| Date | Place Event Campaign |
| Aug 1941 | Henley |
| Oct 1941 | Crawley Court |
| Dec1941 | Cove |
| April 1942 | Hoddam Castle |
| Jun 1942 | Kershopefoot Scotland |
| Date | Place Event Campaign |
| Mar 1943 | Tunisia |
| Jul 1943 | Algeria |
| Dec 1943 | Egypt |
| Mar 1944 | Italy |
| Dec 1944 | Greece |
| Date | Place Event Campaign |
| 1944 | North Africa Italy Greece |
| 13 Dec1944 | Faliron Greece |
| 1945 | Elevis Greece |
| 1946 | Veroia Greece |
| 1947 | Middle East |
| Apr 1947 | Disbanded |
| July 1949 | Formed as a Field Squadron in 21 Field Engineer Regiment at Hameln |
| Dec 1950 | Transferred to 26 Field Engineer Regiment at Hameln |
| Nov 1957 | 26 Regiment became HQRE 4 Div |
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Squadron under HQRE 4 Div and moves to Osnabruck in support of 12 Inf Bde |
|
| Apr 1958 | Transferred to under command HQRE 5 Div, but still at Osnabruck and in support 12 Inf Bde |
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Date |
Place Event Campaign |
|
Oct 1939 May 1940 |
France with 4 Div as a part of the British Expeditionary Force Belgium with 4 Div as part of the British Expeditionary Force Read diary of the events below |
27 May Monday. As dawn broke the convoy dispersed around a field on a ridge at Marieburg. Vehicles spaced themselves out under the high hedge rows and the cooks prepared breakfast on the double as officers left to recce the river Lys Comines/Quenoy facing south. It was essential to hold this position for the withdrawal of the division. The 5th Div (two bdes the other Bde was sent to Norway) and the 143 Bde were in position on the Comines/Ypres disused canal. Sometime after breakfast a Dornier ‘Flying Pencil’ suddenly flew very low over the ridge, as much to say we know you are there, which happened so quickly the ‘Brens’ could not be brought to bear. The sole survivor of an RASC convoy was in a field, their vehicles had been bombed, chased into field s and finished off. The recces along the Lys were completed when at 0900 hrs Capt Hodgeson HQRE met the OC to say that he, the OC would take command of the divisions Fd Coys, 7,59 and 225 to halt an advance of the German 61 DIV, which had broken through the 143 Bde covering Comines. The enemy were making a direct line for Warneton bridge over the Lys. A bridge of vital importance to the Division and the BEF, as it was the main axis for the withdrawal to the coast. The 225th, nearest to Comines were ordered to hold for 2 hours until 1100 hrs. ‘59’ were posted on the left of Warneton and the 7th covered Warneton. ‘225’ held their position an hour longer than ordered until 1200 hrs, and then almost surrounded withdrew to their allotted position on the left of ‘59’. 1 Section were in a reserve position in the village of Warneton and on its bridge. 2 Section were on the right of the Warneton-Comines road and 3 Section on the left of the road with one Sub Section pushed out about 200yds down the road, two lookouts from this Sub Section were posted on an embankment some way down the road. At intervals shells came crashing down as the enemy gave direction to his advance on Warneton. The only visible sign of 61 DIV was an observation balloon, the all seeing eye, watching positions being dug, then sending over stonks bringing telegraph wires down alongside the road around the forward Sub Section. Looking towards Comines from the OP, to the right of the road near Comines, large houses stood well back from the road. The ground on the left was flat and devoid of cover. In the distance a copse was visible with a farm beyond it. There was barely a cloud in the sky. It was warm, sunny and there was no sign of life. The local population had collected in large buildings keeping out of sight. In the afternoon two Ptes of the Ox & Bucks (142 Bde) made their way slowly down the road from Comines, one soldier supporting the other wounded in the foot. They had no personal weapons. When halted they said they had been attacked in a building, the Germans coming in using sticks of dynamite their officer refused to surrender, finally the party split up to fight a way out. They could give no information about the location of the enemy force and were directed to an RAP set up in
Warneton. Most likely the sticks of dynamite were stick grenades, usually carried in the top of their jack boots by the Germans when in contact. Few people including the infantry had any idea about German weapons at this time. Two light tanks of the 13/18 Hussars arrived in support and a weak PL (9 ORs) of ‘A’ Coy 6 Black Watch with a Bren carrier. The CRE placed the RE under command the Black Watch. An ‘O’ Group was held in the station at Warneton to co-ordinate a counter attack, with the objective the Comines-Ypres canal which was dry and on the far bank a railway embankment ran parallel from Comines to Ypres, and a small stream the Kortekeer winded its way over the ‘7’ sector near Comines 3000yds from Warneton. The plan was that the ‘7’ and the Black Watch element would lead the advance at 1800hrs, ‘59’ would be echeloned 400yds back on the left of the Black Watch, and a further 400yds back on the left of ‘59’ the ‘225’. Section Sgts warned Sub Sections: Counter attack in an hour at 6 o’clock with one field gun in support. The question was, could this gun shoot down the observation balloon? A meal was had. Water bottles, weapons were checked. Pouches filled with ammunition and at least one bandoleer of ammunition slung over the shoulder of each sapper. A special party would take the ‘Boys’ A/T rifle and the ‘Bren’ into action. Grenades were not issued to RE Sections at that time. The only way of communication was by runner. In 1914 the BEF fought over this same ground to halt an attack designed to seal their fate: they were successful, a good omen. The urgency of the situation heightened as in the meantime. 61 DIV had registered the bridge at Warneton with MGs indicating that a ground attack was imminent. Sprs F Daly and Peplow were on the scene manning a pillbox under a steel girder bridge with two French soldiers who laid on the ground refusing to look out once the firing started. Promptly at 1800 hrs feeling very exposed, Sub Sections left their trenches, moving towards the objective with fixed bayonets. The field gun had not done its stuff! The observation balloon still floated ominously north of and beyond Comines surveying the ground. The advance was at a steady walking pace. Sprs Lamb and Riley the Op team on the embankment followed the road to comines out of sight of their sub section. They reached Comines leaving there about midnight not having seen anybody returning to their original OP position. The main body walked forward scanning the flat ground advancing a good mile and half when contact was made. A MG began to fire at the leading Sub Section of 3 Section from a farm about 300yds beyond the copse seen from the original positions. The copse was growing around a pond. As the remainder of 3 Section reached the pond and copse they veered to the right to skirt it closing in on 1 Sub Section engaging the MG first standing, kneeling then final in the prone position. The Section were now bunched moving into and through the beaten zone of the MG/MGs with spurts of dust kicking up here and there. 1 Sub Section had concentrated their fire on a window of the farm silencing at least one of the MGs. There was about 100yds between the edge of the road and a railway embankment, which ran parallel to the Warneton-Comines Road. The only cover was a patch of nettles. The whole Section moved forward between bursts of fire. The enemy now made full use of his excellent observation bringing down a heavy stonk so accurately that one Spr mistook the smell of cordite for gas, and gave a gas alarm. The section were now pinned down, part of the Sub Section climbed the embankment taking their wounded (Lcpl F Rose and Spr W Stone) with them. The enemy decided to evacuate the farm showing the ‘white’ flag. 2/Lt Harding gave the order to ‘cease fire’, which stopped. The enemy evacuated the farm, then at a prearranged signal went to ground opening fire with all their weapons. 2/Lt Harding, Cpl Trice, Lcpl Bonner and Sprs Black, Bothwick, Froude, Hoodless, Vollans, whitwell were all killed. Spr Baker is reported as having shot a sniper out of a tree. The use of the ‘white’ flag by the Germans to gain an advantage is now well known, they considered it to be proper ‘ruse la guerre’. Anything to gain an advantage on the battlefield went for them. CQMS Fryer HQ Section continued to support the attack with a Bren gun even though wounded in the ankle.
Towards dusk 1 Section went forward to occupy a large building near Comines on the right of the road. Spr Davinge carried a ‘Boys’ A/T rifle into action at all times. When he tried to use it, he found the bolt was damaged. By this time the two 13/18 Hussars tanks were on fire. Farms were burning, tracers were streaming in all directions, our own and enemy positions were intermingled so much so that the Germans could not use their artillery to full effect. As dusk fell the enemy advantage of perfect observation was lost. ‘59’ came up to the left of ‘7’ and the Black Watch to take their position walking through the smoke of burning buildings with fixed bayonets. Major Macdonald OC ‘59’ was mortally wounded. Major Gillispie although wounded, remained in action until ‘7’ was relieved. ‘225’ took up their position on the left ‘59’ but were not fired on. It was now a matter of holding and consolidating the position. Unknown to the RE and the Black Watch. Another attack was launched from Messines ridge at 2000 hrs by the 3rd Grenadier Guards & 2 N Staffs, and as the Guards came up to the last rise they could see the RE making their final advance with fixed bayonets silhouetted against burning buildings. This inspired the Guards and although they had many casualties, they came up to the canal line dealing with the enemy, some savage fighting took place. One or two of the Sappers fought on with them, Spr Rayner of 3 Section did not hear the order for the‘7’ to withdraw, he remained with the Grenadiers until they returned to England. Sprs F Daly and Parry (Tich, there were two Parrys) carried a wounded guardsman back to the RAP at Warneton. At midnight the ‘7’ holding positions here and there in pairs and small groups were ordered to withdraw. The Black Watch was taking over. The Bde commented: “A counter-attack restored the situation. The bridges on the water line were vital to the battle”. The water line being the Lys bridges, with Warneton the most important.
Corps history gives a short account of the attack, it was probably unique in the Corps history as it was the first time that the whole Divisional RE had been used in a counter-attack. There is always a price to pay. Apart from those already mentioned, Spr/Dvr L Shepperd was killed at Dozinghem. The OC, CQMS Fryer, Lcpl F Rose and Sprs B Glass, Shaw, R Shepperd,
W Stone and Townsend were wounded. As a result of this action immediate awards were made on the beach at La Panne. The battle became known officially as ‘The battle of the Ypres-Comines Canal’.
Warneton. Most likely the sticks of dynamite were stick grenades, usually carried in the top of their jack boots by the Germans when in contact. Few people including the infantry had any idea about German weapons at this time. Two light tanks of the 13/18 Hussars arrived in support and a weak PL (9 ORs) of ‘A’ Coy 6 Black Watch with a Bren carrier. The CRE placed the RE under command the Black Watch. An ‘O’ Group was held in the station at Warneton to co-ordinate a counter attack, with the objective the Comines-Ypres canal which was dry and on the far bank a railway embankment ran parallel from Comines to Ypres, and a small stream the Kortekeer winded its way over the ‘7’ sector near Comines 3000yds from Warneton. The plan was that the ‘7’ and the Black Watch element would lead the advance at 1800hrs, ‘59’ would be echeloned 400yds back on the left of the Black Watch, and a further 400yds back on the left of ‘59’ the ‘225’. Section Sgts warned Sub Sections: Counter attack in an hour at 6 o’clock with one field gun in support. The question was, could this gun shoot down the observation balloon? A meal was had. Water bottles, weapons were checked. Pouches filled with ammunition and at least one bandoleer of ammunition slung over the shoulder of each sapper. A special party would take the ‘Boys’ A/T rifle and the ‘Bren’ into action. Grenades were not issued to RE Sections at that time. The only way of communication was by runner. In 1914 the BEF fought over this same ground to halt an attack designed to seal their fate: they were successful, a good omen. The urgency of the situation heightened as in the meantime. 61 DIV had registered the bridge at Warneton with MGs indicating that a ground attack was imminent. Sprs F Daly and Peplow were on the scene manning a pillbox under a steel girder bridge with two French soldiers who laid on the ground refusing to look out once the firing started. Promptly at 1800 hrs feeling very exposed, Sub Sections left their trenches, moving towards the objective with fixed bayonets. The field gun had not done its stuff! The observation balloon still floated ominously north of and beyond Comines surveying the ground. The advance was at a steady walking pace. Sprs Lamb and Riley the Op team on the embankment followed the road to comines out of sight of their sub section. They reached Comines leaving there about midnight not having seen anybody returning to their original OP position. The main body walked forward scanning the flat ground advancing a good mile and half when contact was made. A MG began to fire at the leading Sub Section of 3 Section from a farm about 300yds beyond the copse seen from the original positions. The copse was growing around a pond. As the remainder of 3 Section reached the pond and copse they veered to the right to skirt it closing in on 1 Sub Section engaging the MG first standing, kneeling then final in the prone position. The Section were now bunched moving into and through the beaten zone of the MG/MGs with spurts of dust kicking up here and there. 1 Sub Section had concentrated their fire on a window of the farm silencing at least one of the MGs. There was about 100yds between the edge of the road and a railway embankment, which ran parallel to the Warneton-Comines Road. The only cover was a patch of nettles. The whole Section moved forward between bursts of fire. The enemy now made full use of his excellent observation bringing down a heavy stonk so accurately that one Spr mistook the smell of cordite for gas, and gave a gas alarm. The section were now pinned down, part of the Sub Section climbed the embankment taking their wounded (Lcpl F Rose and Spr W Stone) with them. The enemy decided to evacuate the farm showing the ‘white’ flag. 2/Lt Harding gave the order to ‘cease fire’, which stopped. The enemy evacuated the farm, then at a prearranged signal went to ground opening fire with all their weapons. 2/Lt Harding, Cpl Trice, Lcpl Bonner and Sprs Black, Bothwick, Froude, Hoodless, Vollans, whitwell were all killed. Spr Baker is reported as having shot a sniper out of a tree. The use of the ‘white’ flag by the Germans to gain an advantage is now well known, they considered it to be proper ‘ruse la guerre’. Anything to gain an advantage on the battlefield went for them. CQMS Fryer HQ Section continued to support the attack with a Bren gun even though wounded in the ankle.
