War Diary 756th Field Company, Royal Engineers, November 1943
1 – 20 November 1943 INVERARAY.
Combined Operational Training carried out at the Combined Training Centre Inveraray with 147 Infantry Brigade as per Training Programme at Appendices 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41. See the Appendices attached to the War Diary. For details see below.
4 November 1943
The Company was complemented on the accuracy of its shooting during Field Firing Practice at HELLS GLEN after a surprise visit by the Brigade Commander.
17 November 1943
Exercise ARDNO 6 was concluded with a march past the G.o.C. The Brigade Commander afterwards said….”That the marching was excellent after a hard Exercise and he was loath to admit that the Field Company’s marching was even better than the two Battalions taking part”.
19 November 1943
The main body of the Company left INVERARAY for GALSTON to prepare for Exercise REFILL leaving 1 Platoon only to take part in the second Exercise ARDNO 6.
20 November 1943
08:00 hours. 1 Platoon left by road for GALSTON. The rear party provided a cutter team to take part in the inter-unit boat race. They won in the record time of 3 minutes 53 seconds, beating the previous holders, a Canadian unit, by 39 seconds.
21 November 1943
08:30 hours. Company moved off from LOUDOUN CASTLE to concentrate near STEWARTON for 1 Corps Exercise REFILL.
22 November 1943
First bridge built over River IRVINE at GATESHEAD. Approaches were difficult. The 110 foot Double Span Bailey Bridge was completed in 5 ½ hours.
23 November 1943
10:50 hours. Second bridge commenced over River AYR at STAIR. Only Class 9 required but river width necessitated 170 foot Triple Span Bailey Bridge (the longest built by the Company). Trouble with bankseats and with Jacks slipping was experienced but eventually after grillage had been relaid correctly it was completed and the Company passed over it and the lengthy approach roads.
24 November 1943
Advance Party sent forward to set out site for third bridge over River DOONE. All mines on approaches were cleared and approach material laid ready for bridge material when it arrived.
25 – 26 November 1943
Exercise REFILL ended and company dismantled all bridges built returning to GALSTON by 20:00 hours 26 November.
28 – 29 November 1943 GALSTON.
48 hours rest granted to all ranks after nearly six weeks without time off.
29 November 1943
A series of three courses on Mines and Demolitions run for Brigade HQ, Signals Section and Light Aid Detachment commenced as per programme at Appendix 43. Appendix attached to War Diary. This Appendix was either omitted from the file or was not photographed at Kew.
30 November 1943
Company back to drill and weapon training. Some employed making up toggle ropes for each man and others waterproofing mine detectors.
Appendices attached to the War Diary for November 1943 for 756th Field Company.
Training notes.
This half-page set out guidance for Engineer Officers on liaising with the Infantry counterparts and warned that the training at C.T.C. might have to be curtailed if the Company was required for Exercise REFILL.
The first page was for HQ Platoon and set out their schedule from 1st November to 8th November, involving; cutter pulling, grenade throwing and elementary charges, the RE role in the assault, training films on; Combined Operations, Beach organisation and Air aspects of Combined Operations, and demonstration of rations.
HQ Platoon’s schedule continued on the next page from 9 November to 16 November and incorporated; more grenade throwing and elementary charges, landing ship drills, track clearance drill, tank recognition and destruction, assault demolitions, enemy equipment, waterproofing equipment, mine clearance and booby traps and field firing.
The HQ Platoon schedule was completed on the next page, covering 17th to 20th November and included lectures on; enemy equipment, waterproofing equipment, grenade throwing and making up charges, field firing and the final inter-unit boat race.
3 Platoon’s training programme – in association with 7th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment – started with work on repairing beach defences at NEWTON BAY and duties in the camp. Officers and NCOs undertook a Technical Examination on 1st November.
Training proper began with; grenade throwing and elementary charges, cutter pulling, Battle Drill, field firing and the lecture on the Engineer role in the assault.
During the second week time was spent on; assault drills with the dummy landing craft, lectures on beach organisation, rations demonstration, training films, landing ship drills, craft training (including at night), assault landings using live rounds and mine laying and clearance drills.
The sheet covering the final days of the course is missing, so may not have been photographed or had been weeded from the file.
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