National Archives catalogue number WO 171/432.
Abbreviation
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969838 AA&QMG A/B Admin Instr Adv Airldg Armd Att Authy AWD Bde BLA Btn CBP CCS Comd Coy CREME CTW DDME Det Div DVP Eqpt Est Gen H HP Hy i/c LAD LCI LCT Mech MO OC Offr OFP OR Ord RAC RC RE Rec Ref REME RHU S.Arms TCV Tech Tp Tpt Veh Wkr Wksp |
Map Reference Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General Airborne Administration Instruction Advance Airlanding Armoured Attached Authority Advanced Workshop Detachment Brigade British Liberation Army Battalion Corps Backloading Point Casualty Clearing Station Command Company Commander Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps Troops Workshops Deputy Director Mechanical Engineers Department Detachment Division Divisional Backloading Point Equipment Establishment General Highland Horse Power Heavy In-Command Light Aid Detachment Landing Craft Infantry Landing Craft Tank Mechanic Medical Officer Officer Commanding Officer Ordnance Field Park Other Ranks Ordnance Royal Armoured Corps Roman Catholic Royal Engineers Recovery Reference Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Reinforcement Holding Unit Small Arms Troop Carrying Vehicle Technical Troop Transport Vehicle Worker Workshop |
Month and year : June 1944
Commanding Officer : Major E.B. Bonniwell
5th June 1944
Place: Ardingly, Sussex
Moved from Ardingly to Camp J2 at Falmer. Move completed by train at 20.00 hrs. Personnel accommodated in tents for the night.
6th June 1944
Place: Falmer, Sussex
(D. Day). Day spent in completing Embarkation Rolls, drawing foreign currency, rations, maps etc. All personnel of HQ have been allocated to one craft - R20; these personnel together with 44 from 1 Corps make a total craft load of 79. Personnel briefed in the operation generally all are extremely keen to get on with the job, and disappointed that they were unable to go to war by air.
7th June 1944
Place: Falmer, Sussex
Left Camp J2 at 15.00 hrs by T.C.V. for port of embarkation. Arrived Newhaven 18.00 hrs, embarked at once on L.C.T. 89. Craft sailed from land at once & laid up off Newhaven to await forming up of convoy. Convoy consisting of 1 LCI & 9 L.C.T. Left Newhaven 23.00 hrs. Accommodation for the troops is very cramped as LCT are not designed to accommodate 79 men. Most men are sleeping on the vehs. The ships company are very helpful & do all they can to make the troops comfortable.
8th June 1944
Place: At Sea
Voyage uneventful. Sea calm. Beached NAN Sector 19.45 hrs. Craft beached in depth of 3' water, about 500 yds from shore. Depth of water varied on account of bomb craters, and men of small stature had to swim for the shore. Two very short men had to remain on craft & land with vehs. After landing personnel proceeded to 969838 Knee assembly area at Courseulles-Sur-Mer & proceeded to dig in & await arrival of vehs of 1 C.T.W. Area was thickly mined & clearance just started by sappers. A few enemy aircraft flew over during the night & bombed nearby objectives. Enemy parachutists alarm given but none seen. (NOTE:- Unit landed day early).
9th June 1944
Place: Courseulles-Sur-Mer
Morning spent in drying off clothing by building wood fires. No sign of a move yet as the proposed location 1 Corps at DOUVRES 8001 is still in enemy hands. Continuous enemy air activity during the night.
10th June 1944
Place: Courseulles-Sur-Mer
Left at 06.30 hrs to march to new location west of LA DELIVERANDE 021815. Arrived 08.15, all personnel feeling very tired after two sleepless nights. 1 Corps Tps Wksps had proceeded by transport, & laid out workshop in large field. O.C. visited No 1 AWD in 6 Airborne Div area. The A.W.D. are well dug in & in good spirits, they have not had a great deal of work to do, but have justified their existence. CREME visited Wksp & gave detailed account of the Airborne Div battle. Only REME casualties from para dets missing. Little air activity at night.
11th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
AWD Element HQ Wksps joined 27 Armd Bde Wksp at 16.00 hrs. This AWD will be attached to keep the 27 Armd Bde, and to carry out any Airborne repairs.
12th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
It is now known that 7 of the Wksp parachutists are missing. It is hoped that some may have been taken prisoner.
