253 Field Company R.E. War Diary: 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
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This diary mentions 2 units with war diaries for November 1944.
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 - VORTUM 785376 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) | VORTUM 785376 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 VENRAIJ 779266, 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 779266 VENRAIJ, Sht. 19 NW/E, 1/25,000 - 842178 HORST, 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 VENRAIJ 779266 - OVERLOON 761318 - 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
| Place | Date | Hour | 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. |
Units Referenced in this war diary
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