War Diaries of the 703rd Artisan Works Company, Royal Engineers in WWII: April 1944

April 1944

Unit: 703 Art Wks Coy RE

Commanding Officer: C. I. Pennington Major RE

Honeywood House, Horsham, Sussex (carechoices.co.uk)

Place	Date	Hour	Summary
Rudgwick[i]	1		12^th day of training. Nos. 1&2 sections proceed to Field Firing Range near Peacehaven – see demonstration platoon attack by 6 Br. Somerset L.I.[ii] under cover of mortar fire H.E. and smoke. Lt. Ashton reports range unsuitable for small arms training, there being no cover and no targets. No 3 section on Classification Range at Steyning. No 4 section dismantle Bailey Bridge.
“	2		13^th day of training. Lt. Westerman hands over Bailey Bridge stores to Lt. Beecham 669 Art.Wks.Coy.R.E. Major Pennington, Lt. Hill & Sgt. Combes recce works site at Crawley (17 A.F.V.[iii] Depot) with Capt. Robertson and Lt. Besle of 669 Art.Wks.Coy.R.E.
“	3	1000	Instructions received from CE. SECO that 703 A.W.Coy come under C.E. Sussex District for works and will take over work at Crawley from 669 A.W.Coy. Lt. Hill and party from Section 2 proceed to works site at Crawley, & draw tools from QMS Parfrey[?] (C.E.’s Office Crawley). Preliminary enquiries regarding accommodation at Crawley for No 2 Section; Major Pennington contacts Lt. Tiltary[?] at 17 AFV.HQ and is informed that Lovell House is available with accommodation for 80 O.R.s. Major Pennington meets Major Cave at CE’s office Haywards Heath and is instructed to employ 3 sections at Crawley’ 4^th section to be on training. Leave restarted. No 4 section on training – see training programme attached. [Appendix 1]
“	4		Nos 1,2&3 Sections on works at Crawley; one sector allotted to each section. Works conference on site at 14.30 hours attended by Major Cave, S.O.R.E.II, Major Foster, DCRE Maresfield, Major Eaton OC. 17 AFV. Depot, Major Pennington and Capt Wright for O.C. 349 Coy.P.C. Completion date to be 19^th April.44.
“	5		Works in progress at Crawley. Much chasing around for essential tools and stores. Capt Hawey takes over accommodation at Crawley – Lovell House and Oaklands. Leave suspended.
“	6	0945	Lt Hill and Lt Westerman and Sections No 2 & No 3 move to Crawley. Written instructions from C.E. Sussex District that a detachment of 703 Art Wks Coy are required for urgent works at Middleton Manor and a Section shall be released from training for this purpose. Major Pennington attends Siting Board at Middleton Manor at 10.30 hours. Present: Lt.Col.Foster, CRE Central Sussex, Major Clark (SORE.II), Major Kennedy, DCRE Brighton and others. At 1430 hours Lt. Wilson meets [?] Osborne Garrison Engineer, Hassocks on site and arranges setting out of works and accommodation for his Section. Completion date to be 21^st April 44.
“	7		No 4 Section move to Middleton Manor; are accommodated in tents. Two sections of Pioneers (33 Group) Lt. Cox I/C. also move in. Stores begin to arrive on site in afternoon. Major Pennington meets Major Heaseman OC. 349 Coy, P.C. on works site Crawley at 1100 hours, sapper and pioneers co-operating without friction. Good progress on foundation works for petrol storage and bricklined PAD tank in spite of difficulties – falls of clay and water in foundation. Lt. Westerman instructed to work Sunday if necessary to bring the work up to ground level. D8 bulldozer out of action all day due to mechanical breakdown.
“	8		Works continue at Crawley; Pioneers finish at 1200 hours being Saturday, sappers carry on till 1600 hours. Work started at Middleton by No 4 Section. Army forms W.3008 & W3009A attached.[Appendix 2 & 3 - missing]
“	9		Easter Sunday. Half Section 3 working at Crawley on installation of underground petrol tanks. Half Section 4 working at Middleton on foundation for Romneys[iv]. Remainder of Coy having day off. Cricket match arranged for afternoon between HQ & No 1 Section cancelled on account of bad weather; cold and wet.
“	10		Easter Monday. Normal works. Major Pennington visits works at Middleton & meets Brig. Lubie[?], Chief Engineer South Eastern Cmd. Ten store tents 50’x20’ erected by Pioneers. Footings for Romneys excavated and start made on concrete foundations. Chief Engineer agrees that turf need not be stripped in floors to Romneys & lecture tents before laying ashes, sand & concrete flags; this will save labour & time. Lt.Col.Foster informed by phone; said old elm tree by Romneys could be left standing, also blackout material for lecture tents need not be fixed yet: linings for Romneys would be delivered by Wednesday.
“	11		Normal works. Lt.Ashton takes over 4 tipping lorries from 17 AFV. Depot. These belong to CE. SECO’s pool and are available for works. Major Pennington meets Major General Reeve[v], G.O.C. Sussex District on works site at Middleton Manor says he hopes to beat completion date 21^st April by two days at least.
“	12		Normal works. Lt. Ashton takes over 6 tipping lorries from 669 AW.Coy R.E. Lt. Col. Heseltine, CRE 4 LofC Tps Engrs visits Rudgwick, discusses training & inspects coms[?] stores. Major Bunting DAOMG[?] W. Sussex subdistrict calls at Rudgwick – discusses censorship & steps for obtaining approval for compassionate leave.
“	13		Normal works. Lt. Ashton, President of the Audit Board hands in his report on conditions od regimental accounts of this coy. Major Foster phones re completion date for works at Crawley; storage tanks for petrol are ready for testing now but suppliers[?] cannot test until the 18^th April. This will hold up completion until two days after testing. Preparatory Administrative Order Part 1 received from CRE[?] 4 LofC Tps. Engrs.
