War Diary 757th Field Company, Royal Engineers, December 1942
1 December 1942 PROSPECT HOUSE, PROSPECT HILL, STOURBRIDGE, WORCESTER.
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull and cold.
2 Section – 49 Division Street Fighting School. 1 and 3 Sections Demolitions.
2 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cold and fine.
2 Section 49 Division Street Fighting School. 1 and 3 Sections Demolitions. Football. Final of Divisional Royal Engineers Competition versus 756 Field Company. Lost 6 – 3.
3 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cold and fine.
1, 2 and 3 Sections on Demolitions. Lieutenant A D S Howard left to umpire 52 Division Exercise GOLIATH.
NCOs instruction in Demolitions.
18:15 hours. Captain Lucas to Whitney on Divisional Cloth Model Exercise.
4 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull and cold.
1, 2 and 3 Sections on Demolitions. Captain Lucas on Recce for Bailey Bridge Demonstration Site.
5 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Rain and mild.
Section Administration, Company Drill and Prisoner of War Demonstration. Recreational Training.
6 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Rain and mild.
Wireless and demolition training for NCOs. Kit check. Half day.
7 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Fine and mild.
1 Section on Wiring. 2 and 3 Sections on Knots and Anchorages. Major Fraser returned to Unit.
8 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, average temperatures.
13:00 hours. No change.
Officer Commanding with Second-in-Command at A/C RE and visiting sites at SEDGLEY and HAMSTEAD in connection with Bridging demonstrations on 12 – 18 December 1942. Officers and Senior NCOs attending lecture by Officer Commanding Divisional Signals.
9 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, damp, mild.
13:00 hours. Dull, rain.
Company on Bailey Bridging at HAMSTEAD.
10 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, damp, mild.
13:00 hours. Rain.
Company on Bailey Bridging at HAMSTEAD.
11 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, mild.
13:00 hours. Showers.
Company on Bailey Bridging at HAMSTEAD.
12 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, mild.
13:00 hours. Bright, mild.
Bridging demonstration given to Bailey Bridge makers and employees. Triple Single 100 foot Bailey erected in 1 hour 11 minutes by 80 men including unloading from transport.
13 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cloudy, mild.
13:00 hours. Light clouds, average temperature.
Bridging demonstration 100 foot Double Single Bailey given to Home Guard at BAGGEREDGE COLLIERY.
14 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cloudy, mild.
13:00 hours. No change.
Acting Commandant Royal Engineers Conference. Divisional Royal Engineers Cloth Model Exercise in Drill Hall, STOURBRIDGE for Officers and Sergeants.
15 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, mild.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company on Demolitions Training. Officer Commanding on leave. Captain Lucas on Combined Operations Course at IRVINE.
16 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, showers.
13:00 hours. No change.
Conservancy. Recreational Training. Officer Commanding on leave.
17 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, showers.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company on Demolition Training. Officer Commanding returned from leave.
18 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, rain.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company on Demolition Training.
19 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, showers, mild.
13:00 hours. No change.
Conservancy and Billet inspection. Recreational training. Lieutenant Howard returned from Exercise GOLIATH. Lt Moore on leave with half no. 1 Platoon.
20 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, average temperature.
13:00 hours. Bright.
Conservancy.
21 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, mild.
13:00 hours. No change.
Range. Swimming. Knots and Lashings. Bailey 80 foot Double Single on 15cwt G.S. trucks (Experimental).
22 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, mild.
13:00 hours. Bright, clear.
Range. Shears, trestles and lashings. Lecture on Current Affairs in Drill Hall.
23 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, ground frost.
13:00 hours. Bright, clear, average temperature.
Officer Commanding attending a demonstration of mine detection. Passage of Wire at HEREFORD, given to 146 Brigade. Lieutenant Hodge on recce of camp site at CLYRO (HEREFORD) for Brigade Group.
24 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Heavy clouds, damp, average temperature.
13:00 hours. No change.
Company on Mine detection. Experimental Bailey. Swimming. 13 Other Ranks posted to this Unit.
25 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cloudy, average temperature.
13:00 hours. No change.
CHRISTMAS DAY. NO PARADES.
26 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Heavy clouds, average temperature.
13:00 hours. No change.
Conservancy. Recreational training.
27 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Heavy clouds, average temperature.
13:00 hours. No change.
Conservancy. Lt Howard left for 1/6 Duke of Wellington’s, 147 Brigade at CHEPSTOW in connection with Mine detection demonstration. Section from No. 2 Platoon left for 6 days Bomb Disposal Course at HARBOURNE, BIRMINGHAM.
28 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cloudy, damp.
13:00 hours. No change.
Detachment of No. 2 Platoon left for 1/6 Duke of Wellington’s, CHEPSTOW for Mine detection demonstration. No. 3 Platoon and Eight 30 cwts at LEAMINGTON collecting hutting material and dumping at ENVILLE.
29 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, average temperature.
13:00 hours. Clear, bright, cool.
No. 3 Platoon on Gyns and Shears. 3 Other Ranks from 15 ON. Posted to this unit. Lt Hodge on Mines and Demolition Course, School of Military Engineering.
30 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, cold.
13:00 hours. Cloudy, cold.
No. 3 Platoon on Improvised Bridging. Detachment of 2 Platoon returned from CHEPSTOW.
31 December 1942
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cloudy, slight fall of snow.
13:00 hours. Bright, snow cleared, average temperature.
Nos. 2 and 3 Platoons on Improvised Bridging.
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