| 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 |
| 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. | |||
| 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' |
Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. For historical research, always check the originals.
