National Archive Reference: WO 171/1606
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
1st | Unit location ZOMEREN. No.1 Platoon detached at DEURNE under comd | ||
9 Br. Inf. Bde. Preparations being made for move. 1000 hrs O Group at Coy HQ. 1800 hrs Unit moves off under command O.C. to Div SP. Move via | |||
ASTEL and DEURNE - BAKEL - GEMERT - MILL. No.1 Pl. rejoin unit en route. | |||
2nd. | 0130 hrs - arrive at new location area ESCHEREN BEEKS near R. MAAS. | ||
0830 hrs Nos. 1 & 2 Pls. move out for route maintainence tasks road NEDERASSELT - HEUMAN. | |||
3rd & 4th | Pls. employed on route maintainence, Elements of Platoons preparing for demonstration of mine pulling and clearance, | ||
5th | Demonstration given by No.1 Pl. of Mine Pulling at LINDEN. | ||
6th. | During these last few days Pls. have been sending 3 or 4. ORs. daily for | ||
rest periods at the Divisional Club, HELMOND. 1800 hrs - O Group at Coy HQ. Nos.1 and 3 Pls Comdrs detailed for future | |||
tasks of gapping minefields in an assault. No. Pl. to be under comd 9 Br. Inf. Bde. | |||
7th. | Capt E.J. Hoadley RE proceeds on recce of prospective new location. 1100 hrs Lt. J.B. Bostock attends conference at Bde HQ for details of | ||
future tasks of No.: 2 Pl. 2 Gapping parties each of 14 men from Nos. 1 and 3 Pls. training for gapping tasks. Remainder of Pls. employed on | |||
route maintainence. Preliminary preparations being made for the collection and overhaul of Stores to be used on future commitments. | |||
"Conger" equipment arrives from 17 Fd Coy RE for training purposes. | |||
8th | Training and works continue. Each Pl. has now been issued with a | ||
Radio Set for after duty and resting periods. | |||
9th. | Orders for operational commitments cancelled. 1200 hrs OC attends O Gp | ||
at HQRE 3 Br. Inf. Div. 2100 hrs O Gp at Coy HQ. Nos. 2 & 3 Pls detailed to stand by to come under comd 9. Br. Inf. Bde. No.1 Pl. standing by to | |||
fell tress for AVRE. Unit under orders to be prepared to move. "Conger" equipment returns to 17 Fd Coy RE. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
10th | Nos. 2 & 3 Pls. organizing mine clearance teams in preparation for commitments. | ||
As to be expected when an operation is immement, the weather changed for the worse. 1330 hrs. Lt. CM Strachen moves off with recce party to new | |||
location. Preparation being made for Unit move. | |||
11th | 0900 hrs Unit moves off via MIL. 1430 Hrs. arrive OPLOO. Nos. & 3 Pls | ||
commence task of laying Somerfeld track BOSCLUST - HEIDEWOOD. Task completed at 2300 hrs. | |||
12th | During night 11/12 several shells fell in Unit locality. 1200 hrs. 2 Secs of No.2 Pl. proceed in support of 9 Br. Inf. Bde for mine clearance tasks. | ||
2200 hrs CRE 3 Br. Inf. Div held. O Gp at Coy HQ remaining with unit overnight with his Tac HQ. 7 Reinforcements arrive. | |||
13th | 0700 hrs. OC and 2 i/c with Unit Tac HQ move off to forward location with 2 Secs of No. 2 Pl. and armd gapping parties of No. 3 Pl. No.1 Pl. remain in | ||
reserve with Coy HQ at OPLOO. The prospective taks for the Unit in this operation (AINTREE) consists of mine clearance and route development and | |||
maintainence, During the day 6 RASC lorries loaded with Somerfeld Track Chespaling and Gravel report to Coy HQ and are held in reserve. No. 3 Pl | |||
in support of 2 Bn. RUR cleared gaps through minebelts and developed forward routes west of OVERLOON. No.2 Pl. on forward route maintainence for the | |||
passage of 1 Bn. KOSB. | |||
1700 | hrs. No.1 Pl. proceed on route maintainence task. | ||
1900 | " Nos. 2 & 3 Pls returned to Coy area for nights rest. | ||
2300 | " No.1 Pl. return. No.2 Pl. had 1 OR wounded, 2 Reinforcement arrive. | ||
14th | 0630 | Nos1. & 2 Pls. moved out on route clearance and maintainence in support of 9 Br. Inf. Bde forward move nr. KEELKANT, South of OVERLOON. | |
0830 | No. 3 Pl. Armd gapping parties mave out for mine clearance tasks if required. | ||
1000 | Unit Tac HQ returns to OPLOO. | ||
1830 | No.1 Pl. returns. No.2 Pl. remain at advanced location. | ||
No.1 P1. Sgt. wounded during day. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
15th | No.3 Pl. returns to OPLOO at 0830 hrs and at 1430 hrs moved off again for | ||
route maintainence task for remainder of day. | |||
1700 | Lt. N.R. Beesley No. Pl. comdr with Pl. Sgt. involved in vehicle accident. | ||
Lt. Beesley was admitted to hospital and is SOS of Unit. | |||
2000 | Lt. R.D. Crooks moves off the 1 Norfolk Regt on a recce of the site for a | ||
proposed bridge nr. VENRAY in order to obtain particulars of the gap. Unit standing by for notification to move. Lt. C.M. Strachen assumes | |||
comd of No.3 Pl. Casualties - 4 ORs. No.2 Pl. - wounded. | |||
16th | 0630 | Detailed recce of proposed bridge nr. VENRAY carried out by No. 1 Pl. party. | |
