War Diary of 22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop REME 1944

War Diaries of 22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

1944

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January - March 1944

Missing

April 1944 Commanding Officer: Major C.A.B. Wilkinson
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Shakers	1-30		Work proceeded in the squaring up of personnel unit unit equipment.
Wood	Apr		Progress hampered by the original issues of unsuitable vehicles G,ops deficiencies very large
Mundford			ADOS authrorised local purchase of deficiencies
OS. 1"			Workshops were largely enganded in the manufactires of of Command tanks for G.O.C. and Bde Cmd.
Sheet 66
MR 262153

May 1944 Commanding Officer: Major C.A.B. Wilkinson
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Shakers Wood	3		Authority at last obtained for relesed of equipment vehicles.
nr Mundford	5		Sixteen new Chevrolet 3 tonners
OS 1"	7		Twenty-two new chevrolet 3 tonners draswn, Work proceeds in all haste to fit then as Stores lorries,
66 MR 262153			fitters lorries, etc,
	20		CORNELIUS warning receided. i.e Advance party o be at 6 hours notice to move wef 28 May 44.
	22		Stage "A" of waterproofing of Adv party vehicles begins
	24		O,R, Residue conference at 7 Arnd Div Admin Post.
	27		Waterproofing completed satisfactorily
	28		Cornelius date Advance party ready to move.
	29		" " " " " " "
	30		" " " " " " "
	31		" " " " " " "

June 1944 Commanding Officer: Major C.A.B. Wilkinson
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
MR 262153	1 June -	3 June	Nothing to report.
Shakers Wood	4 June		Conference called. Moving instructions expected, but no move until tomorrow
Munford	5 June		Conference called at 1300 hrs. Moving order for Advance Party received.
			Advance Party move off to "T" area at midnight
T6 Marshalling	6 June		Arrived at Marshalling Area up to time. Completed Stage B waterproofing.
Area			Got two vehicles in replacement if the two which broke down on march.
	7 June		Trucks with drivers only left the area for Docks at 0825 hrs, Changed
			Sterling to Francs
	8 June		Crews taken to West India Docks by bus. All vehicles loaded by 2200 hrs on MT Ship.
			Accommodation very poor
	9 June		Laid off Thames Estuary all day.
	10 June		Convoy moved off at 0600 hrs, Escort laid heavy smoke screen thru' the Straits
	11 June		Party with OC offloaded on to LCTs, Rena under loaded onto Rhinos
	12 June		Last party beached at 0100 hrs, First vehicle drown in 5 Ft, of water.
			Recovered by beach Rec, Sec. Rhino pulled off and rebeached. All vehicles unloaded O.J. Parties rejoined and moved to Beyeux area 799794 (1/50,000 Grid)
799794	13 June		Work begun. 10 tanks and 9 other vehicles.
Bayeux	14 June		First mail arrives, Work continues till 22300 hrs
	15 June		Some enemy air activity, and heavy A.A. at night.
	16 June		Work going well - but spares situations difficult. Cannibalization rampant.
	17 - 18 June		Nothing to report
707710	19 June -	20 June	Moved to BALLEROY 707710. Heavy rain, Nothing further to report.
Balleroy	21 June		Enemy shelling falling nearby at nights
	22 June -	24 June	Nothing to report.
	25 June		Work ramping up. Residue party espected
	26 June		Original text illegible of present copy
	27 - 29 June		Nothing to report
	30 June		Grandstand view of 295 Heavy Bombers bombing Villers-Bocage

