289th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers, War Diary December 1943
1 December 1943 MAUCHLINE.
Major I D S Brown on Company Commanders’ Course, School of Military Engineering, Ripon.
Captain J H M Broughton returns from Second-in-Commands’ Administration Course, School of Military Engineering, Ripon.
2 December 1943
10543225 posted to this unit from “Y” List.
Captain J H M Broughton, Lieutenants R W Saunders and P R Arthur attend R.E. Demonstration at Divisional Assault School. This included breaching wire by various types of Bangalore Torpedo, clearing mines and breaching minefields with Wade charges.
5 December 1943
Company Church Parade.
2158694 admitted Ballochmyle E.M.S. Hospital.
2009068 commences No. 16 Heavy Duty Drivers’ Course No. 1 Motor Transport Training Department ALDERSHOT.
6 December 1943
Unit Advance Party under command Lieutenant P R Arthur leaves 09:00 hours for new unit location LANGLEY HALL, LODDON, NORFOLK.
8 December 1943
Loading of engineer stores at MAUCHLINE STATION commences.
2001622 and 1872162 commence Bomb Disposal Course at A.S.B.D. (Army School of Bomb Disposal) Ripon.
9 December 1943
Preparation for move of unit continues.
3448614 discharged GARTLOCK Hospital.
3977342 discharged Ballochmyle.
10 December 1943
3448614, 2053215, 14212363, 5393543, 14213366 posted to 294 Field Company.
11 December 1943
1075634, 14242618, 2077906, 2158694, 2003186, 2019463, 2074444 posted to 757 Field Company.
2074556 discharged from GARTLOCH.
12 December 1943
2/Lt J A S Mowat returns from leave.
Company Movement Order issued. (See Appendix A attached to the War Diary).
13 December 1943
Main Body of Company under command Captain J H M Broughton moves in Road Convoy in Divisional Troops Column to new location. Night halt at Staging Camp CARLISLE.
14 December 1943
Road move continues. Night halt at DONCASTER. End of journey in very thick fog, no vehicle casualties.
2128110 to DONCASTER INFIRMARY.
15 December 1943
Road move continues. Night halt LUTTERWORTH.
16 December 1943
Arrival LANGLEY HALL, LODDON, NORFOLK 21:30 hours. No vehicle casualties.
17 December 1943 LODDON.
2004818 admitted C.R.S. BROOKE.
19 December 1943
11414793 posted to “Y” List.
22 December 1943
Major I D S Brown rejoins from Company Commanders’ Course, Ripon.
23 December 1943
Rear Party under command Lieutenant R W Saunders arrives new location.
26 December 1943
07:00 hours. Signing of Warning Rolls.
28 December 1943
Acting Captain J H M Broughton proceeds on privilege leave.
2128110 discharged from DONCASTER ROYAL INFIRMARY.
30 December 1943
14315286 and 2078621 on Forestry Course, COLEFORD, Gloucester.
Appendices attached to December 1943 War Diary
Appendix A Company Movement Order dated 12 December 1943.
This four-page Order described Exercise ASTONIA and was 289 Field Park Company Administrative Order No. 1. covering the move to LANGLEY HALL, LODDON, NORFOLK.
The Order began by setting out the details, make-up and timing of the marshalling of the Main Body of the convoy. Despatch Riders were to be used for convoy management and Divisional Standing Orders were to be followed. There would be an Advance Party of the convoy, of two vehicles, commanded by Lt C S Nuttall of the Royal Corps of Signals.
Lt R W Saunders, of the Company, was detailed to command the Rear Party.
Haversack rations for the convoy were to be drawn at breakfast on each day, with rations and accommodation provided by the Staging Camps. Arrangements for medical cover were in the hands of 17 Field Dressing Station – with an ambulance and a medical officer moving in the rear of 55th Anti-Tank Regiment, which was following the Field Park Company.
Communication arrangements were described.
Page 3 of the Order listed the Order of March, identifying the Platoons and their sequence of march, with each of their vehicles identified by Reference Number and Driver name, together with a brief indication of their contents. This has the advantage of making clear the vehicles used by each Platoon – the majority of which were 3-ton 4 by 2 vehicles, mostly Fords, but with some Bedfords. The 15 cwt trucks were a mixture of Morris and Bedford makes. The vehicles of the Bridging Platoon were all Bedford 4 by 4 3-tonners, except for one Bedford 15 cwt. Several specialist vehicles were included; a Coles Crane, Machinery Lorry, Electrical Welding truck, and Water Supply truck and trailer.
Nine motorcycles – all BSA models – were included, one of which was being ridden by 2/Lt Mowat.
While the drivers are all named we, unfortunately, have no means of linking them to the personnel list of numbers.
The final page is blurred, sadly, but appears to be the detailed route between Staging Camps.
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