War Dairy 229 Army Field Company R.E.

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

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

Place Date Hour Summary of Event and Information References to Appendix

RONTA 1 0800 Company left for ACE Route

CAMAGGIORE 1200 Setting up tented camp alongside ACE Route (H.Q. & 3 Pl)

MORADUCCIO (1 and 2 Pls.) Conditions along ACE Route never seen before for main supply route. It is extremely difficult to find a place to park 5 - 6 vehicles anywhere between RAPEZZO and CASTEL DEL RIO, let alone a tented camp. General thanks for a fine day.

1500 Saw C.R.E. and Lt-Col Hawker, C.R.E. 13 Corps Troops. 228 A. Fd. Coy. R.E. to move to ACE Route.

2 Torrential rain night 1/2 Nov and at mid-day. River SAVERNO up 6 - 8 ft.

BORGO S LORENZO Town flooded due to lack of waterway in improvised culvert across tributary to River SIEVE. The culver at Q.963888 Job No.229/2 on Sitreps in Oct, was clear and adequate but was nearly full bore despite its relatively large waterway of about 60 sq. ft.

ACE Route Several hours delay in traffic due to land slides between SCARPERIA and FIRENZUOLA. Ration truck due at 1600 hrs arrived at 2200 hrs. Mud indescribable.

RAPEZZO 2200 Cloudy but fine with bright moonlight through clouds.
Took over maintenance of ACE Route from 11 Northing to M.001129.

3 Wind dried mud but considerable storms at 1000 hrs and late in day. 1 Pl took over maintenance ACE Route 11 Northing to ASAMFU Bridge M.003140. C.R.E. called at 1300 hrs. 13 Corps Troops Engrs and 2.???Tps Engrs are being pushed around a little too much but it seems definite that 229 A.Fd.Coy.RE will come to ACE Route to take over North of ASAFMU Bridge.

CAMAGGIORE 4 Fine all day. Proportion of ACE Route is free from water but the length VALSALVA - ST ANDREA is deteriorating faster than I can reconstruct. Informed C.R.E. Arranged with 228 A Fd. Coy. RE to take over ASAMFU Bailey Br wef 1200 hrs tomorrow. All tippers loaned to Coy. painted with 931 to enable trace to be kept of loads, lost time etc. N.C.O. stationed in 13 Corps Quarry, L.994128 to record output for this Company.

5 Night 4/5 dry : now 24 hours dry weather. Some progress on ACE Route

1100 C.Army Group RE and C.R.E. inspected ASAMFU Bridge and 2 GHQ Troops RE stretch of ACE Route.

6 Fine.

7 Fine. Road drying. Marked improvement in ACE Route/

8 Fine in valley of SAVERNO. Steady rain on mountain stretch South of FIRENZUOLA.

SCARPERIA 8 "O" Group C.R.E. No change in commitments. 10 days reserve rations and petrol to be held. Posts to be erected by obstructions at side of road which might damage snow plough.

S ANDREA 9 0545-0750 Widened South approach to ASAMFU Bailey Bridge with D.6. Very little traffic

1830-2330 Bailey Bridge at L.977115. End post, which had been omitted by builders (U.S.Engrs), added and difference in level of 8 ins between base plates at South end corrected.

CAMAGGIORE 10 First snow fell between 0200 and 0700. About ½ in. Melted almost immediately. C.R.E. visited area. Very heavy traffic all day on ACE Route. One heavy vehicle, details unknown, during night 9/10, badly damaged on panel of Bailey at CAMAGGIORE, pushed out parapet well of masonaary br at L.972111 and broke verge in several places : about 100 man days work.
C.R.E. to inspect my length of ACE Route to-morrow and decide on treatment of South approach to ASAMFU Bailey.

