War Dairy 229 Army Field Company R.E.

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

Commanding Officer: Major F.E.Ladly RE

Place Date Hour Summary of Event and Information References to Appendix

MINDEN
W 802102 1 Dull. Platoons on conservancy. Court of Inquiry completed yesterday on traffic accident involving a driver of this Coy and which resulted in the death of an O.R. of 40 Coy Pioneer Corps.
There are no N.C.O.s of the rank of Sjt available for SEAC posting, i.e. all under A. & S. G 30 or over 2 years service as at 1 Oct 45.
A.F.W.3008 & 3009

2. Proceedings of Audit Board submitted to CRE but returned because they were not on special form which we have been unable to obtain for time.

4. Sunshine morning. Heavy storm 1600 - 1700 hrs.
Coy are not very busy at present. Decision to remove certain bridges is pending.

5. Fine - sunshine. Coy given afternoon off to see Brigade Sports meeting and Coy football match against 40 Coy Pioneer Corps.
Mail is much improved lately. Time from U.K. 2 - 4 days.
Allotment of leave of 3 O.Rs for Sep cause drop in morale. There is a feeling that the troops of 'GOLDFLAKE' operation are not getting a fair proportion of leave when compared with normal B.L.A. troops. This Coy has had 2 years 10 months overseas service. All ranks have had 8 days in U.K. and 40% have had 2 periods of 8 or 10 days.

6. Work on bridges is slackening off. To keep men employed we have offered to do certain works for G.E. MINDEN.

7. 2 Pl started work on improvements to Transit Mess at MINDEN Station.
O.C. interviews 6 men each day for writing of testimonial.
A.F.W.3008 & 3009
for 8 Sep 45.

9. Dental inspection for all Coy arranged with local Dental Officer. There is a shortage of Dental Officers and it is almost impossible to get routine dental treatment. Dental Officer can only do urgent cases, i.e. whereman [sic] is actually in pain. Even now, though we have had the inspection, the Dental Officer cannot carry out the treatment. However the statement of treatment required my be of sufficient weight to get some priority. (APPENDIX 'J')

10 Surplus Humber Scout Cars 2 No returned to Vehicle Park HAMBURG.
Work slackening off. Surplus plant and hauling stores returned to 231 to be held as reserve pending further committments [sic].

11 Coy not very busy. R.E. Officers Age Groups 17 - 20 to be frozen!!
Major Ladly departs on leave to BAD HARZBURG.

12 More leave vacancies for September bringing total to 46 which is about 2/3 of original GOLDFLAKE allotment.
Field Hygiene disinfect Coy billets for bugs.
Adjustment of responsibilities to take effect from 17 Sep notified by C.R.E.
Coy to clear (a) EMS-WESER CANAL from 132209 (N2) to junc DORTMUND-EMS CANAL C 910090 (N2).
(b) DORTMUND-EMS CANAL from V 910090 (N2)to V807145 (N2).
1 Corps Engineers (separate instructions later).
230 Coy will take over MINDEN committments on Friday 14 Sep to 1000 hrs.

MINDEN 13 Three Pl Officers recce new canal stretch.
'O' Gp with Pl Sjts QM etc at 1000 hrs to warn for move. No definite date or location yet. Await instructions from CRE, who is on a preliminary recce, so that advance parties may be sent to new billets.
Report on major bridges - new stretch - to CRE 1900 hrs.
No definite news of move until he has seen AGRE.

14 Handover to 230 Field Coy 1000 hrs. Coy preparing for move in slow time.
G.E. MINDEN thanks Coy for assistance in Engineer Services work at MINDEN Station. A small party continue to work there until move more definite.
Major Ladly returns from BAD HARZBURG leave.
1 Pl photograph taken in SIMEON BARRACKS, MINDEN.
Age and Service Group of O.C. is 19, and his release is therefore deferred by recent G.O.C. decision. The lack of explanation does not help the reception of this Order.

15 Recce made of new area.
Cpy task is to remove bridges from DORTMUND EMS CANAL V 910090 - V807145. and EMS WESER CANAL from where it joins DORTMUND EMS V 910090 to 132209 which is where the Coy started and worked eastwards in July.
There are approximately 20 bridges to pull out of the canal.
190 Coy Pioneer Corps will be under command.
Locations will be
1 Pl (Lt. Williams) IBBENBUREN V 990089
2 Pl (Lt. Hill) NEUENKIRCHEN W 0725
3 Pl (Lt Wattleworth) NAHRODDE V 845107
AVRE Troop (Lt.Green) IBBENBUREN V 990089
H.Q. IBBENBUREN V 990089
CQMS continue to return surplus stores.

16 Lt. Wattleworth left for Education Officers Course GOTTINGEN. Dull all day but close.

17 Platoons moved to new locations.

IBBENBUREN 18 Coy HQ moved to IBBENBUREN. Task as given by Sitrep (Appendix 'J')
A check has been made of the cigarettes arriving in the Coy during the past week. The total was 6,000, the strength is just over 200. This gives some idea of the terrific number involved. During 12 months in C.M.F. the weekly average would be about 2,000
As usual on the canal civilians are working on certain bridges and we have no indication as to the official army authority for them.