13th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
2nd Party under Capt M.H. Bland arrived Wksp location 1000 hrs having landed the previous evening & spent night in Assembly Area. This party is 48 hrs late in arriving. Some Airborne eqpt is now being backloaded from No.1 AWD for repair. HQ Wksp personnel have been attached to the sections of 1 CTWksp to work on any eqpt brought in. Airborne eqpt will obviously be given priority.
14th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Machinery & 2 trailers received from AWD for use at HQ Wksp. Jeeps for towing are now urgently required, and it is hoped that the two from 11-12 LADs will arrive shortly.
14th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
AWD are backloading several Jeeps & quantities of British & Enemy S.Arms.
15th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing outstanding to report. Enemy aircraft return locally during night. 3rd party under ASM McCann arrived Wksp location.
16th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing outstanding to report. Enemy aircraft again return during night.
17th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
AWD element HQ Wksps returned from 24 Armd Bde Wksps, Capt Bland & 24 O.R's proceeded to join No 1 AWD today. Set up Wksps independently of 1 Corps Tps Wksps. Cfn Inwood (welder) evacuated to U.K. with knee injury (accidental).
18th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
First batch of inward mail received. Commenced [?] for own rations. L/Cpl [?] (Welder) evacuated to U.K. after Welding accident on 17/6/44.
19th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Visited by DDME & CREME. Cfn Stasulevich ([?]) was killed on active service whilst with No 1 AWD, by enemy shellfire. Next of kin informed by letter.
20th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Cfn Stasulevich buried at graveyard S.E. of Ranville Church (map 40/16 N.W.) Map Ref 111736 - Row 13, Grave 6. Service by R.C. Padre, attended by 2 Offrs & 5 OR's. War Officer & Officer i/c REME Records notified. First edition of "The ScREMEster" (a unit bulletin) issued. A Quiet Room & [waiting?] room for NCO's & men established within Workshop compound, top floor of house of local inhabitants kindly offered to Unit. Cpl Hall (Veh Mech) was killed on active service by enemy shellfire at 15.30 hrs. He was buried on South side of quarry (Sheet No 7/F2 Map Ref 112750) on 20 June 44. War Office & Offr i/c REME Records notified. Next of kin also informed.
21st June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Two boilers have been obtained, these have been put to use, for bathing purposes. These are heated & attended to daily by a boilerman. Hot water & a bath are now available throughout the day. It is hoped that all personnel will in this way be able to have at least one bath per week.
22nd June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Capt Bland called, brought cash for pay. Bathing facilities now in full swing, 21 NCO's & men had bath on first day.
23rd June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing of interest to report.
24th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report. Enemy activity during night.
25th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
New address "B.W.E.F." adopted as from today. Address "APO England" no longer used.
26th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
ASM McCann & 7 OR's proceeded to join No 1 AWD. 31 ORs returned from No 1 AWD. Lt. A.E. Sharman (No 1 AWD) proceeded on 10 days compassionate leave to U.K., to take effect from time of arrival in U.K. Mother, Father, Wife & sister killed in air raid at Putney on 18 JUNE.
27th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
1 Corps arranged free show for troops - "Stars in Battledress". 20 ORs attended. Show to men for some days. All personnel of this Unit will be able to attend eventually.
28th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
29th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
30th June 1944
Place: La Deliverande
All personnel in Unit medically inspected by M.O. All personnel "free from infection".
Month and year : July 1944
Commanding Officer : Major E.B. Bonniwell
1st July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
First issue of Green envelopes received since leaving UK, issue of one per man. Enemy shell landed in Workshop yard during morning, luckily no one injured, although all personnel were working in yard.
2nd July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Names of 7 OR's of 1 Corps Tps Wksps REME submitted today, as volunteers for Airborne REME, personnels particulars recorded. Some delay in receiving mail. Some personnel have not received any mail for 8-9 days. Mail on arrival is often 10-12 days old. Outward mail arrangements seem satisfactory so far. 10543923 Cfn Payne, G.L. (Dv mech) accidentally injured, badly burned with petrol about arms & body, admitted to 86 Gen. Hospital.
3rd July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Cfn Payne evacuated to U.K. - O2E notified on AFW 3011B.
