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Tuesday 22 August 2023

November 1944

 

November 1944

Vilvoorde (vecu.be)

Unit: 703 Art Wks Coy RE

Commanding Officer: C. I. Pennington Major RE

Place

Date

Hour

Summary

Nonant

1

 

No 3 & 4 Plns. on detachment – attached to 4 EBW. At Doyen Engineering Works, Brussels; engaged on repair & refitting of Engineering Base Workshops. No 2 Pln. at Tailleville with 7ESBD Rear Party engaged on Pontoon repairs. HQ & No 1. Pln. at Nonant angaged on erection of semi-Romney huts for REME at 5 ESBD and on clearance of onthying[?] dumps of RE. Stores. Visit by C.C.A.

2

 

Coy. on works. Lt. Col Edwards, CRE 5 LofC Tps. Visits detachment at Tailleville with Major Pennington.

3

 

Coy. on works. Cinema show at 5 EBW. in evening.

4

 

Coy. on works. Army forms W.3008 & W.3009A(RE) attached.

5

 

Sunday. Coy. on works. Company employed turned out in afternoon to fill in ruts in vehicle track around the camp.

6

 

Coy. on works. Heavy rain. A few loads of stone put down in camp entrance & arrangements made to [?] 9 rolls SMT to make a small vehicle park.

7

 

Coy. on works. Heavy rain. Rum issue authorised for 35 men working out in exposed conditions. Cinema show at 5 EBW.

8

 

Coy. on works. Heavy rain. CRE – Lt. Col Edwards visits camp and arranges formation of a local trade testing board. In evening ABCA Discussion held on Government Release Scheme.

9

 

Coy. on works. £50 bill for accommodation stores[?] alleged to be deficient on departure of unit overseas received from Cic[?] Barracks, obviously incorrect. Capt Hawey investigating.

10

 

Coy. on works. Cinema show at 5 EBW. in evening.

11

 

Coy. on works. Army forms W.3008 & W.3009A(RE) attached.

12

 

Sunday. Leave party of 12 ORs. CSM Belshaw in charge leaves 0430 hours for Paris – to have 48 hours leave in Paris.

13

 

Coy. on works. Lt. Ashton reports Vassey dump now cleared. Clearance of Flers [i]dump now in progress but only on truck now available.

14

 

Coy. on works. Cinema show at 5.EBW. in evening. Leave party return from Paris at approx. 2200 hours. Paris leave strongly recommended.

15

 

Coy. on works. Major Pennington & Capt Hawey visit CRE 5 LofC on personal matters & report position re loss of accommodation stores.

16

 

Coy. on works. Owing to large demands cranes & bulldozers at Tailleville are fully occupied in doing time on stores; No 2 Platoon are therefore working a night shift to get pontoons to the workshops for repairs.

17

 

Coy. on works. Cinema show including V.D film at 5 EBW in evening.

18

 

Coy. on works. Lt. Wilson phoned from Brussels – gave his phone number but afterwards was unable to get his message through due to bad line. Army forms W.3008 & W.3009(A)RE. attached.

19

 

Sunday. Coy. on works. No 2 Pln. on temporary roadworks.

20

 

Coy. on works. Brigadier York visits works at Tailleville.

21

 

Coy. on works. Cinema show at 5 E.B.W. Major Pennington meets Brigadier York and is informed that the Coy is to be released by Works Directorate for work under C.E. LofC.

22

 

Coy. on works.

23

 

Coy. on works. Flers dump now cleared.

24

 

Coy. on works. Instructions from Q. 5 LofC that Coy. is to be prepared to move to Brussels forthwith. (Q.Ops.271.).

25

 

Coy. on works. Major Pennington contacts Lt. Col Edwards RE C.E 5 LofC Tps Engrs on his return from Brussels & is given news of No 3 & No 4 Plns. Movement order & transport may be expected tomorrow. Army forms W.3008 & W.3009A(RE). attached.

26

 

Sunday. Packing up in progress. RASC transport did not arrive

27

 

Stand-down awaiting transport

28

 

Arrangements made to move-off tomorrow. L/Sgt Cokin[?] i/c Rear Party to be attached to 5 EBW. 4 RASC 6 tonners arrive 1800 hours + 2 at 2200 hrs

29

 

Coy. moves off at 0900 hrs. R.V. with Lt. Hill & No 2 Platoon at Caen 1030. Major Pennington i/c/ party comprising 4 officers 118 ORs. Lt. Ashton – convoy commander – 5 Dodge 3 tonners, 15 cwt truck, staff car, 3 m/cs. & 6 RASC articulated 6 tonners. Staging at Poix. Rear Party L/Sgt Lokin[?] & 13 ORs.

30

 

Journey continued. Convoy arrives Vilvoorde near Brussels 2100 hrs.

 



[i] Vassy and Flers are about 60 and 70 km S of Caen, respectively.

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