2300 C.R.E. canccelled to-morrows visit.

CAMAGGIORE 11 Very heavy traffic on ACE Route. Over 200 vehicles an hour. About 1500 hrs the queue South of ASAFMU Bridge extended to crib at L.998128, approx. 2000 yds with vehicles at 8 yard centres. These queues considerably delayed the supply of stone to that particular stretch which represents one third of the company's commitment. Civilian interpreter visited local labour chief at CASTEL DEL RIO and was promised 11 men for Monday. Fine, wintry cold wind and air. The biggest factor in improvement of ACE Route is still the prolonged (7 days) fine weather

ACE Route 12 C.R.E. visted my length of ACE Route. Stayed to lunch.
Masonry wall to be constructed on South approach to ASAMFE.

CASNOVA 13 1000
1430 "O" Group C.R.E. 16 Army Group G4/1 of 12 Nov 44 on Snow Posts F FIRENZUOLA. No one there but Offr i/c C.M.P. Knew proposed site at present occupied by U.S. Troops. Civilian labour office closed. Our interpreter could not trace civilians referred to in order.
During "O" Group letter concerning leave in U.K. arrived and more interesting than Snow Posts. Nominal Rolls prepared of men with over 2 years and over 3 years overseas service. Over 3 No Officers and 32 O.Rs, over 2 3 Offrs and 78 O.Rs (on 1 Dec another 42 will have been overseas over 2 years.

CAMAGGIORE Night 12/13 was very cold and there was a thin layers of ice this morning on ponds. Milder in evening and some rain.

14 4 O.R. vacancies slotted for leave in the U.K. Break up in weather. Change from cold frosty weather to cold wet weather

CAMAGGIORE 14 Suggested by E.T.E. that my 2i/c Capt.A.E.Frost RE goes to R.E.T.D. to command a Company and that Capt. JHH Burrows RE (late of 229) comes from S.M.E. as my 2i/c.

15 Very heavy rain night 14/15. ACE Route shows marked improvement for drainage and very little water stays on the road compared with early days. Road should be in fair state by 1 Dec 44. Afternoon fine and drying wind.

17 Fine, high wind. ACE Route drying up. C.R.E. and O.C. 228 A Fd Coy RE at this HQ 9015 hrs. R.C.E., at present drilling and blasting in quarry at MORADUCCIO, are to be relieved by 231 C Fd Pk Coy RE w.e.f. 19 Nov. 227 A Fd Coy RE to move their HQ to R.C.E. billets in MORADUCCIO and accommodate 231 personnel. R.C.E. use weekly in quarry 1½ tons '808', 10,000 ft Cordtex and ½ ton Plastic.

CAMMAGGIORE 19 Normal routine work on ACE Route. Road conditions slowly improvin again. 231 C Fd Pk Coy RE took over Quarry from R.C.E. Guide posts for snowlplough [sic] being erected along ACE Route

22 C.R.E. inspected this company's length of ACE Route. Weather fine and road looked well. This Company landed in ALGIERS from the U.K. 2 years ago to-day. H.Q. have been established 24 times, 15 in AFRICA (B.N.A.F.) and 9 in Italy (C.M.F.) See Appendix "J" : and has been under the command of 11 CsRE in that period, 4 of 2 GHQ Troops and 7 Works.

25 Fine. Signs of snow. C.A.C.R.E. visited road. Promise of crusher cancelled.

26 Some rain last night made the road slippery.

27 O.C. sick.

28 Major F.E.Ladly RE admitted to F.D.S. and evacuated to 4 C.C.S
Capt.A.E.Frost RE (2i/c) attended C.R.Es conference at H.Q. 1000 hrs

CAMMAGIORE 29 Capt.A.E.Frost BEM RE assumes command of Company during absence of O.C. Extra special effort to improve road at Job Nos. 229/33 and 229/34. Very good progress made with revetting and haunching work.

30 Confirmation received from C.R.E. 2 GHQ Troops that Capt. A.E.Frost will assume command of Company until further notice.
Special effort on Jobs 229/33 and 229/34 slowed down owing to weather and poor quality stone. Weather wet and road very slippery. Small stone crusher arrived with small steam prime mover.

Folder also contains:

Situation Reports 67 to 96 on constuction work to H.Q. 16 Army Group RE. These detail job number, a description, location, when, percentage complete, civilian labour, plant and remarks.