Towards dusk 1 Section went forward to occupy a large building near Comines on the right of the road. Spr Davinge carried a ‘Boys’ A/T rifle into action at all times. When he tried to use it, he found the bolt was damaged. By this time the two 13/18 Hussars tanks were on fire. Farms were burning, tracers were streaming in all directions, our own and enemy positions were intermingled so much so that the Germans could not use their artillery to full effect. As dusk fell the enemy advantage of perfect observation was lost. ‘59’ came up to the left of ‘7’ and the Black Watch to take their position walking through the smoke of burning buildings with fixed bayonets. Major Macdonald OC ‘59’ was mortally wounded. Major Gillispie although wounded, remained in action until ‘7’ was relieved. ‘225’ took up their position on the left ‘59’ but were not fired on. It was now a matter of holding and consolidating the position. Unknown to the RE and the Black Watch. Another attack was launched from Messines ridge at 2000 hrs by the 3rd Grenadier Guards & 2 N Staffs, and as the Guards came up to the last rise they could see the RE making their final advance with fixed bayonets silhouetted against burning buildings. This inspired the Guards and although they had many casualties, they came up to the canal line dealing with the enemy, some savage fighting took place. One or two of the Sappers fought on with them, Spr Rayner of 3 Section did not hear the order for the‘7’ to withdraw, he remained with the Grenadiers until they returned to England. Sprs F Daly and Parry (Tich, there were two Parrys) carried a wounded guardsman back to the RAP at Warneton. At midnight the ‘7’ holding positions here and there in pairs and small groups were ordered to withdraw. The Black Watch was taking over. The Bde commented: “A counter-attack restored the situation. The bridges on the water line were vital to the battle”. The water line being the Lys bridges, with Warneton the most important.
Corps history gives a short account of the attack, it was probably unique in the Corps history as it was the first time that the whole Divisional RE had been used in a counter-attack. There is always a price to pay. Apart from those already mentioned, Spr/Dvr L Shepperd was killed at Dozinghem. The OC, CQMS Fryer, Lcpl F Rose and Sprs B Glass, Shaw, R Shepperd,
W Stone and Townsend were wounded. As a result of this action immediate awards were made on the beach at La Panne. The battle became known officially as ‘The battle of the Ypres-Comines Canal’.
On May 29th at the conclusion of the battle, Maj-General Franklyn issued a congratulatory order:
“The Commander II Corps has asked me to convey his warmest congratulations, and thanks to the 5th Division and to other attached troops who fought so gallantly on May 27 and May 28. It is in his opinion that it was entirely due to our action that the whole Corps was able to effect a withdrawal, and that, unless we held the Ypres-Comines Canal successfully, the safety of the whole BEF might have been put in serious danger. He emphasised his complete confidence that this fact will be confirmed in history. I am indeed proud to have had under my command such a splendid body of Troops. I offer my most sincere congratulations.”
(signed)
H E Franklyn
Maj-General
Commander 5th Division
In the Field
29th May 1940
“The Commander II Corps has asked me to convey his warmest congratulations, and thanks to the 5th Division and to other attached troops who fought so gallantly on May 27 and May 28. It is in his opinion that it was entirely due to our action that the whole Corps was able to effect a withdrawal, and that, unless we held the Ypres-Comines Canal successfully, the safety of the whole BEF might have been put in serious danger. He emphasised his complete confidence that this fact will be confirmed in history. I am indeed proud to have had under my command such a splendid body of Troops. I offer my most sincere congratulations.”
(signed)
H E Franklyn
Maj-General
Commander 5th Division
In the Field
29th May 1940
Whilst 61 DIV was being pushed back, 3 Div on the right of the Division broke contact and made a night march close to, and across the rear of the battle area to take up defensive positions north of Ypres by first light the next morning; to hold back the advance elements of the 19, 30 and 216 German DIVS pressing forward to be first on to the crossings over the river Yser north of Ypres. King Leopold of Belgium sued for armistice and a cease fire to commence at midnight. The allied C-n-C General Weygand indicated that this came as a thunder clap. He knew from May 16th when the BEF had held on for another day on the Dyle that it was only a matter of time before the Belgians sued for peace. The Belgian army could do nothing to protect the BEF left flank except to blow every bridge over the Yser and to open the sea locks at Nieuport. These things they failed to do. They did make an unsuccessful attempt to lift the stranded 60 French DIV south of the Yser to Nieuport. In the event the 60 French DIV were surrounded at Ostend. The Belgian surrender came into effect May 28. The terms of the surrender did not affect the British or French. The result of the Belgian surrender was that a thirty mile gap was opened on the left of II Corps to Nieuport on the coast. It was now a race to fill the gap, and at the same time the Corps must hold back the German advance from Comines to Nieuport. The door was open on the coast if the German 256 DIV could cross the Yser at Nieuport. Where the sea locks were closed the beach-head could be rolled up. Once opened the sea locks took four days to operate. In 1914 the Germans suffered a disaster when 3’ of water engulfed a major attack. Hitler was well aware of the 1914 disaster and had no intention of seeing his precious armour caught in the same way on marsh land.
28 May Tuesday. ‘7’ was relieved from 0100 - 0500 hrs concentrate on Company matters and withdraw to their MT located just outside Warneton where 1 Section MT was waiting for them. On the canal line the infantry were consolidating positions. The Germans were fighting back and the whole area was a mass of small arms fire. Before the Germans could mount a co-ordinated attack they would have to pull back their units to regroup and bring their artillery to bear, which could not been done as both sides were intermingled. It was with some difficulty that the Shiny 7 could withdraw. At 0600 hrs the acting OC Captain Vaughan-Williams led the Shiny 7 to Marieburg where orders were received to proceed to proceed to a ‘Report Centre’ at Hondscoot. Optimistically ‘7’ were routed through Ypres, which was under attack. The weather was overcast building to rain, hampering the Luftwaffe. ‘7’ escaped their attention pulling into a large wooded area at Eikhoek at 1400 hrs. During the journey they had to endure packed roads. At one point a French Division cut across their path causing delays. In this location there was plenty of cover for transport. Sections were in large barns with plenty of straw to bed down. A party of three were left behind in last night’s battle. They decided to march south along the Lys towards the frontier and came across another sapper unit preparing to blow a bridge from the Warneton bank. They met up with the 4 DIV GOC who asked them a whole string of questions about the attack receiving a number of honest answers and requests for ‘Tommy Guns’ said that: “Additional weapons are on the way” and went on to say that “the ‘7’ had done some outstanding jobs in Belgium, but last night was brilliant”. The party got a lift with the ‘59’ to the woods at Eikhoek and were finally re-united with the Company, though they had just missed out on the evening meal and had to make do with hard tack and tea. Then the Company were ordered to Nieuport to blow bridges under command of 12 Bde, ordered to defend the area. The weather cleared as the convoy pulled out at 1700 hrs there were reports of Junker ‘87’ dive bombers on the road, however they kept their distance from the’7’. As the convoy closed on the beach-head the full extent of the disaster became clear, spiked guns pointing to the sky, and as far as the eye could see there was line on line of vehicles in flat open fields. RE and RA vehicles had dispensation the remainder were disabled, sumps were drained of oil, engines were run until they seized up then rotor arms thrown in the canal. The 7th crossed the canal at Furnes into the bridgehead as the sun went down turning north towards Nieuport, where the 12th Lancers were holding back the advance elements of the German 256 Div. the Lancers had withdrawn over the main bridge at Nieuport (prepared for demolition by 13 Survey Coy RE) 1 Section were ordered to recce the bridge at Nieuport while 2 section recced the canal and sank 8 barges so that they couldn’t be used by the enemy. As soon as Brigadier Hawkesworth (12 Bde) arrived he ordered the bridge to be blown. It was a comparatively large structure with built in demolition chambers loaded with explosives by the Belgians, 13 Survey Coy RE prepared the demolition. The Germans were on the far bank but did not interfere as a party led by Lt Curtis 1 Section prepared the circuit, and then successfully blew the bridge.
29 May Wednesday. It was discovered that a small bridge, possibly a cattle bridge near Nieuport across the canal had not been blown. Lt Curtis was ordered to demolish the bridge with a party of six ORs from 1 Section. Pole charges were prepared to place against the structure, a recce was not possible. The plan was to move via ditches to the bridge. The party all volunteers, moved off in full daylight in bright sunny weather. Overhead a recce aircraft searched the ground and just north of Nieuport the all seeing eye of an observation balloon was floating casually. There were no reports of the balloon either being shot down or attacked. In addition observers of the 256 and 208 DIVS occupied the highest vantage points in Nieuport. The 7th in contrast did not take advantage of the houses for observation and defence. The demolition party moved by ditches to the flood bank of the canal. It was necessary to cross a field. The party now came under well directed small arms and mortar fire. Cpl Petter was wounded. Lt Curtis was wounded whilst bringing his back to cover a ditch. He then ordered the party to return to HQ taking Cpl Petter with them. Eventually all the party were wounded including Lcpl R Venn, Sprs F Clark and S Wyborn, (it has not been possible to trace the names of the other two Sappers). Cpl Petter died from his wounds shortly after returning to Tac HQ. LT Curtis and wounded were evacuated. As a result of this action Lt Curtis was awarded the MC.
The enemy appeared to use this sortie as the moment to signal his intention to make an all out attack from the south of Nieuport, across the canal in the direction of the positions held by the ‘7’, firing continuous air bursts over a wide area. As the majority of the defenders were in the open, and had no overhead cover, there was a steady trickle of casualties. Mortars searched the ground striking at the forward positions. MG fire poured in bursts down the road. Snipers crossed the canal taking up positions in houses between the main ‘7’ position and the transport. They were active accounting for the CO of the 2 RF who were unable to deploy due to the bullet swept ground near the unblown bridge where the attack came in at 1300 hrs. The RF successfully savaged the German attack with their carriers sealing off the bridge being used by the Germans. ‘7’ held on grimly as the pressure built up. At one point a Bren with CSM Gilbert acting as a spotter cooled the ardour of an OP party in a high building in Nieuport. Detachments of the ‘7’ were withdrawn as the infantry took over from the sappers in their original positions, none of which had been lost. The party withdrew at dark consisting of the A/OC, 2/Lt Simpson, the CSM and 35 ORs. Spr/Dvr D Pitt returned with his truck to Nieuport searched for and found Sprs O’Halleron, Stamper and others who had missed the MT.
Casualties at Nieuport were Cpl Petter killed, Lt Curtis, Sprs F Clark, T Lees, (Tich) Parry, M Riell, Cpl T Riordan , Lcpl R Venn, Spr Wyborn and a further 13 other ranks were wounded.
30 May Thursday. The first detachments withdrawn from Nieuport went direct to La Panne, where sappers from another unit were building a lorried pier. Sgt Cutler turned up to greet the hungry sappers with tea and food to cheer them up; they then got down as La Panne was Panne was hit by shells and aircraft made their presence felt in overcast conditions and reduced visibility. Orders were given to move north to Coxyde where a reserve line from the Furnes Canal to the sea was to be built and manned by 4 DIV RE, under the command of
Lt-Col Horrocks 11 Bde. Brigadier Anderson had left to command 3 DIV. Maj-General Montgomery was now in command of II Corps as Lt-General Brook was orederd home to take up another command. Amid cheers the move to Coxyde was cancelled, the drivers had cheered too soon as they were required to ferry troops from Coxyde to La Panne. The A/OC and a party arrived at Oost Dunkirk from Nieuport at 0600 hrs and Coxyde at 1230 hrs, recces were carried out for wire and digging tools for the reserve line, which was begun to be built in the evening. At 2300 hrs the A/OC and his party moved to La Panne, where 5 DIV RE had begun to build a lorried pier decked with cheses and other suitable material. During the evening at La Panne the Divisional Commander made the following immediate rewards.
CRE Lt-Colonel Coxwell-Rogers DSO, The OC Major Gillespie MC, The OC ‘59’ Major Macdonald MC, Sgt Cutler and L/Sgt A Vodden MM.
Some of the ‘7’ casualties in the CCS at La Panne saw the 5 DIV RE working on the pier. In the afternoon ambulances were loaded at the CCS moving off on a long lurching journey. When the ambulances halted and the rear door opened to unload, it was found to be back where it started from. The ‘CCS’. About this time it was decided that the wounded could no longer be given priority as stretcher cases took the space of two standing men on board ship. Stretcher cases were to be collected and left near Dunkirk, although stretcher cases and walking wounded were evacuated the whole time. Enemy aircraft made a special target of hospital ships in spite of the Geneva Convention being strictly adhered to by the allies. The CCS at La Panne was acting as a General Hospital marked with large red crosses. Even so, it took its share of near misses from shells and bombs as it was bound to do. Inside the atmosphere was one of absolute calm. Orderlies brought food to the wounded in their wards. (small hotel rooms). The lucky ones were two to a bed laid fully dressed. A large room dark drapes on the ground floor was used for the more serious wounded. A theatre adjoined it working overtime. Surprisingly there were French and Belgian girls in the basement selling bottles of Vichy water at a tremendous price per bottle. There was a real shortage of water. Water bottles had long been emptied. Cash was pooled in the six man ward each from a different unit, two of them went down to join the queue of thirsty. Hungary, bandaged men, taking their turn to hand over a fist full of Francs for something they could easily have taken by force. Two bottles were taken back to the ward and shared out.
