War Dairy 229 Army Field Company R.E.

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

Commanding Officer: Major F.E.Ladly RE

Place Date Hour Summary of Event and Information References to Appendix

BRAMSCHE 1 3 Platoon move to SIMEON BARRACKS, MINDEN.
No. 26 Bridge completed.
Coy committments [sic] now EAST of MINDEN owing to civilian competition WEST.
2 AVREs loaned by 230 Fd Coy to Br 26.
Weather - fine. M.T. L/Sjt Cole (reinforcement) interviewed and posted to H.Q.

2 1 Pl to MINDEN.
2 AVsRE to 23a.
Preparatory work on new comitments EAST of MINDEN begun today. (Brs 7 & 9 3 Pl WESER-ELBE Canal.)

3. Weather fine - work proceeds as usual.

4. Brs 23a and 23b complete. 2 Pl to remove barge at 22 site, also some steel left behind by 230 Coy at 29 site.
1 Pl commence work on Br 113 West of MINDEN, This was sub-let from 264 Coy's commitment. C.R.E. says all work WEST of MINDEN priority over work EAST. 2 more compressors asked for on Sitrep.
Recreational training in afternoon - weather fine.

5. Day off - weather fine. Capt Wright returned from U.K. leave.

6. Coy H.Q. moves to MINDEN. 2 Pl to remove another barge ERICA after recce.
Work proceeds 3 Pl Br 7 & 9
1 Pl Br 113
Weather - fine.

MINDEN 7 2 Pl - all work at old location BRAMSCHE now complete except for barge ERICA. All dozers now at new area. 4 AVsRE awaiting move to new area. Work as usual. Weather - fine. C.R.E.'s 'O' Group 2000 hrs.

8. Major Ladly departs on U.K. leave. Works proceeding normally. Weather Weather [sic] fine. Report on clearance of first 19 brs prepared by O.C. as action C.R.E. is attached at Appendix 'J'. 2000 hrs.

9. Heavy rain all day. Interview with civilian Engineers who are attempting to rebuild bridges over canal. Civilians told that policy is firstly to remove all obstructions from canal and secondly to repair bridges only if time permits. 9

10 Weather fine. Works proceeding normally.

11 Weather dull. Works proceeding well. 1 AVRE arrived from 2 Pl this p.m.

12 Day off. 2nd AVRE arrived from 2 Pl today.

13 2 AVsRE working on 1 Pl site. Attempt to turn bridge over completely with AVsRE was successful. Attempt being made by 2 Pl to patch hole in barge 'ERICA' and float her off rather than dray her out of the canal.
Weather dull.

14 Weather fine. Works proceeding normally. 1 AVRE broke down with clutch trouble and it is expected to be repaired in 3 days time.

15 Weather fine, works proceeding normally. 1 Armd D6 returned to its parent unit today.

16 Day off - VJ day.

MINDEN 17 Day off - VJ day

18 Works proceeding normally. Weather fine.

19 Day off.

20 2nd AVRE broke down with clutch trouble, expected to be repaired by 22nd Aug. Works proceeding normally - weather fine.

21 Weather fine - works proceeding normally.

22 Major Ladly resumes command of Coy on return from leave. 1 AVRE repaired and working again - the other is expected to back tomorrow.
Works proceeding normally.
Board of inspection on surplus G.1098 has now completed its task. A list of surpluses and equipment not considered vital in present circumstances is attached at Appendix 'J'.
Heavy showers in afternoon.

23 O.C. met C.R.E. at Barge ERICA 238242. There were about 1,000 tons of scrap metal on this barge and this is now 50% removed. The general orders for removal of bridges are still obscure particularly east of MINDEN. Orders given to Field units through direct R.E. channels often clash with orders given to civilian contractors through Tn and IWT channels with result of competition on site between civilians and military to pull out bridges or rather, the Field Coy want to pull out the bridges using M.E., cutters, etc. and the Contractors have a nice plan for jacking up and repairing. This difficulty has been going on for over one month. Instructions received to pull out Br 15 (Rly). Queried this with C.R.E.