19 Work started in earnest on bridges. There is a general shortage of cutters. The German explosive DONARITE is being issued in lieu of 808. It is quite useless and appears to be a substitute forammonal [sic] and not 808.

20 Fine. 2 German women have complained that men have taken odd things from the billet. It is very difficult to trace and searching of kits has revealed nothing.

21 Result of recent dental inspection is shewn in attached letter to CRE (Appendix 'J'). C.A.G.R.E. and C.R.E. visited works. Went round all bridges. Two Churchills borrowed from Fife and Forfar Yeomanry.
Working on Bridge Site 14. Fine.
A.F.W. 3008 & 3009

24 Distinctly colder. Major Holloway (231) who attended a conference at Corps on reasons for deferrment [sic] of release called and explained these reasons. Two statements appear outstanding:-
(i) Cabinet refuses to allow R.E. officers in U.K. to be sent out here to even up release rate. i.e. Age Gps 19-20 are being released at normal time promised by Army Council.
(ii) Cabinet refuses to allow R.E. units who have no work to do out here return to U.K. to help reconstruction - possibly shortage of materials being the reason.

26 C.R.E. 59 (?) G.H.Q. Tps (1 Corps) called this H.Q. He had been instructed by 1 Corps to take over removal of bridges on which we are now engaged. Informed my C.R.E. for information. C.R.E. 59 G.H.Q. was quite happy but naturally surprised that we were working.

27 3 dozers ex 570 recalled.
2 A.V.R.E.s out of action - one engine trouble - one track difficulties. Some of these machines have now done 1500 miles which is an extreme life for a Churchill. The tracks have only 67 links - 2 below the recognised absolute minimum - due to heavy work.

28 Heavy showers throughout day. Work delayed by absence of replacement dozers. Work on EMS-WESER Canal will be completed by 15 Oct. It is hoped to bring clay down canal to rebuild that length near junction with DORTMUND-EMS that was devastated by R.A.F. Route 65 now open at map ref 926125. Br 65 complete by 65 Fd Coy R.E. This Company has had no mail since 20 Sep. 30 Corps D.A.D.P. asked by phone today to expedite. Unit inspection board visited 2 Pl to carry out surplus kit check. Visit unexpected and consisted of team based on Inspectorate of Army Equipment Team.

