War Dairy 229 Army Field Company R.E.

War Dairy 229 Army Field Company R.E. - April 1945

Commanding Officer: Major F.E.Ladly RE

Place Date Hour Summary of Event and Information References to Appendix

HARRODS CAMP 1 1 Pl (Lt.PLA Williams RE) 2 Pl. (Lt. JE Hill RE) 3 Pl.

2
3 (Lt. CD Wattleworth RE). Time at Camp spent in playing games, mostly soccer and rugger. Coy Parade each morning wih 20 men on squad drill and rifle exercising. Weather generally warm and dry.

4 1430 "O" Group at Harrods. 141 personnel of 229 to embark on an LST to-morrow. Serial number of LST is ASN/192. OC to be OC troops. No unit transport to go yet.

1600 Coy "O" Group. Party made up of 1 Officer and 42 ORs from each Pl and balance from HQ including O.C. Cooking equipment prepared. Capt W Wright RE, Lt. HS Barnes RE and Lt. CJ Lakin RE remain in charge of MT and rear party

5 1345 OC reported to ESO at Berth 66 Leghorn Dockyard.

1315 US LST No. 602 berthed (No.192 was Movements Serial No. for complement of LST.

HARRODS CAMP 5 1345 Loading of transport started. Difficulty was experienced in backing Diamond T trailers. Managed to get OCs jeep and 2 m/cs loaded on empty 3 tonners.

1830 Personnel arrived.

1945 Vehicle loading completed.

2000 Personnel embarked. 229 party numbered 141 as arranged.

2030 Reported to ESO and collected instructions.

MARSEILLES 7 transit camp.

1245 Arrived MARSEILLES Transit Camp.

1830 Detachment had F.F.I. inspection and dusting with AL 65?

8 Heavy rain night 7/8 Apr 45. Welfare goods drawn, books, cigarettes (10,000), woollen goods. This is a remarkably good scale for transit troops.

9 Lt. CJ Lakin, 40 ORs and 22 vehicles arrived by MT ship Convoy 32. 1 compressor dropped whilst being loaded at LEGHORN. BLR certificate obtained this end.
Strength in camp now 5 Officers 177 O.Rs

10 Fine. Waiting at staging camp for arrival of balance of coy vehicles and personnel. No information of times of arrival yet

11 Capt W.Wright RE, Lt. HS Barnes RE, 69 O.Rs and remaining vehicles arrived on M.T. ship. Instructions received that Coy will leave camp on 13 April for 5 day convoy run to CAMBRAI.

12 Fine. Day spent in preparing for convoy run. Instructions received from movements that start would be 0900 hrs.

13 Coy moved off at 0900 hrs. Staged night at St Riambert d'Albon. Distance covered 172 miles, about 15 miles in excess of that shewn on Route Card issued by Movements.

14 Short run, 73 miles. Staged night at MACON. Weather bright and sunny.

15 Convoy staged at LES LAUMES.

16. Staged at MONTEREAU. Weather bright and sunny.

17 Convoy moved on to Camp 5 at CAMBRAI. Distance again in excess of Route Card. O.C. to YPRES. Contacted CRE at BOESINGHE. Collected UK leave documents at Garbo Leave Centre RENAIX. Returned to CAMBRAI to meet Coy. All ranks told of leave conditions. First men to leave night 18/19.
Probable Coy location LEDEGEM map ref. H.7661 Sheet 2 1:250,000

CAMBRAI 18 Advance party reported Town Major ROULERS. Coy location confirmed at LEDEGEM. Burgomaster prepared for Coy with list of billets. Coy arrived at LEDEGEM. All ranks in civilian billets, one or two with a family. Bad for general control but very comfortable for the men. Civilians very friendly. General tendency to relax by men.

19 Weather fine. Day spent in unloading vehicles and cleaning G.1098. CRE on U.K. leave and Major FE Ladly Acting CRE. Capt W.Wright assumed command of Coy during this period. Lt. HS Barnes RE first Officer to go on UK leave. He left night 20/21. Full leave roster is attached.

20 Unloading and cleaning up completed. Coy will start training tomorrow. Programme as per Appendix.

LEDEGEM 21 Coy commenced training. N.C.Os Cadre Class also started. Programme attached at Appendix. Weather cotinues fine.

22 Fine. Training and Cadre Class continue.

23 Weather dry but much colder. Training continues.

24 Rain early in day. Training.

25 Weather very wet. Training continues but sports meeting arranged for afternoon had to be cancelled on account of weather.

26 Rain. Sports meeting again cancelled. Training.

27 Training.

28 Training continued.

2000 Capt Wright reported at CREs HQ. "O" Group at 2030 hrs. Coy will more to NEIJMAGEN 1200 hrs 29. Some difficulty in contacting men at this hour in view of the fact that they are billeted in various parts of the town but this is not serious in view of late start.

29 Coy left LEDEGEM at 1200 hrs. Staged night outside ANTWERP. No actual staging camp and bivouacs were erected in view of inclement weather.

30 Coy left ANTWERP 0800 hrs arrived NEIJMAGEN 1700 hrs. Both this Company and 230 Army Fd Coy RE as well as 231 Fd Pk Coy billeted in convent. O.C. reported to CRE at 2100 hrs.
Coy will move ffrom NEIJMAGEN at 0900 hrs 1 May for destination near LEER - LINGEN area of Germany. Task road maintenance. Major FE Ladly RE re-assummed command of Coy on return of CRE from UK leave.

