289th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers, War Diary June 1944
3 June 1944 LODDON.
Army Forms W 3008 and W 3009A issued for Basic Element and permanently attached 23 Bridging Platoon and No. 9 Light Aid Detachment. Attached as Appendix A to the War Diary. These forms were either not photographed at Kew, or had been removed from the original file.
6 June 1944
12:45 hours. Orders received from Brigade Major 70th Infantry Brigade to move at 18:00 hours. Orders wrongly addressed to 23 Bridging Platoon which is attached to this Unit.
13:00 hours. Unit moves in March Convoy of 37 vehicles (including Light Aid Detachment and 23 Bridging Platoon attached) along route NORWICH – ATTLEBORO – THETFORD – NEWMARKET – BISHOP STORTFORD – HARLOW to Marshalling Area Camp T 1 at WANSTEAD FLATS arriving 04:30 hours 7 Jun.
8 June 1944 Camp T 1 WANSTEAD FLATS.
Orders received to embark in Landing Ship Tank 3/33 at a time to be given later.
Troops issued with 24 hour ration pack and lifebelt.
10 June 1944 Camp T 1 WANSTEAD FLATS.
10:00 hours. Unit marshalls and moves to VICTORIA DOCKS, LONDON to embark on LST 493 of U.S. Navy.
Embarked 5 Officers 139 Other Ranks 39 Vehicles, completed 14:45 hours.
15:30 hours. 3/33 put to sea.
11 June 1944 AT SEA.
10:00 hours. In convoy through STRAITS OF DOVER under smoke screen. Sea calm.
19:00 hours. Off BEACHY HEAD.
12 June 1944
09:30 hours. Anchored off LE HAMEL, NORMANDY.
18:00 hours. Disembarkation begins. Unit moves in convoy through Transit Area to St GABRIEL 887796 Reference Map 1/50,000. Convoy split by traffic jam but finally harboured at 02:30 hours 13 Jun 44. 7F/1 CAEN.
13 June 1944 St GABRIEL.
Unit check ? own transport, ? water ? proofing and established contact with HQRE.
Continuous friendly fighter activity and one observed sortie by MARAUDER bombers.
15 June 1944
09:30 hours. Location changed to reference May 1/50,000 Sheet 7F/1 841766. Established 11:30 hours.
17 June 1944 LES SEUILES.
11:10 hours. Three FW 190A (1) machine gun RASC Supply Point 400 yards North North East of this location – fired one lorry. One killed one wounded.
Army Forms W 3008 and 3009A issued for Basic Element and for attached Light Aid Detachment and 23 Bridging Platoon. See Appendix C attached to War Diary. These forms were either omitted from the original file or were not photographed at Kew.
25 June 1944
Army Forms W 3008 and 3009A issued for Basic Element and for attached Light Aid Detachment and 23 Bridging Platoon. See Appendix B attached to War Diary. These forms were either omitted from the original file or were not photographed at Kew.
27 June 1944
12:30 hours. Orders received by Second in Command from Adjutant to move at 15:00 hours to LA RUE 873713.
16:00 hours. HQ established 16:00 hours at LA RUE 869715. Reference Map 1/50,000 Sheet 7F/1.
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