National Archives catalogue number WO 169/12670.
Abbreviations
|
AA A/B ADOS Batt Bde BNAF Cfmn CO CREME DADME Div DOS EME i/c LAD MC Mech MT Pr Ref Regt REME Squad WE W/Shop |
Anti-Aircraft Airborne Assistant Director Ordnance Services Battalion Brigade British North African Force Craftsman Commanding Officer Commander Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Deputy Assistant Director Mechanical Engineers Division / Divisional Director Ordnance Services Electrical and Mechanical Engineer In-Command Light Aid Detachment Motorcycle Mechanic Motor Transport Pounder Royal Artillery Reference Regiment Royal Electrical and Mechanical
Engineers War Establishment Workshop |
Month and year: July 1943
Commanding Officer: Lt. Dunlop J.A.
1st July 1943
Place: B.N.A.F.
1030 - Party returned from Enemy Salvage Dump at Hammust with following vehicles, all in running condition. 1 Ford 3 ton lorry (German Manufacture) 2 Opel 3 ton lorries (German Manufacture) 1 Fiat 2 seater Mility (Italian Manufacture) 1 Fiat 2 seater light van (Italian Manufacture). Motor cycles were thoroughly immobilized many having been run to destruction after having lubricating oil treated with sand. 4 M/c's Moto Guzzi (Italian Manufacture) were collected though it was realised that considerable work would have to be done to complete our machines from the above numbers. Much experience was gained in methods adopted by the enemy in immobilizing transport. In many cases this was done with great thoroughness.
2nd July 1943
Stripping and examination of captured enemy vehicles.
3rd July 1943
1800 - Verbal instructions given by Bde. E.M.E. Captain Berry for modification to muzzle counterweight of 6 pr. Anti Tank guns. 1 only to be completed for trials.
2200 - 6 British parachutes, folded, found on L.A.D. camp site. Handed over to Squad. Leader [Ward?] (R.A.F. Liaison Officer) for safe custody and return to owners.
4th July 1943
Allocation of Continental Vehicles. 1 Ford 3 ton lorry (German Manufacture), collected from L.A.D. by 38th Wing R.A.F. 1 Opel 3 ton lorry (German Manufacture) collected from L.A.D. by 1st Batt. Border Regt. 1 Opal 3 ton lorry (German Manufacture) allocated to Bde Signal Section.
Undergoing repairs to gear-box and front axle. 1 Fiat 2 seater Mility (Italian Manufacture) allocated to Bde. E.M.E.
Undergoing general overhaul. 1 M/C Moto Guzzi (Italian Manufacture) completed unallocated. 1 Fiat 2 seater light Van (Italian Manufacturer) unallocated.
5th July 1943
0700 - Bde. E.M.E. (Captain Berry) and two O.Rs. returned to Enemy Salvage Dump at Hammust for recovery of serviceable 3 ton lorry and any available spares.
2100 - Vehicle broke down 10 miles from Sousse on Sousse-Tunis road. Driver detached to remain with vehicle, Capt. Berry returned.
Received M.E. 5/1 copy No.64 d/1st July 43 up to R.E.M.E. Services & [Procedure?]
6th July 1943
All ranks confined to barracks (Security). Bathing party permitted Officer i/c Leut. Welsh Camp Commandant. Notified verbally that 1st Air Landing Bde would take part in operational scheme. L.A.D. not to be included.
1000 - 1 3 Ton Opel lorry arrived from Enemy Salvage Dump at Hammust. Vehicle allocated to Airborne Divisional H.Q. O.M.L. 2" Mortar forwarded to Airborne Div W/Shops R.E.M.E. from 2nd Batt. South Staffs Regt. Unit reports that trouble has been experienced by bending of breech block during firing.
O.M.L. 2" Mortar continued:- Subject reported to Bde. E.M.E. Capt Berry who has constituted necessary engineers etc.