July 1944 Commanding Officer: Major C.A.B. Wilkinson
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
769757	1 - 3 July		Nothing to report.
	4 July		Moved to Subles 769787. Div now in Corps reserve
	5 - 6 July		Nothing to report.
	7 July		Watch 450 heavy bombers raid Caen at 2200 hrs
	8 - 9 July		Nothing to report.
	10 July		First Party of Residues arrives
	11 - 14 July		Nothing to report.
	15 July 44		Remaining Residues arrived - Unit now complete.
	16 July.		Div come under command of 8 Corps.
	17 July		Some aerial activities seen at 0545 hrs, Our planes engaged in bombing of Caen
	18 - 20 July.		Nothing to report.
MR. 98/0775	21 July		0600 hrs, Moved to location MR.980775 (Thacen). Rec, Sec, now over the Rivers
	22 July		Nothing to report.
	23 July		It is decided to bring back a "runner" Panther tank toW/Shops for instruction of Bde crews. Fitters sent to repair tank and bring it over the River Orne
	24 July		Panther breaks Tay Bridge; is drowned; and has to be destroyed by REs.
	25 July.		Rec Sec move to 175759
	26 - 27 July.		Nothing to report.
	28 July		The Div starts to move back to 30 Corps Sector. Expect to move on 31st. 26 tanks in W/Shops
	29 July.		Nothing to report.
	30 July.		Orders received at 2300 hrs to move at 0500 hrs.
MR.769787	31 July.		Move at 0500 hrs, back original locations at 469787

July 1944 Residue Party Commanding Officer: Capt. D. Campbell
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
MR262153	1 - 2 July		Nothing to report.
	3 July		More units moved away. Sill no word for us.
	4 - 5 July		Nothing to report.
	6 July		Warned to move on 8th,
	7 July.		Nothing to report.
	8 July.		Moves off from Shakers Wood at 2250 hrs
RCRP,I	9 July		Arrived at "A" Marshalling Area RCRP.I at 14630 hrs .Convoy split and sent to two marshalling area A4 and A9.
	10 July		Warned at 0130 hrs to move at 0500 hrs, Moved ay 0630 hrs to side road near Docks. 1630 hrs embarked on LST/
At Sea	11 July		At Sea. Disembarked at Courseulless, Normandy at 1950 hrs.
769757	12 July.		Rejoined Unit at 0630 hrs, (Location 1/50,000, 6F/4 St. Lo. 769757

August 1944 Commanding Officer: Major C.A.B. Wilkinson
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
769757	1 - 5.		Nothing to report.
	6.		Rec. Sec. moved to 812552
	7.		Ordered to move at 1800 hrs to 789557/ At 0100 hrs At 0100 hrs cancelled. Now to moved at 1100 hrs. At 1030 hrs move cancelled until further orders. At 1800 hrs it is learned tat area allotted is reserved for 2nd Army WE shall move in area occupied by Rear Div when they move out
	8.		Still awaiting orders to move, Ordered to move at 2100 hrs to 805570. area occupied by Rear Div. Rear Div. do not move, Move to original area 789557
789557	9.		100 hrs move to 808562.
808562.	10.		Thirty tanks in Shops.
	11 - 15.		Nothing to report.
	16.		Div. ordered without notice to CAEN Sector W/Shops NOT ordered to move. almost all jobs clear.
	17.		Awaiting orders to move. Capt. Bird to Bde, to act as BEME
	18.		Move at 0600 hrs to 100545.
100545	19 - 21.		Nothing to report.
284494	22.		Moved at 0600 hrs to 284491 (St, Marre- Sur-Dives)
	23 - 24.		Nothing to report.
	25.		Moved at 2000 hrs to 706874 (THIBERVILLE).
706874	26 - 29.		Nothing to report.
	30.		Moved at 0050 hrs to 036834 ( NEUBOUTG) Dump of 9 AFYs and 2 B Vehicles left on old area for 1 Corps to disposed of, since this move to 12 Corps occurred without warning
	31		Nothing to report.

