War Diary 757th Field Company, Royal Engineers, June 1943
1 June 1943
09:00 hours. Weather. Showery.
Major L A M Fraser leaves for recce in Scotland. Lieutenant Howard assumes command during absence of Officer Commanding.
Company on Weapon Training and Drill.
Drivers on Range.
2 June 1943
09:00 hours. Weather. Showery.
Lt Howard attends Divisional Sports Meeting at FOXLEY.
No. 1 Platoon on Range, remainder of Company on basic training.
Whole Company on night map reading exercise.
3 June 1943
09:00 hours. Weather. Fine.
No. 2 Platoon on Range.
Nos. 1 and 3 Platoon on route march and use of toggle ropes.
4 June 1943
09:00 hours. Weather. Cloudy.
No. 3 Platoon on Range.
Nos. 1 and 2 Platoons on route march and use of toggle ropes.
5 June 1943
09:00 hours. Weather. Fine.
Company on conservancy and Army Bureau of Current Affairs during morning.
6 June 1943
09:00 hours. Weather. Cloudy.
Company on conservancy followed by Officer Commanding’s inspection of billets.
7 June 1943
08:00 hours. Battle Drill and Swimming Instruction.
Army Bureau of Current Affairs period. Visit to unit of ABCA Officer, Western Command.
8 June 1943
08:00 hours. Company on Knots and Lashings, Spars and Gas Training.
9 June 1943
08:00 hours. Assault Demolitions lecture.
Recreational training in afternoon.
10 June 1943
08:00 hours. Company on Route March.
11 June 1943
08:00 hours. Whole Company on Range KINGSBURY.
Officer Commanding at Company Commanders’ Conference.
12 June 1943
08:00 hours. Officer Commanding’s Parade and Commander Royal Engineers’ Inspection.
Second Lieutenant M F Donoghue returns from leave.
13 June 1943
08:00 hours. Conservancy of Billets.
Divisional Royal Engineers’ Church Parade.
14 June 1943
08:00 hours. Billet conservancy and loading of stores.
15 June 1943
07:30 hours. Company move to HALTON Bridging Camp.
Second-in-Command returns from leave.
Second Lieutenant E C Dodd returns from 49 Division Battle School.
16 June 1943 HALTON.
08:30 hours. Unloading stores and cleaning billets.
Watermanship – practical.
17 June 1943
08:00 hours. Training in Watermanship; Cutters, Folding Boat and Pontoons.
18 June 1943
08:00 hours. Rafting Class V Folding Boat Equipment. Pontoon Batswing.
Rear Party arrives.
19 June 1943
08:00 hours. Conservancy of Billets and Officer Commanding’s inspection.
20 June 1943
08:00 hours. Construction of Double Single Bailey Pontoon Bridge.
21 June 1943
08:00 hours. Construction of Double Single Bailey Pontoon Bridge.
Officer Commanding on recce to Scotland.
22 June 1943
08:00 hours. Construction of Pontoon Class 40 Bridge.
23 June 1943
08:00 hours. Construction of Pontoon Class 40 Bridge.
Visit of Chief Engineer Western Command.
Officer commanding returns from recce.
Night bridging Class 40 Bailey Pontoon Bridge.
24 June 1943
23:00 hours. Night bridging. Construction of Class 40 Bailey Pontoon Bridge.
25 June 1943
Construction of Night Bridging to 08:00 hours.
26 June 1943
08:00 hours. Conservancy of Bridging stores and Officer Commanding’s Inspection.
Lieutenant A W Moore on leave.
27 June 1943
08:00 hours. Watermanship and use of Propulsion Unit.
Night Bridging – Bailey Pontoon Assault crossing.
28 June 1943
Continuation of Night Bridging to 08:00 hours.
Lieutenant L Bruce posted to this unit from No. 1 Training Brigade Royal Engineers.
Lieutenant A W Howard posted to No. 1 Training Brigade Royal Engineers.
29 June 1943
08:00 hours. Company engaged on cleaning of all Bridging Equipment.
30 June 1943
08:00 hours. Unfortunately this entry is unreadable as a result of a poor photograph taken at Kew, but the Company seemed to be employed in cleaning and handing over Bridging Equipment and loading and packing stores ready for departure from Halton.
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