7th July 1943
Canvas canopies received from salvaged enemy vehicles erected to form open air workshop and protect craftsmen from sun during working hours. Two Cfmn detached to proceed to Enemy salvage dump at Hammust for collection of Opel, Ford spare parts. This proved most advantageous as many spares were found, new and well preserved. 6 Pr. Anti Tank gun counterweight modification completed and fitted to gun for trial by Capt. Berry (E.M.E.).
8th July 1943
General repairs to Bde Transport proceeding. Two men volunteer for operational duties on scheme Bigot. No men accepted as L.A.D. was not required. Operational party inspected by General Montgomery.
9th July 1943
1500 - Operational party leave Bde. H.Q. 1st Air Landing Bde. L.A.D. not represented.
10th July 1943
Received Div. Residue Order issue No.27/43 containing special orders on visit of General Montgomery to Airborne Division.
11th July 1943
Instruction in swimming commenced for all ranks. Instructor C.S.M.I. Morgan. Instruction introduced during recreational bathing parades.
12th July 1943
10593737 Craftsman Clarke (Electrician) posted to Light A.A. Battery R.A. W/Shop section R.E.M.E. Authority C.R.E.M.E. A/B Div. ME/56. 10583072 Craftsman Pringle (Driver Mech) to be posted from [above?] unit to No.1 Air Landing L.A.D. to complete W.E.
Ref D.R.O. 155 dated 6 July 43 Fitting of sand filters to motor cycles. Verbal instructions received from Bde. E.M.E. Capt. Berry to complete fittings on all Matchless M/Cs but to postpone work on B.S.A. M/Cs pending inquiry with ref to supplies of special fittings designed for this machine.
13th July 1943
First 2 seater light van (Italian Manufacture) listed as unallocated on 4 July 43 allocated to Capt. Titmuss E.M.E. Wireless 1st Airborne Division H.Q. Suggestions put forward by men for slight modification in erection of 160 G.S. list with a view to increasing the [?] capacity of list, allowing of greater air space around tent and giving sufficient space to erect beds which could be used for holding kit etc throughout the day, thus protecting the kit from dust accumulations which were unavoidable. The bed frames were also requested away to the discomfort caused by ground life, notably ants and scorpions. It was decided to erect one tent as suggested and note results.
14th July 1943
Informed verbally by Bde. E.M.E. Capt. Berry that continental vehicles and small arms would be used by Brigade for instructional purposes on completion of necessary repairs.
15th July 1943
Modified erection of tents G.S. 160 [?] completed. Six vertical posts each measuring 3' 9" were placed on either side of the tent and put into the ground for 6", the canvas was then pulled over these, the reinforced sections at the junction of the side flaps and fixture for the guy rope rests on the vertical posts, there is therefore no danger of tearing the fabric, these tent guy ropes were then made fast in the normal manner. Beds were made from small iron frames and wooden runners collected from scrap. During the heat of the day the tend was found to be exceptionally cool, due no doubt to the unrestricted circulation of air, it could also be easily kept in a most orderly manner, all beddings, equipment etc being placed on the beds during the day, thus allowing the floor space to be neatly raked at least twice daily, by this means it is hoped to keep the floor area clean of insects etc.
16th July 1943
Received issue of Parachute Flares for fly proofing of food containers etc.
17th July 1943
Inspected Handcarts special airborne on change to 2nd Batt South Staffs Regt. They were found to require extensive repairs, notably the replacing of sustaining pins, and welding of bodies. Much damage appears to have been caused by overloading, in some cases the bodies have collapsed over the axles, and all seams and joints have broken. Samples were shown to Brigade E.M.E. Capt. Berry who has taken the subject up with Brigade H.Q. and Airborne Division.
18th July 1943
Notified verbally that 6 Pr. Gun modified muzzle counterweight, completed on 3rd July 43 had been lost in action. No further action taken pending instructions from Brigade H.Q.
