost daily task of burying dead cattle.
	th		1500. Demonstration given at Unit location to higher formation and Div. reps in the locating of, and devices for clearing a way through a Schumine field.
			Various methods carried out by Units of the formation, including demonstration of detecting by the Dog Pl. 253 Field Coy. R.E. method was demonstrated
			by No. 1 Pl experimenting with "Lifebuoy" flamethrower on live mines. This method was not successful. Road maintenance continued.
	9th		Work on routes and road. Weather very bad, Rain and wind. Preparations
			made during day by No. 3 PI to give assistance to 3 Recce Regt in the extension of A/P minefield laid night 6/7. This task was completed during
			hours of darkness night 9/10.
	10th		Work on routes and roads.
	11th		During night 10/11, 2/Lt. Bayliss and 2 O.Rs laid A/P mines to close gaps in minefields laid during nights 6/7 and 9/10. 7 Junior N.C.Os proceed for
			Divisional R.E. Cadre Course held at 246 Field Company, R.E. Preparations made during day for operation in which Pls personnel act as Infantry in
			patrolling and manning forward areas - VORTUM785376 Sheet 19 SW/E 1/25,000. Unit now relieved of route and road tasks.
	12th		Tac H.Q., No. 1 Pl and 2 Secs No.3 Pl moved at 1100 hrs to take over positions
			in fwd areas from 17 Fd Coy RE. Weather bad - raining. Tac H/Q situated at

Page 3 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	12th (contd)		VORTUM785376 Sht. 19 NW/E.1/25,000. During night 12/13 trip wires and
			20 A/P mines were laid. Enemy patrols were reported to have been seen but no contact was made.
	14th		No.2 Pl together with 2 Secs No. 3 Pl replaced No.1 Pl. who returned to
			Coy H.Q. at OVERLOONSHEVAAK 729319 Sht. 19 NW/E 1/25,000.
	15th		Patrolling continues. 1 O.R. killed and 1 wounded during evening.
	16th.		1100. Tac H.Q. return. No.2 Pl. hand over duties of patrolling to 246
			Fd Coy RE. Dog Platoon of 23 all ranks and 33 dogs depart Unit on attachment to 278 Fd Coy RE. A number of Dutch civilians employed in the
			felling of trees for the making of fasc ines.
	17th		0900 hrs C.R.E. 3. Br Inf Div. visits unit for inspection and for the
			presentation of Commendation Cards. Recipients were: Major J.P. Asher, Sgt. Hepburn, Cpls Taylor, Bishopy Allen, Miller, L/Cpls Grosvenor, Largent
			Johnston, Sprs. Holcombe & Boyd. No.2 Pl. employed on the making of fascines and assault stores. Timber
			being felled by civilian labour. No.3 Pl. commenced task of constructing
			tank tracie south of VENRAIJ, area 7624. During evening and night, No. 1 Pl thickned A/P minefield for 3 Recce Regt. 795341, Sht. 19 NW/E 1/25,000.
	18th		No. 2 Pl. working on Armco Fascines. No. 3 Pl on tank track. 'O' Gps at Coy H.Q. at 1500 hrs and 1830 hrs. Nos 1 & 3 Pls move to new location
			and proceed with work on construction of Tank Track. Recce of road carried out by Lt. P. Browne.
	19th		0800. Nos 1 & 3 Pls move to location HEIDT nr VENRAIJ. No2. Pl on Armco
			Fascines.

Page 4 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	20th		Coy H.Q. and No. 2 Pl prepare to move. 0930. Coy H.Q. move off via OVERLOON
			and VENRAIJ to area HEIPT, 799275 Sh.19 SW/E 1/25,000. Arr. 1030 hrs No.2 Pl. follow later and arrive 1130 hrs. Unit now in same location.
			No.1 Pl employed on route maintenance in area of responsibilities. No.2 Pl contique with devices. No.3 Pl construction and signing of tank tracks.
	21st		No.3 Pl construct 30 ft S.S. Bailey Bridge over gap 762227 Sht. 19 SW/E 1/25,000.
			Work commenced 0700 hrs and completed 0930. No.2 Pl employed on devices. No.1 Pl on routes. No. Pl. completed tank track during day. 1900. 'O' Gp
			at Coy HQ.
	22nd		Tank track route finally checked. Preparations being made for future
			operational tasks. 1100. Bde 'O' Gp at H.Q. 246 Fd Coy RE, attended by O.C. Capt. E.J. Hoadley attended 'O' Gp at HQRE 3 Div. 1400. 'O' Gp at
			Coy H.Q. Pl. commdrs briefed in tasks for operation "PEACOCK". Maintenance of routes handed over to 17 Fd Coy R.E. Cadre Class personnel
			return. 1 Reinforcement arrives. Weather changed for the worse and rain continued. Unit location shelled (175 mm) spasmodically.
	23rd		0500 Coy Tac HQ moves off and reports to Tac HQ 9 Br Inf Bde. Gapping
			parties of Nos 1 & 3 Pls detached to RUR and KOSB Bns for assault clearance, of routes and mines. No. 3 PI with 2 LINCOLNS on route clearance and tree
			blocks. No.2 Pl held in reserve. 1900 hrs. Nos 1 & 3 Pls return to HQ for night. 2 O.Rs No.3 PI wounded - Sgt Cleaver, Spr. Harding.
	24th		0830. No.2 Pl move off to assist 34 Cdn Fd Coy in the erection of 30'
			Bailey Br. at HORST. Sht.Q.1. 842178, 100,000. Task completed at 1200 hrs. Unit preparing to move to new location. 1530 hrs. H.Q.
			Nos. 1 & 3 Pls move off via VENRAIJ779266, to area HEIDE 764248 - VOOLEN 760235 sht. 19 SW/E, 1/25,000 South of VENRAIJ. Tac HQ rejoin at this location

