294th Field Company Royal Engineers - War Diary - April 1943
2 April 1943 STOURBRIDGE.
Lieutenant A G BURDETT and Second Lieutenant A WIZARD posted to Company.
Lt BURDETT appointed Reconnaissance Officer 1 and 2/Lt WIZARD appointed 3 Platoon Commander.
17 April 1943
Company move to GALSTON, Ayrshire, arriving 22 April 1943. Appendix A attached to War Diary. See below for details.
Appendices attached to April 1943 War Diary for 294 Field Company, Royal Engineers.
Appendix A – Annex A to Movement Orders for Company move to GALSTON.
This document runs to five pages and, given that research into the Royal Engineers Enlistment Books or posting records was not possible, has proved a real bonus in the context of the manning of the Unit, as the various sections of the Appendix name the individual men travelling by road and rail – effectively listing the whole manpower of the Company. The names and ranks have been added to the Personnel List on the Company Memorial Page, producing a far more detailed account of the men who served in this Company than would otherwise have been possible, especially as this is the sort of document often “weeded” from War Diary files. The document is actually the Annex to the Movement Order, which itself had either been removed from the file or was not photographed during the research at Kew.
The Unit was planned to move in four parties. Those on leave or on courses were to return to Stourbridge by 25th April or, if that was not possible, to have their rail warrants altered to reflect their new destination. A total of 19 men would be travelling direct to GALSTON. One man was due to be on leave and would then go to GALSTON and the remainder were in either the Advance Party, Main Body Road, Main Body Rail or Rear Party. The total men to be moved was 233. The total number of vehicles was 37 – 19 motorcycles, 3 Scout Cars, 6 Carriers, 7 15cwt trucks G.S., 5 specialist 15cwt trucks, 3 3-ton trucks with Winch and 13 3-ton trucks G.S.
The make-up of each Party was identified and, of the Road Parties, each vehicle’s driver, passengers and load were specified. Relevant staff were due to travel with the appropriate vehicle, such as the Chief Clerk with the 15cwt Office Truck.
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