War Diary 756th Field Company, Royal Engineers, March 1944

1 – 31 March 1944 TAVERHAM.

Training as per programme at Appendices 59 – 63. See Appendices 59 to 63 attached to the War Diary.

Driver Operators to separate Programme, Appendix 64. See Appendix 64 attached to the War Diary.

These documents were either missing from the file at The national Archives or were not photographed, due to pressure of time, during the research visit.

6 March 1944

Officer Commanding attended Tank firing demonstration at Dunwich training area.

8 March 1944

Company Commanders’ Conference.

11 March 1944

Commandant Royal Engineers inspected HQ and No. 1 Platoon at TAVERHAM. I.C.I. representative from School of Military Engineering lectured on explosives to all Officers and Sergeants of Divisional Royal Engineers.

12 March 1944

Lt Wilson rejoined the Company after over a year and F.E. 2 at Divisional HQ RE. Lieutenant Drew posted to HQ RE in his place.

13 March 1944

Photograph of Company taken. Shooting range completed to 300 yard point in TAVERHAM CAMP. Butts for 4 targets installed and earth wall 30 feet high completed with D.7 Bulldozer.

14 March 1944

1 Platoon on Exercise SKIP.

19 March 1944

Recce at Southwold for proposed bridge on pier for Commandant Royal Engineer’s Company design competition.

22 March 1944

Captain Pryce, Medical Category “B” posted to 140 O.C.T.U. as Instructor.

All men present with Company go through Gas Chamber and all respirators tested.

Lieutenant Burdett posted from 294 Field Company as Second-in-Command.

24 March 1944

Company bridge design for Southwold Pier accepted. Bridge novel in design in that it is erected vertically upwards for 65 feet and then lowered through 90 degrees to span gap. Designed to take 150 lbs per square foot and made out of 2”diameter tubular scaffolding.

25 March 1944

Field Returns submitted and attached to War Diary. For details see below.

27 March 1944

294 Field Company demonstrate laying of CORDTEX explosive net by means of 5” naval rocket. Complete net was accidentally detonated whilst in cradle and all spectators had lucky escape. Lt Paterson hit in left leg and taken to hospital.

28 March 1944

Captain Wilson of Airfield Construction Group lectured during morning and afternoon on Airfield Recce.

31 March 1944

Semi-final of Divisional Boxing won by Royal Engineers.

Appendices attached to March 1944 War Diary of 756th Field Company, Royal Engineers.

Field Return of Other Ranks dated 25 March 1944.

248 men were in post against the War Establishment of 261 – a shortfall of 13 (one Corporal, one Lance Corporal and 11 Sappers).

The Company listed five men – all currently in hospital – whose return to the unit was particularly requested. Their details have been included on the personnel list on the unit main page.

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