War Dairy 717 Artisan Works Company

War Dairy 717 Artisan Works Company - May 1943

Commanding Officer: Maj. G.W. Taylor, R.E.

Place Date Hour Summary of Event and Information References to Appendix

BENGHASI 1st C.R.E. informed O.C. that this Unit would be used as mobile aerodrome construction parties in the next campaign.
O.C. requested permission to go forward and contact the existing mobile parties to examine their organization and equipment, etc.
Work commenced on R.D.F. Workshop at Bersis. It was decided owing to the shortage of bricks or building stone to cast concrete blocks and erect the building with them.

3rd Major Taylor, O.C. Unit, Lts. Hunter, Nelson, and Dunlop, visited forward mobile parties found from 655 A.W. Coy. It was found that the Coy. was practically in two halves: the first being two mobile parties and the second rear parties following up with rear Air Headqtrs. Each half-Coy was under a D.C.R.E. and the Coy. Hdqtrs. had practically little to do. The work the mobile parties were doing was obviously of great importance but it was felt that the employment of tradesmen on this work was wasteful. The D.C.E. was contacted at Tripoli and the O.C. asked for at least a month's intensive training before being used as mobile parties. This was agreed to.

5th Work on providing cookhouses, washups, soakaways, etc., for all Squadrons on Berka III aerodrome commenced.

6th The Briefing Room and Technical Stores Bldg. at Bersis were completed and handed over to R.A.F.

13th O.C. with party of Officer returned from forward areas. The party had visited Enfidaville and Hogla, the latter being the most forward aerodrome.

15th Coy. Location Statement at Appendix 10.

BENGHAZI 22nd Work commenced at Bersis Aerodrome on erection of Watch Office 32' x 12' with tower 20ft. high. The building to be constructed with concrete blocks and the tower with tubular scaffolding.

25th R.D.F. Workshops at Bersis aerodroms completed and handed over to R.A.F. The size being 60ft. long by 30ft. wide.

29th The work the Coy. is now executing is mainly camp structure for the R.A.F. such as oil burning ovens, concrete floors to mess tents, cookhouses, etc.
Company Location Statement at Appendix 11.

Source: National Archives WO 169/10755

Place	Date	Summary of Event and Information
BENGHASI	1st	C.R.E. informed O.C. that this Unit would be used as mobile aerodrome construction parties in the next campaign. O.C. requested permission to go forward and contact the existing mobile parties to examine their organization and equipment, etc. Work commenced on R.D.F. Workshop at Bersis. It was decided owing to the shortage of bricks or building stone to cast concrete blocks and erect the building with them.
	3rd	Major Taylor, O.C. Unit, Lts. Hunter, Nelson, and Dunlop, visited forward mobile parties found from 655 A.W. Coy. It was found that the Coy. was practically in two halves: the first being two mobile parties and the second rear parties following up with rear Air Headqtrs. Each half-Coy was under a D.C.R.E. and the Coy. Hdqtrs. had practically little to do. The work the mobile parties were doing was obviously of great importance but it was felt that the employment of tradesmen on this work was wasteful. The D.C.E. was contacted at Tripoli and the O.C. asked for at least a month's intensive training before being used as mobile parties. This was agreed to.
	5th	Work on providing cookhouses, washups, soakaways, etc., for all Squadrons on Berka III aerodrome commenced.
	6th	The Briefing Room and Technical Stores Bldg. at Bersis were completed and handed over to R.A.F.
	13th	O.C. with party of Officer returned from forward areas. The party had visited Enfidaville and Hogla, the latter being the most forward aerodrome.
	15th	Coy. Location Statement at Appendix 10.
BENGHAZI	22nd	Work commenced at Bersis Aerodrome on erection of Watch Office 32' x 12' with tower 20ft. high. The building to be constructed with concrete blocks and the tower with tubular scaffolding.
	25th	R.D.F. Workshops at Bersis aerodroms completed and handed over to R.A.F. The size being 60ft. long by 30ft. wide.
	29th	The work the Coy. is now executing is mainly camp structure for the R.A.F. such as oil burning ovens, concrete floors to mess tents, cookhouses, etc. Company Location Statement at Appendix 11.