70th Brigade Workshop Company - January 1944

1 January 1944 Bungay, Suffolk.

Unit changed to Field Documentation in accordance with pamphlet “Documentation – Units of 21 Army Group while situated in UK”. Selected examples of the Field Returns were photographed, and have now been processed, to illustrate the size of the Unit, and identify the Officers serving in it. Not all of the Appendices mentioned below were documented or photographed at Kew – it is likely that some were missing from the files.

12:00 HOURS. AFs W 3008 & 3009 completed and despatched. Appendices 1 and 2.

The detailed Field Return of Officers listed the following :-

Temporary Major W. A. Collings, REME, 67425. Officer Commanding, in post since 5/5/1943. (On leave).

Temporary Captain F. G. Tyack, REME, 71472. E.M.E. in post since 1/11/1943, currently detached from the Unit.

Temporary Captain R. F. Davidson, RAOC, 181941. O.O. in post since 22/7/1942.

Temporary Captain H. M. M. Phillips, REME, 169770. E.M.E. in post since 4/9/1943.

Temporary Captain K. H. Davies, REME, 277365. E.M.E. in post since 22/9/1943.

Temporary Captain S. Pearce, REME, 273570. E.M.E. in post since 2/9/1943.

7 January 1944

12:00 hours. AFs W 3008 & 3009 completed and despatched. Appendices 3 and 4.

14 January 1944

12:00 hours. AFs W 3008 & 3009 completed and despatched. Appendices 5 and 6.

The Field Return of Officers showed six in post, matching the War Establishment, but with three additional 2nd Lieutenants held as surplus for posting within the Division.

21 January 1944

12:00 hours. AFs W 3008 & 3009 completed and despatched. Appendices 7 and 8.

The Field Return of Other Ranks shows a strength of 210 men against a War Establishment of 214, with 3 carried surplus and 4 reinforcements required. A surplus of Sergeants was held covering for a deficiency in Staff Sergeants.

WOUM 79/MOB/5774/642(AG5 Mob) dated 21 January 1944 issued changing Unit to W.E. II/339/3.

24 January 1944

19:30 hours. Night training commenced in conjunction with 70 Infantry Brigade Group.

28 January 1944

12:00 hours. AFs W 3008 & 3009 completed and despatched. Appendices 9 and 10.

The Field Return of Officers continued to show 6 against the 6 in the War Establishment, but with no mention of surplus Officers.

The Field Return of Other Ranks shows a strength of 180 against the War Establishment of 184, with nineteen men surplus and four deficiencies.

29 January 1944

06:00 hours. Completion of Night Training Exercise.

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