War Diary 757th Field Company, Royal Engineers, January 1944
1 January 1944 SOTTERLY.
Weather – cold.
Company turned over to 2nd Echelon.
2 January 1944
Company on general conservancy.
3 January 1944
Dental inspection for whole Company.
Officer Commanding and Lt Donoghue return from leave.
4 January 1944
Exercise IBEX commenced. Platoons on general training.
5 January 1944
Normal.
6 January 1944
3 Platoon first Typhus injection.
1 and 2 Platoons IBEX.
7 – 9 January 1944
Company commenced completing Field Returns. Field Return for Officers attached to War Diary – for details see below.
1 and 2 Platoons on IBEX.
10 January 1944
No. 3 Brigade Mines Course commenced.
IBEX ends.
11 January 1944
Advance Party move to BECCLES.
All Company less 3 Platoon 1st Typhus injection.
12 January 1944
Normal.
13 January 1944
No. 3 Mines Course ends. 3 Platoon Main Body moves to BECCLES.
14 January 1944
Company moves to BECCLES. HQ – Ashman’s Hall.
3 Platoon go on leave.
15 and 16 January 1944 Ashman’s Hall, Beccles.
Company settles in new billets.
17 January 1944
No. 4 Brigade Mines Course commences.
1 and 2 Platoons – demolitions.
18 January 1944
Weather – foggy and fair later.
Normal.
19 January 1944
Weather – fine.
Normal.
20 January 1944
Weather – fine.
No. 4 Mines Course ended.
Good ENSA Show in evening.
21 January 1944
Weather. Stormy.
Company 2nd Typhus injections.
Personnel selection. Mopping up Teams complete Company.
22 January 1944
Weather. Cold but fine.
Company Parade in morning. Camouflage lecture to all Officers, NCOs and Drivers by Eastern Command Camouflage Officer.
23 January 1944
Weather. Fair.
Normal.
24 January 1944
Weather. Fair.
3 Platoon returned from leave. 2 Platoon move by rail to POTTERSBURY near TOWCESTER, to take over and load Bailey material.
25 January 1944
Weather. Fine.
Normal.
26 January 1944
Weather. Fine.
REME commences 3-day inspection of arms.
27 January 1944
Weather. Fine.
Commander Royal Engineers inspection of Company transport.
Platoons normal.
28 January 1944
Weather. Fine.
Exercise KHABBAR. HQ RE Wireless exercise involving Company and Platoon Headquarters and Recce Parties.
29 January 1944
Weather. Fine.
Officer Commanding’s Company Parade and Platoon administration.
3rd Typhus injection.
30 January 1944
Weather. Fine.
Conservancy.
31 January 1944
Weather. Fine.
1 Platoon training on assault bridging. 2 Platoon still away. 3 Platoon assisting in 5th Mines Cadre for Brigade personnel.
Appendices attached to the War Diary for January 1944.
Field Return of Officers dated 8th January 1944.
Page 1 of this Return shows a full complement of 7 Officers against the War Establishment, but that the Company was one Second Lieutenant short. This is not explained further on the form. No changes in Officer personnel had been made in the previous week. 2/Lt Pratt – referred to in an earlier month – was not listed on the Page 2 Schedule of Officers as being on the Company strength. The listing of Officers has been used to refine the entries on the personnel list.
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