War Diary 757th Field Company, Royal Engineers, January 1943
1 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, mild.
13:00 hours. No change.
No. 2 Platoon detachment left for NEW RADNOR, object – to clear Royal Engineers Dump. Lt Howard visiting CLYRO in connection with Brigade Group Camp. No. 3 Platoon on Improvised Bridging.
2 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Heavy clouds, cold.
13:00 hours. Light clouds, showers.
Major Fraser, Lt Howard and 3 NCOs attending demonstration of Beehives etc at QUEENSFERRY near CHESTER.
3 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Light clouds, bright.
13:00 hours. No change.
No. 2 Platoon detachment returned from NEW RADNOR. 2/Lt Banham, Corps of Signals, arrived.
4 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Heavy clouds, very cold.
13:00 hours. No change.
Nos. 2 and 3 Platoons on Improvised Bridging.
5 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull. 1” snow on ground. Cold.
13:00 hours. Snowing slightly.
Nos. 2 and 3 Platoons on Improvised Bridging. Driver/Operators Course commenced under 2/Lt Banham. C.R.E. Company Commanders’ Conference.
6 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, snowing, mild.
13:00 hours. No change.
Nos. 2 and 3 Platoons Cliff Scaling and P.T. Drill and Recreational Training. Lt Howard visiting HAY and CLYRO, regarding Brigade Group Camp.
7 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, slight fog, average temperature.
13:00 hours. No change.
Captain Lucas left for Combined Operations Course TROON. Nos. 2 and 3 Platoons Improvised Bridging.
8 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Hard frost, light fog.
13:00 hours. Clear.
Nos. 2 and 3 Platoons on Improvised Bridging. Major Fraser conducting Lt Col Packard, C.O. HALLAMSHIRES, around Infantry Pioneer School.
9 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Very dull and misty, snowing.
13:00 hours. Very damp and dull.
Officer Commanding’s inspection of billets. Major Fraser calling on 107 Bridging Company, RASC. Lt Howard meeting Chief Engineer and Q.C. at LLANGOED CASTLE, LLYSWEN. No. 1 Platoon returned from leave.
10 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Very dull and misty, damp.
13:00 hours. No change.
Conservancy and Inspection of Billets. No. 2 Platoon left on detachment for LLANGOED CASTLE, LLYSWEN for work on Brigade Camp at CLYRO.
11 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Cloudy and very damp.
13:00 hours. Light clouds.
No. 1 Platoon on Pontoon Bridging at ENVILLE. No. 3 Platoon – leave and Company duties.
Three Officers and 3 Warrant Officers of Home Guard Training Wing attached to this Company for all purposes and accommodated in Mess.
12 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Very dull and slight rain, mild.
13:00 hours. (No comment).
No. 1 Platoon on Rafting.
13 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Bright and fine.
Captain Lucas returned from Combined Training Centre, TROON. Major Fraser visited No. 2 Platoon on Works. No. 1 Platoon on Physical and Recreational Training.
14 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Fine and mild.
No. 1 Platoon on Pontoon Ferrying. Major Fraser left for Commanding Officers’ Course at W.C. – Driving and Maintenance School, Craven Arms.
15 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Fine and mild.
No. 1 Platoon on Rafting.
16 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Fine and mild.
Acting Officer Commanding’s inspection of billets. Afternoon Recreational Training.
17 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull and wet.
Church Parade for Church of England. Half day.
18 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull and mild.
No. 1 Platoon on Floating Bridging Equipment Rafting at HAMPTON COADE. Home Guard Training Wing departed.
19 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull and mild.
1 Platoon with 15 men attached from 289 Field Park Company on Bridging Schemes at BEVERE ISLAND – 160 foot Floating Bridging Equipment.
20 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, mild, rain.
13:00 hours. No change.
No. 1 Platoon with 30 men from 289 Field Park Company on Floating Bridging Equipment Bridging. Major Fraser returned from Course at Command Driving and Maintenance School.
21 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, dry, mild.
13:00 hours. Bright, light clouds.
Cliff scaling, mountain P.T. Recreational training. Commandant Royal Engineers’ Conference.
22 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, mild, damp.
13:00 hours. No change.
No. 1 Platoon and 30 men from Field Park Company at QUATT. 190097 on Floating Bridging Equipment. Lieutenant Hodge reported back from Demolition Course and leave.
23 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Heavy clouds, average temperature.
13:00 hours. Light clouds.
No. 1 Platoon on S.B.G. rehearsing demonstration. Second Lieutenant H W LITTLE RE reported to this unit, posting to count with effect from 15th January 1943.
24 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Heavy ground frost and misty.
13:00 hours. Light clouds.
Company taking part in demonstration to 10th Battalion Worcester Home Guard. Bridging and demolitions.
25 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull. Heavy rain. Mild.
13:00 hours. Heavy rain.
Platoons cleaning bridging material.
26 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, dry, mild.
13:00 hours. Bright, mild.
Platoons cleaning up bridging material at ENVILLE. Lt Hodge returned from Course at RIPON. 2/Lt Little left for Bomb Disposal Course at RIPON.
27 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Clear, dry, mild.
13:00 hours. Heavy clouds.
Platoons on Mountain P.T. and Squad Drill. Company Dental inspection. Major Fraser at CLYRO visiting Camp construction. Lt Howard received orders to stop construction of camp until further notice.
28 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Heavy clouds, very mild.
13:00 hours. Slight rain.
No. 1 Platoon on Double Double Bailey Bridge with 756 Field Company, Royal Engineers at BEVERE ISLAND map reference 290803 sheet 81. Commandant Royal Engineers’ Cloth Model Exercise in Drill Hall STOURBRIDGE.
29 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Bright, clear, average temperature.
13:00 hours. Heavy clouds.
No. 1 Platoon on Fieldworks Ground on S.W.R. Suspension Bridge.
30 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Rather dull, average temperature.
13:00 hours. Heavy showers.
Conservancy and Kit and Billet inspection.
31 January 1943
09:00 hours. Weather report. Dull, winds, rain.
13:00 hours. No change.
Conservancy. Platoons loading up for Exercise “POMPUS”. Second Lieutenant E C DODD RE posted to this unit from 141/142 OCTU.
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