31 May Friday. Monty commanding II Corps had given his opinion, stating that II Corps could not hold the perimeter east of La Panne beyond the night of 31May/01 June. 3rd and 4th DIVS were ordered to thin out that night, May 31st. They withdrew to La Panne embarking from lorried piers built by the sappers. If those piers became untenable then lorried piers at Bray Dunes were to be used. Failing that, priority would be given to embark II Corps at Dunkirk by ship. In the meantime the enemy would be shelled, bombed and viciously counter-attacked. 10 Bde commanded by Brigadier Barker, 12 Bde and 1st E Surry’s held continuous counter-attacks. At one point the Germans laid a large smoke screen which blew back on their own positions, and as a large force formed up to attack, ‘Blenheims’ of the RAF flew in to drop bombs on the enemy causing a large number of casualties halting the attack. During the evening Maj-General Alexader, GOC I Corps took command of the Beach Head as Lord Gort embarked for the UK on the PMs orders.
At 0800 hrs the A/OC and party arrived at La Panne and assisted in the preparations for embarkation. One lorried pier was partly completed from which a few boat loads embarked up to 0900 hrs when the sea became choppy and the waiting ships stood further off shore. Several rowing boats over-turned and their occupants were lost, boats were overloaded, there was no proper control. At 1000 hrs, ‘7’ were ordered to cease works on the beach and move to Dunkirk. II CE countermanded this order at 1025 hrs. He ordered the remnants of 3, 4, and 5 DIVs RE to completethe first pier and to build a second pier. At 1200 hrs 4 DIV CRE arrived on the beach after visiting 10 and 12 Bdes to give details of the reserve position prepared at Coxyde. He now took charge of embarkation arrangements and issued orders that no further boats would be put out until darkness. One report put out that the ‘7’ were too tired to be of much use, however the remnant two officers and over 40 ORs worked on the completion of the first pier. At 1530 hrs a stick of four bombs fell. Lt-Col Le Sueur, Capt Hodgson, Sprs Brazier, Carthey, Chuter, Hall, Dvr Knowles and Cpl Sykes were killed and nine ORs of the 7th were wounded. Dvrs Meakin, Matthews and Thrift were reported missing. The enemy observation balloon could be seen from La Panne floating near Nieuport. Medium shells halted work on the piers at 1630 hrs and at the same time the CRE reported to the GOC 4th Division that there were only ten serviceable boats including assault and FBE boats to lift the Division from the beach to the ships. Naval officers reported that their boats would come ashore at dark. At 2000 hrs the sea became calm ‘7’ were ordered by the CRE to embark which they did from Bray Dunes. General embarkation got underway at La Panne at 2130 hrs and by 2330 hrs 600 men of 12 Bde had been embarked when there were very few boas left. At 2359 hrs the CRE informed the GOC 4TH Division that unless ship’s boats came ashore further embarkation was impossible.
01 June Saturday. Maj-General Johnson GOC 4th Division rang Admiral Ramsey at Dover asking for boats to come ashore as embarkation was at a standstill, and that rear guards of the Division were withdrawing in contact with the enemy. It was agreed that ships would meet the Division at Dunkirk. Final orders were given at 0200 hrs for the Division to walk down the beach to Bray Dunes and if necessary to Dunkirk. By this time La Panne was ablaze, shells were hitting the piers, all kinds of debris littered the beach, and as the tide came in it washed ashore bodies, great coats, personal equipment, damaged boats, craft, cars etc. Embarkation from the beaches in daylight was no longer possible. About 0500 hrs enemy aircraft straffed the beach in front of the advance elements of their advancing troops causing casualties among the rearguard. Apart from the advance party who left on the evening of May 26th the majority of the 7th embarked from the beach one way or another, some from lorried piers, others by wading out to boats, a number, including Capt Vaughan-Williams swam out to the winking ships stood about half a mile from the shore. Those sappers who did not embark from the beach walked the 10/11 miles to Dunkirk where the navy were at the East Mole to lift the last elements of the Division, some of the 7th were embarked sunk and rescued by another ship. In this period the East Mole was under continuous air attack, Sprs Tracey and West were killed. There is no information about their loss or of Spr Wood lost May 29th.
The Grenadier Guards and their adopted Sapper (Rayner) marched to the Mole, as they passed Maj-General Alexander they gave a smart ‘eyes right’. The general returned an equally smart salute. After much discussion the French finally agreed that the British rear guard would withdraw in equal numbers with the French in the hours of darkness 1st/2nd June. The BEF had held the main burden of defence without which there could have been no large scale evacuation. Firstly holding ninety miles of the 120 mile front giving both the British and French time to withdraw to the beach-head. They had held the major portion of the perimeter. The French now covered the final withdrawal fighting an outstanding battle, by mis-chance the French troops went to the wrong Mole at Dunkirk.
02 June Sunday. In spite of going to the wrong mole, more French than British troops were landed in the UK on this date. The last British rear guard were drawn tightly around Malo by Major-General Alexander to hold through the hours of day light to embark at night fall. At 2300 hrs Capt Tennant RN, the Naval Commander ashore at Dunkirk signalled to Admiral Ramsey at Dover, ‘BEF evacuated’. Operation ‘Dynamo’ was at an end. Major-General Alexander searched the beaches, calling from a loud hailer for any stragglers without success.
03 June Monday. The night’s effort had yielded 7000 British and 20000 French troops landed in England. Admiral Ramsey agreed to mount one last effort that night to lift the French rear guard.
04 June Tuesday. Due to a rabble of French soldiers emerging from the cellars of Dunkirk the French rearguard which had held their positions at Bray Dunes were prevented from embarking. Many ships returned empty, even so, over 26,000 French soldiers were landed in England.
At 0900 hrs. General Beaufrere made the formal surrender, according to German sources the number of troops taken prisoner was 30/40,000.
The best estimate of the strength of the Shiny 7th on the beach before the order to embark was 2 officers and 80 other ranks. In addition to awards recorded, CSM R Gilbert and L/Sgt Green were ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’.
28 May Tuesday. ‘7’ was relieved from 0100 - 0500 hrs concentrate on Company matters and withdraw to their MT located just outside Warneton where 1 Section MT was waiting for them. On the canal line the infantry were consolidating positions. The Germans were fighting back and the whole area was a mass of small arms fire. Before the Germans could mount a co-ordinated attack they would have to pull back their units to regroup and bring their artillery to bear, which could not been done as both sides were intermingled. It was with some difficulty that the Shiny 7 could withdraw. At 0600 hrs the acting OC Captain Vaughan-Williams led the Shiny 7 to Marieburg where orders were received to proceed to proceed to a ‘Report Centre’ at Hondscoot. Optimistically ‘7’ were routed through Ypres, which was under attack. The weather was overcast building to rain, hampering the Luftwaffe. ‘7’ escaped their attention pulling into a large wooded area at Eikhoek at 1400 hrs. During the journey they had to endure packed roads. At one point a French Division cut across their path causing delays. In this location there was plenty of cover for transport. Sections were in large barns with plenty of straw to bed down. A party of three were left behind in last night’s battle. They decided to march south along the Lys towards the frontier and came across another sapper unit preparing to blow a bridge from the Warneton bank. They met up with the 4 DIV GOC who asked them a whole string of questions about the attack receiving a number of honest answers and requests for ‘Tommy Guns’ said that: “Additional weapons are on the way” and went on to say that “the ‘7’ had done some outstanding jobs in Belgium, but last night was brilliant”. The party got a lift with the ‘59’ to the woods at Eikhoek and were finally re-united with the Company, though they had just missed out on the evening meal and had to make do with hard tack and tea. Then the Company were ordered to Nieuport to blow bridges under command of 12 Bde, ordered to defend the area. The weather cleared as the convoy pulled out at 1700 hrs there were reports of Junker ‘87’ dive bombers on the road, however they kept their distance from the’7’. As the convoy closed on the beach-head the full extent of the disaster became clear, spiked guns pointing to the sky, and as far as the eye could see there was line on line of vehicles in flat open fields. RE and RA vehicles had dispensation the remainder were disabled, sumps were drained of oil, engines were run until they seized up then rotor arms thrown in the canal. The 7th crossed the canal at Furnes into the bridgehead as the sun went down turning north towards Nieuport, where the 12th Lancers were holding back the advance elements of the German 256 Div. the Lancers had withdrawn over the main bridge at Nieuport (prepared for demolition by 13 Survey Coy RE) 1 Section were ordered to recce the bridge at Nieuport while 2 section recced the canal and sank 8 barges so that they couldn’t be used by the enemy. As soon as Brigadier Hawkesworth (12 Bde) arrived he ordered the bridge to be blown. It was a comparatively large structure with built in demolition chambers loaded with explosives by the Belgians, 13 Survey Coy RE prepared the demolition. The Germans were on the far bank but did not interfere as a party led by Lt Curtis 1 Section prepared the circuit, and then successfully blew the bridge.
29 May Wednesday. It was discovered that a small bridge, possibly a cattle bridge near Nieuport across the canal had not been blown. Lt Curtis was ordered to demolish the bridge with a party of six ORs from 1 Section. Pole charges were prepared to place against the structure, a recce was not possible. The plan was to move via ditches to the bridge. The party all volunteers, moved off in full daylight in bright sunny weather. Overhead a recce aircraft searched the ground and just north of Nieuport the all seeing eye of an observation balloon was floating casually. There were no reports of the balloon either being shot down or attacked. In addition observers of the 256 and 208 DIVS occupied the highest vantage points in Nieuport. The 7th in contrast did not take advantage of the houses for observation and defence. The demolition party moved by ditches to the flood bank of the canal. It was necessary to cross a field. The party now came under well directed small arms and mortar fire. Cpl Petter was wounded. Lt Curtis was wounded whilst bringing his back to cover a ditch. He then ordered the party to return to HQ taking Cpl Petter with them. Eventually all the party were wounded including Lcpl R Venn, Sprs F Clark and S Wyborn, (it has not been possible to trace the names of the other two Sappers). Cpl Petter died from his wounds shortly after returning to Tac HQ. LT Curtis and wounded were evacuated. As a result of this action Lt Curtis was awarded the MC.
The enemy appeared to use this sortie as the moment to signal his intention to make an all out attack from the south of Nieuport, across the canal in the direction of the positions held by the ‘7’, firing continuous air bursts over a wide area. As the majority of the defenders were in the open, and had no overhead cover, there was a steady trickle of casualties. Mortars searched the ground striking at the forward positions. MG fire poured in bursts down the road. Snipers crossed the canal taking up positions in houses between the main ‘7’ position and the transport. They were active accounting for the CO of the 2 RF who were unable to deploy due to the bullet swept ground near the unblown bridge where the attack came in at 1300 hrs. The RF successfully savaged the German attack with their carriers sealing off the bridge being used by the Germans. ‘7’ held on grimly as the pressure built up. At one point a Bren with CSM Gilbert acting as a spotter cooled the ardour of an OP party in a high building in Nieuport. Detachments of the ‘7’ were withdrawn as the infantry took over from the sappers in their original positions, none of which had been lost. The party withdrew at dark consisting of the A/OC, 2/Lt Simpson, the CSM and 35 ORs. Spr/Dvr D Pitt returned with his truck to Nieuport searched for and found Sprs O’Halleron, Stamper and others who had missed the MT.
Casualties at Nieuport were Cpl Petter killed, Lt Curtis, Sprs F Clark, T Lees, (Tich) Parry, M Riell, Cpl T Riordan , Lcpl R Venn, Spr Wyborn and a further 13 other ranks were wounded.
30 May Thursday. The first detachments withdrawn from Nieuport went direct to La Panne, where sappers from another unit were building a lorried pier. Sgt Cutler turned up to greet the hungry sappers with tea and food to cheer them up; they then got down as La Panne was Panne was hit by shells and aircraft made their presence felt in overcast conditions and reduced visibility. Orders were given to move north to Coxyde where a reserve line from the Furnes Canal to the sea was to be built and manned by 4 DIV RE, under the command of
Lt-Col Horrocks 11 Bde. Brigadier Anderson had left to command 3 DIV. Maj-General Montgomery was now in command of II Corps as Lt-General Brook was orederd home to take up another command. Amid cheers the move to Coxyde was cancelled, the drivers had cheered too soon as they were required to ferry troops from Coxyde to La Panne. The A/OC and a party arrived at Oost Dunkirk from Nieuport at 0600 hrs and Coxyde at 1230 hrs, recces were carried out for wire and digging tools for the reserve line, which was begun to be built in the evening. At 2300 hrs the A/OC and his party moved to La Panne, where 5 DIV RE had begun to build a lorried pier decked with cheses and other suitable material. During the evening at La Panne the Divisional Commander made the following immediate rewards.
CRE Lt-Colonel Coxwell-Rogers DSO, The OC Major Gillespie MC, The OC ‘59’ Major Macdonald MC, Sgt Cutler and L/Sgt A Vodden MM.
Some of the ‘7’ casualties in the CCS at La Panne saw the 5 DIV RE working on the pier. In the afternoon ambulances were loaded at the CCS moving off on a long lurching journey. When the ambulances halted and the rear door opened to unload, it was found to be back where it started from. The ‘CCS’. About this time it was decided that the wounded could no longer be given priority as stretcher cases took the space of two standing men on board ship. Stretcher cases were to be collected and left near Dunkirk, although stretcher cases and walking wounded were evacuated the whole time. Enemy aircraft made a special target of hospital ships in spite of the Geneva Convention being strictly adhered to by the allies. The CCS at La Panne was acting as a General Hospital marked with large red crosses. Even so, it took its share of near misses from shells and bombs as it was bound to do. Inside the atmosphere was one of absolute calm. Orderlies brought food to the wounded in their wards. (small hotel rooms). The lucky ones were two to a bed laid fully dressed. A large room dark drapes on the ground floor was used for the more serious wounded. A theatre adjoined it working overtime. Surprisingly there were French and Belgian girls in the basement selling bottles of Vichy water at a tremendous price per bottle. There was a real shortage of water. Water bottles had long been emptied. Cash was pooled in the six man ward each from a different unit, two of them went down to join the queue of thirsty. Hungary, bandaged men, taking their turn to hand over a fist full of Francs for something they could easily have taken by force. Two bottles were taken back to the ward and shared out.
