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.

 

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