War Dairy 717 Artisan Works Company

War Dairy 717 Artisan Works Company - May 1944

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

Place Date Hour Summary of Event and Information References to Appendix

NOLA 4 First news received of possible dilution of Company by Italians. O.C. attended conference with D.C.E. A.A.?. at R.E.T.D.

5 L/Sgt. Higgins with 11 tradesmen attached to 274 Works Section R.E. to carry out constructional works at Torta ???? O.R.s' leave camp.

6 10 O.Rs. of No. 3 Section proceeded to Lauro? to take over construction of Signals Depot from 255 Works Section R.E. The work consists of the erction of Nissan Huttings.
Company Works State : App. I.1
A.F. W 3008 and 3009 A:
I. 1
I. 5,6.

7 New proposed W.E. for British/Italian Artisan Works Company received from 73 C.R.E. Works. J.1

8 O.C. attended conference of War Establishment committee at H.Q.; A.A.I; certain amendments to the proposed new W F Establishment authorised; notably retention of all Officers and senior N.C.os. I. 3
I. 10,11

10 Signal received that 906 Raparto? Laveraterl? Artierl? is to be attached to this unit under the reorganisation scheme H.1

11 O.C. visited H.Q. Regimente? del Cenis? at Santa Maria and saw O.C. 906 Reparto? Laveraterl? Artierl. Second i/c of 906 Reparto? Lev. Art. brought back to Company H.Q. to make arrangements for move of his unit. H.1

NOLA 13 Company Works State
A.F.W. 3008 and 3009A
I. 2
I. 7,8

14 Orders received to reorganise Unit to new W.E. from O.?.E.

15 1400 140 Italian soldiers of 906 Rep. Lav. Art. arrived at Coy. H.Q., to replace Sappers of this Unit under the reorganisation scheme.
The Unit appears to be badly equipped and have arrived without rations and only one blanket.
120 O.Rs. returned to H.Q. prior to posting to RETD under reorganisation scheme.

16 60 O.Rs. A.I. and under 30 despatched to R.E.T.D.

17 60 O.Rs. of lower medical category than A.I. and over 30 despatched to RETD.
Carpenters, Bricklayers, Plumbers, Painters and Electricians kits issued to 905 Rep. Lav. Art.
717 A.W.Coy., R.E. now reorganised into Hqrs. and Nos. 1 and 2 Sections with Italian Element as Nos. 3 and 4 Sections with their own H.Q. Section.

18 906 Rep. Lav. Art. moved out detachments as follows:-
1. One Officer and 50 50 O.Rs. to AFRAGOLA to carry out works at 198 Transit Camp and Welfare Centre.
2. One Officer and 30 O.Rs. to LAURO to carry out work at Signals Depot.

20 Company Works State.
A.F. W3008 and 3009A
I. 3.
I. 9,10

21 Instructions received from 73 C.R.E. that this Unit will carry out construction of 16 Base Workshops POMIGLIANO.
73 C.R.E. letter W/50 dated 21 May '44.
H.2.

25 First report on working of dilution scheme by O.C.
News received that Unit is to carry out construction works for 16 Base Workshops at TAVERNANOVA.
O.C. reccd. site and obtained comfortable billets for 717 A.W.Coy., R.E. in the school with two camp sites nearby for Italian troops.
J. 2-6

26 1130 D.C.E., A.A.I. visited O.C. to discuss progress of dilution scheme and inspected Italian Elements billets and works.
All work of AVELLA and LAURO detachments handed over to 745 A.W.Coy., R.E. and detachments returned to Headquarters.
Detachment of 906 at LAURO proceeded to new Camp site at TAVERNANOVA to prepare for move of Unit.
One Officer and 10 O.Rs. of 717 A.W.Coy., R.E. proceeded to new billets at TAVENANOVA to prepare for Unit move.

27 Company Works State
A.F. W3008 and 3009A
I. 4
I. 11,12

TAVERNOVA 31 Company Headquarters moved from NOLA to TAVERNANOVA.
The work on the new site consists of construction of R.A.O.C. Vehicle Park and R.E.M.E. Workshops. Approximately 20 miles of road are to be constructed and all buildings are of pre fabricated types - Flambo hutting and shedding and Romneys.