31 May Friday. Monty commanding II Corps had given his opinion, stating that II Corps could not hold the perimeter east of La Panne beyond the night of 31May/01 June. 3rd and 4th DIVS were ordered to thin out that night, May 31st. They withdrew to La Panne embarking from lorried piers built by the sappers. If those piers became untenable then lorried piers at Bray Dunes were to be used. Failing that, priority would be given to embark II Corps at Dunkirk by ship. In the meantime the enemy would be shelled, bombed and viciously counter-attacked. 10 Bde commanded by Brigadier Barker, 12 Bde and 1st E Surry’s held continuous counter-attacks. At one point the Germans laid a large smoke screen which blew back on their own positions, and as a large force formed up to attack, ‘Blenheims’ of the RAF flew in to drop bombs on the enemy causing a large number of casualties halting the attack. During the evening Maj-General Alexader, GOC I Corps took command of the Beach Head as Lord Gort embarked for the UK on the PMs orders.
At 0800 hrs the A/OC and party arrived at La Panne and assisted in the preparations for embarkation. One lorried pier was partly completed from which a few boat loads embarked up to 0900 hrs when the sea became choppy and the waiting ships stood further off shore. Several rowing boats over-turned and their occupants were lost, boats were overloaded, there was no proper control. At 1000 hrs, ‘7’ were ordered to cease works on the beach and move to Dunkirk. II CE countermanded this order at 1025 hrs. He ordered the remnants of 3, 4, and 5 DIVs RE to completethe first pier and to build a second pier. At 1200 hrs 4 DIV CRE arrived on the beach after visiting 10 and 12 Bdes to give details of the reserve position prepared at Coxyde. He now took charge of embarkation arrangements and issued orders that no further boats would be put out until darkness. One report put out that the ‘7’ were too tired to be of much use, however the remnant two officers and over 40 ORs worked on the completion of the first pier. At 1530 hrs a stick of four bombs fell. Lt-Col Le Sueur, Capt Hodgson, Sprs Brazier, Carthey, Chuter, Hall, Dvr Knowles and Cpl Sykes were killed and nine ORs of the 7th were wounded. Dvrs Meakin, Matthews and Thrift were reported missing. The enemy observation balloon could be seen from La Panne floating near Nieuport. Medium shells halted work on the piers at 1630 hrs and at the same time the CRE reported to the GOC 4th Division that there were only ten serviceable boats including assault and FBE boats to lift the Division from the beach to the ships. Naval officers reported that their boats would come ashore at dark. At 2000 hrs the sea became calm ‘7’ were ordered by the CRE to embark which they did from Bray Dunes. General embarkation got underway at La Panne at 2130 hrs and by 2330 hrs 600 men of 12 Bde had been embarked when there were very few boas left. At 2359 hrs the CRE informed the GOC 4TH Division that unless ship’s boats came ashore further embarkation was impossible.
01 June Saturday. Maj-General Johnson GOC 4th Division rang Admiral Ramsey at Dover asking for boats to come ashore as embarkation was at a standstill, and that rear guards of the Division were withdrawing in contact with the enemy. It was agreed that ships would meet the Division at Dunkirk. Final orders were given at 0200 hrs for the Division to walk down the beach to Bray Dunes and if necessary to Dunkirk. By this time La Panne was ablaze, shells were hitting the piers, all kinds of debris littered the beach, and as the tide came in it washed ashore bodies, great coats, personal equipment, damaged boats, craft, cars etc. Embarkation from the beaches in daylight was no longer possible. About 0500 hrs enemy aircraft straffed the beach in front of the advance elements of their advancing troops causing casualties among the rearguard. Apart from the advance party who left on the evening of May 26th the majority of the 7th embarked from the beach one way or another, some from lorried piers, others by wading out to boats, a number, including Capt Vaughan-Williams swam out to the winking ships stood about half a mile from the shore. Those sappers who did not embark from the beach walked the 10/11 miles to Dunkirk where the navy were at the East Mole to lift the last elements of the Division, some of the 7th were embarked sunk and rescued by another ship. In this period the East Mole was under continuous air attack, Sprs Tracey and West were killed. There is no information about their loss or of Spr Wood lost May 29th.
The Grenadier Guards and their adopted Sapper (Rayner) marched to the Mole, as they passed Maj-General Alexander they gave a smart ‘eyes right’. The general returned an equally smart salute. After much discussion the French finally agreed that the British rear guard would withdraw in equal numbers with the French in the hours of darkness 1st/2nd June. The BEF had held the main burden of defence without which there could have been no large scale evacuation. Firstly holding ninety miles of the 120 mile front giving both the British and French time to withdraw to the beach-head. They had held the major portion of the perimeter. The French now covered the final withdrawal fighting an outstanding battle, by mis-chance the French troops went to the wrong Mole at Dunkirk.
02 June Sunday. In spite of going to the wrong mole, more French than British troops were landed in the UK on this date. The last British rear guard were drawn tightly around Malo by Major-General Alexander to hold through the hours of day light to embark at night fall. At 2300 hrs Capt Tennant RN, the Naval Commander ashore at Dunkirk signalled to Admiral Ramsey at Dover, ‘BEF evacuated’. Operation ‘Dynamo’ was at an end. Major-General Alexander searched the beaches, calling from a loud hailer for any stragglers without success.
03 June Monday. The night’s effort had yielded 7000 British and 20000 French troops landed in England. Admiral Ramsey agreed to mount one last effort that night to lift the French rear guard.
04 June Tuesday. Due to a rabble of French soldiers emerging from the cellars of Dunkirk the French rearguard which had held their positions at Bray Dunes were prevented from embarking. Many ships returned empty, even so, over 26,000 French soldiers were landed in England.
At 0900 hrs. General Beaufrere made the formal surrender, according to German sources the number of troops taken prisoner was 30/40,000.
The best estimate of the strength of the Shiny 7th on the beach before the order to embark was 2 officers and 80 other ranks. In addition to awards recorded, CSM R Gilbert and L/Sgt Green were ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’.
| Date | Rank and Name | Place | Cementery | |
| 16 December 1939 | Lt B C Reiss | Benthune | Beuvry | Communal |
| 27 May 1940 | Spr S W J Black | Warneton | Comines | Communal |
| 27 May 1940 | L/cpl H A Bonner | Warneton | Comines | Communal |
| 27 May 1940 | Spr H Bothwick | Warneton | Comines | Communal |
| 27 May 1940 | Spr W F Froude | Warneton | Comines | Communal |
| 27 May 1940 | 2nd Lt V Harding | Warneton | Comines | Communal |
| 27 May 1940 | Spr J E Hoodless | Warneton | Comines | communal |
| 27 May 1940 | Spr/Dvr L Shepherd | Dozinghem | Westvleteren | |
| 27 May 1940 | Cpl T Trice | Warneton | Dunkirk | Memorial |
| 27 May 1940 | Spr F Vollans | Warneton | Dunkirk | Memorial |
| 27 May 1940 | Spr W H Whitwell | Warneton | Comines | Communal |
| 29 May 1940 | Cpl W E Petter | Nieuport | Dunkirk | Memorial |
| 29 May 1940 | Spr A Wood | La Panne | ||
| 31 May 1940 | Spr R I Brazier | La Panne | Dunkirk | Memorial |
| 31 May 1940 | Spr L G Carthey | La Panne | Dunkirk | Memorial |
| 31 May 1940 | Spr F L Hall | La Panne | La Panne | |
| 31 May 1940 | Dvr T Knowles | LaPanne | La Panne | |
| 31 May 1940 | Dvr A T Matthews | Dunkirk | Memorial | |
| 31 May 1940 | Dvr H J Meakins | Dunkirk | Memorial | |
| 31 May 1940 | Cpl G P Sykes | La Panne | La Panne | |
| 31 May 1940 | Dvr J Thrift | Dunkirk | Memorial | |
| 01 June 1940 | Spr J Tracey | Dunkirk Town | ||
| 01 June 1940 | Spr J T West | Dunkirk Town | ||
| 31 May 1940 |
Lt-Col J H R Le Sueur CRE 5th Divsion |
La Panne | La Panne | OC 1939-40 |
| 31 May 1940 |
Capt H P E Hodgson Adjutant 4th Division HQRE |
La Panne | La Panne | 2i/c 1939-40 |
|
Click on the image to view the BEF Withdrawal Map 1940
| Date | Place Event Campaign |
| Jun 1940 | Martock, Somerset / Rolands Castle, Dorset |
| Jul 1940 | Northlands |
| Nov 1940 | Crawley Court, Hampshire |
14 June 1940.There are no further entries in the Company War diary until this date, by which time the Shiny 7 had moved to Martock in Somerset, where the 4th Division were reforming. The 7th were housed in a tented camp. The advance party had been there since 02 June. The battered, unbowed 7th morale was soon restored by fine weather , regular food, rest and a short leave of 48 hours. The local people were very hospitable and supplied the men with more than plenty of cider.
Invasion was in the air and the ‘7’s tasks were to build defences in the south of England. This was the same reason, (invasion) for which the Company was embodied on January 1st 1805 as the ‘7th Spike Island Company’. Until that date Companies were known by the place where they were stationed and did not have a number. Their first task under Lt Colonel Sir Charles Holloway was to demolish Westmoreland Fort on Spike Island, County Cork, and build defences to secure the port of Cork against attack.
14 June. Major Walkey became OC. THE 2I/c was Captain Vaughan-Williams.
Sections: 1 Section Lt E V Rambush. 2 Section, 2nd Lt Warmesley-White, 3 Section, 2nd Lt J A Simpson. Reinforcements: 2nd Lt H Hanbury-Brown, 2ND Lt A G Marsden. The arrival of many reinforcements including a large contingent from Elgin gave the 7th a distinct Scottish flavour. Over 25% of the company were Scots and this continued for several years. The Company tactical serial number changed from 19 to 49. A steady trickle of casualties returning boosted the Company strength well above the establishment of 250 ORs to 315.
20 June. The Division came under command of V CorpS, the GOC Lt-General Auchinleck, the Corps sign was a Viking Ship.
21 June Friday. At 1115 hrs the Shiny 7 left Martock in hired transport to another temporary home at Rowlands Castle. They joined 2 DCLI in a tented camp. A move of 300yds was made to maintain the Shiny 7’s identity as a separate unit. The Company were under command of 10 Bde, in support of the Brigade Infantry, 2 DCLI, 1 RWK, and 2 Beds & Herts in defence of the beaches from the River Itchen to Hayling Island. Later to be changed to, exclusive of Hayling Island, inclusive of Bognor Regis and then inland for some miles. All personal weapons and equipment were made good but transport was slower in arriving. The GOC toured the area raising the standard of defences and at this time a shake up of the commanders began rolling on until 1942. Toward the end of June Maj-General Eastwood became the GOC of 4th Division.
01 July. Lt Rambush became acting 2i/c. Recces were completed in the first week of the month and work on the defences began. Civilian contractors worked under supervision, constructing 5’ concrete cubes to block beach exits and on four A/T pillboxes. Civil authorities were responsible for blocking landing grounds that had been recced, and they were instructed to steel shutter the banks of the Chichester canal, which was to be filled with water. They began to dismantle three spans of the Bogner pier and two bridges over the Chichester-Rife canal.
08 July. 1 Section moved to Nyetimber and 3 Section to Batchmere Farm, Birdham. Both Sections were housed in Land Settlement huts and private houses.
13 July. 10 Bde decided that Selsey Bill was to be held and ‘not flooded’. Orders were issued to stop the flooding programme. The next day 2 Section moved to Northlands near Chichester, HQ into a house and the Section under canvas. Overhead the air battle began. Attacks were made on shipping with the aim of denying the use of the channel to all shipping. The admiralty were prepared to accept losses to prove that ships could use the channel in daylight in spite of the Luftwaffe. The enemy flew recces night and day in preparation for a major attack. The PM continued to rally the nation, declaring on the 14th July : “ We are fighting by ourselves alone, but we are not fighting for ourselves alone”.
16 July. Hitler issued Directive No 16, for ‘Operation Sealion’. The invasion of England.
21 July. Lt-General Sir Alan Brooke became C in C Home Forces. Lt-General Auckinleck became GOC Southern Command, and Lt-General Montgomery GOC V Corps. The Company continued with their tasks building defences. Most beach exits had been blocked and fields of fire extended and cleared by the removal of some buildings and obstacles. Civilian Contractors were engaged, happily working six days per week. The GOC v Corps inspected the defences and was satisfied with the work completed and the work in hand. He directed that 50% of the Division would work and the remainder train. A key note in training was fitness training. In his view the Division must train to a very high standard. If the Germans could only fight in day time then we would train to fight in day and night time in all weathers. A new spirit was on board. All ranks went on courses, unarmed combat, engineering, bridging, Battle Schools came into being and were as near as possible to the real thing. Training took on a new live aspect.