24 Showery - cool wind.

25 Showery - cold. Instructions received not to pull out Br 15.
Men had kit check required by Board for final elimination of surpluses.
Recce required by Higher Authority of brs being worked on by Tn. This involves work on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. This Coy has received the most precise instructions not to touch these brs in any way because they are solely the responsibility of TN. Report attached - Appendix

27 Instructions received that we could hel TN with explosives etc. Orders received to start on Brs 8 & 18. Bright sunshine.

29 Started work on brs 8 and 18. About 1200 hrs orders received to stop work immediately and put back what had been removed. There appears to be complete lack of co-operation between I.W.T. and Fd Branch at some level. This sort of cancellation is typical. It is most demoralising for Sappers on the ground and it is difficult to convince them that they are not being inconvenienced due to lack of forethought.

30 Orders receive that in no circumstances are TN brs to be touched not even wher contractors are standing by waiting for explosives.
Bright sunshine.
9

31 There are 3 types of bridges
(a) those for which Coy are directly responsible and remove with military labour.
(b) those for which Coy are responsible but, through exercise of common sense at CRE or OC level, civilians who were working on site have been allowed to repair by jacking up and re-welding.
(c) Those for which I.W.T. (sometimes called TN) are solely responsible.
(a) and (b) are to be finished by 30 Sep. Nos. 8 and 18 referred to on 29 Aug carry civilian improvised bridges.
Men are in good billets in Minden Barracks. Men of 40 Coy. P.C. have been squeezed up to make room for contingent of C.C.G (Control Commission Germany). Generally morale is good. Entertainments at MINDEN consist of 2 cinemas, a theatre and canteen and are adequate. Swimming baths are open and there is a good football pich. Tennis courts are available and 1 Corps have supplied tennis kit where we failed to obtain through 30 Corps. Shower and laundry facilities are excellent. There is a shortage of padres.

Folder also contains:

Report on Removal of 19 Demolished Steel Bridges from Ems-Weser Canal.

