March 1944

March 10-31 1944 (Not sure why March 1-9 is missing)

Unit: 703 Art Wks Coy RE

Commanding Officer: C. I. Pennington Major RE

A distributary of the River Arun by N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=108015284

 Place

	Date	Hour	Summary
Anstey[i]	10	0001	Unit mobilized for service overseas – War Office U.M. 79/Mob/5774/730 (AG5 Mob) dated 12 Feb 1944
“		1530	Inspection of company and vehicles by Colonel J. J. Kingston DSO MC, commander Leicester Sub-District. Company drawn up in close column on Anstey Football ground and afterwards march past on Cropston Road. Training, discussed with Sub District Commander who promised to facilitate allotment of rifle range & 30 yd range for this company whilst on training.
“	11		Company on Training. Films shown[?] at the Coronet Cinema included “Booby Traps”, “Box girder bridge”, “Assault Bridge” and “Name, rank and number”. Visit by Capt Bailey Education Officer – who promised assistance with ABCA[ii] talks.
“	12	16:30	Nomdist[?] call for special report of personnel deficiencies by rank and trade.
“		21:10	Special report phoned to Nomdist
“	13		Company on Training – mines, gas, sten, rifle, map reading & P.T.
“	14		Copy of letter 3 CE Wks/104/1 dated 12 Mar 44 addressed to CRE 4 LofC Tps Engrs[iii] intimates that 703 Art Wks Coy RE comes under command 21 A Gp & CRE LofC Tps Engrs w.e.f. 17 Mar 44 and will move to S.E. Cmd about that date. Company is to train for 2 weeks w.e.f. 20 Mar. Lt. Wilson (Officer i/c No 4 section) recalled from Farmfield, Newark & instructed to contact CRE 45 Div to discuss this training. O.C. phoned CRE 9 LofC Tps Engrs & arranged for return of all NCOs and men[?] of this unit to Anstey. DC instructed that no-one proceeds on leave. Company on training all day. 16 miles route march – mid-day meal cooked on field cookers at Woodhouse Eaves[iv].
“	15		Telephone message from Movement Control Nottingham that move by rail would commence about mid-day Friday 17th – road convoy would start at 1000 hours. Packing of [?] stoves [stores?] commenced. CSM Belshaw recalled from leave. 2Lt Westerman returns to unit from Ollerton[?]. Conference of officers & [?] NCOs & preliminary instructions given for the move. Company on training, [?] of Fire, Sten, Bren, Rifle, Drill, ABCA.
“	16	0730	Advance party comprising R.M. Hawey[?] RE and 10 ORs depart in Bedford 3 tonner for Ellens Farm, Rudgwick, Guildford. Remaining G.1098[v] transport loaded during the day with G.1098 stores & equipment, training stores and explosives. All explosives and ammunition on one Bedford 3 tonner. Contact made with Capt Jagger, R.T.O. Leicester re final detail arrangements for the move by rail.
“	17	0800	Commence loading baggage van at Leicester LMS. With [?] & [?] stores & personal baggage. Transport – 5 lorries from CE’s pool on charge of this Coy.
		0930	Movement order NM/11642/Q2b[?] dated 15 Mar 44 signed DARMG Nomdist received. [Appendix 1]
		1045	Road convoy departs – 5 DRs on motorcycles, 1 Humber 6str[?], 1 15cwt truck
Rudgwick[vi]	18		Road transport off-loaded & baggage collected from station & distributed to sections. Collection and distribution of rations & barrack stores proceeds.
		1245	Lt. Col. Sparrow, CRE 45 Div. called to discuss training arrangements.
		1330	2Lt. Westerman despatched with 2DRs and 4 – 3 ton lorries to Tonbridge R.E. Dump to collect Bailey Bridge (130 ft D.D.). 10 RASC lorries laid on at Tonbridge by CRE 45 Div. Loading party of 60 sapper[vii] provided by this Coy. Site for bridging and mine-laying recced by OC and Lt. Wilson & permission of owner Mr. A.M. Notman, Nyes, Rudgwick obtained.
		2000	Bridge convoy arrives on site & off loading & stocking of bridge parts commenced. Work completed by 2130 hours.
“	19		Collection of bridging material from Tonbridge continuing – loading party reduced to 40 sappers. Eleven more loads delivered to site. RASC transport returned to their unit for normal work.
		1400	OC holds conference of Section Officers, CSM, and RSM Bidder loaned by CRE 45 Div. for instructional purposes. Training programme discussed. [Appendix 2]
“	20		Collection of bridging from Tonbridge proceeds. Only own transport available therefore two joinings by 5 lorries required. RSM Bidder in charge of party of 36 ORs on bridge site – off loading & stacking stores, setting out and construction of bank sects. 1st day of training as per programme – numbers reduced by [?] of [?] to provide bridge loading parties.
“	21		2nd day of training. Half-coy building 70 ft D.S. Bailey Bridge – remainder on mines and mine-laying drill. Lt. Col. Dickson RE A.C.E. and S.O. Ops called and discussed training with Capt. Harvey. He wants us to go[?] on a two-day exercise during the fortnight. Major Thomson OC 669 AW Coy RE and his second in command Captain Robertson called; his company is to follow us on the training here and to take over our bridging stores, [?] stores & accommodation.