Folder also contains:

Leave Rota - Doesn't include Irving Bye

Training Program April 21 - 26

Source: National Archives WO 171/5509

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Event and Information
HARRODS CAMP	1		1 Pl (Lt.PLA Williams RE) 2 Pl. (Lt. JE Hill RE) 3 Pl.
	2 3		(Lt. CD Wattleworth RE). Time at Camp spent in playing games, mostly soccer and rugger. Coy Parade each morning wih 20 men on squad drill and rifle exercising. Weather generally warm and dry.
	4	1430	"O" Group at Harrods. 141 personnel of 229 to embark on an LST to-morrow. Serial number of LST is ASN/192. OC to be OC troops. No unit transport to go yet.
		1600	Coy "O" Group. Party made up of 1 Officer and 42 ORs from each Pl and balance from HQ including O.C. Cooking equipment prepared. Capt W Wright RE, Lt. HS Barnes RE and Lt. CJ Lakin RE remain in charge of MT and rear party
	5	1345	OC reported to ESO at Berth 66 Leghorn Dockyard.
		1315	US LST No. 602 berthed (No.192 was Movements Serial No. for complement of LST.
HARRODS CAMP	5	1345	Loading of transport started. Difficulty was experienced in backing Diamond T trailers. Managed to get OCs jeep and 2 m/cs loaded on empty 3 tonners.
		1830	Personnel arrived.
		1945	Vehicle loading completed.
		2000	Personnel embarked. 229 party numbered 141 as arranged.
		2030	Reported to ESO and collected instructions.
MARSEILLES	7		transit camp.
		1245	Arrived MARSEILLES Transit Camp.
		1830	Detachment had F.F.I. inspection and dusting with AL 65?
	8		Heavy rain night 7/8 Apr 45. Welfare goods drawn, books, cigarettes (10,000), woollen goods. This is a remarkably good scale for transit troops.
	9		Lt. CJ Lakin, 40 ORs and 22 vehicles arrived by MT ship Convoy 32. 1 compressor dropped whilst being loaded at LEGHORN. BLR certificate obtained this end. Strength in camp now 5 Officers 177 O.Rs
	10		Fine. Waiting at staging camp for arrival of balance of coy vehicles and personnel. No information of times of arrival yet
	11		Capt W.Wright RE, Lt. HS Barnes RE, 69 O.Rs and remaining vehicles arrived on M.T. ship. Instructions received that Coy will leave camp on 13 April for 5 day convoy run to CAMBRAI.
	12		Fine. Day spent in preparing for convoy run. Instructions received from movements that start would be 0900 hrs.
	13		Coy moved off at 0900 hrs. Staged night at St Riambert d'Albon. Distance covered 172 miles, about 15 miles in excess of that shewn on Route Card issued by Movements.
	14		Short run, 73 miles. Staged night at MACON. Weather bright and sunny.
	15		Convoy staged at LES LAUMES.
	16.		Staged at MONTEREAU. Weather bright and sunny.
	17		Convoy moved on to Camp 5 at CAMBRAI. Distance again in excess of Route Card. O.C. to YPRES. Contacted CRE at BOESINGHE. Collected UK leave documents at Garbo Leave Centre RENAIX. Returned to CAMBRAI to meet Coy. All ranks told of leave conditions. First men to leave night 18/19. Probable Coy location LEDEGEM map ref. H.7661 Sheet 2 1:250,000
CAMBRAI	18		Advance party reported Town Major ROULERS. Coy location confirmed at LEDEGEM. Burgomaster prepared for Coy with list of billets. Coy arrived at LEDEGEM. All ranks in civilian billets, one or two with a family. Bad for general control but very comfortable for the men. Civilians very friendly. General tendency to relax by men.
	19		Weather fine. Day spent in unloading vehicles and cleaning G.1098. CRE on U.K. leave and Major FE Ladly Acting CRE. Capt W.Wright assumed command of Coy during this period. Lt. HS Barnes RE first Officer to go on UK leave. He left night 20/21. Full leave roster is attached.
	20		Unloading and cleaning up completed. Coy will start training tomorrow. Programme as per Appendix.
LEDEGEM	21		Coy commenced training. N.C.Os Cadre Class also started. Programme attached at Appendix. Weather cotinues fine.
	22		Fine. Training and Cadre Class continue.
	23		Weather dry but much colder. Training continues.
	24		Rain early in day. Training.
	25		Weather very wet. Training continues but sports meeting arranged for afternoon had to be cancelled on account of weather.
	26		Rain. Sports meeting again cancelled. Training.
	27		Training.
	28		Training continued.
		2000	Capt Wright reported at CREs HQ. "O" Group at 2030 hrs. Coy will more to NEIJMAGEN 1200 hrs 29. Some difficulty in contacting men at this hour in view of the fact that they are billeted in various parts of the town but this is not serious in view of late start.
	29		Coy left LEDEGEM at 1200 hrs. Staged night outside ANTWERP. No actual staging camp and bivouacs were erected in view of inclement weather.
	30		Coy left ANTWERP 0800 hrs arrived NEIJMAGEN 1700 hrs. Both this Company and 230 Army Fd Coy RE as well as 231 Fd Pk Coy billeted in convent. O.C. reported to CRE at 2100 hrs. Coy will move ffrom NEIJMAGEN at 0900 hrs 1 May for destination near LEER - LINGEN area of Germany. Task road maintenance. Major FE Ladly RE re-assummed command of Coy on return of CRE from UK leave.