0700 | Advance party of 2 Secs No.1 Pl. move off the bridging site. | ||
0800 | Remainder of No. Pl. move off. to Assembly Area in preparation for bridging. 1 Sec. of No.3 Pl. attached to 2 Bn. RUR and 1 Sec to 2 LINCOLNS. | ||
1030 | Coy HQ and Pl. vehicles move out from OPLOO. | ||
1100 | Arrive at OVERLOONSHEVAAK nr. OVERLOON. Owing to the proximity of an | ||
enemy posn. Coy HQ vehicles and Pl. vehicles return to former location at OPLOO. Tac HQ and Coy Officer remain. | |||
Bridging Pl from 15 Fd Pk Coy RE arrives and is held in reserve. No.1 Pl. commenced construction of Cl 9 FBE Trestle bridge at 1930 hrs and | |||
completed this task by 2130 hrs. During the day No. 2 Pl. in forward posn at HIEKANT nr. OVERLOON had been | |||
standing by for the construction of a further Cl 40 bridge adjacent to Cl.9 bridge built by No.1 Pl. Owing to road obstruction on bridge approaches | |||
building of this bridge was cancelled at 2300 hrs, it being decided to fill the gap using Armco Culverting and hardcore. Bridging Pl returned | |||
to 15 Fd Pk Coy RE. | |||
17th | 0000 | No. 2 Pl. commenced task of constructing road over gap. 14 RASC lorries and | |
12 Tippers were available for carrying hardcore. | |||
1000 | HQ and Pl. vehicles join Tac HQ at OVERLOONSHEVAAK. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
17th contd | 1200 | No. 2 Pl. completed crossing and returned to HEIKANT. No. 1 Pl. and remaining | |
2 Secs No. 3 Pl. on maintainance of routes and approaches to Crossings. | |||
2100 | No.1 Pl. return to former location at OPLOO for night 17/18th. | ||
18th | No.1 Pl. leave OPLOO and rejoin Unit. Pls. employed on mtce of routes and crossing approaches. | ||
No.3 Pl. located mines. Their removal was attended to by No.1 Pl. | |||
1830 | OC attends O Gp at HQRE and on return calls O Gp at Coy HQ. Future tasks | ||
outlined. | |||
19th | No.2 Pl. leave HEIKANT and occupy part of the farm buildings being utilized | ||
by Coy HQ. During early morning and remainder of day Nos.1 & 2 Pls. employed on the clearance of mines on routes and also the clearance of tracks | |||
for tank recovery. Personnel not on this work together with 2 Secs No.3 Pl continue mtce tasks. During the morning Major J.P. ASHER RE reports to | |||
HQ 9 Br. Inf. Bde for the visit of Corps Commander. 9 Reinforcements arrive. | |||
20th | During night 19/20 1 Sec No. 3 Pl. maintained approaches to Crossing. No.1 Pl. destroyed several dumps of mines which they had lifted and | ||
collected during the previous day. No.2 Pl. prepare for minelaying night 20/21. No.3 Pl. Sheep tracking minefields and the RAMC in the recovery of | |||
bodies. 3 ORs. wounded during this operation. | |||
21st | Minelaying task of No. 2 Pl. did not materlize. Route mtce continues. | ||
22nd | Route mtce. | ||
23rd | Lecture and Demonstration on Mines and Mine Detecting given by Lt. J.B. BOSTOCK | ||
and personnel of No. 2 Pl. to Pioneer Pls. of affiliated Bns. 2/Lt. J.L.G. Bayliss joins Unit on posting from 31 RHU. Lt. CM Strachen | |||
is detained in hospital and is SOS of Unit. 2 Secs No.3 Pl. detached with 1 KOSB and 2 RUR rejoin. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
24th | Mtce of Crossings and Routes | ||
1800 | Nos. 2 & 3 Pl. detailed to hold themselves in readiness to provide mine clearance party for the clearance of approx 2 miles of Carrageway and for | ||
the demolishing and clearance of a free road block. No.3 Pl. detailed to assist REME in the recovery of Asslt. Br. at point NW VENRAY. | |||
25th | Tasks details to No.2 and 3 Pls. completed during day. Mtce work continues. | ||
26th | Assistance given by No.1 Pl. Officer and 40 ORs to 246 Fd Coy RE on the | ||
construction of a "Corduroy Road". Further work done in clearing lanes for tank recovery. Mtce continues on routes. 2/Lt. Browne joins unit on | |||
posting from 246 Fd Coy RE.11 Reinforcements arrive. Unit only 1 OR deficient from WE Strength (less Reinforcements) | |||
27th | Lt. R.D. Crooks departs Unit on posting to HQRE. Lt. J.Marshall joins unit on posting from HQRE. Assistance to 246 Fd Coy RE and mtce of routes and | ||
crossing approaches continues to the end of the month. | |||
28th | No.2 Pl. checking area of MOLEN BEEK against the possibility of mines. | ||
15 ORs. from Canadian Fortstry Company attached to Unit for task with 246 Fd Coy RE. 2100-2200 Unit locality received spasmotic shelling. | |||
29th | No.3 Pl. assist REME on the recovery of tank. | ||
30th | Attachment of Dog Pl. consisting of 1 Officer, 21 ORs and 33 Dogs to this | ||
Unit for the purpose of detecting Schu Mines. | |||
31st | Month closed quietly. Mtce tasks still in progress. | ||
Unit location - OVERLOODSHEVAAK nr OVERLOON. Total Casualties for month - 2 Officers and 11 ORs. wounded. |