War Dairy 229 Army Field Company R.E.

War Dairy 229 Army Field Company R.E. - August 1944

Commanding Officer: Major F.E. Ladly R.E.

Place Date Hour Summary of Event and Information References to Appendix

VAIRANO 6 0815 52 C.R.E. (Works) Message received - 12 hours notice to move. Appendix E

7 0830 64 Garrison message (reference confused) received ordering move to PIOMBINO Area
Movements VAIRANO cannot let us on road until 0545 hrs 8th.
C.R.E. 2 GHQ Troops has heard nothing yet about our move.
do
STRENGTH RETURNS.
APPENDIX I

1130 Major McCarthy R.E. O.C. 264 Field Coy.RE and Capt. Absolam RE G.E. to 82 C.R.E. (Works) met at this H.Q. and hand-over of all works was completed. 5 AUG - 12 AUG
19 AUG - 26 AUG.

1200 Lieut.MS Wiliams RE left to report to 5 Army. General hopes of taking part in new invasion

8 Company left 0545 hrs.

1800 TARQUINA - Company staged

2000 Major F.E. Ladly RE reported to 73 C.R.E. (Works)

9 1030 ORTOBELLO - T.C. 5 Army put convoy off road and kept them in rest area until 1830 hrs.

9 2200 FOLLONICA - Company arrived convoy rest area.
General disappointment at task of potholing.
Moved to location at VALPIANA amp ref V.433858 Sheet 19 Italy Road Map 1:200,000.

VALPIANA 13 O.C. made recce of area W of LEGHORN for clearing mines from area for 21 Beach Group

14 3 Pl (Lt.D.W.Eadon RE) moved to area PONTEDERA E of LEGHORN to clear mines from proposed 21 Beach Group area

20 3 Pl moved nearer LEGHORN and further from line as enemy patrols approached camp site and 4 Corps (U.S.) did not want this Pl in patrol area.

21 Floods washed away dozed-in culvert at V.5598

25 Company less 3 Pl moved to GREVE under command CRE 2 GHQ Tps "B" A.G.R.E. and 5 Army. Task road and Bailey maintenance SIENA - GREVE - FIGLINE.

26 80 men of 542 Italian Pioneer Coy. came under command.
Working on GREVE - FIGLINE Road.
Appendix - List of
Bailey Bridges
Appendix J

31 1 Pl (Lt. MAS Williams RE) working on road CASTELLINA - SIENA (normal Pl command on improvised bridge course with 5 Army)
2 Pl (Lt.R. Hodges) workin on GREVE - FIGLINE Road
3 Pl (Lt. D.W.Eadon RE) Mine lifting and clearing area of booby traps LEGHORN for P.B.S. 2,000 assorted mines lifted.
There is an extreme shortage of any form of tools, 9" x 9" timber and R.S.Js for improvised bridges. Even picks, shovels and barrows are not yet available for SIENA - FIGLINE Road.

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Event and Information	References to Appendix
VAIRANO	6	0815	52 C.R.E. (Works) Message received - 12 hours notice to move.	Appendix E
	7	0830	64 Garrison message (reference confused) received ordering move to PIOMBINO Area Movements VAIRANO cannot let us on road until 0545 hrs 8th. C.R.E. 2 GHQ Troops has heard nothing yet about our move.	do STRENGTH RETURNS. APPENDIX I
		1130	Major McCarthy R.E. O.C. 264 Field Coy.RE and Capt. Absolam RE G.E. to 82 C.R.E. (Works) met at this H.Q. and hand-over of all works was completed.	5 AUG - 12 AUG 19 AUG - 26 AUG.
		1200	Lieut.MS Wiliams RE left to report to 5 Army. General hopes of taking part in new invasion
	8		Company left 0545 hrs.
		1800	TARQUINA - Company staged
		2000	Major F.E. Ladly RE reported to 73 C.R.E. (Works)
	9	1030	ORTOBELLO - T.C. 5 Army put convoy off road and kept them in rest area until 1830 hrs.
	9	2200	FOLLONICA - Company arrived convoy rest area. General disappointment at task of potholing. Moved to location at VALPIANA amp ref V.433858 Sheet 19 Italy Road Map 1:200,000.
VALPIANA	13		O.C. made recce of area W of LEGHORN for clearing mines from area for 21 Beach Group
	14		3 Pl (Lt.D.W.Eadon RE) moved to area PONTEDERA E of LEGHORN to clear mines from proposed 21 Beach Group area
	20		3 Pl moved nearer LEGHORN and further from line as enemy patrols approached camp site and 4 Corps (U.S.) did not want this Pl in patrol area.
	21		Floods washed away dozed-in culvert at V.5598
	25		Company less 3 Pl moved to GREVE under command CRE 2 GHQ Tps "B" A.G.R.E. and 5 Army. Task road and Bailey maintenance SIENA - GREVE - FIGLINE.
	26		80 men of 542 Italian Pioneer Coy. came under command. Working on GREVE - FIGLINE Road.	Appendix - List of Bailey Bridges Appendix J
	31		1 Pl (Lt. MAS Williams RE) working on road CASTELLINA - SIENA (normal Pl command on improvised bridge course with 5 Army) 2 Pl (Lt.R. Hodges) workin on GREVE - FIGLINE Road 3 Pl (Lt. D.W.Eadon RE) Mine lifting and clearing area of booby traps LEGHORN for P.B.S. 2,000 assorted mines lifted. There is an extreme shortage of any form of tools, 9" x 9" timber and R.S.Js for improvised bridges. Even picks, shovels and barrows are not yet available for SIENA - FIGLINE Road.

Folder also contains:

Appendix E - Two notices to move.

List of all bridges recorded to 26 August 1944.

Source: National Archives WO 170/1674