War Diary 757th Field Company, Royal Engineers, March 1942
1 March 1942 Hazlemere Park Camp, High Wycombe.
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, dry and cold.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company loading transport and cleaning up camp.
2 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, mist, average temperature.
13:00 hours. Clouds, dry, average temperature.
Company transport and Road Party left for staging camp at APLEY CASTLE near WELLINGTON, SHREWSBURY.
Rail Party and main body left in the evening for CRICCIETH. Major Fraser with Road Party.
3 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Misty, light clouds.
13:00 hours. Slight rain, average temperature.
Rail and Road Parties arrived CRICCIETH.
Major Fraser meeting Chief Engineer North West District, Colonel Stevenson North West District and representatives of 70 Brigade.
Carrying out recce for Camp sites at NANTMOR, BRYN TWR and NAFODYLLYNISAR.
4 March 1942 CRICCIETH.
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, slight rain, mild.
13:00 hours. Clear, mild.
Recce of Camp sites with Staff Captain 70 Brigade, RIASC and Lieutenant Colonel Wynne Edwards.
5 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Snowing, very cold.
13:00 hours. No change.
Major Colborne and Major Wakeham of 756 and 289 called at the HQ and discussed work on Camp sites.
6 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Slight snow fall, cold.
13:00 hours. Light clouds, slight snow on ground.
Company on intensive training. Major Fraser and Company Sergeant Major carrying out recce for W.C. at NANTMOR.
7 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, damp and mild.
13:00 hours. No change.
Major Fraser and Major Colborne going round Camp sites at NANTMOR and MAENTWROG.
2/Lt Howard reported back from Animal Maintenance Course.
8 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, rain, cold.
13:00 hours. Heavy rain.
Skin inspection. Officer Commanding detailing work for NCO’s on Camp Site at NANTMOR.
9 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, damp, mild.
13:00 hours. No change.
Officer Commanding visiting Cambrian Sub-Area and meeting Sub-Area Commander. Officer Commanding at CAERNARVON visiting D.C.R.E. and County Surveyor’s Office.
Captain Lucas left on leave.
10 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, dry, mild.
13:00 hours. Light clouds, mild.
Company on intensive training. Officer Commanding meeting Major Colborne and visiting Camp sites at BRYN TWR and HAFOD-Y-LLYNISAR.
11 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cloudy, rather cold.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company on intensive training.
12 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cloudy, damp, mild.
13:00 hours. Light clouds.
Training.
13 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cloudy, mild.
13:00 hours. Light clouds, mild.
Officer Commanding with O.C. 756 and O.C. 289 Field Park Company meeting Chief Engineer and discussing work on Camp Sites.
Visiting TRAWSFYNYDD dump.
14 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, warm.
13:00 hours. Strong sunshine, warm.
Company on Parade in connection with CRICCIETH Warship Week.
Officer Commanding visiting YOKE CAMP, PWLLHELI in connection with W.C. stores for Camps.
15 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, mild.
13:00 hours. Rain.
Officer Commanding at Blaenau Ffestiniog, working out details of Camp Structure stores with O.C. 756.
Visiting 756 Camp Site with Lieutenant Toomer of 756.
16 March 1942
09:00 hours. weather report. Dull, slight rain, mild.
13:00 hours. Cloudy, heavy showers.
Company out on Works Sites. Officer Commanding and Company Sergeant Major visited Chief Engineer’s Stores, TRAWSFYNYDD.
17 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Rain, clouds, mild.
13:00 hours. Heavy showers.
Company on Works. Pioneer Platoons of 10th and 11th DLI and 1st Tyneside Scottish reported with two Officers, Lieutenant Elrick (Diary shows Eldrick) Tyneside Scottish and 2/Lt Russell 10th DLI. Three Platoons attached for all purposes. Two Platoons attached this Unit for Works, one Platoon attached to 756 for Works.
18 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, damp, mild.
13:00 hours. Light clouds.
Company on Works.
19 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, mild.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company on Works. Captain Lucas reported back from leave. 2/Lt Wakefield reported back from course and disembarkation leave.
20 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, mild.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company on Works. Chief Engineer Western Command, North Wales District visiting Camp Sites.
2/Lt Howard left for privilege leave prior to proceeding on Course at Iceland.
21 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, bright sunshine, warm.
13:00 hours. No change.
Major Lewis DAOV & AS Southern Command, visiting Camp Sites and siting positions for Mobile Veterinary Hospitals.
2/Lt Wakefield on privilege leave.
22 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light mist, bright sunshine.
13:00 hours. Clear, bright sunshine.
Company on Works.
23 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Sunshine, warm. Bold text 13:00 hours. Clear, bright sunshine.
Company on Works. Brigadier Kirkup 70th Brigade visiting Camp sites.
24 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Sunshine, warm.
13:00 hours. Clear, bright sunshine.
Company on Works. Major Fraser and Major Colborne visiting
The remainder of the page covering 24th to 27th March 1942 is unfortunately too blurred to read accurately – caused by poor quality photograph taken by the researcher at Kew.
28 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Misty, cool.
13:00 hours. Bright periods, cool.
Company on Works. Erecting Camp Structures on Royal Engineer Field.
29 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Misty, cool, showers.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company on Works on own field.
30 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Misty, cool, occasional showers.
13:00 hours. Rain.
Company on Works. Officer Commanding attending meeting at Brigade HQ. 2/Lt Wakefield returned from leave.
31 March 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, heavy rain.
13:00 hours. Continued rain.
Company moved into Camp in NANTMOR VALLEY. Camp site very wet.
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