289th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers, War Diary January 1944

1 January 1944 LODDON.

2nd Echelon procedure for documentation adopted in accordance with remainder of 21st Army Group.

Company Officers at this date:-

Temporary Major I D S Brown R.E. Officer Commanding.

Acting Captain J H M Broughton R.E. Second-in-Command.

Lieutenant R W Saunders R.E. No. 23 Bridging Platoon R.E.

Lieutenant P R Arthur R.E.

2nd Lieutenant J A S Mowat R.E.

Company Strength as at this date:-

Basic element – 4 Officers, 102 Other Ranks.

Army Catering Corps attached. 4 Other Ranks.

No. 23 Bridging Platoon R.E. 1 Officer, 33 Other Ranks.

Light Aid Detachment REME 11 Other Ranks (detached temporarily).

First Army Form W 3008 rendered – see Appendix A attached to the War Diary (This was either missing from the file, or was not photographed).

First A.F.W. 3009 rendered. This does not appear to have survived in the file. (This was either missing from the file, or was not photographed).

4 January 1944

2123487 admitted to THORPE E.M.S.

5 January 1944

Route march by Company approximately 15 miles.

Light Aid Detachment permanently attached to the Company after detachment. 7591789 WO II Monney, REME, in command with 10 Other Ranks.

6 January 1944

Captain J H M Broughton returns from privilege leave.

Crawler Tractor H.D. 10 detached to 33 Tank Brigade.

8 January 1944

Army Forms W 3008. See Appendix B attached to the War Diary. (These have not been included in the file, or were not photographed at Kew).

9 January 1944

1951850 and 1951931 posted to “X” List.

10 January 1944 (date subject to confirmation)

Divisional Cross Country Run. Team entered.

15 January 1944

Company Parade and Ceremonial Drill. Army Forms 3008 - see Appendix C attached to the War Diary. (These forms were either not photographed at Kew or were missing from the file).

16 January 1944

Church Parade 10:30 hours.

17 January 1944

3915975 posted to “X” List on admission to THORPE E.M.S.

18 January 1944

1331722 to course for Operator Excavator at School of Military Engineering, Ripon.

19 January 1944

Major I D S Brown proceeded on privilege leave.

20 January 1944

C.I.E.M.E. Inspector to inspect Bailey Bridge.

22 January 1944

Divisional R.E. Exercise “KHABBAR” - an exercise in communication and information.

23 Bridging Platoon - Field Return of Other Ranks attached to War Diary – Army Form 3008 dated 22 Jan 44 (see details below).

25 January 1944

3915975 posted to this Company from “X” List.

Army Forms 3008 – see Appendix D attached to the War Diary. These forms were either missing from the file or were not photographed at Kew.

27 January 1944

Personnel Selection Team visit Company ? ? ?

29 January 1944

Army Forms 3009. See Appendix for 23 Bridging Platoon attached to the War Diary.

2113984 posted to “X” List on admission to Command Military Hospital, Glasgow.

31 January 1944

14315226 and 2010200 attached to 294 Field Company with Bulldozer.

Appendices attached to the December 1943 War Diary.

Field Return of Other Ranks – 23 Bridging Platoon – dated 22 January 1944.

This return shows the Bridging Platoon as virtually fully staffed, with 33 men in post against the War Establishment of 33, although there is a deficiency of one Corporal and a surplus of one Sapper.

Field Return of Officers – 23 Bridging Platoon – dated 29 January 1944.

Lieutenant R W Saunders is the only Officer listed on this Return.

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