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

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WO 171/1606 253 Field Company R.E.

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Page 1 of 5

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.

Page 2 of 5

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.

Page 3 of 5

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.

Page 4 of 5

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.

Page 5 of 5

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.