War Diary - CRE - April 1941

1 April 1941 – Reykjavik

Civilian labour rates:-

Actual rates – Kronur per hour.

                      Day (07:00 – 18:00) Overtime (18:00 – 22:00)          Night (22:00 – 07:00)     Sunday

Kaldadarnes 2.18 3.23 4.05 4.05

Reykjavik 2.422 3.691 4.288 4.5

Keflavik 2.167 3.00 3.653 3.833

In order to preserve surface and prevent gravel dust damaging wing fabric, the stone runway will be surfaced with bitumen when it arrives. 10 Sprayers delivered to KALDADARNES in readiness.

3 April 1941

Important stores arrived from UK in S S EGYPTIAN PRINCE – 12 tons Ammonal, 6 ½ tons guncotton, 2 excavators (2 tons), 4 D by 6 Rollers. On S S GIRONDE 1055 tons [Ferrocrete.

5 April 1941

Progress reports:-

(a) Work under contract. See Appendix A below.

(b) Work under 294 Field Company Royal Engineers. See Appendix B below.

(c) Work under 803 Road Construction Company Royal Engineers. See Appendix C below.

Snowplough withdrawn from 294 Field Company and returned to Royal Engineer stores.

6 April 1941

Snowplough at LOGBERG and the SKI CLUB on the KALDADARNES Road withdrawn and returned to Royal Engineer stores. One snowplough tractor (less plough) sent to KEFLAVIK for towing farm rollers and general work on Landing Ground. Plan of Keflavik attached – see Appendix D below.

10 April 1941

Showers all day.

Owing to the Easter holiday civilians are working on priority jobs only e.g. Kaldadarnes, Reykjavik, Keflavik aerodrome at Sunday rates.

19 Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers less detachment 1 NCO and three men embark from UK.

3 Fordson 15cwt trucks taken over by this HQ, the 15cwt on loan from 294 Field Company being returned.

11 April 1941

No civilian work today Good Friday. This HQ moves from the ICE FACTORY to the GOVERNMENT POTATO STORE (75 yards away) previously occupied by 19 Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers.

The Survey detachment plus 1 Private (map storeman) from the Pioneer Corps attached to this HQ to carry on essential printing. All future stocks of maps will be obtained from the War Office who now hold plates prepared by 19 Survey Company, Royal Engineers. The following machinery has been left for use:-

Furnival Duplicator (Proofing Press)

Hot Plate.

Battery 4 pt Anc (?)

Whirlers, Grainers and Printing Frame.

This enables the Vandyke, Helio and Ozalid processes to be carried out.

Message 691/AQ from Force HQ “Stand by for thaw”.

12 April 1941

Normal civilian working day.

Ice Factory handed over to the Royal Navy.

Message 695/AQ “Stand by for thaw cancelled”.

Governor gear from Aveling Barford Roller at KALDADARNES received for repair having been damaged in a collision with an aircraft.

Progress Reports:-

(a) Work under contract. See Appendix E below.

(b) Work under 803 Road Construction Company Royal Engineers. See Appendix F below.

13 April 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers visits KALDADARNES. The stone “A” runway appears to be successful for Hudson aircraft but owing to the very soft nature of the ground the matting is useless. It is proposed to put a concrete runway instead.

Progress Report 294 Army Field Company, Royal Engineers, see Appendix G below.

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