War Dairy 717 Artisan Works Company

War Dairy 717 Artisan Works Company - June 1943

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

Place Date Hour Summary of Event and Information References to Appendix

BENGHASI 2 June The Watch Office and Tower at Bersis Aerodrome completed and handed over to R.A.F.

7 June The O.C. opened leave for the Company and Lt. Nelson with 40 O.R.s proceeded for a week's rest at Derna Rest Camp.
Construction in local stone of Receiving Station 50' x 40' and Power House 15' x 15' at Marble Arch Aerodrome completed and Sgt. Prior with 20 O.R.s returned to H.Q.

8 June Lt. A.M. Hunter who joined the company two days before it sailed overseas in March 1941, and had been Section Officer No. 2 Section ever since is [sic] posted to 655 A.W. Coy. R.E. All ranks are sorry to see him leave and he carries with him our best wishes for the future.

14 June United Nations Day. The Company provided a Sergeant and 12 O.R.s which took part in the Benghasi Ceremonial Parade, the salute being taken by G.O.C. Cyrenaica District.
Leave Party returned from Derna with the exception of Lt. Nelson and 4 O.R.s who were detained for vaccination owing to an outbreak of smallpox. Derna leave cancelled until 28 June.

15 June Company Location Statement at Appendix 12.

16 June Sgt. Prior with 20 O.R.s proceeded on detachment to Benina Aerodrome to undertake construction of Watch Tower. The work to be carried out with concrete blocks consists of raising an existing 20' x 20' single storey buildings to a height of 40 feet to contain three floors of offices internally.

21 June Erection of 30' x 30' Signals building commenced at Berka II Aerodrome.

28 June Berka Main Aerodrome: re-roofing of main hangar completed and handed over to R.A.F. This hangar has an available floor space of 21000 sq.ft. Re-roofing and repairs to Engine stripping and airscrew shop completed giving a floor space of 6000 sq.ft.

30 June Detachment at Marble Arch moved to Misurata leaving a rear party of 1 N.C.O and 6 O.R.s at Marble Arch. The work to be carried out by this detachment consists of construction of two mix in place runways. No notification of this move was received by Company H.Q. except for a telephone message from Lt. Nelson on the day previous.
Company Location statement Appendix 13.

Source: National Archives WO 169/10755

Place	Date	Summary of Event and Information
BENGHASI	2 June	The Watch Office and Tower at Bersis Aerodrome completed and handed over to R.A.F.
	7 June	The O.C. opened leave for the Company and Lt. Nelson with 40 O.R.s proceeded for a week's rest at Derna Rest Camp. Construction in local stone of Receiving Station 50' x 40' and Power House 15' x 15' at Marble Arch Aerodrome completed and Sgt. Prior with 20 O.R.s returned to H.Q.
	8 June	Lt. A.M. Hunter who joined the company two days before it sailed overseas in March 1941, and had been Section Officer No. 2 Section ever since is [sic] posted to 655 A.W. Coy. R.E. All ranks are sorry to see him leave and he carries with him our best wishes for the future.
	14 June	United Nations Day. The Company provided a Sergeant and 12 O.R.s which took part in the Benghasi Ceremonial Parade, the salute being taken by G.O.C. Cyrenaica District. Leave Party returned from Derna with the exception of Lt. Nelson and 4 O.R.s who were detained for vaccination owing to an outbreak of smallpox. Derna leave cancelled until 28 June.
	15 June	Company Location Statement at Appendix 12.
	16 June	Sgt. Prior with 20 O.R.s proceeded on detachment to Benina Aerodrome to undertake construction of Watch Tower. The work to be carried out with concrete blocks consists of raising an existing 20' x 20' single storey buildings to a height of 40 feet to contain three floors of offices internally.
	21 June	Erection of 30' x 30' Signals building commenced at Berka II Aerodrome.
	28 June	Berka Main Aerodrome: re-roofing of main hangar completed and handed over to R.A.F. This hangar has an available floor space of 21000 sq.ft. Re-roofing and repairs to Engine stripping and airscrew shop completed giving a floor space of 6000 sq.ft.
	30 June	Detachment at Marble Arch moved to Misurata leaving a rear party of 1 N.C.O and 6 O.R.s at Marble Arch. The work to be carried out by this detachment consists of construction of two mix in place runways. No notification of this move was received by Company H.Q. except for a telephone message from Lt. Nelson on the day previous. Company Location statement Appendix 13.