War Diary 756th Field Company, Royal Engineers, February 1943
1 February 1943 Stourbridge.
Major J R GRIMSDELL RE assumed command of Company, vice Major COLBORNE.
12:00 hours. Company, less 3 Platoon, concentrated near MALVERN hills for exercise “POMPOUS” – 3 Platoon building camp at LLANDOVERY.
15:00 hours UPTON on SEVERN. Company ordered to bridge River SEVERN in flood with Pontoon equipment. Bridging commenced at 22:00 hours in heavy rain and with the river banks two feet under water. River running at 6 to 7 knots. Company finished bridging at 09:00 hours 2 February 1943.
3 February 1943
Pontoon bridge dismantled and Company returned to Stourbridge as further bridging operations impossible due to severe floods.
5 February 1943
1 and 2 Platoons build Floating Bridging Equipment rafts on River SEVERN at BEWDLEY, during the day, and again at night in very quick time.
6 February 1943
Bridging at BEWDLEY.
8 February 1943
Company builds Class 40 Bailey Pontoon Bridge across River SEVERN, bridge comprising 2 80 foot long landing bays, 2 end floating bays and 42 foot floating bay. Only one member of the Company had handled this type of bridge before.
9 February 1943
Company dismantled Bailey Pontoon Bridge. The Divisional Skeleton Signal Exercise FANTOME begins and Officer Commanding, CQMS and ten Other Ranks proceed to concentration area near ABERGAVENNY.
10 February 1943
09:00 hours. Company builds 80 foot Class 40 Bailey Bridge from lorries at STEWPONEY.
14:00 hours. Company dismantled Bailey and returns to Stourbridge. Exercise FANTOME continues.
11 February 1943
Exercise FANTOME finishes at WHITNEY, Company on bridging.
12 February 1943
Company Pontoon bridging at BEWDLEY.
13 February 1943
Pontoon bridging equipment loaded for return to Command.
15 February 1943
Exercise FILLDYKE begins.
16 February 1943
River SEVERN bridged with Floating Bridging Equipment at HOLT FLEET in 4 hours.
17 February 1943
River TEME bridged at SHELSEY BEAUCHAMP with 120 foot D.D. Class 40 Bailey Bridge.
18 February 1943
Company bridges River LUGG with single single 90 foot Bailey Bridge. Company proceeds to new forward assemble area and prepared to bridge River WYE.
18:00 hours. Exercise FILLDYKE ends.
19 February 1943
Company dismantled and picks up Bailey Bridge over Rivers LUGG and TEME and returns to STOURBRIDGE. 3 Platoon proceeds to LLANDOVERY to paint Nissen Huts.
22 to 27 February 1943
Company concentrates on intensive demolitions programme in preparation for Exercise SPARTAN.
23 February 1943
3 Platoon returns from LLANDOVERY.
26 February 1943
Advance Party proceeds to PENN WOOD for Exercise WESTMOUNT. Chief Engineer holds conference on lessons of FILLDYKE.
28 February 1943
Company leaves STOURBRIDGE for PENN WOOD near AMERSHAM on Exercise WESTMOUNT.
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