Source: National Archives WO 171/5509

Place	Date	Summary of Event and Information	References to Appendix
BRAMSCHE	1	3 Platoon move to SIMEON BARRACKS, MINDEN. No. 26 Bridge completed. Coy committments [sic] now EAST of MINDEN owing to civilian competition WEST. 2 AVREs loaned by 230 Fd Coy to Br 26. Weather - fine. M.T. L/Sjt Cole (reinforcement) interviewed and posted to H.Q.
	2	1 Pl to MINDEN. 2 AVsRE to 23a. Preparatory work on new comitments EAST of MINDEN begun today. (Brs 7 & 9 3 Pl WESER-ELBE Canal.)
	3.	Weather fine - work proceeds as usual.
	4.	Brs 23a and 23b complete. 2 Pl to remove barge at 22 site, also some steel left behind by 230 Coy at 29 site. 1 Pl commence work on Br 113 West of MINDEN, This was sub-let from 264 Coy's commitment. C.R.E. says all work WEST of MINDEN priority over work EAST. 2 more compressors asked for on Sitrep. Recreational training in afternoon - weather fine.
	5.	Day off - weather fine. Capt Wright returned from U.K. leave.
	6.	Coy H.Q. moves to MINDEN. 2 Pl to remove another barge ERICA after recce. Work proceeds 3 Pl Br 7 & 9 1 Pl Br 113 Weather - fine.
MINDEN	7	2 Pl - all work at old location BRAMSCHE now complete except for barge ERICA. All dozers now at new area. 4 AVsRE awaiting move to new area. Work as usual. Weather - fine. C.R.E.'s 'O' Group 2000 hrs.
	8.	Major Ladly departs on U.K. leave. Works proceeding normally. Weather Weather [sic] fine. Report on clearance of first 19 brs prepared by O.C. as action C.R.E. is attached at Appendix 'J'. 2000 hrs.
	9.	Heavy rain all day. Interview with civilian Engineers who are attempting to rebuild bridges over canal. Civilians told that policy is firstly to remove all obstructions from canal and secondly to repair bridges only if time permits.	9
	10	Weather fine. Works proceeding normally.
	11	Weather dull. Works proceeding well. 1 AVRE arrived from 2 Pl this p.m.
	12	Day off. 2nd AVRE arrived from 2 Pl today.
	13	2 AVsRE working on 1 Pl site. Attempt to turn bridge over completely with AVsRE was successful. Attempt being made by 2 Pl to patch hole in barge 'ERICA' and float her off rather than dray her out of the canal. Weather dull.
	14	Weather fine. Works proceeding normally. 1 AVRE broke down with clutch trouble and it is expected to be repaired in 3 days time.
	15	Weather fine, works proceeding normally. 1 Armd D6 returned to its parent unit today.
	16	Day off - VJ day.
MINDEN	17	Day off - VJ day
	18	Works proceeding normally. Weather fine.
	19	Day off.
	20	2nd AVRE broke down with clutch trouble, expected to be repaired by 22nd Aug. Works proceeding normally - weather fine.
	21	Weather fine - works proceeding normally.
	22	Major Ladly resumes command of Coy on return from leave. 1 AVRE repaired and working again - the other is expected to back tomorrow. Works proceeding normally. Board of inspection on surplus G.1098 has now completed its task. A list of surpluses and equipment not considered vital in present circumstances is attached at Appendix 'J'. Heavy showers in afternoon.
	23	O.C. met C.R.E. at Barge ERICA 238242. There were about 1,000 tons of scrap metal on this barge and this is now 50% removed. The general orders for removal of bridges are still obscure particularly east of MINDEN. Orders given to Field units through direct R.E. channels often clash with orders given to civilian contractors through Tn and IWT channels with result of competition on site between civilians and military to pull out bridges or rather, the Field Coy want to pull out the bridges using M.E., cutters, etc. and the Contractors have a nice plan for jacking up and repairing. This difficulty has been going on for over one month. Instructions received to pull out Br 15 (Rly). Queried this with C.R.E.
	24	Showery - cool wind.
	25	Showery - cold. Instructions received not to pull out Br 15. Men had kit check required by Board for final elimination of surpluses. Recce required by Higher Authority of brs being worked on by Tn. This involves work on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. This Coy has received the most precise instructions not to touch these brs in any way because they are solely the responsibility of TN. Report attached - Appendix
	27	Instructions received that we could hel TN with explosives etc. Orders received to start on Brs 8 & 18. Bright sunshine.
	29	Started work on brs 8 and 18. About 1200 hrs orders received to stop work immediately and put back what had been removed. There appears to be complete lack of co-operation between I.W.T. and Fd Branch at some level. This sort of cancellation is typical. It is most demoralising for Sappers on the ground and it is difficult to convince them that they are not being inconvenienced due to lack of forethought.
	30	Orders receive that in no circumstances are TN brs to be touched not even wher contractors are standing by waiting for explosives. Bright sunshine.	9
	31	There are 3 types of bridges (a) those for which Coy are directly responsible and remove with military labour. (b) those for which Coy are responsible but, through exercise of common sense at CRE or OC level, civilians who were working on site have been allowed to repair by jacking up and re-welding. (c) Those for which I.W.T. (sometimes called TN) are solely responsible. (a) and (b) are to be finished by 30 Sep. Nos. 8 and 18 referred to on 29 Aug carry civilian improvised bridges. Men are in good billets in Minden Barracks. Men of 40 Coy. P.C. have been squeezed up to make room for contingent of C.C.G (Control Commission Germany). Generally morale is good. Entertainments at MINDEN consist of 2 cinemas, a theatre and canteen and are adequate. Swimming baths are open and there is a good football pich. Tennis courts are available and 1 Corps have supplied tennis kit where we failed to obtain through 30 Corps. Shower and laundry facilities are excellent. There is a shortage of padres.