September 1944 Commanding Officer: Major W. Hammerton
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
825555	Sept 1.		Moved over the SEINE 82555 (Granedilliers) with the following under command - 151 Inf !/Shops, 263 F,D,S, and 7 Hyv Rec Sec.
055718	2.		Moved to 055718 VIGNACOURT).
155986	3.		Moved to 155986 (FREVENT).
447204	4.		Moved ti 447204 (MAXINGRANDE), 8 Hussare, 1 RTR and 1 RB supposed to be in this area for 48 hrs, but no trace of them. We are supposed to assit then in refitting doing this period.
	5.		1 RB located in BETHUNE.
	6.		All units located - very little work to do, Corps ordered move of Bde rear party to move - remain on 1 hrs notice. L.O. sent daily to HQ REME
	7 - 9.		Nothing to report.
	10.		L.O. reports move expected tomorrow
	11.		0550 hrs L.O. from 12 Corps gives movement order. At 0930 hrs move off behind 1 RTR, Traffic very dense and a lot of cross traffic makes progress slow. Cross border into Belgium. Arrive at new leaguer area at 2050 hrs.
			Map, Ref. J550981. Distance covered during day 110 miles.
550981	12.		Move to area J723745 (MALINES) where the Division is concentrating. Unit located in factory building used ny Germans for storage.
	13 - 15.		A lot of work in. Work ceases at 1800 hrs. Very nearly rejoined by sit???? of marines. Major W. Hammerton posted to this unit as new O.C. Major C.A.B. Wilkinson goes to Division as 2 i/c CREME
	12.		Units of Div, begin to move out towards te Albertt Canal.
	17 - 22.		All work cleared up. Ready to move.
J599962	Sept, 23		Moved to Albert Canal area K.5484
K5489	24.		Moved to WESTERHOVEM XXX. area K386635.
K386635	25.		Little work to do,
	26.		Track at entrance to leaguer caved in. Weather wet.
K456224	27.		Moved at 0600 hrs to K456224 (EINDHOVEN area.)
	28.		Expected to stay hear for 3 to 5 days. Weather wet.
K510560	29.		Moved at 0550 hrs to K510560 (ERP area). Some shelling of the road between St. Odenrode and Veghel had been in progress But all quiet when the convoy passed.
	30.		A fair amount of work beginning to come in.

October 1944 Commanding Officer: Major W. Hammerton
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
K510560 (ERP area)
	1 Oct 44.
	9 Octy 44.		Remained in same location, Weather remained fair - cold but little rain.
			Shells continue to fall ob VEGHEL 2 miles away' but no nearer
	10 Oct 44.
	13 Oct 44.		Nothing to report.
	14 Oct 44.		Visit by General VERNEY, GOC 7 Armd Div. No comments
	15 Oct 44.
	20 Oct 44.		Same location,. Positions unchanged. Much work.
K.528558	27 Oct 44.		Moved to MITTEL (K.528558)
	28 Oct 44.
	30 Oct 44,		Local population very enthusiastic - Bathing arranged every evening.
	30 Oct 44.		Unit was visited by the IME, Major-General Bancroft, and senior REME Offices from 21 Army Group and 2nd Army. He inspected the W/Shops and addressed the men,
M.176550	31 Oct 44.		Unit moved to factory near TILBURG (M.176550), Whole W/Shops under cover.
TILBURG

November 1944 Commanding Officer: Major W. Hammerton
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
1 - 13 Nov 44.		Nov	Same positions. Normal service.
(Tilburg. 176550
14 Nov 44.			Move to BREE (566949)/ Sleeping accommodation, but mo cover for work.
(Bree. 566949)
17 Nov 44 - 28 Nov 44			Rain very heavy, Ground covered in 3" of mud. Necessary to move/
			Detachments of fitters to various shall covered garages throughout town
29 Nov 22 - 30 Nov 44,			Same location. Rain hampering work. Normal position.

December 1944 Commanding Officer: Major W. Hammerton
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
566949	1- Dec 44
	2 Dec 44.		Nothing to report. Same locations
BREE	5 Dec 44		Moved to new locations ????? ?????? Sleeping accommodation . Local ????? for work, with a reasonable amount of cover for the unit.
	7 Dec 44.
	14 Dec 44		Div not engaged in very active operation, and therefore little AFV work to so. "B" Vehicles trucks ?????????t from odd line, and repaired for ?? ??? ?/??

	22 Dec 33		Advance Parry went to factory in SITTARD to hold position for unit.
			Unit
	25 Dec 44.		Christmas Day, Church service in the morning. Dinners for men served in transitional manner, Unit concert in afternoon
	26 Dec 44
	31 Dec 44		Nothing further to report/

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