70th Brigade Workshop Company - November 1942

2 November 1942 – Hereford.

Major H R Bridger, DADME 49 Division, Major Heath, O.C. 146 Infantry Brigade Workshops Company REME, Major Hards, O.C. 147 Infantry Brigade Workshop Company, REME and Major Noble, O.C. 70th Infantry Brigade Workshop Company, REME recce'd LLANGADOCK area with a view to locating Units in winter quarters. Abermarlais Park suitable.

4 November 1942

Movement Order reference number 1810/O/43 dated 4 November 1942 received from 49 Division. Advance Party move 6 November 1942, Main Party move 10 November 1942 to Abermarlais Park, LLANGADOCK.

6 November 1942

08:00 hours. Advance Party – 1 Officer , 20 Other Ranks left for Abermarlais Park, LLANGADOCK.

7 November 1942

10:00 hours. Driver/Mechanics Course dispersed.

11:00 hours. Notified 13 3-ton lorries to report 12:00 hours 9 November for move of Main Party to LLANGADOCK on 10 November.

14:00 hours. Major Noble proceeded to LLANGADOCK for conference with CREME and CO's 146 and 147 Infantry Brigade Workshop Companies reference exact location of Companies within area.

10 November 1942

Main Party – 1 Officer 70 men moved by road to LLANGADOCK.

13 November 1942

Captain R F Davidson RAOC i/c Rear Party arrived near location. Lieut P Turnbull proceeded on 9 days’ privilege leave.

3 350cc Ariel motorcycles, Numbers C 4851984, C 4851968, and C 4851893 received from No. 39 Vehicle Replacement Depot, BUTTINGTON.

15 November 1942

Second 49 Division Driver/Mechanics Course assembled.

17 November 1942

14:30 hours. Major Noble attended lecture on Combined Operations by Brigadier Bostock, DDMR, GHQ Home Forces.

19 November 1942

1 3-ton Guy breakdown lorry No. L 4370845 received from No. 28 Vehicle Replacement Depot, GOPSALL.

20 November 1942

CREME 49 Division, Lt Col H R Bridger, visited Unit to inspect training.

Training Programme drawn up for following 5 weeks. First week intensive Weapon Training and Battle Drill Cadres for NCOs. See Appendices 1 and 2 attached to War Diary.

1 15cwt Fordson G S truck No. Z 4573833 received from No. 24 Vehicle Replacement Depot, CONDOVER

24 November 1942

Lt P Turnbull proceeded to HQ 70 Infantry Brigade on temporary duty as Brigade E.M.E.

25 November 1942

1 15cwt Fordson G S truck No. Z 4758313 received from No. 24 Vehicle Replacement Depot, CONDOVER.

30 November 1942

Intensive Weapon Training and Battle Drill as per –

Appendices attached to November 1942 Brigade Ordnance Workshops War Diary.

Appendix 1

This set out the NCOs Cadre Weapon Training Course dated 23 November, lasting a full week and detailed by training periods, including fire control, air action and instructional methods.

The second page covered the week of Battle Drills for NCOs, including the Platoon in defence and in attack.

The third page set out the Weapon Training Course for the Other Ranks.

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