294th Field Company Royal Engineers - War Diary - September 1943
2 September 1943 DOUNE.
E Platoon of 106 Bridge Company, RASC, commanded by Lieutenant H JONES, arrived with assault bridging equipment to carry out training with Company and with units of Brigade Group.
5 September 1943
Film show “Katina” in Muir Hall in evening.
8 September 1943
Film show “Wake Island” in Muir Hall in evening.
9 September 1943
Company gave demonstration of use of Bridge Company, RASC, Assault Platoon to representatives of 1 /4 KOYLI, HALLAMS and 4 LINCOLNS at 15:00 hours in STIRLING.
3 Platoon returns from privilege leave.
10 September 1943
Lieutenant HATFIELD and 2 Platoon prceeded on privilege leave.
13 September 1943
Lieutenant WIZARD returned from privilege leave.
Major TYZACK visited Company to inspect works at MUTHILL.
14 September 1943
Major TYZACK and Lieutenant BURDETT attended 146 Infantry Brigade TEWT “PASS” at 4 LINCOLNS, COMRIE.
16 September 1943
Lieutenant WIZARD and 3 Platoon left to join 756 Field Company on 1 Corps bridging exercise.
Commandant Royal Engineers visited works at MUTHILL.
18 September 1943
2/Lieutenant MOWAT proceeded on 48 hours privilege leave prior to going on short bomb disposal course at School of Military Engineering, Ripon.
19 September 1943
Lieutenant DAVIES joined “N” Section, Royal Signals, at GALSTON, to assist in instruction of Driver/Operators.
Captain LANGLEY rejoined Company after privilege leave and attending Course of Instruction at Royal Engineers Records Office, BRIGHTON.
23 September 1943
Captain LANGLEY attended demonstration by 77 Assault Squadron, Royal Engineers, at HAWICK.
27 September 1943
2 Platoon carried out assault training with 1 /4 KOYLI on mock-up German defences at CORRIE-OUR.
28 September 1943
Company took part in 146 Infantry Brigade Exercise “PASS”. There was snow on top of the local mountains this morning but most of it had melted away again by the afternoon. 146 Infantry Brigade Operation Order No. 1 and 303/1/4/2/G 21 Sep 43 attached to the War Diary. For details see below.
29 September 1943
2 Platoon carried out assault training with 1 /4 KOYLI on mock-up German defences at CORRIE-OUR.
30 September 1943
All Officers who attended Exercise “PASS” attended conference at The Hydro, CRIEFF, at 17:15 hours.
Appendices attached to the September 1943 War Diary of the 294th Field Company, Royal Engineers.
146 Infantry Brigade Operation Order No. 1 dated 20 September 1943. Exercise “PASS”.
HOME FORCES 303/1/4/2/G dated 21 Sep 43
These documents were the instruction papers for this large exercise which was intended to practise the passing of the reserve battalion through the forward battalion and was also intended to deal with; practice of Unit Liaison Officers in their functions, practice in the build-up and control of transport of the Brigade Group during an assault landing, working out the times at which vehicles of the brigade Group may be expected to reach their units.
While this exercise was for 146 Infantry Brigade, 70th Infantry Brigade experienced similar exercises.
The deployment of troops from 294 Field Company was set out in the instructions together with their potential tasks, such as destroying concrete obstacles and preparing improvements for landing tracked vehicles.
Anyone wishing to have more details from the six pages of instructions and guidance is invited to contact the researcher using the e-mail link at the foot of the page.
To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.