Page 5 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	24th (Contd)		No.2 Pl. rejoin later at new location. Operation "PEACOCK" over.
	25th		Pls employed on marking off own minefields and lifting enemy mines. Also
			route maintenance to bridge and crossing approaches. Casualties occurred during the removal of enemy mines. Major J.P. Asher was wounded in the
			face while assisting in the operation. He was admitted to hospital and S.O.S. of Unit. 4 O.Rs of No.1 Pl wounded - Sprs. Garfinkle, Dixon, Burroughs
			N.I., Enemy. Command of Unit devolves on Capt. E.J. Hoadley.
	26th		Spasmodic shelling (175mm) of Unit area during morning. No.1 Pl. employed checking minefields. No.2 Pl on Corduroy Road. No. 3 Pl. maintenance of
			road 769221 VOELUM - 792236 SCHOOR, Sht. 19 SW/E, 1/25,000. Major E.T. Collins joins Unit during evening from 32 R.H.U. and assumes command.
	27th		Works continue. 1330 hrs. Capt. E.J. Hoadley and party moves off for
			recce of proposed new location.
	28th		No, 2 Pl. carried out recce of abandoned Bailey Br. and employed on Route
			M'tce 779266VENRAIJ, Sht. 19 NW/E, 1/25,000 - 842178HORST, Q1. 100,000 and laterals. No.1 Pl. checking enemy and own minefields area VOOLUM
			and SCHOOR bridge 792236 Sht. 19 SW/E, 1/25,000. 1400. H.Q. Pl. move off to new location via VENRAIJ779266 - OVERLOON761318 - OPLOO 710360 -
			ST. ANTHONIS 715383 - WANROIJ 675418 to HOOFDBOERDERY 643414, nr. Mill, 650450.
			Pls remain at location HEIDE 764248, Sht. 19 SW/E, 1/25,000.
	29th		0730. Work started on 70 ft S/S Bailey at MEERLO 855253 Q/1, 100,000.
			Bridge had to be de launched and concrete & reinforcing bars of old bridge had to be removed before bridge could be launched. World finished at 1115 hrs.

Page 6 of 6

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
29th contd	Spasmodic shelling by 88 mms throughout, no casualties. 1130 hrs. 1 Pl
	moved to new location, 1600 hrs 2 Pl. moved to new location. 3 Pl. in sp of 2 R.U.R. for attack in area 855253 MEERLO - 850280 WANNSUM	-
	870220 BLITTERSWYK, sht. Q1, 1/100,000. Employed during night in clearance of rds and tracks in fwd area and in gapping enemy wire which was bodby
	trapped. Shell and mortar fire heavy throughout. One O.R. wounded on booby trap.
30th	3 Pl. location shelled during this period. No casualties to personnel, two
	3 ton lorries hit. Pl. remained with 2 R.U.R. and detailed for gapping and clearance tasks during the night. Inf attack heavily opposed, and only
	slight progress. R.E. parties not used and withdrawn to MEERLO. 1 & 2 Pls employed in road maintenance in area rd ST. HUBERT - HAPS - OEFFELT and
	south to rd ST. ANTHONIS - BOXMEER.
	Unit location: HOOFDBOERDERY. Total Casualties for month: 1 O.R. killed, 1 Officer and 8 O.Rs wounded.
	Appended here with. A.F.W. 3008 for W.E. Nov 44.
	A.F.W. 3009 for W.E. Nov 44.

Found this useful?

If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.

Layers

War Diary: 253 Field Company R.E.

Month and year: November 1944

Viewing map locations