“	22		Lieut K.N. Ashton & rear party rejoined unit from Anstey. Lieut. C.J. Lawton posted to CRE 45 Div. Lieut J.C. Hill posted to this coy from CRE 9 LofC Tps Engrs. Lt. Col. Sparrow CRE 45 Div called; he agreed to leave Lieut Lawton with the coy for the training period. Coy on 3rd day of training, weather ideal – bright & warm. Cl.40 Bailey converted to Cl.70 (Triple double)
“	23		4th day of training – dismantle Bailey – mines and booby traps
“	24		5th day of training. Half coys change over from bridging to mines etc. OC summoned to HQ 4 LofC Tps Engrs at Oxford sus[?] acting CRE, Major Mahood & Acting[?] Capt. Wood. No information available as to what this company will do after training. Major Wilson, DADOS Sussex District called re mobilisation state.
“	25		6th day of training. Lieut Lawton recce’s classification range at Steyning; no targets available: materials drawn from Garrison Engineers[?] Horsham and construction of 10 – 4ft targets put in hand.
“	26		Sunday. No training. Cricket match in afternoon Section 2 v. Section 3.
“	27		7th day of training. O.C. & Lieut Lawton recce area for company exercise to take place on 30th & 31st March.
“	28		8th day of training. Sections 2 & 3 on Grenade Range at Horsham; Section 1 firing War Range Course at Steyning – results disappointing; light not good in afternoon when sun is behind targets.
		1830	OCs conference of officers & umpires to discuss preliminary arrangements for Exercise on 30-31 March.
“	29		Capt Robertson, 2IC of 669 Art Wrks Coy RE called re taking over of Bailey Bridge: arranged that this should start 1000 hours Sunday 2 April. Lt.Col. Dickson called & discussed training; said he would endeavor to give us one section off works on Monday to complete their Classification Range.
		1830	Umpires conference. O.C., Lieut Lawton and RSM Bidder.
		2000	Exercise “Rudgwick” narrative issued to Capt Hawey and Lt Wilson. Capt Hawey to act as Coy Cdr I/C Sections 1,2, & 3 during Exercise. Lt Wilson I/C No 4 Section to represent the enemy. [Appendix 3]
“	30		10th day of training. Coy less No 4 Section move off to harbour area at Ockley  in the morning. No 4 Section lay dummy mine-field and booby trap bridging stores at Bedisham[? – no known place].
		1400	Exercise “Rudgwick” narrative Phase II handed to Capt. Hawey at Ockley. Coy march across country to new harbour area at Rowhook. [Appendix 4]
		2000	Breaching of minefield commenced, strong enemy opposition, bridge recce party wiped out, bridging held up.
		2230	Minefield breached, enemy forced to withdraw from bridge site, bridge recce commenced, bridge alignment decided & work on bank-seats started. Lt. Ashton in charge of bridging. Enemy attacks on bridge site and harbour area kept up throughout the night. Obstacles to bridging, tree roots and stumps cause considerable delay in preparing bank seats. Lt. Col. Dickson visited site at 2300 hours.
“	31	0800	11th day of training. Bridging – class 40 Bailey D.S. 60ft span completed with Sommerfeld Track & chestnut[?] posting[?] in approaches. During morning remainder of minefield cleared and bridge strengthened from class 40 to class 70. Road recce report prepared for Capt Hawery. Bridge recce with fighting patrol undertaken by No.3 Section o/c/ Lt. Westerman. Bridge demolition scheme
		1400	proposed by Lt. Wilson. Men march back to quarters.
		1500	Officers and umpires conference at Coy HQ. Final Pt.II orders before going on to 21 A.Gp. Documentation in course of preparation. A.F.s. 3008 and 3009A for w.e.1st April attached. [Appendix 5 & 6 – both missing?]

 

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

 

Appendix 3

NB. Six-figure grid references use the British Cassini Grid. To locate references on a map, use the converter: http://www.echodelta.net/mbs/eng-translation.php (You will need to apply the prefix wQ before the six numbers). See table below.

Appendix 4

Fictional Name	Place	Fictional name	Place
Porteroi	Dorking	Riveaubois	small dyke (no name)
Chevaume	Horsham	Litesville	River Arun at Stane Str.
Pontlarge	Broadbridge Heath	Mielbois	Honeywood
Parcrue	Slinfold	Argueil	Ockley
St. Clou	Loxwood	Lignebec	Rowhook
Norterre	Northlands Road

 

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[i] 5 km NW of Leicester

[ii] Army Bureau of Current Affairs

[iii] Lines of Communication Troops Engineers

[iv] between Leicester and Loughborough

[v] G1098 stores are the list of items which a unit should hold

[vi] 14 km W of Horsham

[vii] Royal Engineers equivalent of private