4th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
5th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Supply of rum received from 1 Corps Tps Wksps for issue to personnel of this Unit. This issue should have been given on D+2. Passes made out to all personnel giving authority to proceed into La Deliverande after duty daily in accordance with 2nd Army Admin Instr No.1. Issue of 20 cigarettes made per man, these were an issue made by General Montgomery.
6th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Passes & rum issued to personnel.
7th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
One parcel of games & one parcel of books for mens welfare received from Welfare Officer, HQ 2nd Army. Rear Party of 1 Corps Tps Wksp arrived in France in evening & spent night in assembly area.
8th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Rear party of 1 Corps Tps Wksps arrived at Wksp location.
9th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Unit sports held in afternoon. Events open to HQ REME, No 2 AWD & LADs. CREME attended & presented prizes.
10th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report. Unit personnel deficiencies considered.
11th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
First issue of bread received from Field Bakery. Ration works out at one round per man per day. [? ?] erected in Workshop compound for mens use for after duty hours. Court of Enquiry held at 19.00 hrs by order of Major E. B. Bonniwell to inquire into the circumstances under which 5949151 L/Cpl Thorpe, S. sustained injury on 17 June 44 - President: Lt N.B. Duff; members ASM Weston & SQMS Humphreys. Three witnesses were called to give evidence. One Sgt. armourer posted to 9 Para Btn on authy of CREME 6 Airborne Div. Unit library now operating, good assortment of books available.
12th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
13th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
[Brick?] NAAFI [?] prepared for Unit personnel for 1 week, including 1 months spirit entitlement for Offrs & Senior NCO's.
14th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
15th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
First issue of NAAFI supplies received. Address changed from BWEF to BLA (British Liberation Army). Unit canteen operating.
16th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
1 Sgt. Veh Mech posted to CREME 3 Brit. Div. 1 Driver i/c & 1 Driver Mech posted to CREME 51 (H) Div. on authority of WOL 112/REME/1 (AG 31) dated 31/10/42. AWD changed location & moved to Map Ref 113760.
17th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
18th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Medical inspection held by M.O. All personnel free from infection. All personnel proceeded on sea bathing parade in afternoon to Luc-Sur-Mer.
19th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
20th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Sheet Metal Wkr posted to 1 Corps Tps Wksps REME. All Veh Mech posted from No 2 AWD to 6 Airldg Bde. Very heavy thunderstorm in afternoon.
21st July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Rum issue drawn on account of bad weather. Issue made to unit in evening. One ration kept in reserve. Very heavy rain all day.
22nd July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Still raining heavily most of day, further rum issue drawn & issued out to unit. Initially impossible for vehs on some roads owing to mud. German 'flying bomb' passed over this location at approx 18.20 hrs, flying area South, heading towards German lines, flying at about 800-1000 ft. Thick low lying clouds.
23rd July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Further supply of rum received.
24th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
One L/Cpl armourer & one L/Cpl Veh mech promoted to Cpl. Promoted within Est to replace Sgt. armourer & Sgt. Veh mech recently posted. OC & others visited Colombelles to look over steel factory now out of enemy hands. Various articles of useful equipment brought away.
25th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing of importance to report.
26th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Commenced drawing fresh rations for first time.
27th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
28th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
29th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Formation of Sergeants Mess.
30th July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
31st July 1944
Place: La Deliverande
S/Sgt Lowry (Fitter) evacuated to U.K. following injury received on 30th.
Month and year : August 1944
Commanding Officer : Major E.B. Bonniwell
1st August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
2nd August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Cfn. Inwood (Welder) posted back to this Unit from 34 R.H.U. after having been evacuated to U.K. on 17/6/44. PRI [messing?] & entertainments meeting held.
3rd August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Percentage of personnel proceeded to LUC-SUR-MER on bathing parade.
4th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Percentage of personnel proceeded to LUC-SUR-MER on bathing parade. Arrangements made with 1 Corps Tps Wksps for their shoemaker to carry out repairs to Unit boots in need of repair. One day per week allotted to this Unit for boot repairs. First consignment of soiled laundry sent by this Unit to mobile laundry at Reviers.
5th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Percentage of personnel proceeded to LUC-SUR-MER on bathing parade.
6th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Percentage of personnel proceeded to LUC-SUR-MER on bathing parade.