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Event and Information	References to Appendix
NOLA	4		First news received of possible dilution of Company by Italians. O.C. attended conference with D.C.E. A.A.?. at R.E.T.D.
	5		L/Sgt. Higgins with 11 tradesmen attached to 274 Works Section R.E. to carry out constructional works at Torta ???? O.R.s' leave camp.
	6		10 O.Rs. of No. 3 Section proceeded to Lauro? to take over construction of Signals Depot from 255 Works Section R.E. The work consists of the erction of Nissan Huttings. Company Works State : App. I.1 A.F. W 3008 and 3009 A:	I. 1 I. 5,6.
	7		New proposed W.E. for British/Italian Artisan Works Company received from 73 C.R.E. Works.	J.1
	8		O.C. attended conference of War Establishment committee at H.Q.; A.A.I; certain amendments to the proposed new W F Establishment authorised; notably retention of all Officers and senior N.C.os.	I. 3 I. 10,11
	10		Signal received that 906 Raparto? Laveraterl? Artierl? is to be attached to this unit under the reorganisation scheme	H.1
	11		O.C. visited H.Q. Regimente? del Cenis? at Santa Maria and saw O.C. 906 Reparto? Laveraterl? Artierl. Second i/c of 906 Reparto? Lev. Art. brought back to Company H.Q. to make arrangements for move of his unit.	H.1
NOLA	13		Company Works State A.F.W. 3008 and 3009A	I. 2 I. 7,8
	14		Orders received to reorganise Unit to new W.E. from O.?.E.
	15	1400	140 Italian soldiers of 906 Rep. Lav. Art. arrived at Coy. H.Q., to replace Sappers of this Unit under the reorganisation scheme. The Unit appears to be badly equipped and have arrived without rations and only one blanket. 120 O.Rs. returned to H.Q. prior to posting to RETD under reorganisation scheme.
	16		60 O.Rs. A.I. and under 30 despatched to R.E.T.D.
	17		60 O.Rs. of lower medical category than A.I. and over 30 despatched to RETD. Carpenters, Bricklayers, Plumbers, Painters and Electricians kits issued to 905 Rep. Lav. Art. 717 A.W.Coy., R.E. now reorganised into Hqrs. and Nos. 1 and 2 Sections with Italian Element as Nos. 3 and 4 Sections with their own H.Q. Section.
	18		906 Rep. Lav. Art. moved out detachments as follows:- 1. One Officer and 50 50 O.Rs. to AFRAGOLA to carry out works at 198 Transit Camp and Welfare Centre. 2. One Officer and 30 O.Rs. to LAURO to carry out work at Signals Depot.
	20		Company Works State. A.F. W3008 and 3009A	I. 3. I. 9,10
	21		Instructions received from 73 C.R.E. that this Unit will carry out construction of 16 Base Workshops POMIGLIANO. 73 C.R.E. letter W/50 dated 21 May '44.	H.2.
	25		First report on working of dilution scheme by O.C. News received that Unit is to carry out construction works for 16 Base Workshops at TAVERNANOVA. O.C. reccd. site and obtained comfortable billets for 717 A.W.Coy., R.E. in the school with two camp sites nearby for Italian troops.	J. 2-6
	26	1130	D.C.E., A.A.I. visited O.C. to discuss progress of dilution scheme and inspected Italian Elements billets and works. All work of AVELLA and LAURO detachments handed over to 745 A.W.Coy., R.E. and detachments returned to Headquarters. Detachment of 906 at LAURO proceeded to new Camp site at TAVERNANOVA to prepare for move of Unit. One Officer and 10 O.Rs. of 717 A.W.Coy., R.E. proceeded to new billets at TAVENANOVA to prepare for Unit move.
	27		Company Works State A.F. W3008 and 3009A	I. 4 I. 11,12
TAVERNOVA	31		Company Headquarters moved from NOLA to TAVERNANOVA. The work on the new site consists of construction of R.A.O.C. Vehicle Park and R.E.M.E. Workshops. Approximately 20 miles of road are to be constructed and all buildings are of pre fabricated types - Flambo hutting and shedding and Romneys.

Folder also contains:

Movement Order from S. MARIA CAPUA VETERE to NOLA 15 May

Memo - I6 B.W. POMIGLIANO - Details of work on road?

War Establishment - Return of Personnel and Transport

First Report on the Italian Element 717 AW Company RE - Not complimentary to Italians

Source: National Archives WO 170/1762