01 August. The air battle was hotting up. Recces were made to lay minefields along Selsey Bill from East Wittering to Bognor. In the evening NCOs from 3 Section were called together at Batchmere Farm and instructed on the laying and arming the notorious Naval Beach Mine B type C. Laying would commence in the morning in the area of Thorny Farm now Greenham’s Farm. Each mine weighed 50lbs of which 20lbs was explosives. In the armed state 25lbs on the side of the lid or 50 lbs on the top of the lid activated the mine. They were both an A/T and A/P mine. In the morning two Sub Sections went to the beach near East Wittering and met by the OC and the Section OC to commence laying a minefield. The minefield was wired on all sides by barbed wire attached to wooden pickets dug into the pebble beach above the high tide water mark. Signs were fixed accept the front fence.
28 August. The minefields were going very well. 1,014 mines had been laid to date. 2nd Lt Brown returned to unit.
30 August. The Home forces were alerted, ‘Invasion expected within three days’. If and when codeword ‘Cromwell’ was received all troops would go to battle stations. The invasion ports began to fill with invasion craft and they were attacked by the Navy and RAF.
01 September. HQ and 1 Section went out on Divisional exercise and there would be trouble if the Corps Commander came across any sapper who was not ‘In the picture’. 2 and 3 Sections continued mine laying.
04 September. The 1/6 E Surreys were relieved on the beach east of Wittering by the 2 DCLI. About 1800 hrs a number of explosions were heard at Batchmere from the direction of the coast.. shortly afterwards L/Sgt Vodden and three NCOs headed for the beach near East Wittering where the first mines were laid. Pte Couch of 2 DCLI had walked into a minefield after climbing through the wire fence on the seaward side. Four mines exploded killing Pte Couch. Mines were disarmed to recover the body from the minefield. It is thought he was taking a short cut to his next post.
07 September. At 2345 hrs the codeword ‘Cromwell’ was received, the 7th stood to, 1 section raced to Thorney Island causeway ready to fire the demolition charge that they had prepared previously. The attack never materialised and everyone was stood down.
16 September. There were more casualties in the minefields three ORs of V Corps HQ Royal Signals were killed in the area of Pagnham Harbour at 2200 hrs. at 0045 hrs the minefield was made safe and the bodies recovered.
17 September. Hitler decided to withdraw the order for ‘Sealion’ though the threat remained and the troops would continue training for invasion. Panzers and airborne troops were withdrawn eastwards. Invasion craft would return to less turbulent waters. The Navy and RAF had destroyed 10% of the invasion craft though this had no bearing on Hitler’s decision to cancel ‘Operation Sealion’.
28 September. 3 Section were withdrawn to HQ, I Section took over from them at Batchmere. The next day 2ND Lt Simpson left for the Middle east. And 2nd Lt Marsden became OC 3 Section. The month ended with ponies being killed in the mine belt near east beach Selsey.
October. Major-General Swayne took command of the Division as it was being pulled back from the beaches and its roll changed to a mobile counter-attack force to strike the enemy wherever it may appear in the Corps area.
21 October. 262 Army Fd Coy RE took over from the 7th on the coast. Two days later 3 Section moved to Northwood Park a few miles north on Winchester, and set to work to clean up this large country house overrun with rats. Four days later the remainder of the Company arrived. Northwood park was used as a base to work on a new location at Crawley Court. Nearby was the village of Crawley. The local people were very friendly and the 7th were lucky to be billeted there.
11 November. 3 DIV joined V Corps in place of 50 DIV. The 7th concentrated bridging using the SBG and FBE interrupted only by Divisional exercises set by the Corps Commander. The Divisional GOC inspected the Camp at Crawley Court and by November the 26th the Shiny 7th were installed there. The Nissen huts were finished. Showers fitted in a stable with the Company office on the first floor. A long low building was made into a cookhouse and dining room. It was big enough for the whole Company and was often used by the OC for briefings.
02 December. Lt-General Alexander took over Southern Command , and Lt-General Auchinleck was promoted to be C in C India. Lt R L Clarke was posted as OC 3 Section. The 7th now had their first taste of desert warfare in the form of Exercise No1 on Salisbury Plain. Place names were altered to Arabic names. ‘Monty’ couldn’t simulate the weather though. Vehicles got bogged down. All the 8cwt PUs boiled up and motorcycles sank in the mud. The conditions did not prevent the 7th building a Class 24’, 64’ SBG bridge during the hours of darkness and erecting water points. After the Exercise ‘Monty’ held a conference of all officers of the Division at the Odeon cinema in Winchester. A number of those present have described this conference the forerunner of many more, which became part of ‘Monty’ lore. The stage was clear except for a huge drawing of the Corps sign, a Viking ship as a back cloth, when the trim figure of ‘Monty’ appeared dressed in battledress and said to a packed audience: “There will be no smoking, there will be three minutes for coughing, there will be no coughing during my comments”. Then without notes he proceeded to go through the whole exercise, enumerating the lessons to be learnedetc. He insisted that the staff of all HQs would complete a seven mile cross-country run each week. He much preferred that anyone who might collapse because of the run should do so and not in the middle of a battle. Distractions such as families living in the area were forbidden. Southampton was one of the targets to be bombed by the enemy. Parachute mines were dropped at random in built up areas causing large scale damage. A party from the 7th went to 30 Fd Regt RA billets hit by a raid to repair main supplies and buildings.
15 December. The 7th moved to a bridge camp at Howbery Manor, Wallingford to work with pontoons, wet bridging on the Thames, returning to Crawley a week later. Christmas day was celebrated in the traditional manner when the officers served the Christmas Dinner. The year ended quietly.
Invasion was in the air and the ‘7’s tasks were to build defences in the south of England. This was the same reason, (invasion) for which the Company was embodied on January 1st 1805 as the ‘7th Spike Island Company’. Until that date Companies were known by the place where they were stationed and did not have a number. Their first task under Lt Colonel Sir Charles Holloway was to demolish Westmoreland Fort on Spike Island, County Cork, and build defences to secure the port of Cork against attack.
14 June. Major Walkey became OC. THE 2I/c was Captain Vaughan-Williams.
Sections: 1 Section Lt E V Rambush. 2 Section, 2nd Lt Warmesley-White, 3 Section, 2nd Lt J A Simpson. Reinforcements: 2nd Lt H Hanbury-Brown, 2ND Lt A G Marsden. The arrival of many reinforcements including a large contingent from Elgin gave the 7th a distinct Scottish flavour. Over 25% of the company were Scots and this continued for several years. The Company tactical serial number changed from 19 to 49. A steady trickle of casualties returning boosted the Company strength well above the establishment of 250 ORs to 315.
20 June. The Division came under command of V CorpS, the GOC Lt-General Auchinleck, the Corps sign was a Viking Ship.
21 June Friday. At 1115 hrs the Shiny 7 left Martock in hired transport to another temporary home at Rowlands Castle. They joined 2 DCLI in a tented camp. A move of 300yds was made to maintain the Shiny 7’s identity as a separate unit. The Company were under command of 10 Bde, in support of the Brigade Infantry, 2 DCLI, 1 RWK, and 2 Beds & Herts in defence of the beaches from the River Itchen to Hayling Island. Later to be changed to, exclusive of Hayling Island, inclusive of Bognor Regis and then inland for some miles. All personal weapons and equipment were made good but transport was slower in arriving. The GOC toured the area raising the standard of defences and at this time a shake up of the commanders began rolling on until 1942. Toward the end of June Maj-General Eastwood became the GOC of 4th Division.
01 July. Lt Rambush became acting 2i/c. Recces were completed in the first week of the month and work on the defences began. Civilian contractors worked under supervision, constructing 5’ concrete cubes to block beach exits and on four A/T pillboxes. Civil authorities were responsible for blocking landing grounds that had been recced, and they were instructed to steel shutter the banks of the Chichester canal, which was to be filled with water. They began to dismantle three spans of the Bogner pier and two bridges over the Chichester-Rife canal.
08 July. 1 Section moved to Nyetimber and 3 Section to Batchmere Farm, Birdham. Both Sections were housed in Land Settlement huts and private houses.
13 July. 10 Bde decided that Selsey Bill was to be held and ‘not flooded’. Orders were issued to stop the flooding programme. The next day 2 Section moved to Northlands near Chichester, HQ into a house and the Section under canvas. Overhead the air battle began. Attacks were made on shipping with the aim of denying the use of the channel to all shipping. The admiralty were prepared to accept losses to prove that ships could use the channel in daylight in spite of the Luftwaffe. The enemy flew recces night and day in preparation for a major attack. The PM continued to rally the nation, declaring on the 14th July : “ We are fighting by ourselves alone, but we are not fighting for ourselves alone”.
16 July. Hitler issued Directive No 16, for ‘Operation Sealion’. The invasion of England.
21 July. Lt-General Sir Alan Brooke became C in C Home Forces. Lt-General Auckinleck became GOC Southern Command, and Lt-General Montgomery GOC V Corps. The Company continued with their tasks building defences. Most beach exits had been blocked and fields of fire extended and cleared by the removal of some buildings and obstacles. Civilian Contractors were engaged, happily working six days per week. The GOC v Corps inspected the defences and was satisfied with the work completed and the work in hand. He directed that 50% of the Division would work and the remainder train. A key note in training was fitness training. In his view the Division must train to a very high standard. If the Germans could only fight in day time then we would train to fight in day and night time in all weathers. A new spirit was on board. All ranks went on courses, unarmed combat, engineering, bridging, Battle Schools came into being and were as near as possible to the real thing. Training took on a new live aspect.
01 August. The air battle was hotting up. Recces were made to lay minefields along Selsey Bill from East Wittering to Bognor. In the evening NCOs from 3 Section were called together at Batchmere Farm and instructed on the laying and arming the notorious Naval Beach Mine B type C. Laying would commence in the morning in the area of Thorny Farm now Greenham’s Farm. Each mine weighed 50lbs of which 20lbs was explosives. In the armed state 25lbs on the side of the lid or 50 lbs on the top of the lid activated the mine. They were both an A/T and A/P mine. In the morning two Sub Sections went to the beach near East Wittering and met by the OC and the Section OC to commence laying a minefield. The minefield was wired on all sides by barbed wire attached to wooden pickets dug into the pebble beach above the high tide water mark. Signs were fixed accept the front fence.
28 August. The minefields were going very well. 1,014 mines had been laid to date. 2nd Lt Brown returned to unit.
30 August. The Home forces were alerted, ‘Invasion expected within three days’. If and when codeword ‘Cromwell’ was received all troops would go to battle stations. The invasion ports began to fill with invasion craft and they were attacked by the Navy and RAF.
01 September. HQ and 1 Section went out on Divisional exercise and there would be trouble if the Corps Commander came across any sapper who was not ‘In the picture’. 2 and 3 Sections continued mine laying.
04 September. The 1/6 E Surreys were relieved on the beach east of Wittering by the 2 DCLI. About 1800 hrs a number of explosions were heard at Batchmere from the direction of the coast.. shortly afterwards L/Sgt Vodden and three NCOs headed for the beach near East Wittering where the first mines were laid. Pte Couch of 2 DCLI had walked into a minefield after climbing through the wire fence on the seaward side. Four mines exploded killing Pte Couch. Mines were disarmed to recover the body from the minefield. It is thought he was taking a short cut to his next post.
07 September. At 2345 hrs the codeword ‘Cromwell’ was received, the 7th stood to, 1 section raced to Thorney Island causeway ready to fire the demolition charge that they had prepared previously. The attack never materialised and everyone was stood down.
16 September. There were more casualties in the minefields three ORs of V Corps HQ Royal Signals were killed in the area of Pagnham Harbour at 2200 hrs. at 0045 hrs the minefield was made safe and the bodies recovered.
17 September. Hitler decided to withdraw the order for ‘Sealion’ though the threat remained and the troops would continue training for invasion. Panzers and airborne troops were withdrawn eastwards. Invasion craft would return to less turbulent waters. The Navy and RAF had destroyed 10% of the invasion craft though this had no bearing on Hitler’s decision to cancel ‘Operation Sealion’.
28 September. 3 Section were withdrawn to HQ, I Section took over from them at Batchmere. The next day 2ND Lt Simpson left for the Middle east. And 2nd Lt Marsden became OC 3 Section. The month ended with ponies being killed in the mine belt near east beach Selsey.
October. Major-General Swayne took command of the Division as it was being pulled back from the beaches and its roll changed to a mobile counter-attack force to strike the enemy wherever it may appear in the Corps area.
21 October. 262 Army Fd Coy RE took over from the 7th on the coast. Two days later 3 Section moved to Northwood Park a few miles north on Winchester, and set to work to clean up this large country house overrun with rats. Four days later the remainder of the Company arrived. Northwood park was used as a base to work on a new location at Crawley Court. Nearby was the village of Crawley. The local people were very friendly and the 7th were lucky to be billeted there.
11 November. 3 DIV joined V Corps in place of 50 DIV. The 7th concentrated bridging using the SBG and FBE interrupted only by Divisional exercises set by the Corps Commander. The Divisional GOC inspected the Camp at Crawley Court and by November the 26th the Shiny 7th were installed there. The Nissen huts were finished. Showers fitted in a stable with the Company office on the first floor. A long low building was made into a cookhouse and dining room. It was big enough for the whole Company and was often used by the OC for briefings.
