War Diary 757th Field Company, Royal Engineers, April 1942
1 April 1942 NANTMOR VALLEY, PENRHYNDEUDRAETH.
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, high wind, showers.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company on Works. Cookhouse on “B” Camp and several stone tanks blown down.
2 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cloudy, calm, ground very wet.
13:00 hours. Light clouds, sunshine.
Company on Works. Officer Commanding meeting Officer Commanding and Land Agent in connection with a proposed camp site for the 453 Mountain Battery, Royal Artillery. 2/Lt Wakefield making survey and recce of new Mountain Battery Camp Site. Officer Commanding accompanying Brigadier on tour of “A” Camp.
3 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, mild.
15:00 hours. Rain.
Company on Works at Camp Sites. Officer Commanding with Brigadier visiting Brigade HQ Camp and B Camp.
4 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, rain.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company on Works at Camp Sites. Officer Commanding attending Brigade Conference.
5 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, mild.
13:00 hours. Light clouds, sunshine.
Company on Works at Camp Sites. Contacting Officer Commanding 25 Mule Company RIASC.
6 April 1942
09:00 hours. weather report. Dull, heavy rain.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company commenced training. Meeting Officer Commanding 25 Mule Company and fixing up Training Programme for Animal Pack Loading.
7 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Stormy, heavy rain.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company on training. Pack load training with demonstration squads 25 Mule Company.
8 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, mild, dry.
13:00 hours. Light clouds, sunny periods.
2 and 3 Sections on Works. Nissen Hut construction. 1 Section Pack Load Training.
9 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, rain.
13:00 hours. No change.
1 Section on Route March with Mountain Warfare Equipment. 2 Section erecting Nissen Huts for 10th DLI. 3 Section Pack Loading Training.
Lieutenant Colonel Robbins, Western Command, visited this Unit with questions relating to Tradesmen in Unit.
10 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, calm, mild.
13:00 hours. Light clouds, bright periods.
2 and 3 Sections on Training. 1 Section on Works. Officer Commanding attending Training Conference at HQ 1 Tyneside Scottish. Two chargers arrived.
11 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, calm, mist and slight drizzle.
13:00 hours. Clouds, dry, very mild.
One Section on Works. Remainder of Company inspected by Brigade Commander. Company on recreational training in afternoon.
12 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, mild.
13:00 hours. Bright periods, dry and mild.
Conservancy. Recreation.
13 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, mild, dry.
13:00 hours. Bright sunshine, warm.
2 ½ Sections on training. ½ Section on Works.
14 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, cool.
13:00 hours. Bright sunshine, warm.
2 ½ Sections on training. ½ Section on Camp Works.
Captain Atkin, Army Catering Corps, District Catering Adviser called.
15 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, strong sunshine.
13:00 hours. Very warm, bright sunshine.
2 Sections on training. 1 Section on Camp Works.
16 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, strong sunshine.
13:00 hours. No change.
2 Sections on individual training. 1 Section on Camp Works.
2/Lt Hodge returned from Warfare School, Iceland.
17 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, strong sunshine.
13:00 hours. No change.
3 Sections on training, individual and pack loading.
18 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, bright, warm.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company administration. Major Fraser and 2/Lt Wakefield visiting Explosives Factory, PENRHYNDEUDRAETH.
19 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, bright, warm.
13:00 hours. No change.
Recreation.
20 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, haze, calm.
13:00 hours. Cloudy, cold.
No. 1 Section with 1st Tyneside Scottish on 36 hour exercise. 1 ½ Sections on individual training. ½ Section on Works.
Brigade Commander called and inspected training. Chief Engineer, North Wales District called.
21 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, white frost.
13:00 hours. Cloudy, cold.
No. 1 Section with 1st Tyneside Scottish on exercise. Nos. 2 and 3 Sections on individual training.
22 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, cool.
13:00 hours. Clear, sunshine, average temperature.
No. 3 Section on exercise with 11th DLI. 1 and 2 Sections on individual training.
23 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, mild.
13:00 hours. Light clouds, cool.
No. 3 Section on exercise with 11th DLI. No. 2 Section on exercise with 10th DLI. No. 1 Section on individual training.
Officer Commanding visiting Lieutenant Colonel Foster RE, Commandant Royal Engineers 49 Division.
24 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cloudy, cold.
13:00 hours. Light clouds, bright periods, cold wind.
Nos. 2 and 3 Sections on Battalion exercises. No. 1 Section on individual training.
Commandant Royal Engineers visiting Unit.
25 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds. Bright, very cold winds.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company administration. Commandant Royal Engineers addressing Company.
26 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, bright, cold winds.
13:00 hours. No change.
Recreation.
27 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, bright, cold winds.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company on training with Pack Transport.
28 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, bright, high winds.
13:00 hours. No change
Company on training with Pack Transport. Route March with Animal Transport.
29 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, bright sunshine, continuing winds.
13:00 hours. No change.
Route March with Pack Animals.
30 April 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, bright sunshine, calm.
13:00 hours. Very warm.
Route March without animals. Light scheme with Pack Animals.
G.o.C. 49 Division visiting Camp.
To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.