July 1944

July 1944

Unit: 703 Art Wks Coy RE

Commanding Officer: C. I. Pennington Major RE

 

V1 attack on Norwood, London, July 1944 © IWM (D 21211)

For Stephen Henden's summary of V1 attacks in the West Wickham/Beckenham area, see http://www.flyingbombsandrockets.com/V1_summary_beckenham.html

Place	Date	Hour	Summary
West Wickham	1		Sections at Section Officers disposal for conservancy & completion of slit trenches & personal interviews. Work finishes 1230 hrs – but half sections confined to the billeting area. Army forms W.3008 and W3009A(RE) attached.
“	2		Major Pennington attends CRE’s Training Conference at 1100 hours – Coy on conservancy & interviews until 1230 hours. Major Pennington Lt. Westerman & CSM Belshaw recce the range at Westerham[i] after OCs conference in afternoon. Lt. Ashton recces Recreational Training area at Queensmead Bromley. Flybombing intensified up to mid-day then followed by a lull.
“	3		Company training as attached programme [Appendix 3]. Capt Woods R.E. Adjt 4 LofC Tps. Engrs. Phoned 0900 hrs cancelling Range allotment at Westerham. D.R. sent off to recall Secs 3 & 4.
“	4		Company on Training. Lt. Col. Heseltine called at Coy. Office saw Capt Hawey & examined slit trenches. Lt. Wilson & rear party arrive at 1700 hrs.
“	5		Company on Training. Grenade throwing at Sundridge[ii]. Audit Board – Lts Ashton, Hill and Westerman auditing Regimental Accounts 593 A. J. Coy R.E.
“	6		Company on Training. Sections 1 & 2 fire application, [?] & [?] at 200 yds on Hawkwood Range.
	7		Company on Training.
“	8		Company route march in advance to contact [?] see[?] march table attached [Appendix 4]. Glorious weather – no buzz bombs. Army forms W3008 and W.3009A. attached [Appendix 5 & 6].
“	9		Sunday. Inspection of billets by Major Pennington at 1100 hrs. Inspection of men for smartness of turnout by Section Officers at 1200 hrs.
“	10		Company on Training. Copy of training programme attached [Appendix 7].
“	11		Company on Training.
“	12		Company on Training. Lt. Hill & half section lent a hand in rescue and salvage operations at West Wickham after buzz-bomb incident.
“	13		Company on Training. On CRE’s instructions Major Pennington & Lt Hill met [?] Thompson Group Engineer Civil Defence at Catford Police Station at 1730 hours to discuss dismantling dangerous buildings. Restriction of 25 miles travel on rest days is lifted by order of Brigadier i/c Admin. London District.
“	14		Lt. Hill and No 2 Section employed in demolition of dangerous buildings on Elmers End – Crystal Palace Road, Penge. Mr. Thompson to apply for permission to use explosives. Lt. Westerman and No 3 Section called out to Crayford High Street at 0930 hours to assist Rescue Squads in clearing debris & recovering bodies. Sections 1 & 4 on Training.
“	15		Section Nos 2 & 3 on demolition at Penge. Nos 1 & 4 on Training. Army forms W3008 and W.3009A. (RE.) attached.
“	16		Section Nos 2 & 3 Lt Hill i/c at Penge. No 4 Section Lt. Westerman i/c at Crayford. No.1.Section on Training. Training programme for week ending 22 July attached [Appendix 10]. Major Pennington & CSM Belshaw recce Demolition Range at Erith.
“	17		No1 Section on Training. Nos.2 3 & 4 Sections on aid to civil power, cleaning of debris and recovery of bodies at Penge, Beckenham & Crayford respectively. Major Pennington attends CRE’s conference at 1030 hours.
“	18		No 1 Section on demolition training at Erith. Other sections on works as before.
“	19		No 1 Section take over work of No 4 Section at Crayford. No 4 Section on demolition training at Erith. Preparations made by Lt Hill & No 2 Section for demolition of dangerous buildings at Penge.
“	20		Blowing of charges at Penge carried out at 0430 hours Roads picketed by Police and Home Guard personnel. 200 lbs Gelignite used. Operation successful. No[?]Section shoring up end wall of dwelling house on the Erith Road, Crayford.
“	21		No 1 Section training – others on works. Capt Hawey detailed to take summary of evidence in the case of Cpl *** – absent 4 days.
“	22		All Sections on works. No 1 Section called out by CRE Lt. Col. Heseltine to clean up bomb damage at Kingswood Road, Beckenham. Army forms W3008 and W.3009A. (RE.) attached.
“	23		Sunday. Works continue as before. Showers arranged for Sections 2 & 3 at cleansing station Penge at 15.30 hrs.
“	24		Works continue. Shooting match at Hawkwood range between 732 and 703 A.W.Coys. – teams of 24 results in a good win for 732. Scores 1516-1310 respectively. Lt. Col. Heseltine holds the usual Coy Cdrs conference at 1030 hours. Attended by Major Pennington. No news of any further move. At 1900 hrs. Lt. Wilson & No 4 Section turn out to help in recovering bodies & cleaning bomb damage at Keston.
“	25		Lt. Wilson & 20 men start temporary repairs to damaged houses at Keston. Work goes on as before at Penge, Crayford & Beckenham.
“	26		Work at Beckenham completed so Section 1 take over repairs at Keston. Swimming at Bromley Baths. 703 beat 732 A.W.Coy. RE. in two relay races.
“	27		MISSING
“	28		MISSING
“	29		MISSING
“	30		MISSING
“	31		…by Major Pennington. Trial by FGCM of Cpl *** at Chelsea Barracks. Capt Hawey prosecuting. Shooting match 703 v. 732 A.W.Coy RE at Hawkwood Range results in a narrow win for the latter by 1476 points to 1475 points. Instructions received from Movement Control relating to movement of Road Convoy on 2nd August.

 [i] Kent, south of Orpington

[ii] Golf course, Bromley

 

Appendix 3

 

Appendix 4

Appendix 6

Appendix 7