List of commitments - ACE ROUTE and map showing the same.

Road Reconnaisance Report - Road MORSDUCCIO - ACE Route

Source: National Archives WO 170/1674

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Event and Information
RONTA	1	0800	Company left for ACE Route
CAMAGGIORE		1200	Setting up tented camp alongside ACE Route (H.Q. & 3 Pl)
MORADUCCIO			(1 and 2 Pls.) Conditions along ACE Route never seen before for main supply route. It is extremely difficult to find a place to park 5 - 6 vehicles anywhere between RAPEZZO and CASTEL DEL RIO, let alone a tented camp. General thanks for a fine day.
		1500	Saw C.R.E. and Lt-Col Hawker, C.R.E. 13 Corps Troops. 228 A. Fd. Coy. R.E. to move to ACE Route.
	2		Torrential rain night 1/2 Nov and at mid-day. River SAVERNO up 6 - 8 ft.
BORGO S LORENZO			Town flooded due to lack of waterway in improvised culvert across tributary to River SIEVE. The culver at Q.963888 Job No.229/2 on Sitreps in Oct, was clear and adequate but was nearly full bore despite its relatively large waterway of about 60 sq. ft.
ACE Route			Several hours delay in traffic due to land slides between SCARPERIA and FIRENZUOLA. Ration truck due at 1600 hrs arrived at 2200 hrs. Mud indescribable.
RAPEZZO		2200	Cloudy but fine with bright moonlight through clouds. Took over maintenance of ACE Route from 11 Northing to M.001129.
	3		Wind dried mud but considerable storms at 1000 hrs and late in day. 1 Pl took over maintenance ACE Route 11 Northing to ASAMFU Bridge M.003140. C.R.E. called at 1300 hrs. 13 Corps Troops Engrs and 2.???Tps Engrs are being pushed around a little too much but it seems definite that 229 A.Fd.Coy.RE will come to ACE Route to take over North of ASAFMU Bridge.
CAMAGGIORE	4		Fine all day. Proportion of ACE Route is free from water but the length VALSALVA - ST ANDREA is deteriorating faster than I can reconstruct. Informed C.R.E. Arranged with 228 A Fd. Coy. RE to take over ASAMFU Bailey Br wef 1200 hrs tomorrow. All tippers loaned to Coy. painted with 931 to enable trace to be kept of loads, lost time etc. N.C.O. stationed in 13 Corps Quarry, L.994128 to record output for this Company.
	5		Night 4/5 dry : now 24 hours dry weather. Some progress on ACE Route
		1100	C.Army Group RE and C.R.E. inspected ASAMFU Bridge and 2 GHQ Troops RE stretch of ACE Route.
	6		Fine.
	7		Fine. Road drying. Marked improvement in ACE Route/
	8		Fine in valley of SAVERNO. Steady rain on mountain stretch South of FIRENZUOLA.
SCARPERIA	8		"O" Group C.R.E. No change in commitments. 10 days reserve rations and petrol to be held. Posts to be erected by obstructions at side of road which might damage snow plough.
S ANDREA	9	0545-0750	Widened South approach to ASAMFU Bailey Bridge with D.6. Very little traffic
		1830-2330	Bailey Bridge at L.977115. End post, which had been omitted by builders (U.S.Engrs), added and difference in level of 8 ins between base plates at South end corrected.
CAMAGGIORE	10		First snow fell between 0200 and 0700. About ½ in. Melted almost immediately. C.R.E. visited area. Very heavy traffic all day on ACE Route. One heavy vehicle, details unknown, during night 9/10, badly damaged on panel of Bailey at CAMAGGIORE, pushed out parapet well of masonaary br at L.972111 and broke verge in several places : about 100 man days work. C.R.E. to inspect my length of ACE Route to-morrow and decide on treatment of South approach to ASAMFU Bailey.
		2300	C.R.E. canccelled to-morrows visit.