29 Fine. Pl Commanders held kit check and inspection of men and arms. A.F.W. 3008 & 3009

Place	Date	Summary of Event and Information	References to Appendix
MINDEN W 802102	1	Dull. Platoons on conservancy. Court of Inquiry completed yesterday on traffic accident involving a driver of this Coy and which resulted in the death of an O.R. of 40 Coy Pioneer Corps. There are no N.C.O.s of the rank of Sjt available for SEAC posting, i.e. all under A. & S. G 30 or over 2 years service as at 1 Oct 45.	A.F.W.3008 & 3009
	2.	Proceedings of Audit Board submitted to CRE but returned because they were not on special form which we have been unable to obtain for time.
	4.	Sunshine morning. Heavy storm 1600 - 1700 hrs. Coy are not very busy at present. Decision to remove certain bridges is pending.
	5.	Fine - sunshine. Coy given afternoon off to see Brigade Sports meeting and Coy football match against 40 Coy Pioneer Corps. Mail is much improved lately. Time from U.K. 2 - 4 days. Allotment of leave of 3 O.Rs for Sep cause drop in morale. There is a feeling that the troops of 'GOLDFLAKE' operation are not getting a fair proportion of leave when compared with normal B.L.A. troops. This Coy has had 2 years 10 months overseas service. All ranks have had 8 days in U.K. and 40% have had 2 periods of 8 or 10 days.
	6.	Work on bridges is slackening off. To keep men employed we have offered to do certain works for G.E. MINDEN.
	7.	2 Pl started work on improvements to Transit Mess at MINDEN Station. O.C. interviews 6 men each day for writing of testimonial.	A.F.W.3008 & 3009 for 8 Sep 45.
	9.	Dental inspection for all Coy arranged with local Dental Officer. There is a shortage of Dental Officers and it is almost impossible to get routine dental treatment. Dental Officer can only do urgent cases, i.e. whereman [sic] is actually in pain. Even now, though we have had the inspection, the Dental Officer cannot carry out the treatment. However the statement of treatment required my be of sufficient weight to get some priority. (APPENDIX 'J')
	10	Surplus Humber Scout Cars 2 No returned to Vehicle Park HAMBURG. Work slackening off. Surplus plant and hauling stores returned to 231 to be held as reserve pending further committments [sic].
	11	Coy not very busy. R.E. Officers Age Groups 17 - 20 to be frozen!! Major Ladly departs on leave to BAD HARZBURG.
	12	More leave vacancies for September bringing total to 46 which is about 2/3 of original GOLDFLAKE allotment. Field Hygiene disinfect Coy billets for bugs. Adjustment of responsibilities to take effect from 17 Sep notified by C.R.E. Coy to clear (a) EMS-WESER CANAL from 132209 (N2) to junc DORTMUND-EMS CANAL C 910090 (N2). (b) DORTMUND-EMS CANAL from V 910090 (N2)to V807145 (N2). 1 Corps Engineers (separate instructions later). 230 Coy will take over MINDEN committments on Friday 14 Sep to 1000 hrs.
MINDEN	13	Three Pl Officers recce new canal stretch. 'O' Gp with Pl Sjts QM etc at 1000 hrs to warn for move. No definite date or location yet. Await instructions from CRE, who is on a preliminary recce, so that advance parties may be sent to new billets. Report on major bridges - new stretch - to CRE 1900 hrs. No definite news of move until he has seen AGRE.
	14	Handover to 230 Field Coy 1000 hrs. Coy preparing for move in slow time. G.E. MINDEN thanks Coy for assistance in Engineer Services work at MINDEN Station. A small party continue to work there until move more definite. Major Ladly returns from BAD HARZBURG leave. 1 Pl photograph taken in SIMEON BARRACKS, MINDEN. Age and Service Group of O.C. is 19, and his release is therefore deferred by recent G.O.C. decision. The lack of explanation does not help the reception of this Order.
	15	Recce made of new area. Cpy task is to remove bridges from DORTMUND EMS CANAL V 910090 - V807145. and EMS WESER CANAL from where it joins DORTMUND EMS V 910090 to 132209 which is where the Coy started and worked eastwards in July. There are approximately 20 bridges to pull out of the canal. 190 Coy Pioneer Corps will be under command. Locations will be 1 Pl (Lt. Williams) IBBENBUREN V 990089 2 Pl (Lt. Hill) NEUENKIRCHEN W 0725 3 Pl (Lt Wattleworth) NAHRODDE V 845107 AVRE Troop (Lt.Green) IBBENBUREN V 990089 H.Q. IBBENBUREN V 990089 CQMS continue to return surplus stores.
	16	Lt. Wattleworth left for Education Officers Course GOTTINGEN. Dull all day but close.
	17	Platoons moved to new locations.
IBBENBUREN	18	Coy HQ moved to IBBENBUREN. Task as given by Sitrep (Appendix 'J') A check has been made of the cigarettes arriving in the Coy during the past week. The total was 6,000, the strength is just over 200. This gives some idea of the terrific number involved. During 12 months in C.M.F. the weekly average would be about 2,000 As usual on the canal civilians are working on certain bridges and we have no indication as to the official army authority for them.
	19	Work started in earnest on bridges. There is a general shortage of cutters. The German explosive DONARITE is being issued in lieu of 808. It is quite useless and appears to be a substitute forammonal [sic] and not 808.
	20	Fine. 2 German women have complained that men have taken odd things from the billet. It is very difficult to trace and searching of kits has revealed nothing.
	21	Result of recent dental inspection is shewn in attached letter to CRE (Appendix 'J'). C.A.G.R.E. and C.R.E. visited works. Went round all bridges. Two Churchills borrowed from Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. Working on Bridge Site 14. Fine.	A.F.W. 3008 & 3009
	24	Distinctly colder. Major Holloway (231) who attended a conference at Corps on reasons for deferrment [sic] of release called and explained these reasons. Two statements appear outstanding:- (i) Cabinet refuses to allow R.E. officers in U.K. to be sent out here to even up release rate. i.e. Age Gps 19-20 are being released at normal time promised by Army Council. (ii) Cabinet refuses to allow R.E. units who have no work to do out here return to U.K. to help reconstruction - possibly shortage of materials being the reason.
	26	C.R.E. 59 (?) G.H.Q. Tps (1 Corps) called this H.Q. He had been instructed by 1 Corps to take over removal of bridges on which we are now engaged. Informed my C.R.E. for information. C.R.E. 59 G.H.Q. was quite happy but naturally surprised that we were working.
	27	3 dozers ex 570 recalled. 2 A.V.R.E.s out of action - one engine trouble - one track difficulties. Some of these machines have now done 1500 miles which is an extreme life for a Churchill. The tracks have only 67 links - 2 below the recognised absolute minimum - due to heavy work.
	28	Heavy showers throughout day. Work delayed by absence of replacement dozers. Work on EMS-WESER Canal will be completed by 15 Oct. It is hoped to bring clay down canal to rebuild that length near junction with DORTMUND-EMS that was devastated by R.A.F. Route 65 now open at map ref 926125. Br 65 complete by 65 Fd Coy R.E. This Company has had no mail since 20 Sep. 30 Corps D.A.D.P. asked by phone today to expedite. Unit inspection board visited 2 Pl to carry out surplus kit check. Visit unexpected and consisted of team based on Inspectorate of Army Equipment Team.
	29	Fine. Pl Commanders held kit check and inspection of men and arms.	A.F.W. 3008 & 3009