294th Field Company Royal Engineers - War Diary - April 1944

1 April 1944 Mettingham.

49 Division Engineers' Rifle Meeting.

2 April 1944

3 Platoon Exercise SEEK – Divisional Exercise to test Recce Regiment.

2 Platoon start work on repair of gap in Southwold Pier demolished by a mine.

3 April 1944

1 Platoon Bailey Bridge competition. 70 foot Double Span Bailey built onto prepared bankseats. 1 Officer, 1 Sergeant and 48 men – time taken 24 minutes 58 seconds.

5 April 1944

2 Platoon Bailey competition. Time 23 minutes 50 seconds.

7 – 9 April 1944

NCOs to Infantry Battalions to practice use of RASC Assault Bridging Platoon equipment.

9 April 1944

Sapper Reekie killed by rifle bullet whilst bridging at Southwold.

11 April 1944

Exercise “BUMP”. 49 Division Field Firing Exercise. 146 Infantry Brigade Group including this unit formed enemy. Little Royal Engineer work as natural defences were very strong.

17 April 1944

Officer Commanding Unit lecture on Security and Censorship. Unit Censorship imposed 23:59 hours.

18 – 19 April 1944

Practice with 26 ton Batwing Raft.

19 April 1944

ENSA.

146 Infantry Brigade assault river crossing exercise “PLOP”. No bridging was available – Field Company in skeleton only in advisory capacity. River banks unsuitable for BATWING.

22 April 1944

Exercise “PLOP” ends.

Final Divisional Team Boxing Championship against 1st Tyneside Scottish. Result – won.

This unit won the Iceland (C ) force Boxing Championship in 1941 and 1942 and 49th Divisional Engineers Team (13 out of 15 from 294 Field Company) won the 49th Divisional Championship in 1943 and 1944.

Repair of Southwold Pier completed. An 80 foot improvised tubular steel footbridge was built on the off-shore end of the gap. Tested and attached to the end of 300 foot run of Single Span Bailey. The Bailey was delaunched across the gap pulling the tubular bridge after it. Tubular then just jacked down into position.

24 April 1944

Prepare for visit of His Majesty the King. Unit to construct 70 foot Double Span Bailey Bridge, one 50 foot Double Span and two 30 foot Single Span bridges as footbridges.

27 April 1944

Visit by His Majesty the King.

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