7th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
8th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Collected 2850 [?] cigarettes from 21 Adv. Base Wksps for issue to REME airborne personnel of L/Cpl & under. Percentage of personnel proceeded to LUC-SUR-MER on bathing parade. Four ORs from Base disembarked France at approx 15.30 hrs. Party consisted of CSM, 2 S/Sgt Veh Mechs & 1 Cpl Veh Mech. Spent night in assembly area.
9th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Four Base ORs reported to Wkshp location.
10th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Percentage of personnel proceeded to LUC-SUR-MER on bathing parade.
11th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Percentage of personnel proceeded to LUC-SUR-MER on bathing parade.
12th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
1 Corps Tps Wksps REME moved from this location at 08.00 hrs to new site at CAEN. ADMS visited Wksp to check hygiene. Very pleased with general cleanliness, but suggested attention to the [swill tanks?] to prevent breeding of flies. L/Cpl Cochrane (AWD) [?] mech died at approx 17.00 hrs whilst attending AWD's bathing parade at LUC-SUR-MER. Death believed due to some sort of seizure.
13th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
L/Cpl Cochrane buried at RANVILLE Cemetery at 20.00 hrs. CREME, O.C. attended. Personal belongings forwarded to O2E.
14th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
15th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Major Bonniwell proceeded to HQ REME for a period, Capt Jupp (Adjutant HQ REME) took over command of unit during his absence.
16th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Nothing to report.
17th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
Major Bonniwell returned to this Unit, Capt Jupp (Adjutant HQ REME) returned to CREME. Sgt [Louch?] ([Electrician?]) evacuated to U.K. with [?] trouble.
18th August 1944
Place: La Deliverande
NAAFI sports pack purchased.
19th August 1944
Place: Le Plein 1375
Wksps moved to new location at LE PLEIN & joined AWD, who also moved to this location. Rear Party of 1 Offr & 20 ORs left at La Deliverande to clean up, & will join main party on 20 Aug 44. Main party engaged most of day on organising & settling in.
20th August 1944
Place: Le Plein
Set-up workshop in grounds and outhouses of large house. As the whole Wksp has only 2 3 tonners, 7 Jeeps and 1 Latil in which to carry all eqpt and personnel, it is [?] and the recent move from La Deliverande necessitated 3 lifts. It is hoped to obtained some more 3 tonners from ord. 4 personnel from wksp and 2 from 10 LAD set up a recovery and Backloading point for Div advance. DBP set up at GOUSTRANVILLE 225715. 4 Wksp personnel with ARV set up recovery port at TROARN bridge 182768 to assist vehs fording river.
21st August 1944
Place: Le Plein
LAD 148 RAC a "C" type LAD with officer, reported to wksp having come under comd CREME 6 A/B Div, to assist in heavy recovery work anticipated in the Div advance. One Ward la France and 1 Austin 3 ton recovery veh. attached to Wksp from 33 Hy Rec. Coy and No.1 Rec. Coy.
22nd August 1944
Place: Le Plein
LAD 148 Coy left for DBP to reinforce our detachment. A considerable amount of work backloaded from DBP, all Wksp personnel worked until 2359 hrs in spite of difficulty getting a good blackout.
23rd August 1944
Place: Le Plein
Recovery det at TROARN bridge withdrawn to reinforce DBP, having carried out very useful work.
24th August 1944
Place: Le Plein
Received instruction to move to new area on 25 Aug. Adv party consisting of Capt M.H. Bland and 5 ORs left for REUX 4902 at 1700 hrs, to site selected by CREME. A large quantity of work had to be backloaded to CBP owing to lack of tpt to carry on to new location.
25th August 1944
Place: Reux
Main party left for REUX 1000 hrs move completed bar small rear party by 1400 hrs. One 3 tonner written off in a road accident on the way up, another enemy veh used for the move also broke a spring and had to be given a suspended tow. Recovery [new?] and ARV moved to location of LAD 148 RAC at DOZULÉ. AA&QMG 6 Airborne Div visited new workshop site. Local civilians reported that a few isolated parties of enemy were still in the neighbourhood and were trying to escape in civilian clothes. They thought they might be hiding in an old tunnel running from REUX church under the hill. A party of one SNCO and 5 ORs were detailed to watch the entrance of the tunnel from 2230 hrs until first light 26 Aug. Nothing suspicious was encountered however.
