WO 171/2401 - 171 Company - April 1944

Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence Summaries are contained in F.S. Regs., Vol. 1. and the Staff Manual respectively Title pages will be prepared in manuscript.	WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY	Army Form C.2118
	WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY	Unit: 171 Company RASC
Month and Year: April 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Major Everingham, RASC

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
ALDERSHOT	1		A.F.W. 3008 and 3009 f rendered to GHQ 2nd Echelon. Strength 14 Offrs 541 O.Rs. 12 H.S.D.	Appendix 'A'
	1		Company moves from Boyce Barracks to Tournai Barracks, ALDERSHOT. All Divl. R.A.S.C. located in same barracks – centralised messing etc.
	2		Location for Amn Dump in area recced 29 Armd Bde. dumps 25000 galls of petrol in 2nd line dump.
	3		7 drivers (1 3/ton vehicle) proceed on detachment to Port Operating and LWT training Camp, Ryde, I.O.W. 2nd line amn dumped.
	4		Dumping 2nd line amn. Company redesignated to 171 Coy. R.A.S.C. (Armd Bde) Waterproofing instruction. 5 Cpls posted to this unit from 174 Coy R.A.S.C. (Inf Bde) – (transferees from other Arm)
	5		Dumping of 2nd line amn completed. Continuation of waterproofing instruction. Unit area inspected by G.O.C. 11 Armd Div.
	6		Waterproofing continued.
	7		Waterproofing of 8 vehicles prior to wading completed. 2 ORs admitted hospital.
	8		AFW 3008 and 3009 f rendered to GHQ 2nd Echelon. Strength 14 Officers 528 O.Rs. 18 H.S.D.	Appendix 'B'
	8		Vehicle wading at ARBORFIELD (3 Officers. 60 O.Rs. 8 Vehicles). Capt. G.A. Pilkington posted to H.Q. R.A.S.C. 11 Armd. Div. as Adjutant. Grenade throwing training (3 ORs appeared before a Medical Board – downgraded and transferred to H.S.D.) Censorship of mail commenced. Lecture on censorship given to all ranks. Capt. M. Griffiths posted to Unit from 777 Corps Car Coy. R.A.S.C. Griffiths, M. Pilkington, G.A.
	9		Vehicle Maintenance.
	10		Duty free day on authority G.O.C. 11 Armd. Div. 1 OR admitted Hospital.
	11		Three ammunition details carried cut.
	11		(a) 30 vehicles to ABINGER to pick up practice amn and off load at ammunition dump (FRIMLEY)
	11		(b) 8 vehicles to BAYNARDS to pick up practice amn and off load at ammunition dump (FRIMLEY)
ALDERSHOT	11		(c) 4 Vehicles to STAFFHURST WOOD to pick up practice ammunition and off load at Ammunition dump (FRIMLEY)
	11		Swimming instruction for non-swimmers – Swimming Baths Reading (48 ORs.)
	12		Exercise “Bridges” – 90 drivers practice driving over RE constructed bridges. De-waterproofing of 8 vehicles which waded on 8. Apl. 1 O.R. discharged from hospital. 2 O.Rs. admitted to hospital.
	13		Grenade Range Training (80 ORs practice grenade throwing). Swimming instruction for non-swimmers at READING (48 ORs.)
	14		All Platoons on vehicle maintenance. Kit inspections and training in personal weapons. 1 O.R. SOS of unit having been in hospital 21 days. 1 O.R. admitted to hospital. 1 O.R. posted to this unit from 29 Armd Bde.
	15		AFW 3008 and 3009 f rendered to GHQ 2nd Echelon. Strength 15 Offrs 530 ORs. 21 HSD	Appendix 'C'
	15		Training of drivers in use of hand signals for guiding vehicles on to landing craft. 1 OR posted to H.Q. R.A.S.C. 11 Armd Div. 1 O.R. on HSD posted to No. 1 Holding Bn RASC.
ALDERSHOT	16		Vehicle wading at ARBORFIELD (30 drivers waded)
	17		Party left location to collect 10 Fords 4 x 4 from 27 VRD N. STAFFORD bivouacing overnight and collecting vehicles on 18. Apl.
	17		Party left location to collect 27 Fords 4 x 4 from 5 VRD AQUALATE	Appendix 'D'
	17		Party SHREWBURY bivouacing overnight and collection vehicles on 18 Apl.
	17		3 ORs admitted to hospital. 1 O.R. discharged from hospital
	18		Vehicles collected from 5 VRD but 10 vehicles refused at 27 VRD. Swimming insutrction continues. 80 personnel attended Security Films.
