294th Field Company Royal Engineers - War Diary - January 1944

1 January 1944 Mettingham.

Unit stationed in Camp and billets in area METTINGHAM near BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.

Training programme of Enemy Mines and demolitions.

Demonstrations and instructional circus sent army units of 146 Infantry Brigade Group teaching (a) Enemy mines (b) Use of Bangalores and assault charges (c) Use of No. 3 Polish Mine Detector.

Unit changed to control by GHQ 2nd Echelon.

2 January 1944

Corporal Waite to Eastern Command V & M School on Waterproofing Course.

6 – 8 January 1944

Exercise CALF. Co-operation with 4th LINCOLNS and 79 Armoured Division in assault against mock-up German hedgehog.

9 January 1944

Lance Sergeants Cooper and Wells – mine course.

10 January 1944

Exercise CENTIPEDE. 146 Brigade Exercise to practice sector control of transport across a river line. Site had two small streams bridged by 40 foot Single Span and 40 foot Double Span Bailey. Royal Engineer problem was to construct 400 yards of approaches over bad ground, some of it marsh. Class 12 vehicles used the bridges. The most successful approach was made by laying Flexboards covered by Summerfeld with 4’6” by 3’ chespale (chestnut palings) on top. The ground was very soft indeed, the flexboards sank to some extent but the Summerfeld with the two layers of chespale on top formed a raft which took all traffic.

15 January 1944

Field Return of Officers attached to War Diary dated 15 Jan 44. See below for details.

17 January 1944

Class III shots exercised on Pakefield Range.

21 January 1944

12 Drivers to INVERARAY for sea driving course.

1 Platoon to FELIXSTOWE to clear LANDGUARD beach. 1,000 yards of tubular scaffolding wire and gaps through concrete block obstacle.

23 January 1944

2 Platoon start to clear GUNTON beach, North of LOWESTOFT, of mines. Gaps in tubular scaffolding and exit road to main road at North end of beach.

Officer Commanding 3 Platoon runs a 7-day Cadre course of new intake.

Appendices attached to January 1944 War Diary for 294 Field Company, Royal Engineers.

Field Return of Officers dated 15 January 1944.

Page 1 shows a full complement of 7 Officers against the War Establishment.

Page 2 lists the Officers in post as:-

47339 Major W S Tyzack

99258 Captain M H Langley

180513 Lieutenant A G Burdett

258858 Lieutenant A D Hatfield

245942 Lieutenant A C Davies

265455 2/Lt A R Wizard

296459 2/Lt J M Eynon

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