26th August 1944
Place: Reux
A large amount of work was brought in from DBP including 3 Centaur tanks, one of them was put on the road, the other 2 will have to be backloaded to an armoured wksp. Capt Bland was evacuated to 32 C.C.S. with suspected jaundice. Considerable trouble has been experienced with the 2 generator trailers, the 8 H.P. Austin engine will not stand up to constant running, spares have been demanded, including a spare engine but do not appear to be available. Both have now broken down, and in order to supply power to work the machinery a Jeep engine has been coupled to the generator trailer. A 4 KW generator has also been obtained from OFP. Received warning order that wksp would be returning to U.K. on about 2 Sept.
28th August 1944
Place: Reux
DDME 1 Corps visited Wksp to arrange for backloading of work we would be unable to finish by 2 Sept, also arranged for disposal of accumulated wksp eqpt not transportable in available tpt.
29th August 1944
Place: Reux
Day spent in backloading works to C.B.P.
30th August 1944
Place: Reux
All depts clear of work by mid-day. 12 Jeeps all tech trailers and 9 10 [Cwt?] trailers is all the tpt to be taken back to U.K. Some of the [unaccompanied?] AFG. 1098 will have to be left behind.
31st August 1944
Place: Reux
Reps from 1 Corps Troops collected surplus stores and tech eqpt.
Month and year : September 1944
Commanding Officer : Major E.B. Bonniwell
1st September 1944
Place: Reux
Main marching party consisting of O.C. and 95 ORs plus some HQ REME personnel left for transit camp [No. 60?], considerable delay in the journey owing to tpt not turning up. Personnel had to sleep out in the open as no tentage available.
2nd September 1944
Place: Reux
Veh party left REUX for transit camp.
Place: Winterbourne Dauntsey (Residues)
Notification of Return of Div - 1521/4/AQ dated 1 Sept 44, & arrangements for Bulk Privilege Leave (1209/5/A dated 1 Sept 44) received.
3rd September 1944
Main and veh parties embarked at ARROMANCHES and COURSEULLES respectively.
Place: Winterbourne Dauntsey (Residues)
Inspection of all Div technical equipment. As a result of this inspection, units will obtain replacements for all defective equipment & vehicles.
4th September 1944
Main party disembarked Southampton 1630 hrs, veh party Gosport 1130 hrs. All arrangements for return of personnel had been made at Figsbury Barracks.
5th September 1944
Place: Winterbourne Dauntsey
Unit personnel returned from B.L.A.
7th September 1944
Place: Winterbourne Dauntsey
Personnel from B.L.A. proceeded on 9 days Bulk Privilege Leave.
No.2 Advanced Workshop Detachment - June 1944
7th June 1944
Place: England
Movement Order received. Firing rifles on 100 yds range.
8th June 1944
Place: England
Entrained for assembly area, Ardingly 09.02 hrs arrived transit camp 13.30 hrs.
9th June 1944
Place: England
In transit camp 12A.
10th June 1944
Place: England
In transit camp 12A.
11th June 1944
Place: England
Left camp for embarkation port. Embarked 23.00 hrs.
12th June 1944
Place: France
Disembarked "NAN" beach 20.00 hrs. Passed through transit area to sub area "KNEE". Bedded down.
13th June 1944
Place: Courseulles 9784
Conveyed to 1 Corps Tps Wksps location in 3 tonners.
16th June 1944
Place: Ranville 108747
Took party of 24 men to join No 1 AWD HQ detachment, & Lt Duff returned to 1 Corps Tps Wksps location.
19th June 1944
Place: Ranville 108747
Visited by DDME Airborne Tps. Some shelling during day. Cfn Stasulevich killed by enemy shellfire.
20th June 1944
Place: Ranville 108747
Cfn Hall att. HQ RE killed by enemy shellfire.
23rd June 1944
Place: Ranville 108747
Heavy shelling during day.
24th June 1944
Place: Ranville 108747
Heavy shelling during night.
25th June 1944
Place: Ranville 108747
Slight shelling during day. Arranged reduction in strength of AWD. Personnel of No 1 AWD with the exception of Cfn Nicholson to be sent back to 1 Corps Tps Wksps location.
26th June 1944
Place: Ranville 108747
No 1 AWD moved out as arranged.
28th June 1944
Place: Ranville 108747
Visited by D.D.M.E. 1 Corps.
