70th Brigade Workshop Company - October 1942

1 October 1942 – Hereford Racecourse

Name of Company changed on formation of R.E.M.E. Corps. Company War Establishment strength 2 Officers and 106 Other Ranks, R.A.O.C. attached – 1 Officer and 19 Other Ranks.

2 October 1942

Unit moved into GRANDSTAND CAMP, HEREFORD RACECOURSE vacated by 289 Field Park Company, Royal Engineers.

8 October 1942

Officers’ Mess formed, and Officers detached from 49 Division Troops Company RASC for rations.

12 October 1942

Major NOBLE and Captain DAVIDSON recce CHEPSTOW for winter accommodation. Workshop facilities unsatisfactory, and proposal that Company should share camp with Infantry Battalion appeared unsatisfactory.

Major NOBLE took over duties of DADME 49 Division for 5 days in the absence of Major H R BRIDGER.

14 October 1942

Informed by Divisional HQ that 70 Brigade move to CHEPSTOW area cancelled.

18 October 1942

Driver Mechanics Course assembled. 20 Carrier Drivers provided within 49 Division for 3 weeks’ Course. See Appendix 1 attached to the War Diary.

21 October 1942

Major NOBLE visited 147 Infantry Brigade Workshop Company REME at CANNOCK.

24 October 1942

11:00 hours. 49 Division Commander, Major General H O Curtis, inspected personnel attending Driver Mechanics Course.

23:15 hours. Civil air raid siren sounded alarm.

23:45 hours. Civil air raid siren sounded All Clear. No enemy activity.

27 – 29 October 1942

Major NOBLE recce'd ULVERSTON area for winter quarters. Nearest satisfactory workshop accommodation available was at BLACKBURN. Decided by HQ 70th Infantry Brigade and DADME that Company should not move with Brigade until ready to commence full workshop activity.

31 October 1942

Company employed on individual training. Company deficient of all vehicles except one motorcycle, 1 15cwt G S truck , 1 30cwt G S truck and kits of hand tools for fitters.

Appendix 1 attached to October 1942 War Diary.

These three sheets covered the Training Programme in detail for the period commencing 12th October, setting out the various instructional periods, the instructors and the topics to be covered. Much of the time was devoted to explaining and learning the Army “Task System” – this is set out in publication form and made available to Drivers and sets out all the checks to be performed on vehicles, and their frequency.

Topics included vehicle recovery – a key task for the Brigade Workshops.

Each evening, after training, the vehicles would be subjected to the frost prevention routines.

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