War Diary - CRE - April 1941
1 April 1941 – Reykjavik
Civilian labour rates:-
Actual rates – Kronur per hour.
Day (07:00 – 18:00) Overtime (18:00 – 22:00) Night (22:00 – 07:00) Sunday
Kaldadarnes 2.18 3.23 4.05 4.05
Reykjavik 2.422 3.691 4.288 4.5
Keflavik 2.167 3.00 3.653 3.833
In order to preserve surface and prevent gravel dust damaging wing fabric, the stone runway will be surfaced with bitumen when it arrives. 10 Sprayers delivered to Kaldadarnes in readiness.
3 April 1941
Important stores arrived from UK in S S EGYPTIAN PRINCE – 12 tons Ammonal, 6 ½ tons guncotton, 2 excavators (2 tons), 4 D by 6 Rollers. On S S GIRONDE 1055 tons [Ferrocrete.
5 April 1941
Progress reports:-
(a) Work under contract. See Appendix A below.
(b) Work under 294 Field Company Royal Engineers. See Appendix B below.
(c) Work under 803 Road Construction Company Royal Engineers. See Appendix C below.
Snowplough withdrawn from 294 Field Company and returned to Royal Engineer stores.
6 April 1941
Snowplough at LOGBERG and the SKI CLUB on the Kaldadarnes Road withdrawn and returned to Royal Engineer stores. One snowplough tractor (less plough) sent to KEFLAVIK for towing farm rollers and general work on Landing Ground. Plan of Keflavik attached – see Appendix D below.
10 April 1941
Showers all day.
Owing to the Easter holiday civilians are working on priority jobs only e.g. Kaldadarnes, Reykjavik, Keflavik aerodrome at Sunday rates.
19 Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers less detachment 1 NCO and three men embark from UK.
3 Fordson 15cwt trucks taken over by this HQ, the 15cwt on loan from 294 Field Company being returned.
11 April 1941
No civilian work today Good Friday. This HQ moves from the ICE FACTORY to the GOVERNMENT POTATO STORE (75 yards away) previously occupied by 19 Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers.
The Survey detachment plus 1 Private (map storeman) from the Pioneer Corps attached to this HQ to carry on essential printing. All future stocks of maps will be obtained from the War Office who now hold plates prepared by 19 Survey Company, Royal Engineers. The following machinery has been left for use:-
Furnival Duplicator (Proofing Press)
Hot Plate.
Battery 4 pt Anc (?)
Whirlers, Grainers and Printing Frame.
This enables the Vandyke, Helio and Ozalid processes to be carried out.
Message 691/AQ from Force HQ “Stand by for thaw”.
12 April 1941
Normal civilian working day.
Ice Factory handed over to the Royal Navy.
Message 695/AQ “Stand by for thaw cancelled”.
Governor gear from Aveling Barford Roller at Kaldadarnes received for repair having been damaged in a collision with an aircraft.
Progress Reports:-
(a) Work under contract. See Appendix E below.
(b) Work under 803 Road Construction Company Royal Engineers. See Appendix F below.
13 April 1941
Commander, Royal Engineers visits Kaldadarnes. The stone “A” runway appears to be successful for Hudson aircraft but owing to the very soft nature of the ground the matting is useless. It is proposed to put a concrete runway instead.
Progress Report 294 Army Field Company, Royal Engineers, see Appendix G below.
14 April 1941
Snow all day.
18:00 hours. Snowploughs sent out to LOGBERG and the SKI-CLUB on the Kaldadarnes road.
Civilian labour working at priority jobs only at double rates.
17 April 1941
Sunny day and warm.
19 April 1941
Chief Engineer decides to construct “B” Runway (see attached plan – Appendix H) with colloidal concrete. The filling to be of a cement sand mix surfaced with about 1 ½ concrete. This, it is hoped will produce quickly a runway 900 yards by 50 yards capable of taking Hudson aircraft.
Progress of runway ay KEFLAVIK (Gardarskagi) – 40%.
Report 803 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers – see Appendix I attached.
20 April 1941
First convoy of 50 tons cement sent to Kaldadarnes – this will continue daily.
Progress Report 294 Army Field Company, Royal Engineers – see Appendix J attached.
21 April 1941
Extract from “G” Conference.
(a) The extra Officer who is required at Kaldadarnes for work in connection with civilian labour and accounts cannot be spared from an Infantry Battalion.
(b) Owing to the expected arrival of ships at Hafnafjordur and extra transport on the road from Reykjavik its condition should be improved.
(c ) It is estimated that the jetty at HVITANES will be completed by the 5th of May.
26 April 1941
Progress at KEFLAVIK - 45%.
Progress Report:-
803 Road Construction Company Royal Engineers, - see Appendix K attached.
27 April 1941
Progress Report:-
294 Army Field Company, Royal Engineers – see Appendix L attached.
2/Lt F L Randle, Royal Engineers arrives on H M T Royal Ulsterman and assumes the appointment of Field Engineer 3.
807 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers arrive on HMT Royal Scotsman, commanded by Major Giles, Royal Engineers and accommodated with 688 Artisan Works Company, Royal Engineers.
30 April 1941
Detachment 294 Army Field Company, Royal Engineers at Kaldadarnes under Lieut Green Royal Engineers relieved by detachment 807 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers under 2/Lt Gieves, Royal Engineers.
Appendices attached to the April 1941 War Diary of Iceland (C ) Force Commander, Royal Engineers.
None of the Appendices referred to in the above text seem to have been included within the War Diary file.
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