CAMAGGIORE	11		Very heavy traffic on ACE Route. Over 200 vehicles an hour. About 1500 hrs the queue South of ASAFMU Bridge extended to crib at L.998128, approx. 2000 yds with vehicles at 8 yard centres. These queues considerably delayed the supply of stone to that particular stretch which represents one third of the company's commitment. Civilian interpreter visited local labour chief at CASTEL DEL RIO and was promised 11 men for Monday. Fine, wintry cold wind and air. The biggest factor in improvement of ACE Route is still the prolonged (7 days) fine weather
ACE Route	12		C.R.E. visted my length of ACE Route. Stayed to lunch. Masonry wall to be constructed on South approach to ASAMFE.
CASNOVA	13	1000 1430	"O" Group C.R.E. 16 Army Group G4/1 of 12 Nov 44 on Snow Posts F FIRENZUOLA. No one there but Offr i/c C.M.P. Knew proposed site at present occupied by U.S. Troops. Civilian labour office closed. Our interpreter could not trace civilians referred to in order. During "O" Group letter concerning leave in U.K. arrived and more interesting than Snow Posts. Nominal Rolls prepared of men with over 2 years and over 3 years overseas service. Over 3 No Officers and 32 O.Rs, over 2 3 Offrs and 78 O.Rs (on 1 Dec another 42 will have been overseas over 2 years.
CAMAGGIORE			Night 12/13 was very cold and there was a thin layers of ice this morning on ponds. Milder in evening and some rain.
	14		4 O.R. vacancies slotted for leave in the U.K. Break up in weather. Change from cold frosty weather to cold wet weather
CAMAGGIORE	14		Suggested by E.T.E. that my 2i/c Capt.A.E.Frost RE goes to R.E.T.D. to command a Company and that Capt. JHH Burrows RE (late of 229) comes from S.M.E. as my 2i/c.
	15		Very heavy rain night 14/15. ACE Route shows marked improvement for drainage and very little water stays on the road compared with early days. Road should be in fair state by 1 Dec 44. Afternoon fine and drying wind.
17			Fine, high wind. ACE Route drying up. C.R.E. and O.C. 228 A Fd Coy RE at this HQ 9015 hrs. R.C.E., at present drilling and blasting in quarry at MORADUCCIO, are to be relieved by 231 C Fd Pk Coy RE w.e.f. 19 Nov. 227 A Fd Coy RE to move their HQ to R.C.E. billets in MORADUCCIO and accommodate 231 personnel. R.C.E. use weekly in quarry 1½ tons '808', 10,000 ft Cordtex and ½ ton Plastic.
CAMMAGGIORE	19		Normal routine work on ACE Route. Road conditions slowly improvin again. 231 C Fd Pk Coy RE took over Quarry from R.C.E. Guide posts for snowlplough [sic] being erected along ACE Route
22			C.R.E. inspected this company's length of ACE Route. Weather fine and road looked well. This Company landed in ALGIERS from the U.K. 2 years ago to-day. H.Q. have been established 24 times, 15 in AFRICA (B.N.A.F.) and 9 in Italy (C.M.F.) See Appendix "J" : and has been under the command of 11 CsRE in that period, 4 of 2 GHQ Troops and 7 Works.
25			Fine. Signs of snow. C.A.C.R.E. visited road. Promise of crusher cancelled.
26			Some rain last night made the road slippery.
	27		O.C. sick.
	28		Major F.E.Ladly RE admitted to F.D.S. and evacuated to 4 C.C.S Capt.A.E.Frost RE (2i/c) attended C.R.Es conference at H.Q. 1000 hrs
CAMMAGIORE	29		Capt.A.E.Frost BEM RE assumes command of Company during absence of O.C. Extra special effort to improve road at Job Nos. 229/33 and 229/34. Very good progress made with revetting and haunching work.
	30		Confirmation received from C.R.E. 2 GHQ Troops that Capt. A.E.Frost will assume command of Company until further notice. Special effort on Jobs 229/33 and 229/34 slowed down owing to weather and poor quality stone. Weather wet and road very slippery. Small stone crusher arrived with small steam prime mover.