19th July 1943
Received from A.D.O.S. Dump Airborne Division 2 Matchless M/cs. This completed W.E. of L.A.D.
20th July 1943
Notified verbally by Capt. Berry Bde EME that W.E. of vehicles, 20mm Hispano Guns and 6 Pr. guns would be reduced in the 1st Air Landing Bde.
21st July 1943
Capt. Berry, Cpl. Smith proceed to Tunis for collection of spare continental small arms. Machine gun G.34 German 1, Breda 6.5 Italian 1, Schmeisser Parachute troops carbine German 3.
22nd July 1943
All outstanding repairs to continental small arms completed. Weapons handed over to 1st Air Landing Bde for instructional purposes.
23rd July 1943
Informed by C.R.E.M.E. letter ME 6/1 dated 23 July 43 that all outstanding demands for M.T. spares prior to 1 July 43 had been cancelled by D.O.S. authority. Outstanding essential spares to be re-indented for. Action completed. Notified verbally by E.M.E. Capt. Berry of outstanding modifications on 6 Pr. Anti Tank guns. Required machine parts on indent from Div W/Shops.
24th July 1943
Notified by Bde E.M.E. Capt. Berry that eighteen food containers would be required for fitment to six 10 cwt trailers airborne. Enemy containers collected from Enemy Salvage Dump at Hammanet. Clearing & repairing of same commenced. Notified by C.R.E.M.E. under letter ME/5/2 dated 24th July 43 that tents special airborne should by used only during operations, their normal usage to be discontinued. No answer taken pending answer from C.R.E.M.E. on query as to shortage of tentage.
25th July 1943
Water supply reduced to one gall per man per day until further notice. Course of three day instruction on continental vehicles commenced at Glider Pilot Regt. by Capt. Berry assisted by Serg. [Corlett?].
26th July 1943
Food containers completed and fixed on 10 cwt trailers for Glider Pilot Regt.
27th July 1943
Food containers handed over to Glider Pilot Regt. Enquiry made on number of Lockheed Braking spares required by 1st Air Landing Recce Squad. It was found that a quantity of Hydraulic Fluid (Petroleum base) had been received from an American source and had been used to re-charge the braking systems of Willys 5cwt 4x4. Eleven vehicles having been treated. The braking system of five cars broke down and examination showed that the rubber components through the system had perished and were in an advanced state of de-composition. Defective components were replaced and the systems re-charged with genuine Lockheed fluid. The remaining six cars were drained and found to be none the worse of having been filled with the substitute oil. In this case the oil had not sufficient time to damage the components. Details of above are forwarded to C.R.E.M.E. Airborne Division.
28th July 1943
Received ME. 185 dated 28 July 43 from C.R.E.M.E. Airborne Division applying for volunteers to complete a short parachute course, duration of course, eight days with five jumps to qualify. NIL Return rendered.
29th July 1943
Received D.R.O. 192 dated 29 July 43. Address for stores changed from c/o D.A.D.O.S. Dump Kairouan Area to A.D.O.S. Div Dump c/o D.A.D.O.S. Sousse. Continental vehicle (smashed) obtained from dump through D.A.D.M.E. 30 Corps for practice purposes with P.I.A.T. Vehicle handed over to 1st Air Landing Bde defence platoon.
30th July 1943
Talk on airborne operations by Lieut. Col. Frost C.O. 1st Para Regt. Abnormal number of watches, binoculars and instruments requiring repair a large proportion of which repairs are occasioned by carelessness of individuals. Repair situation is stressed in circular letter Q/4 dated 30 July 43 issued by 1st Air Landing Bde. H.Q.
31st July 1943
Instructed verbally by Capt. Berry Bde EME that all 20mm Hispano Guns of 1st Air Landing Bde be visually inspected prior to handing over to Airborne Div W/Shops R.E.M.E. for disposal.
Normal L.A.D. procedure & repairs carried out during month. Repairs include various jobs normally of 2nd echelon nature.