“	14		Normal Works. Good progress on contstructional works at Crawley viz brickwork for petrol storage tanks, PAD tank, & connecting of washdowns but cleaning up spoil by mechanical equipment getting behind schedule. Major Pennington meets Lt. Davies of 72 M.E.Coy on site and asks for a bulldozer in replacement of the DT which was taken from site on the 12^th. Lt. Col. [?] CRE visits works at Middleton & gives instructions regarding Romney huts all doors to open outwards & to have blackout curtain inside hut; ventilation to be provided by raising curved sheeting at top centre of huts.
“	15		Army forms W.3008 and W.3009A(RE) attached. Normal works [Appendix 4 & 5 - missing]
“	16		Sunday. Day off works except for filling in of excavation to petrol storage tanks at Crawley. This to be completed before Monday morning so that erection of Nissen hut can be started.
“	17		Normal works at Crawley and Middleton. Road convoy comprising all G.1098 transport, Capt Hawey and Lt. Ashton in charge, starts at 0800 hours for Castle Donnington near Derby; to be exchanged for operational transport tomorrow. Rations and field cookers taken.
“	18		Major Pennington and Lt. Hill met Major Hease…[?] OC 349 Coy P.C.[vi] at Crawley and examine works. It is decided that the whole coy of pioneers will be required for another work on muck-shifting and cleaning up unless further mechanical equipment is available. Petrol storage tanks not tested by civilian firm as promised. This will delay the works. Major Foster DCRE Maresfield informed by telephone; also asked to re-site Nissen hut for office which as shown on plan is part on the solid […?]track and part on filled ground.
“	19		Capt. Hawey, Lt. Ashton return with convoy of operational vehicles at 0530 hours. Lt. Westerman proceeds to Llanberis on Advanced Fieldcraft Course. Water tower erected by Pioneers at Crawley collapses at mid-day. One sapper injured – not seriously – and taken to hospital. Failure apparently due to buckling of tubular scaffolding. Design appears inadequate but Major Foster DCRE Maresfield says it is a standard War Office design. Major Middleton phone; he wants four tipping lorries to be at Dover by dawn tomorrow. Cpl. Shaw sent off with convoy.
“	20		Normal works at Middleton and Hassocks. Major Pennington dismissed completion of works at Middleton with Lt. Wilson & made preliminary arrangements for them to move out on Sunday, 23 April.
“	21		Inspection of works at Crawley by Col. Perry C.E. Sussex District, Major Eaton O.C. 17 AFV. Depot, Major Foster, Major Cave, Major Hoseman[?], Major Pennington and Lt. Hill. Water tower to be cleared away & new tank erected on brick walls or concrete raft foundation. As from Monday 24 April works to be carried on with two RE sections & four pioneer sections. Two RE sections to be available for training.
“	22		Army Forms W.3008 and W.3009A(RE) attached. [Appendix 6 & 7 - missing]. Normal works at Crawley and Middleton to midday. Cpl. Shaw and four tipping lorries return from Dover at 1700 hours.
“	23		Sunday. No.4 Section move from Middleton to Crawley to take over works from Section 3 and work under direction of Lt. Hill. Lt. Wilson moves from Middleton to Honeywood House. Rudgwick to take on training of Section 3. Section 3 move from Crawley to Honeywood House, Rudgwick.
“	24		Sections 1 & 3 on training. Programme attached [Appendix 8]. Section 2 & 4 on works at Crawley. Capt. Payne of ADC’s office called regarding release of two large rooms at Honeywood House – agreed to take over Chudleigh[?] for Section 3 and use Honeywood House for MT only.
“	25		Sections 1 & 3 training at Rudgwick. Sections 2 & 4 on works at Crawley. Sand filling to petrol tanks & erection of pumps in progress – also connecting[?] foundations of new water tower.
“	26		Normal training and works. Message received from Capt Woods, Adjt. 4 LofC Tps Engrs “Be prepared to move at very short notice”.
“	27		Normal works and training. Visit by Major Squires of R.E. Record Office to examine Unit Documentation. Nominal roll of next of kin to be forwarded to Records; all reference to unit to be deleted from A.F.B.122s. Field Conduct Sheet. Capt Harvey received phone call from DAOMC[?] W. Sussex Sub district “Company will move next Wednesday May 3^rd to Collingham near Lincoln”.
“	28		Normal works and training. Movement instructions confirmed by signal from W. Sussex Subdistrict. Authority 21 A.G.P. 00/209/15/3/OPS dated 23 Apr.
“	29		Army forms W3008 and W3009A/RE attached [App. 9 & 10]. Major Foster phoned regarding cessation of works at Crawley and asked if a special effort could be made to complete the brickwork for the new water tower before the Coy leaves. Major Pennington instructs Lt. Hill to work shift on the water tower on the week-end and arranged to send 1 NCO and three bricklayers from Rudgwick tomorrow. Major Middleditch of SECO was asked for disposal instructions for ten tipping lorries belonging to CE’s pool. Major Cave of Chief Engineers Office Sussex District phoned at 1730 hours said the Coy move would be postponed a few days.
“	30		Sunday. Sections 2 and 4 working shifts. Arrangements made for No 2 Sec to move to Ellers Farm on 1/5/44 for 1 weeks training. No 1 Sec to move to Crawley 1/5/44 for works. Major Cave telephoned stating that Coy move was postponed to 12/5/44