	19		Party left location to collect new vehicles from 53 VRD DURHAM.	Appendix 'E'
	19		19 Bedfords disposed at BRIGHTON.	Appendix 'F'
	19		Grenade throwing practised. 11 vehicles on amn detail to BAYNARDS. 8 vehicles deliver tank engines to CHILWELL. 2 ORs admitted to hospital. 1 O.R. appeared before a Medical Board – Downgraded and posted to HSD.
	20		3 Officers take part in Exercise “Beverly V” all day (Wireless Exercise).
	20		450 tons petrol unloaded from train and dumped at Div. R.A.S.C. Pet Dump.	Appendix 'G'
ALDERSHOT	20		(40 vehicles and 100 men employed from this Company)
	20		25 3/ton Bedfords disposed of to CANTERBURY.	Appendix 'H'
	20		25 3/ton Bedfords disposed of to DARTFORD.
	20		Preparations in hand for move of Company to Corunna Barracks, ALDERSHOT.
	20		1 O.R. SOS of unit having been in hospital 21 days.
	21		Company move location from TOURNAI to Corunna Barracks, ALDERSHOT.
	22		AFW 3008 & 3009 f rendered to GHQ 2nd Echelon Strength 15 Offrs 526 ORS 21 HSD.	Appendix 'I'
	22		Party left location to collect 20 vehicles from 23 VRD HEREFORD, bivouacing overnight.	Appendix 'J'
	22		Party left location to collect 12 vehicles from 24 VRD SHREWSBURY, bivouacing overnight.	Appendix 'K'
	22		Party returned to location after collecting 10 vehicles from 53 VRD DURHAM.
	22		1 O.R. discharged from hospital. 1 O.R. admitted to hospital. 2 O.Rs. appeared before a Medical Board – Downgraded and posted to HSD.
ALDERSHOT	23		Party left location to collect 10 vehicles from VRD NORTHAMPTON, bivouacing overnight.	Appendix 'L'
	23		Party left location to collect 35 vehicles from 61 VRD SWINDON, bivouacing overnight.	Appendix 'M'
	23		20 vehicles to be collected from 23 VRD, HEREFORD refused.
	24		Exercise “Beverley V” (H.Q. Officers – Wireless Exercise)
	24		Vehicles (Bedfords) disposed of as follows – 10 to CHATHAM, 15 to PADDOCK, 20 to FOLKESTONE.	Appendix 'N'
	24		Vehicles to be collected from 21 VRD refused. Party proceeded to SLOUGH to collect 4 new vehicles (All refused).
	24		30 yards range used by unit (40 O.Rs.)	Appendix 'O'
	24		1 O.R. discharged from hospital. 1 Cp. Artificer posted to 7 F.D.S.
	25		Swimming instruction for non-swimmers. Mines training. Maintenance of new vehicles. 2 O.R. discharged from hospital. 1 O.R. admitted hospital.
	26		Maintenance on new vehicles.
ALDERSHOT	26		1 Officer and 5 ORs. proceed on Exercise “Fabius VI”	Appendix 'P'
	26	1700	C.R.A.S.C. lecture to Officers, WOs. and Sgts on RASC Operational Role.
	26		1 O.R. discharged from hospital.
	27	0900	Instruction on ther Ford (F60L) commenced – for all classes.	Appendix 'Q'
	27		Swimming instruction for non-swimmers. Training film for first aid personnel (20 ORs) 30 yards range used by unit (40 ORs)
	28		8 vehicles sent to SHERBORNE, Dorset, delivering tentage. Training films on Teller Mines, Anti-Personnel Mines and Beach Organisation (140 personnel attended). 1 O.R. SOS unit having been in hospital 21 days.
	29		9 Bedord 3 ton vehicles disposed of to EAST HOATHLEY.	Appendix 'R'
	29		15 Bedfords disposed of to GILLINGHAM.	Appendix 'S'
	29		AFW 3008 & 3009f rendered to GHQ 2nd Echelon Strength 15 Offrs 525 ORS 21 HSD.	Appendix 'T'
	29		1 O.R. discharged hospital. 3 ORs. admitted hospital.
	30		Divl. RASC Church Parade – 1 Officer 125 ORs.
	30		Party left location to collect 10 vehicles Ford 3 tons from 55 VRD (bivouacing overnight)	Appendix 'U'
ALDERSHOT	30		20 personnel attend 2 day course at Vehicle Handling Schoo, SCARBOROUGH in Sea Wading.
	30		15 3/ton Bedfords disposed of to BLANDFORD, Dorset.	Appendix 'V'

previous month | next month

Source: Jeroen Koppes, TracesOfWar.com.

Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. Locations are calculated, so might not be in the correct place. For historical research, always check the originals.

Domains

More information

Contact