02 December. Lt-General Alexander took over Southern Command , and Lt-General Auchinleck was promoted to be C in C India. Lt R L Clarke was posted as OC 3 Section. The 7th now had their first taste of desert warfare in the form of Exercise No1 on Salisbury Plain. Place names were altered to Arabic names. ‘Monty’ couldn’t simulate the weather though. Vehicles got bogged down. All the 8cwt PUs boiled up and motorcycles sank in the mud. The conditions did not prevent the 7th building a Class 24’, 64’ SBG bridge during the hours of darkness and erecting water points. After the Exercise ‘Monty’ held a conference of all officers of the Division at the Odeon cinema in Winchester. A number of those present have described this conference the forerunner of many more, which became part of ‘Monty’ lore. The stage was clear except for a huge drawing of the Corps sign, a Viking ship as a back cloth, when the trim figure of ‘Monty’ appeared dressed in battledress and said to a packed audience: “There will be no smoking, there will be three minutes for coughing, there will be no coughing during my comments”. Then without notes he proceeded to go through the whole exercise, enumerating the lessons to be learnedetc. He insisted that the staff of all HQs would complete a seven mile cross-country run each week. He much preferred that anyone who might collapse because of the run should do so and not in the middle of a battle. Distractions such as families living in the area were forbidden. Southampton was one of the targets to be bombed by the enemy. Parachute mines were dropped at random in built up areas causing large scale damage. A party from the 7th went to 30 Fd Regt RA billets hit by a raid to repair main supplies and buildings.
15 December. The 7th moved to a bridge camp at Howbery Manor, Wallingford to work with pontoons, wet bridging on the Thames, returning to Crawley a week later. Christmas day was celebrated in the traditional manner when the officers served the Christmas Dinner. The year ended quietly.
1941
January. The Company demonstrated bridging equipment to the divisional infantry Pioneers who were impressed with what they saw.
February. During exercise No 4, a Class 9 bridge was built over the Thames at Moulsford covering 160’ wet gap and 50yds of marsh on the far bank. Because of the marsh the job needed some improvisation on the far bank. The ‘Beetle and Wedge’ pub was situated on the approach to the bridge on the near side, and the OC treated the whole Company to a beer. The pub was almost dry at the close of business.
March. At Crawley Court the company built a sports field, cutting the grass and levelling off bumps and dips. Competitive rugby and football was played regularly. Inspections by the Director of Economy and the Inspector General RE were followed by mobilisation, which was completed accept that 50% of the rifles and the Boyes A/T rifles needed zeroing and a range test. A demolition exercise was carried out along the river line at Romsey and other towns. Umpires inspected the sites to see how effective the work had been. The Home Guard came along and took great interest in the demolitions involving craters blown. ‘Monty’ ordered exercise No 5 to prove that 3 and 4 Divisions were ready to take on the Germans anywhere at anytime. The exercise took place at Bovington Camp. 1 section was captured on the last night of the week long exercise.
Lt Clarke was promoted to be 2i/c of the 59TH
April. The Company officers were: OC , Major J C Walkey, 2i/c, A/Capt p l Bradfer-Lawrence. Sections: 1, Lt Rees, 2, Lt H W B Stephens, 3, Lt J R Barron.
On 27th April ‘Monty’ took command of XII Corps SE Command the most threatened area of Britain. Lt-General Schreiber now became GOC VCorps.
May. Shiny 7th went to the tented ‘bridge’ camp at Wallingford from 9-18th of May, to train with pontoons using the ‘Inglis’ bridge, a WW1 bridge. The GOC of the Division inspected the ‘7’ drawn up on the sports field in battle-dress order. He was highly satisfied so everyone could relax a little. The 7th were at their best and he singled out one OR for special praise.
June. The 7th were selected to give further bridge and assault crossing demonstrations to the SOS and the Scots Guards Training Bn. 2 and 3 Sections gave demos on Bangalore Torpedos cutting through thick barbed wire obstacles.
July. Due to developments of events, airfield security was a major concern. Infantry and the RA needed to be housed nearby. Sections began working on quarters and services for defence forces guarding airfields. The main locations were Langstock, Chilbolton and Danebury. Roads, drains, services and 20 Nissen huts were built by the end of August. This did not stop training, which concentrated on booby traps, gapping minefields and tank hunting. Many methods were used to gap minefields. At this time there were no mine detectors. The job had to be done by hand. There were experiments involving fastening bangalores. They also tried winding Cortex nets on a light axel and firing across the mine field with an empty mortar. This had possibilities but caused some problems for the mortar operator. Corps HQ put a stop to the experimentations.
Three weeks were spent using the new ‘Inglis’ Assault bridge, which was a scaled up version of the bridge designed by Major (professor) Inglis, OBE, FRS. The bridge was not easy to assemble and there were also problems with other components making it difficult to handle and manoeuvre. As a result of a report handed in by the 7th the ‘Inglis’ Assault bridge was discarded.
13 August. Major Walkey was posted to SME Ripon, Capt Bradfer-Lawrence became OC until Major M C Richardson arrived to take command on 25th August.
September. The local WVS set up a good canteen in the village, which was very popular in off duty hours. Each Sunday when in camp the 7th attended the village church for morning service. At harvest time a large number of volunteers helped bring in the harvest. Darts matches and sports helped break down a sense of isolation. Small plots in sheltered areas around the camp produced good crops for their owners. Exercises followed one another quickly. ‘Locust’, ‘Stampede’ and mighty ‘Bumper’ on 27th September lasting eight days apart from the days of preparation. it covered many counties in southern England. The 7th toured from the south coast to Anwell north of London. The exercise was reported as being the biggest ever held in the UK. The Corps band made a visit to Crawley Court and played at an RE Divisional ‘Sports Day’ held at Northwood Park. The 7th provided three challenge cups bring two back home, losing the cup in the tug-of-war event. The band then attended an all ranks dance held in Winchester attended by the GOC 4 DIV, Brigadier Coxwell-Rogers CE V Corps and Brigadier Briggs. This was a great change from normal routine. 76 Nissen huts were completed on the airfield camps by the end of the month.
14 September. The OC and the CRE attended a demonstration of the ‘Bailey Bridge’ by 17 Fd Coy RE. The first Bailey Bridge equipment was issued to RE Field Companies for training in October 1941. The bridge was popular with the Sappers due to the ease of construction and its great versatility, which was exploited to the limit. Many bridges were built while under fire, an example being the ‘Amazon Bridge’ over the Rapido at Cassino, which is the subject of a painting by Terence Cuneo. It is appropriate that Donald Bailey the inventor of the bridge was knighted for his contribution to this outstanding ‘War Winner’, produced from scratch in record time.
October. Mobilisation orders were issued ‘M’ Day was November 18th. Weapons were fired, samples of explosives tested. Reinforcements arrived, medical and dental inspections were carried out. Half of the Company at a time went on embarkation leave. 565 Coy RE, prepared to take over work on the airfield camps. There were strong rumours that the Company may be going to Russia. The Cabinet were discussing sending 2 Divisions to Russia.
November. It was now a case of ‘Flap Off’, and of course all the bets. The Division would move to Aldershot Command in the role of mobile reserve for SE Command, of which, ‘Monty’ was GOC in C. At the same time it would form part of the ‘110 Amphibious Force’. Combined operation training began. The Shiny 7’s introduction to combined ops training was an exercise on land somewhere on Salisbury Plain due to a shortage of landing craft. Parties were attached to the infantry to supervise BTs being blown to cut gaps in heavy barbed wire.
02 December. ‘225’ took over the AA scheme at Winchester and at 1100 hrs the 7th moved out of Crawley Court for Elles married quarters at Cove. The new billets were private quarters in a high state of maintenance. The OC told the Company that the Army had now moved on to the offensive and training would be organised accordingly. Hawley Common nearby and its pond was used for field engineering and bridging. The 7th continued in support of 10 Bde and partnered 2 DCLI demonstrating a combined assault on A/T defences. No mechanical means were available to dig the A/T ditch so a series of over-lapping craters were blown. Lt Stephens was posted to the War Office, and 2nd Lt Hodgart arrived from 51 Highland DIV as OC 2 Section. Parties went to lock Fyne, Inveraray for combined Ops training. Christmas was celebrated in the traditional style.
January. The Company demonstrated bridging equipment to the divisional infantry Pioneers who were impressed with what they saw.
February. During exercise No 4, a Class 9 bridge was built over the Thames at Moulsford covering 160’ wet gap and 50yds of marsh on the far bank. Because of the marsh the job needed some improvisation on the far bank. The ‘Beetle and Wedge’ pub was situated on the approach to the bridge on the near side, and the OC treated the whole Company to a beer. The pub was almost dry at the close of business.
March. At Crawley Court the company built a sports field, cutting the grass and levelling off bumps and dips. Competitive rugby and football was played regularly. Inspections by the Director of Economy and the Inspector General RE were followed by mobilisation, which was completed accept that 50% of the rifles and the Boyes A/T rifles needed zeroing and a range test. A demolition exercise was carried out along the river line at Romsey and other towns. Umpires inspected the sites to see how effective the work had been. The Home Guard came along and took great interest in the demolitions involving craters blown. ‘Monty’ ordered exercise No 5 to prove that 3 and 4 Divisions were ready to take on the Germans anywhere at anytime. The exercise took place at Bovington Camp. 1 section was captured on the last night of the week long exercise.
Lt Clarke was promoted to be 2i/c of the 59TH
April. The Company officers were: OC , Major J C Walkey, 2i/c, A/Capt p l Bradfer-Lawrence. Sections: 1, Lt Rees, 2, Lt H W B Stephens, 3, Lt J R Barron.
On 27th April ‘Monty’ took command of XII Corps SE Command the most threatened area of Britain. Lt-General Schreiber now became GOC VCorps.
May. Shiny 7th went to the tented ‘bridge’ camp at Wallingford from 9-18th of May, to train with pontoons using the ‘Inglis’ bridge, a WW1 bridge. The GOC of the Division inspected the ‘7’ drawn up on the sports field in battle-dress order. He was highly satisfied so everyone could relax a little. The 7th were at their best and he singled out one OR for special praise.
June. The 7th were selected to give further bridge and assault crossing demonstrations to the SOS and the Scots Guards Training Bn. 2 and 3 Sections gave demos on Bangalore Torpedos cutting through thick barbed wire obstacles.
July. Due to developments of events, airfield security was a major concern. Infantry and the RA needed to be housed nearby. Sections began working on quarters and services for defence forces guarding airfields. The main locations were Langstock, Chilbolton and Danebury. Roads, drains, services and 20 Nissen huts were built by the end of August. This did not stop training, which concentrated on booby traps, gapping minefields and tank hunting. Many methods were used to gap minefields. At this time there were no mine detectors. The job had to be done by hand. There were experiments involving fastening bangalores. They also tried winding Cortex nets on a light axel and firing across the mine field with an empty mortar. This had possibilities but caused some problems for the mortar operator. Corps HQ put a stop to the experimentations.
Three weeks were spent using the new ‘Inglis’ Assault bridge, which was a scaled up version of the bridge designed by Major (professor) Inglis, OBE, FRS. The bridge was not easy to assemble and there were also problems with other components making it difficult to handle and manoeuvre. As a result of a report handed in by the 7th the ‘Inglis’ Assault bridge was discarded.
13 August. Major Walkey was posted to SME Ripon, Capt Bradfer-Lawrence became OC until Major M C Richardson arrived to take command on 25th August.
September. The local WVS set up a good canteen in the village, which was very popular in off duty hours. Each Sunday when in camp the 7th attended the village church for morning service. At harvest time a large number of volunteers helped bring in the harvest. Darts matches and sports helped break down a sense of isolation. Small plots in sheltered areas around the camp produced good crops for their owners. Exercises followed one another quickly. ‘Locust’, ‘Stampede’ and mighty ‘Bumper’ on 27th September lasting eight days apart from the days of preparation. it covered many counties in southern England. The 7th toured from the south coast to Anwell north of London. The exercise was reported as being the biggest ever held in the UK. The Corps band made a visit to Crawley Court and played at an RE Divisional ‘Sports Day’ held at Northwood Park. The 7th provided three challenge cups bring two back home, losing the cup in the tug-of-war event. The band then attended an all ranks dance held in Winchester attended by the GOC 4 DIV, Brigadier Coxwell-Rogers CE V Corps and Brigadier Briggs. This was a great change from normal routine. 76 Nissen huts were completed on the airfield camps by the end of the month.
14 September. The OC and the CRE attended a demonstration of the ‘Bailey Bridge’ by 17 Fd Coy RE. The first Bailey Bridge equipment was issued to RE Field Companies for training in October 1941. The bridge was popular with the Sappers due to the ease of construction and its great versatility, which was exploited to the limit. Many bridges were built while under fire, an example being the ‘Amazon Bridge’ over the Rapido at Cassino, which is the subject of a painting by Terence Cuneo. It is appropriate that Donald Bailey the inventor of the bridge was knighted for his contribution to this outstanding ‘War Winner’, produced from scratch in record time.
October. Mobilisation orders were issued ‘M’ Day was November 18th. Weapons were fired, samples of explosives tested. Reinforcements arrived, medical and dental inspections were carried out. Half of the Company at a time went on embarkation leave. 565 Coy RE, prepared to take over work on the airfield camps. There were strong rumours that the Company may be going to Russia. The Cabinet were discussing sending 2 Divisions to Russia.
November. It was now a case of ‘Flap Off’, and of course all the bets. The Division would move to Aldershot Command in the role of mobile reserve for SE Command, of which, ‘Monty’ was GOC in C. At the same time it would form part of the ‘110 Amphibious Force’. Combined operation training began. The Shiny 7’s introduction to combined ops training was an exercise on land somewhere on Salisbury Plain due to a shortage of landing craft. Parties were attached to the infantry to supervise BTs being blown to cut gaps in heavy barbed wire.
