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    War Diary: 253 Field Company R.E.

    Month and year: October 1944

    The 253 Field Company October 1944 War Diary covers the units advance time in the Netherlands in the area around Oploo and Overloon

    National Archive Reference: WO 171/1606

    The "References to Appendices" column for this document was empty so has been omitted.

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    Page 1 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    1stUnit 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 & 4thPls. employed on route maintainence, Elements of Platoons preparing for
    demonstration of mine pulling and clearance,
    5thDemonstration 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.
    8thTraining 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.
    Page 2 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    10thNos. 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.
    11th0900 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.
    12thDuring 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.
    13th0700 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.
    1700hrs. 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.
    14th0630Nos1. & 2 Pls. moved out on route clearance and maintainence in support
    of 9 Br. Inf. Bde forward move nr. KEELKANT, South of OVERLOON.
    0830No. 3 Pl. Armd gapping parties mave out for mine clearance tasks if required.
    1000Unit Tac HQ returns to OPLOO.
    1830No.1 Pl. returns. No.2 Pl. remain at advanced location.
    No.1 P1. Sgt. wounded during day.
    Page 3 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    15thNo.3 Pl. returns to OPLOO at 0830 hrs and at 1430 hrs moved off again for
    route maintainence task for remainder of day.
    1700Lt. N.R. Beesley No. Pl. comdr with Pl. Sgt. involved in vehicle accident.
    Lt. Beesley was admitted to hospital and is SOS of Unit.
    2000Lt. 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.
    16th0630Detailed recce of proposed bridge nr. VENRAY carried out by No. 1 Pl. party.
    0700Advance party of 2 Secs No.1 Pl. move off the bridging site.
    0800Remainder 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.
    1030Coy HQ and Pl. vehicles move out from OPLOO.
    1100Arrive 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.
    17th0000No. 2 Pl. commenced task of constructing road over gap. 14 RASC lorries and
    12 Tippers were available for carrying hardcore.
    1000HQ and Pl. vehicles join Tac HQ at OVERLOONSHEVAAK.
    Page 4 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    17th contd1200No. 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.
    2100No.1 Pl. return to former location at OPLOO for night 17/18th.
    18thNo.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.
    1830OC attends O Gp at HQRE and on return calls O Gp at Coy HQ. Future tasks
    outlined.
    19thNo.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.
    20thDuring 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.
    21stMinelaying task of No. 2 Pl. did not materlize. Route mtce continues.
    22ndRoute mtce.
    23rdLecture 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.
    Page 5 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    24thMtce of Crossings and Routes
    1800Nos. 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.
    25thTasks details to No.2 and 3 Pls. completed during day. Mtce work continues.
    26thAssistance 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)
    27thLt. 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.
    28thNo.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.
    29thNo.3 Pl. assist REME on the recovery of tank.
    30thAttachment of Dog Pl. consisting of 1 Officer, 21 ORs and 33 Dogs to this
    Unit for the purpose of detecting Schu Mines.
    31stMonth closed quietly. Mtce tasks still in progress.
    Unit location - OVERLOODSHEVAAK nr OVERLOON.
    Total Casualties for month - 2 Officers and 11 ORs. wounded.

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