70th Brigade Workshop Company -July 1944
7 July 1944 – GREAT YARMOUTH, SUFFOLK.
22:30 hours. Unit convoy of Main Body left concentration area for marshalling area.
The Field Return of Officers shows, again, a strength of six against the War Establishment but with no 2nd Lieutenants in post – all being now full Lieutenants.
The list of Officer personnel in the Field Return shows no changes but allowed the Army Numbers of the newer men in post to be identified. Oddly, three of the Officers were listed as 2nd Lieutenants – Clarke, Corthorn and Duthie – with Corthorn shown as detached away from the Unit.
8 July 1944 TILBURY.
09:30 hours. Unit convoy of Main Body arrived marshalling area in camp 84.
9 July 1944 TILBURY.
13:00 hours. Loading of unit vehicles commenced on S.S. FORT BEDFORD, Serial A151 MT.
10 July 1944 TILBURY.
11:00 hours. Loading of vehicles completed and personnel embarked.
13:00 hours. Sailed.
12 July 1944 FRANCE.
20:00 hours. Arrived off JUNO beachhead.
13 July 1944
09:00 hours. Commenced disembarkation onto “M” beach.
Proportion of vehicles disembarked and arrived in SHELLY Assembly area. Commenced de-waterproofing.
14 July 1944
10:00 hours. Remainder of vehicles arrived and de-waterproofed.
22:30 hours. Unit convoy commenced move to location.
15 July 1944 Ducy-St-Marguerite.
02:00 hours. Unit convoy arrived location 7FI/855737 and workshop opened.
Proportion of residues joined unit.
22 July 1944
23:00 hours. Remainder of residues joined unit – unit complete to War Establishment with minor deficiencies in personnel and equipment.
The Field Return of Other Ranks showed 185 men in post against the 184 of the War Establishment, with five surplus and a deficiency of four. The shortage of Sergeants and Staff Sergeants continued.
23 July 1944
19:00 hours. Unit joined 70 Infantry Brigade Group columns moving to CAEN Sector.
26 July 1944
10:00 hours. Unit left location to move to new location.
20:00 hours CAZELLE. Unit arrived new location map reference 7FI/034766 and Workshop established.
AF W 3008 and 3009. Appendices 1 to 10.
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