02 December. ‘225’ took over the AA scheme at Winchester and at 1100 hrs the 7th moved out of Crawley Court for Elles married quarters at Cove. The new billets were private quarters in a high state of maintenance. The OC told the Company that the Army had now moved on to the offensive and training would be organised accordingly. Hawley Common nearby and its pond was used for field engineering and bridging. The 7th continued in support of 10 Bde and partnered 2 DCLI demonstrating a combined assault on A/T defences. No mechanical means were available to dig the A/T ditch so a series of over-lapping craters were blown. Lt Stephens was posted to the War Office, and 2nd Lt Hodgart arrived from 51 Highland DIV as OC 2 Section. Parties went to lock Fyne, Inveraray for combined Ops training. Christmas was celebrated in the traditional style.
4 Division TRF
7 Company was in
4 Division during this period
7 Company was in
4 Division during this period
Pillbox on Hayling Island possibly built by 7 Fd Coy RE or contractors under their supervision
In 1941 'Shiny7' built a Class 9 Bridge on this stretch of the river Thames. When completed the OC bought the whole Company a beer in the pub,
'The Beetle & Wedge' The pub almost ran out of beer that evening.
'The Beetle & Wedge' The pub almost ran out of beer that evening.
Moulsford Oxfordshire
The original Beetle & Wedge pub where the Shiny 7 almost drank dry in February 1941. It is now a private house. The old boat house next door was converted to the current 'Beetle & Wedge' restaurant and hotel
Somewhere behind where I'm standing to as far as you can see was the site where the Shiny 7 built their Class 9 bridge in February 1941
A Nissen hut and water tower are two of very few remains of military structures left in Howbery Park
1942
January. The GOC of the Division led in the new year with inspecting, personnel, billets and the MT. At Inveraray Sections lived on board HMT ‘Etterick’ with other units of the Bde working as a team. ‘R’ boats were used to land infantry and recce parties and MLCs, TLCs for vehicles and guns. Sappers quickly learned to shin up and down rope ladders and drop on the deck of landing craft. There were various lectures and films attended onshore. At Cove there was a two week exercise mainly working in the evenings, an exercise that bore the ’Monty’ stamp. One day in freezing weather a party cleared snow from Farnborough airfield and ice hockey was played on Hawley Common. Each day, irrespective of the weather, the day started with PT in the open.
23 March. The Shiny 7 would now support 11 Bde Commanded by Brigadier Cass. The infantry were no strangers, 1 E Surrys, 2 LF and 5 Northants. The company was to move to Hoddam Castle in Scottish command.
04 April. Easter Saturday at 0545 hrs ‘7’ left Cove in convoy less 2 Section who were on leave.
06 April. Easter Monday. After night halts at Lutterworth and Doncaster race course the 7th arrived at a POW Compound at Catterick Camp. Two days later at 0800 hrs, 3 Section marched off through Richmond heading towards a farm 3 miles east of Bowes on the A66. Exercise Bruce had begun, which involved low flying aircraft attacking the Section.
12 April. The Company arrived at Hoddam Castle at 1215 hrs. 3 Section were detached to Langholm to build a camp for the 2 LF and 5 Northants mainly constructing Nissen huts. The Section lived in tents by the river flowing down to Langholm. After exercise ‘Percy’, 1 Section built a sewage system with filter beds, roads then later, tank standings at Hoddam Castle. From 6th to the 30th April, 2 Section worked at Inveraray under CTC as a demonstration party for engineering beach work. Regular marches on Scottish hills with infantry using live ammunition were a feature, the slogan ‘Brains saves sweat and sweat saves blood’ was learned to the full.
May. The Division became one of the first to be reorganised as a ‘model’ into a mixed division of two infantry Bdes, 10 and 12 and one Tank Bde, 21ST. 11 Bde left the Division to join the 78 DIV. ‘Shiny 7’ would support 21 Tank Bde. The tank units were 12 and 48 Bns RTR and 145 RAC. The Bde was equipped with ‘Churchill’ tanks weighing 40 tons, Class 40. Bridges were recced to ensure they could take the weight of a tank.
30 May. Shiny 7 left Hoddam Castle for an abortive exercise ‘Schuyt III’ and then went to a new location, Kershopefoot Camp arriving at 1900 hrs. This was a small railway halt on the England-Scotland border. It was ideally situated with more than adequate accommodation and had a sports field. Kershopefoot burn ran alongside the camp and had plenty of Salmon adding to the fare. The local people could not have been more hospitable and a number of the 7th married local girls.
June. Thirteen truck loads of Bailey bridge arrived at the station. A few days later 1 and 2 Sections built a 110’ DS on a dry training gap in camp, and a 140’ TS on a virgin site using the whole of the equipment. It would be a long time before ‘7’ built a longer Bailey bridge.
12 June. Kingholm Quay, Dumfries, a disused dock with a gap of 70’ was used for an inter Section competition between 1 and 2 Sections. 1 Section won building their 80’ DS in two hours eighteen minutes. 2 Section took a few minutes over three and a half hours and considering their bridge over-balanced into the gap this was a very fast time. The Company wireless operators were attached to 21 Tank Bde in readiness for the arrival of the company’s first wireless sets.
13 July. An endurance test began in the morning. Dress was marching order and one blanket. The walk across country 70 miles to Coldstream taking only three days rations. MT would lift the Sections five days later, no buying, begging or theft of food was permitted. Wild game and fish could be caught.
31July. The 7th moved out for ex ‘Dry Shod’ aptly named as it poured down the eight days. A rum ration was issued at the end of the exercise.
August. By this time the allies had decided on ‘Gymnast’ later called ‘Torch’, the attack on NW Africa. ‘110 Force’ would take part in the assault. During one week the GOC General Alexander went to the Middle East. ‘Monty’ became GOC only to take command of the 8th Army. ‘110 Force’ became 1st Army commanded by Lt-General Anderson.
In the desert at the end of the month, the 8th Army stopped Rommel’s last bid to take Egypt.
01 September. The Company moved to Halton bridge camp on the river Lune. Within days the river flooded requiring great care ferrying Churchill tanks across the river.
03 September. At 0900 hrs a voluntary church parade was held on a day of National Prayer. Britain’s war situation had plummeted, with a catalogue of failures against the Germans and the Japanese in the Far East. This did not affect the morale of the 7th which was, and had been at a high pitch for a long time.
15 September. The Company returned to Kershopefoot.
October. Topical lectures, visits by high ranking officers, and the arrival of No 21 wireless sets indicated that something was afoot. The sets were quickly installed in the Section PU’s and two in the HQ vehicles, and put to test on exercises ‘Flaxman’ and ‘Moss Trooper’. Sections were detached along Loch Fyne. Lt Wake RN was attached to advise on suitable landing places. Troopships came into the loch disgorging American troops in a rehearsal for ‘Torch’. Sections were employed improving landing areas. On October 24th the Company left Ardno arriving the next morning at Kershopefoot not without casualties. A 30cwt CDF left a moor road in open country. Cpl Scott and Spr Spelman were injured and evacuated to Moffat Cottage Hospital. Spr Spelman sustained a fractured skull. Next morning the hospital advised both were comfortable. For the first time in ‘Corps’ history Sections were now being lettered, A, B, C. Numbers were discarded. This was to bring it in line with the infantry and tank units. The 8th Army won the battle of El Alamein on November 4th after twelve days of heavy fighting. A curtain raiser to the ‘Torch’ landings. After a short stay, Lt R P Hutshinson was posted to the 59th.
December. B and C Sections went to Ripon for a wet bridging course lasting two weeks. On return to Kershopefoot B Section made successful experiments for the passage of Churchill tanks over boggy country using 2” tubular matting. An ‘All Ranks Dance’ was held on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was off duty. The New Year was celebrated in typical Scottish fashion the 7th being the guests of the local people.
January. The GOC of the Division led in the new year with inspecting, personnel, billets and the MT. At Inveraray Sections lived on board HMT ‘Etterick’ with other units of the Bde working as a team. ‘R’ boats were used to land infantry and recce parties and MLCs, TLCs for vehicles and guns. Sappers quickly learned to shin up and down rope ladders and drop on the deck of landing craft. There were various lectures and films attended onshore. At Cove there was a two week exercise mainly working in the evenings, an exercise that bore the ’Monty’ stamp. One day in freezing weather a party cleared snow from Farnborough airfield and ice hockey was played on Hawley Common. Each day, irrespective of the weather, the day started with PT in the open.
23 March. The Shiny 7 would now support 11 Bde Commanded by Brigadier Cass. The infantry were no strangers, 1 E Surrys, 2 LF and 5 Northants. The company was to move to Hoddam Castle in Scottish command.
04 April. Easter Saturday at 0545 hrs ‘7’ left Cove in convoy less 2 Section who were on leave.
06 April. Easter Monday. After night halts at Lutterworth and Doncaster race course the 7th arrived at a POW Compound at Catterick Camp. Two days later at 0800 hrs, 3 Section marched off through Richmond heading towards a farm 3 miles east of Bowes on the A66. Exercise Bruce had begun, which involved low flying aircraft attacking the Section.
12 April. The Company arrived at Hoddam Castle at 1215 hrs. 3 Section were detached to Langholm to build a camp for the 2 LF and 5 Northants mainly constructing Nissen huts. The Section lived in tents by the river flowing down to Langholm. After exercise ‘Percy’, 1 Section built a sewage system with filter beds, roads then later, tank standings at Hoddam Castle. From 6th to the 30th April, 2 Section worked at Inveraray under CTC as a demonstration party for engineering beach work. Regular marches on Scottish hills with infantry using live ammunition were a feature, the slogan ‘Brains saves sweat and sweat saves blood’ was learned to the full.
May. The Division became one of the first to be reorganised as a ‘model’ into a mixed division of two infantry Bdes, 10 and 12 and one Tank Bde, 21ST. 11 Bde left the Division to join the 78 DIV. ‘Shiny 7’ would support 21 Tank Bde. The tank units were 12 and 48 Bns RTR and 145 RAC. The Bde was equipped with ‘Churchill’ tanks weighing 40 tons, Class 40. Bridges were recced to ensure they could take the weight of a tank.
30 May. Shiny 7 left Hoddam Castle for an abortive exercise ‘Schuyt III’ and then went to a new location, Kershopefoot Camp arriving at 1900 hrs. This was a small railway halt on the England-Scotland border. It was ideally situated with more than adequate accommodation and had a sports field. Kershopefoot burn ran alongside the camp and had plenty of Salmon adding to the fare. The local people could not have been more hospitable and a number of the 7th married local girls.
June. Thirteen truck loads of Bailey bridge arrived at the station. A few days later 1 and 2 Sections built a 110’ DS on a dry training gap in camp, and a 140’ TS on a virgin site using the whole of the equipment. It would be a long time before ‘7’ built a longer Bailey bridge.
12 June. Kingholm Quay, Dumfries, a disused dock with a gap of 70’ was used for an inter Section competition between 1 and 2 Sections. 1 Section won building their 80’ DS in two hours eighteen minutes. 2 Section took a few minutes over three and a half hours and considering their bridge over-balanced into the gap this was a very fast time. The Company wireless operators were attached to 21 Tank Bde in readiness for the arrival of the company’s first wireless sets.
13 July. An endurance test began in the morning. Dress was marching order and one blanket. The walk across country 70 miles to Coldstream taking only three days rations. MT would lift the Sections five days later, no buying, begging or theft of food was permitted. Wild game and fish could be caught.
31July. The 7th moved out for ex ‘Dry Shod’ aptly named as it poured down the eight days. A rum ration was issued at the end of the exercise.
August. By this time the allies had decided on ‘Gymnast’ later called ‘Torch’, the attack on NW Africa. ‘110 Force’ would take part in the assault. During one week the GOC General Alexander went to the Middle East. ‘Monty’ became GOC only to take command of the 8th Army. ‘110 Force’ became 1st Army commanded by Lt-General Anderson.
In the desert at the end of the month, the 8th Army stopped Rommel’s last bid to take Egypt.
01 September. The Company moved to Halton bridge camp on the river Lune. Within days the river flooded requiring great care ferrying Churchill tanks across the river.
03 September. At 0900 hrs a voluntary church parade was held on a day of National Prayer. Britain’s war situation had plummeted, with a catalogue of failures against the Germans and the Japanese in the Far East. This did not affect the morale of the 7th which was, and had been at a high pitch for a long time.
15 September. The Company returned to Kershopefoot.
October. Topical lectures, visits by high ranking officers, and the arrival of No 21 wireless sets indicated that something was afoot. The sets were quickly installed in the Section PU’s and two in the HQ vehicles, and put to test on exercises ‘Flaxman’ and ‘Moss Trooper’. Sections were detached along Loch Fyne. Lt Wake RN was attached to advise on suitable landing places. Troopships came into the loch disgorging American troops in a rehearsal for ‘Torch’. Sections were employed improving landing areas. On October 24th the Company left Ardno arriving the next morning at Kershopefoot not without casualties. A 30cwt CDF left a moor road in open country. Cpl Scott and Spr Spelman were injured and evacuated to Moffat Cottage Hospital. Spr Spelman sustained a fractured skull. Next morning the hospital advised both were comfortable. For the first time in ‘Corps’ history Sections were now being lettered, A, B, C. Numbers were discarded. This was to bring it in line with the infantry and tank units. The 8th Army won the battle of El Alamein on November 4th after twelve days of heavy fighting. A curtain raiser to the ‘Torch’ landings. After a short stay, Lt R P Hutshinson was posted to the 59th.
December. B and C Sections went to Ripon for a wet bridging course lasting two weeks. On return to Kershopefoot B Section made successful experiments for the passage of Churchill tanks over boggy country using 2” tubular matting. An ‘All Ranks Dance’ was held on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was off duty. The New Year was celebrated in typical Scottish fashion the 7th being the guests of the local people.
