289th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers, War Diary February 1943
1 February 1943 Stourbridge.
2094413. Attended course of instruction in Boxing at Central School of P.T., Oswestry from 10 to 30 January 1943. Result B – a good Instructor capable of instructing his unit without supervision.
Company engaged on Exercise “Pompous” – Divisional Royal Engineers exercise to practise Field Companies in bridging operation by night. River Severn first river to be bridged and due to flood water exercise was concluded on 2 Feb. 43.
2 February 1943
Company returns to unit location – not used on exercise other than for Company HQ practice in signals and administration.
2130523. Posted to “Y” List having been in hospital for a consecutive period of 21 days.
3 February 1943
1881312 completed Course of Instruction at Mountain and Snow Warfare Training Centre, Glenfeshie, Camp Kincraig. Result:- Qualified Q 1.
2123487. Result of Chiropodists Course attended at 160 Field Ambulance RAMC. “Distinguished”.
1872163. Admitted to C.R.S. Lye, near Stourbridge, WOrcs.
5 February 1943
2158694. Posted to “Y” List having been in hospital for a consecutive period of 21 days.
8 February 1943
155766 Captain W O Davies and 235602 Lieutenant P Randall Arthur to Abergavenny for preliminary recce of district prior to umpiring 49 Division Royal Engineers on Exercise “Fantome”.
Bridging Platoon – Lieutenant Williams (70303) in charge engaged on training at Bewdley with floating Bailey Pontoon Bridge. This training lasted for a period of one week.
9 February 1943
33293 Temporary Major W J Wakeham posted from Company to take over appointment, Officer Commanding, 502 Field Company, Royal Engineers.
71069 Temporary Major I B S Brown posted to Company to take command.
10 February 1943
2036842. Posted to this unit from “Y” List.
11 February 1943
1879156. Admitted to Barnsley Hall Emergency Hospital, Bromsgrove, Worcs.
13 February 1943
6204094. Posted to this unit from 502 Field Company, R.E.
2073459. Posted from this unit to 502 Field Company R.E.
15 February 1943
11:00 hours. Cloth Model Exercise at Drill Hall, Stourbridge, in preparation for Exercise “FILLDYKE”. All formation and unit Commanders attended.
Exercise to practise the Divisional Royal Engineers in bridging four main river obstacles in three days. The Division to advance on an area Stourbridge – Whitney on two routes.
39568 Major J I Scott R.E. and 135763 Captain J S Good joined Company for period Exercise “Filldyke” to umpire the Company.
Lieutenant James RASC attached with 18 3-ton lorries to carry Bailey Bridge equipment held by this Company. Two sets 120 foot D/D Bailey available for exercise from Field Park. One set on wheels, the other set to be collected by RASC vehicles when empty.
15:00 hours. Commandant Royal Engineers O Group, personnel briefed and final details of plan explained.
16 February 1943
08:00 hours. Exercise “Filldyke” commences. Company remains in location until 16:25 hours when instructions received for move to Bishops Wood 81/2888.
20:10 hours. C.O. reports back to Company after C.R.E. O Group. Instructions issued:-
(a) 289 Field Park Company Bailey Platoon to report to 756 Field Company at Deer Park 81/3284 proposed task bridging of River Tame on Green Route South of main axis.
(b) Bridge Company Bailey Platoon attached Field Park Company to go under command 757 on Red Route North of main axis.
17 February 1943
11:15 hours. Bridging Platoon report back to Company location with empty vehicles. These are sent back to Stourbridge – Lieutenant Williams (70383) in command to reload with 120 foot D/D Bailey Bridge.
14:30 hours. S.B.G. (two sets) and 2 lorry loads Army Track despatched to 757 Field Company for bridging the Rivers Tame and Lugg.
15:00 hours. Company move to new location Abberley Park 81/1987.
20:30 hours. Complete set 120 foot D/D Bailey Bridge loaded on to RASC transport under 70383 Lieutenant Williams PF arrived at location and passed forward to 756 Field Company for Bridging the River Lugg – lower route.
18 February 1943
Division moving forward and bridges over River Lugg completed. Small stores despatched during day to Bridge sites to renew approach roads.
18:00 hours. Company leave Abberley Park and return to Stourbridge.
1876845. Admitted to Wordsley Hospital, Stourbridge.
19 February 1943
00:10 hours. Bailey Bridge used to bridge River Lugg off-loaded from RASC transport at “Wychbury”, Norton Road – vehicles return to 756 Field Company R.E. to collect 2nd Bailey Bridge used to cross River Tame.
08:00 hours. Company routine continued, all stores used on exercise checked and maintenance carried out.
2nd Bailey Bridge off-loaded at Fieldworks Ground, Hagley.
23 February 1943
14213339 admitted to C.R.S. Lye, near Stourbridge, Worcs.
25 February 1943
Work commenced on construction of 30 Mock-up Tanks, 25 Mock-up Lorries and 500 Dummy Weapon slits for Deception Unit – these to be used on Exercise “Spartan”.
70383 Lieutenant P F Williams posted from Company to take up appointment of Second-in-Command 757 Field Company, Royal Engineers.
2146143. Posted to this unit from the Class W(T) Reserve from H M Prison, Norwich.
2067415. Transferred to Pioneer Corps and Posted to No. 6 Centre, Pioneer Corps, Bradford.
26 February 1943
Chief Engineer Western Command and Lieutenant Colonel Mussen, Chief Royal Engineer Umpire, on Exercise “FILLDYKE” held conference at Drill Hall, Stourbridge. All R.E. Officers attend.
179721 Lieutenant R W Saunders posted to this unit from 294 Field Company, Royal Engineers.
27 February 1943
6 S.B.G. special body lorries collected from Vehicle Replacement Depot by No. 1919658.
28 February 1943
06:00 hours. Company moves off to concentration area – Penn Wood 367153 for Exercise “Spartan”.
16:00 hours Penn Wood, Amersham. Company arrives concentration area and share hutted camp with remainder of Divisional R.E.
Guards and sentries posted, defence co-ordinated with 756 Field Company and 294 Field Company – these two Companies having areas on either side of Company.
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