War Diary - CRE - September 1941

Iceland (C ) Force – 49th Division – War Diary Commander – Royal Engineers September 1941 2 September 1941 – Reykjavik

Commander, Royal Engineers goes to KALDADARNES.

6 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers goes to Force HQ to discuss hutted Camp programme with Chief Engineer.

7 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers again to Force HQ concerning Hutted Camps.

Progress Reports:-

803 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers, period week ending 5/9/1941 – See Appendix A below.

804 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers, period to 1/9/1941, on Road work in North East Sector – see Appendix B below.

9 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers and Adjutant visit Camp sites.

10 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers goes to KALDADARNES.

Royal Engineer Officers and Other Ranks arrived to help with programme of hutted Camp construction, on H M T LEOPOLDVILLE. The following two Officers come under command of Commander, Royal Engineers (Operations):-

2/Lt I H M Broughton, who is attached to this HQ, and

2/Lt A A Persse, who is attached to 294 Army Field Company, Royal Engineers.

14 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers, Adjutant and 2/Lt Broughton visit KALDADARNES.

Progress Reports:-

803 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers, period week ending 12/9/1941 – See Appendix C below.

804 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers, period week ending 10/9/1941 – see Appendix D below.

16 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers to Force HQ to see Chief Engineer on hutted Camps.

19 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers to KALDADARNES. Returned with Lt Winnington-Ingram.

20 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers to Force HQ to discuss Camps and Town with Chief Engineer.

21 September 1941

Progress Reports:-

803 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers, period week ending 19/9/1941 – See Appendix E below.

Leave personnel from UK.

22 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers and Adjutant accompanied by Captain P E Biggs, Royal Engineers, Officer in charge Royal Engineer Stores left Reykjavik for BORGANES on S S LAXFOSS to review Camps and hutting in North West Sector with view to taking over from Commander, Royal Engineers (Works). Hutting surplus to present requirements at BORGANES. Captain A G White, Royal Engineers remains in charge of this HQ with Lt R S Winnington-Ingram, Royal Engineers, as Assistant Adjutant.

23 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers and Adjutant by road BORGANES to REYKERSKOLI. Fine weather – road in good condition. Additional hutting required at REYKERSKOLI. Decide to move up surplus from BORGANES.

Two drivers arrive at this HQ from UK on H M T BERGENSFJORDUR.

24 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers and Adjutant proceeded by road to REYKERSKOLI. Weather fine and road good. Hutting at BLONDUOS satisfactory. Arrange to rebuild canteen burnt down last year.

25 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers and Adjutant proceeded by road BLONDUOS to AKUREYRI. Considerable road improvements by State Engineer noted.

U.S. Engineers take over building of certain Camps from 294 Army Field Company, Royal Engineers.

River KALDAKLIFSA burst banks and washed out 30 metres of VIK road. Map Reference 350370, Map Iceland 1/100,000.

26 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers inspected Camps and roads built by 804 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers. Runway at MELGERDI completed.

27 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers and Adjutant returned to BLONDUOS.

28 September 1941

Commander, Royal Engineers and Adjutant return to REYKJAVIK.

States Engineer reports washout at KALDAKLIFSA repaired and bridged. Road fit for traffic.

Demolition charges removed from SOGSBRU BRIDGE ALVIDRA (Map Reference 683905 Sheet 37 S E Map Iceland 1/50.000 and stored at SELFOSS by 668 General Construction Company, Royal Engineers under instructions from G.

29 September 1941

Progress Reports:-

803 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers, period week ending 26/9/1941 – See Appendix F below.

30 September 1941

Lt R Pacey, Royal Engineers, 668 General Construction Company, Royal Engineers, went over to BORGANES to assist Lt Stewart, Royal Engineers in garrison engineer duties, North West Sector.

Appendices attached to the September 1941 War Diary for Iceland (C ) Force Commander, Royal Engineers.

None of the Appendices referred to in the text of the War Diary appear to be included within the file at The National Archives.

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