Shiny 7 war diary 1943
January. Embarkation leave was granted, and authority be given for relatives to be told that the Shiny 7 were going to the Middle East. Cooks were instructed in the culinary art of making hot dishes!
Current works were handed over to 804 Construction Coy RE. Divisional and tactical signs were erased from uniforms and vehicles, and a large 2’ yellow star within a circle was painted on bonnets of vehicles. Sections concentrated on mine warfare in all weather conditions. A lecture on the methods used at El Alamein for gapping minefields gave food for thought and led to much discussion. The MT embarked at ports on the west coast in the last week of February.
05 March. ‘A’ Section commanded by Lt Venning lined lined the route with elements of other units to be to be inspected by the King accompanied by the CIGS General Sir Alan Brooke in an open car in bright, clear weather.
12 March. At 0400 hrs the ‘7’ entrained at Kershopefoot Halt, arriving at Gourock at 1300 hrs, where they embarked on HMT Ormond, a large ship.
13 March. The Shiny 7 were at sea aboard ‘Ormond’, joining ships from ports down the coast to Liverpool to form a convoy of twenty six transport ships and a naval escort of a squadron of destroyers. At sea they settled down to a routine of meals, boat stations, lectures and PT. The physical training was supervised by PTI Busby. The bay of Biscay lived up to its reputation claiming a number of victims, not helped by learning ‘Nelson’ was always sea sick when he went to sea.
21 March. On or about this date the convoy split up. Nine ships including Ormond passed through the straits of Gibralter during the hours of darkness. Now it was clear the shiny 7 were steaming to join the 1st Army. British, French and American forces were already there fighting since November 6th from the ‘Operation Torch’ landings at Oran and Algiers. The 7th landed in time for the third and final phase, a crushing attack by the 18th Army Group Commanded by General Alexander.
23 March. During the night two torpedo attacks were made on the convoy. Action stations were sounded. Troops sleeping on the open deck were sent down to their mess decks. In the attack HMT Windsor Castle was torpedoed and some vehicles were lost belonging to units other than 4 DIV. At Algiers the first port of call a number of the Company were disembarked as reinforcements to go to a transit camp.
25 March Thursday. ‘HMT Ormonde’ docked at Bone at 1500 hrs. Units quickly disembarked in case of air attacks. Eventually the 7th dressed in marching order, marched four miles to No 4 Transit Camp arriving there in the early hours the following morning. They soon settled down in the large tents used as accommodation. The Company strength read:
OC, Major M C Richardson. 2i/c, Capt J R B Barron. Sections: A Lt J D V Venning. B, Lt G C Hodgart. C, Lt W L Taylor. Recce Lt D Foster-Anderson. ORs 283. Total: 289.
A busy day followed breakfast: Ships baggage and Arabs arrived.
27 March. Sections assisted the Camp commandant building Nissen huts. Training, collecting vehicles, route marches made a very quiet start to the 7th joining up with the 1st Army. One reason being it took 21 Tank Bde some time to prepare tanks after the sea journey as the floors of all vehicles were lined with sandbags to minimise injuries in the event of a vehicle hitting a mine.
04 April. The first contingent of the 7th left to attend a mine warfare course for training in the methods used by 8th Army when gapping minefields. Eight yard safe lanes were to be made initially then widened to 16 yards as soon as possible afterwards. Mine detection was either with a mine detector or prodding with bayonets. The 7th were to be employed as a specialist minefield gapping force in support of the Bde’s Tanks. The only armour provided was one scout car for the OC. Each Section was issued with a supply of mine equipment, detectors, lamps green and amber, lane markers, white painted mine hats for marking mines when detected, rolls of tracing tape, angle iron pickets and nails were the main items.
12 April. At 0900 hrs the 7th left Bone for a location near Be Ja. Each vehicle had its aircraft spotters sitting on top of the vehicle and vehicles were spaced at 300 yds as air attacks were expected. The convoy drove through some wide open country onto the narrow roads of the Merjerda Mountains through ‘bomb ally’ arriving at a copse on flat high ground approximately 1 km from Beja at 2230 hrs, unmolested from the air. The unit was dispersed under low trees. Malaria precautions were strictly enforced, shirts buttoned and sleeves rolled down in the evening. Anti-mosquito cream, mosquito nets and mecaprin tablets were issued. After a long time very few of the Shiny 7 were affected by malaria but the yellow mecaprin tablets did give everyone a yellow look.
13 April. Sections worked on gapping drills in a live British A/T minefield on the edge of a copse overlooking wide open flat country. In the evening the 7th stood to, ready dressed in the support of an attack being made by 10 and 12 Bde on the road to Mateur through hunt’s gap. In this attack one of the first 70 ton ‘tiger’ tanks to fall into allied hands was captured at Sidi Neir about 20 miles NE of Beja. The enemy troops facing the Division were the Barenthian Regiment who were pushed back in a successful attack. The advance was made not without problems as the area was liberally sown with mines and booby traps.
14 April. In the early hours Sections were stood down. They moved four miles north of Beja to two farms. A collection of mines, grenades and switches of both Allied and Axis origin were collected for individual handling. Experiments were made for a quick passage of A/P mined areas with ‘S’ mine particularly in mind, which when activated jumped about 4’ above ground level before exploding. A quick reliable method of gapping A/P mines was a priority.
15 April. The OC was ordered to form and train an MTF (minefield task force) cadre. Advance parties of infantry, CMP and Signals made up the cadre. Sections trained individually. Next day C and B Sections demonstrated in a minefield pushing through 16 yard gaps. A Signals vehicle blew up on a mine as it went through one of the lanes. Luckily there were no casualties.
19 April. The 7th moved to another location near Medjez el Bab arriving at 0200 hrs the next morning.
21 April. Thursday. 0600 hrs the 7th stood down. Sections each left a Sub Section on patrol. No contact had been made at any time though small arms fire could be heard to the north. The enemy attack had been halted then driven back. ‘A’ Section went to DIV HQ AT 1000 hrs to complete the POW cage. Signs of the battle was all around. Churchill tanks of 21 Tank Bde were forging their way up the hill as the ‘Hermans’ were withdrawing. The final result was that V Corps attack was not held up and the enemy had lost 450 POWs and 33 of their tanks knocked out. At this time the Allies could sense that they had superiority in the air- guns- tanks and that ‘Operation Vulcan’ would sweep the Axis forces out of Africa.
January. Embarkation leave was granted, and authority be given for relatives to be told that the Shiny 7 were going to the Middle East. Cooks were instructed in the culinary art of making hot dishes!
Current works were handed over to 804 Construction Coy RE. Divisional and tactical signs were erased from uniforms and vehicles, and a large 2’ yellow star within a circle was painted on bonnets of vehicles. Sections concentrated on mine warfare in all weather conditions. A lecture on the methods used at El Alamein for gapping minefields gave food for thought and led to much discussion. The MT embarked at ports on the west coast in the last week of February.
05 March. ‘A’ Section commanded by Lt Venning lined lined the route with elements of other units to be to be inspected by the King accompanied by the CIGS General Sir Alan Brooke in an open car in bright, clear weather.
12 March. At 0400 hrs the ‘7’ entrained at Kershopefoot Halt, arriving at Gourock at 1300 hrs, where they embarked on HMT Ormond, a large ship.
13 March. The Shiny 7 were at sea aboard ‘Ormond’, joining ships from ports down the coast to Liverpool to form a convoy of twenty six transport ships and a naval escort of a squadron of destroyers. At sea they settled down to a routine of meals, boat stations, lectures and PT. The physical training was supervised by PTI Busby. The bay of Biscay lived up to its reputation claiming a number of victims, not helped by learning ‘Nelson’ was always sea sick when he went to sea.
21 March. On or about this date the convoy split up. Nine ships including Ormond passed through the straits of Gibralter during the hours of darkness. Now it was clear the shiny 7 were steaming to join the 1st Army. British, French and American forces were already there fighting since November 6th from the ‘Operation Torch’ landings at Oran and Algiers. The 7th landed in time for the third and final phase, a crushing attack by the 18th Army Group Commanded by General Alexander.
23 March. During the night two torpedo attacks were made on the convoy. Action stations were sounded. Troops sleeping on the open deck were sent down to their mess decks. In the attack HMT Windsor Castle was torpedoed and some vehicles were lost belonging to units other than 4 DIV. At Algiers the first port of call a number of the Company were disembarked as reinforcements to go to a transit camp.
25 March Thursday. ‘HMT Ormonde’ docked at Bone at 1500 hrs. Units quickly disembarked in case of air attacks. Eventually the 7th dressed in marching order, marched four miles to No 4 Transit Camp arriving there in the early hours the following morning. They soon settled down in the large tents used as accommodation. The Company strength read:
OC, Major M C Richardson. 2i/c, Capt J R B Barron. Sections: A Lt J D V Venning. B, Lt G C Hodgart. C, Lt W L Taylor. Recce Lt D Foster-Anderson. ORs 283. Total: 289.
A busy day followed breakfast: Ships baggage and Arabs arrived.
27 March. Sections assisted the Camp commandant building Nissen huts. Training, collecting vehicles, route marches made a very quiet start to the 7th joining up with the 1st Army. One reason being it took 21 Tank Bde some time to prepare tanks after the sea journey as the floors of all vehicles were lined with sandbags to minimise injuries in the event of a vehicle hitting a mine.
04 April. The first contingent of the 7th left to attend a mine warfare course for training in the methods used by 8th Army when gapping minefields. Eight yard safe lanes were to be made initially then widened to 16 yards as soon as possible afterwards. Mine detection was either with a mine detector or prodding with bayonets. The 7th were to be employed as a specialist minefield gapping force in support of the Bde’s Tanks. The only armour provided was one scout car for the OC. Each Section was issued with a supply of mine equipment, detectors, lamps green and amber, lane markers, white painted mine hats for marking mines when detected, rolls of tracing tape, angle iron pickets and nails were the main items.
12 April. At 0900 hrs the 7th left Bone for a location near Be Ja. Each vehicle had its aircraft spotters sitting on top of the vehicle and vehicles were spaced at 300 yds as air attacks were expected. The convoy drove through some wide open country onto the narrow roads of the Merjerda Mountains through ‘bomb ally’ arriving at a copse on flat high ground approximately 1 km from Beja at 2230 hrs, unmolested from the air. The unit was dispersed under low trees. Malaria precautions were strictly enforced, shirts buttoned and sleeves rolled down in the evening. Anti-mosquito cream, mosquito nets and mecaprin tablets were issued. After a long time very few of the Shiny 7 were affected by malaria but the yellow mecaprin tablets did give everyone a yellow look.
13 April. Sections worked on gapping drills in a live British A/T minefield on the edge of a copse overlooking wide open flat country. In the evening the 7th stood to, ready dressed in the support of an attack being made by 10 and 12 Bde on the road to Mateur through hunt’s gap. In this attack one of the first 70 ton ‘tiger’ tanks to fall into allied hands was captured at Sidi Neir about 20 miles NE of Beja. The enemy troops facing the Division were the Barenthian Regiment who were pushed back in a successful attack. The advance was made not without problems as the area was liberally sown with mines and booby traps.
14 April. In the early hours Sections were stood down. They moved four miles north of Beja to two farms. A collection of mines, grenades and switches of both Allied and Axis origin were collected for individual handling. Experiments were made for a quick passage of A/P mined areas with ‘S’ mine particularly in mind, which when activated jumped about 4’ above ground level before exploding. A quick reliable method of gapping A/P mines was a priority.
15 April. The OC was ordered to form and train an MTF (minefield task force) cadre. Advance parties of infantry, CMP and Signals made up the cadre. Sections trained individually. Next day C and B Sections demonstrated in a minefield pushing through 16 yard gaps. A Signals vehicle blew up on a mine as it went through one of the lanes. Luckily there were no casualties.
19 April. The 7th moved to another location near Medjez el Bab arriving at 0200 hrs the next morning.
21 April. Thursday. 0600 hrs the 7th stood down. Sections each left a Sub Section on patrol. No contact had been made at any time though small arms fire could be heard to the north. The enemy attack had been halted then driven back. ‘A’ Section went to DIV HQ AT 1000 hrs to complete the POW cage. Signs of the battle was all around. Churchill tanks of 21 Tank Bde were forging their way up the hill as the ‘Hermans’ were withdrawing. The final result was that V Corps attack was not held up and the enemy had lost 450 POWs and 33 of their tanks knocked out. At this time the Allies could sense that they had superiority in the air- guns- tanks and that ‘Operation Vulcan’ would sweep the Axis forces out of Africa.
23 April Good Friday. Late in the evening the 7th moved off. Three hours later the convoy was halted due to a bombing attack close by. One of the DRs went to the side to tend to nature. With the help of flares and other illuminations from the air activity he noticed a sign; ‘Mines Keep Out’ they were in a minefield. Driver C Bailey driving a section compressor was hit in the leg with shrapnel. His wound was dressed and he was put in an ambulance travelling in the opposite direction. Finally in a lull the convoy moved off again arriving on the reverse slopes at the extreme south eastern end of a ridge known as banana ridge (Djebel Jaffa) because of its shape. Two nights earlier it was completely surrounded. The opposite side of the valley floor, burnt out German half tracks could be seen. The 7th arrived at midnight dispersed and settled down for the night in the midst of a firework display, flares, AA fire, falling bombs and burning vehicles lighting up the sky.
25 April Easter Sunday. Lt Foster- Anderson and Spr W Turp rode off on a M/C to recce the Oud Hamar bridges on the Tunis road. ