National Archives catalogue number WO 171/4166.
Abbreviation
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Adjt Airfd Airldg Armr Arty A Tk Att AWD BCP BLA Cas Clk Conc CREME DDME Det Div DMA DR Ech Elt EME Eqpt Evac Fmn Ftr Fwd Hy Incl LAD Lt LZ Mech Mob Op Ord Pt RA RASC RE Rec Regt REME Sec Sigs Tpt Trlr Veh Wksp |
Adjutant Airfield Airlanding Armourer Artillery Anti-Tank Attached Advanced Workshop Detachment Brigade Collecting Point British Liberation Army Casualty Clerk Concentration Commander Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Deputy Director Mechanical Engineers Detachment Division / Divisional Divisional Maintenance Area Despatch Rider Echelon Element Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Equipment Evacuate Formation Fitter Forward Heavy Including Instruction Light Aid Detachment Light Landing Zone Maintenance Mechanic Mobilisation Operation Ordnance Point Royal Artillery Royal Army Service Corps Royal Engineers Recovery Regiment Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Section Signals Transport Trailer Vehicle Workshop |
Month and year : March 1945
Commanding Officer : Lt Col R.V. Powditch
2nd March 1945
Place: Milston
Bulk of Det in UK proceeded on 7 days leave.
12th March 1945
Place: Milston
0001 - Unit mobilized by this time in accordance with WOUM 79/Mob/7170/59 (AG5 Mob) dated 21 Feb 45.
14th March 1945
Place: Milston
Mob inspection by Inspector REME. CREME visited DDME 12 Corps in BLA.
15th March 1945
Place: Milston
CREME returned to MILSTON.
18th March 1945
Place: Milston
REME Op Order No.1 dated 18 Mar 45 issued.
19th March 1945
Place: Milston
0715 - Sea Party left MILSTON for Transit Camp S4.
20th March 1945
Place: Tilbury
1000 - Sea Party embarked TILBURY.
21st March 1945
Place: Ostend
0700 - Sea Party disembarked OSTEND and proceeded to join Div Wksps (incl Land Elts of HQ REME).
22nd March 1945
Place: Borgholt
0500 - Sea Party joined Div Wksps.
Place: Mushroom Farm
1100 - CREME and Adjt arrived MUSHROOM FARM Transit Camp, Essex.
23rd March 1945
Place: Northolt
1500 - CREME emplaned NORTHOLT for BLA.
Place: Brussels
1615 - CREME deplaned BRUSSELS.
Place: Borgholt
1215 - Lt tpt with EME/Tels, Supt/Clk, Cpl Clk and 2 Dvrs proceeded to Div Conc Area "NUTCRACKER" NR GELDERN.
24th March 1945
Place: Rivenhall
0740 - Adjt emplaned in glider at RIVENHALL airfd.
Place: Borgholt
0800 - Hy tpt with Sjt/Clk and 2 Dvrs left BORGHOLT for "NUTCRACKER" in convoy with HQ RA.
Place: Geldern
1000 - CREME joined EME/tels and party in "NUTCRACKER".
Place: Nr Diersfordt
1045 - Adjt landed at 6 Airborne Div LZ and joined Div HQ Rear.
Place: Geldern
1630 - CREME, EME/Tels and party left "NUTCRACKER" for "SUN" Marshalling Area.
1800 - Hy tpt arrived "NUTCRACKER".
25th March 1945
Place: Nr Xanten
0130 - CREME, EME/Tels and party left "SUN" Marshalling Area.
0300 - CREME, EME/Tels and party arrived "SUN" Veh Waiting Area.
1115 - CREME, EME/Tels and party left "SUN" Veh Waiting Area.
Place: R. Rhine
1330 - CREME, EME/Tels and party commenced to cross R.RHINE in Buffaloes.
1400 - CREME, EME/Tels and party reached EAST bank of R.RHINE.
Place: Diersfordt
1800 - CREME, EME/Tels and party arrived DIERSFORDT.
26th March 1945
Place: Geldern
0520 - Hy tpt party left "NUTCRACKER" for R.RHINE.
Place: R. Rhine
1200 - Hy tpt party crossed R.RHINE by pontoon.
Place: Diersfordt
1200 - DDME HQ 1st British Airborne Corps visited HQ REME.
1400 - Hy tpt party arrived DIERSFORDT.
27th March 1945
Place: Diersfordt
0830 - DDME 8 Corps visited this HQ.
1430 - HQ REME left DIERSFORDT.
Place: Nr Hamminkeln
1630 - HQ REME joined HQ 6 Airborne Div Rear NR HAMMINKELN and thereafter moved with them.
28th March 1945
Place: Nr Hamminkeln
1330 - HQ REME left.
Place: Erle
1700 - HQ REME arrived ERLE.
29th March 1945
Place: Erle
1300 - HQ REME left ERLE.
Place: Rhade
1400 - HQ REME arrived RHADE.
30th March 1945
Place: Rhade
1200 - HQ REME left RHADE.
Place: Nr Coesfeld
1630 - HQ REME arrived farm W of COESFELD.
31st March 1945
Place: Nr Coesfeld
1400 - HQ REME left farm W of COESFELD.
2300 - HQ REME arrived farm NR NORDWALDE.
Appx A
Operation "VARSITY"
TOP SECRET
Copy No 17
6 Airborne Div REME
OPERATION INSTR NO.1
To be read in conjunction with 6 Airborne Div Adm Instr No.1.
PHASING OF UNITS
1. Air
(a) Para and Airldg Dets equipped with hand tools, welding plant, rec tackle, and with lt veh and armament spares will fly with fmn HQs and operate as Bde Collecting Pts (BCP):-
(i) Airldg Det REME att 6 Airldg Bde.
(ii) Para Det REME att 3 Para Bde.
(iii) Para Det REME att 5 Para Bde.
(iv) Airldg Det REME att 53 Lt Regt RA.
(v) Airldg Det REME ('Z' trlr team) att Div Sigs.
(b) REME veh mechs, ftrs (Gun), and Armrs att units will perform normal functions at unit Rec Posts.
2. BUILD UP
(a) AWD REME (ex Div Wksps) will arrive in Div area on D + 1 carrying limited eqpt for 1st and 2nd line repairs to arty, vehs, wireless, weapons and instruments. On arrival four cars 5cwt fitted with rec eqpt will be despatched to the Airldg and Para Dets REME with fmns (Para. 1).
(b) HQ REME with Det Div HQ (Land Elt) will join Div HQ on D + 1.
(c) Vehs and personnel of 8, 9, 11 & 12 Airldg LADs will join parent fmns on D + 2, priority being given to cars 5cwt and trlrs of these units. Remaining vehs, incl breakdown, will arrive late on D + 2 or early D + 3.
(d) 15 Airldg LAD complete will join 2 Airldg A Tk Regt RA on D + 3.
(e) 10 Airldg LAD will arrive in div area with parent unit on D + 4.
(f) 6 Airborne Div Wksps REME (less AWD) will arrive in DMA on D + 4.
3. RECOVERY POLICY
(a) The rapid rec and repair of own and enemy eqpt will depend primarily on the functioning of the unit rec post at which all crocks and defective eqpt will be centralised.
(b) Bde of Fmn dets will rec from unit Rec Posts to appropriate Collecting Pts or direct to AWD, providing routes are clear.
(c) A Div Backloading Pt will be established initially in the vicinity of the AWD.
(d) At the earlier opportunity dets will organise daily 'Milk Round' to unit Rec Posts and Fmn Collecting Pts to collect defective weapons, wireless, instruments etc.
4. REPAIR POLICY
(a) During the first 48 hrs repairs will be carried out in situ by unit ftrs and armrs, assisted by Bde or Fmn Det personnel.
(b) Fmn EMEs will control reclamation (cannibalisation) at Collecting Pts.
(c) Until backloading is permissible, assistance by mobile rec and repair dets from AWD may be requested by Fmn EMEs.
(d) The normal 1st and 2nd line repair system will be instituted as soon as conditions permit.
5. RASC Vehs and RE Plant
Every assistance will be given in the rec and repair of RASC vehs and RE plant.
6. Signal Equipment
REME 'Z' trlr team flying with Div Sigs will assist ESs and M Sec in all types of repairs. A 2nd 'Z' trlr will be available on D + 1 with AWD.
7. Mine Detectors
Defective mine detectors and ancillary eqpt will be repaired by AWD and will receive first priority.
8. Enemy Vehs and Equipment
The mobility and fire power of the div will be greatly assisted by the capture of enemy vehs and weapons. When found damaged such eqpt will be backloaded to dets at Collecting Pts and repaired where possible by cannibalisation. Enemy or requisitioned vehs will be backloaded to 2nd line for repair if considered to be within their capacity.
9. Battery Charging
From D + 1 charging facilities for veh and sigs batteries will be available at AWD.
10. Vehicle Breakdown Cards
Two Vehs Breakdown Cards will be carried on every veh, gun, and MC. They will be used on every occasion when assistance is required.
All REME Dets, LADs and Wksps will carry a supply of these cards. They will be given to the dvrs of vehs sent for repair, to replace the used card.
11. DEFINITIONS
(i) UNIT RECOVERY POST
Normally established on Unit Centre Lines in Unit 'A' Ech Area. Crocks not repairable in situ will be recovered to these posts by Unit with LAD assistance where necessary.
(ii) FORWARD RECOVERY POINT
A Fwd Rec Pt is established when distance between Div Wksps and fwd units is considerably in excess of the normal div layout. When established, all LADs backload vehs and eqpt to this pt from which Div Wksps collect.
(iii) BDE COLLECTING POINT (BCP)
Normally established on the Bde Centre Line on the basis of one per Bde, manned by Bde LAD. Crocks from Recovery Posts will be backloaded to these points.
(iv) DIV BACKLOADING POINT (DBP)
Normally established on rear maint route within reasonable distance of Div Wksps. This pt is cleared regularly under Corps arrangements.
(v) 'X' CROCK
Breakdown due to temporary stoppage only and repairable by the crew of the veh without outside assistance.
(vi) 'Y' CROCK
Breakdown requiring the assistance from repair personnel and likely to be repairable by (a) Unit Fitters, (b) LADs and (c) 2nd Ech Wksps REME.
(vii) 'Z' CROCK
Breakdown requiring extensive repairs or replacements, involving evac to 3rd or 4th Ech Wksps REME. An EME must certify a 'Z' cas before a replacement can be obtained through Ord channels.
(viii) 'W' CROCK
Scrap value only. Not worth recovering during battle.
12. COMNS
Initially by D.R. only, subsequently by REME Wireless Tech Assistance Net.
[Signed R.V. Powditch]
Lt.Col.
C.R.E.M.E.
6 AIRBORNE DIV.
APO England.
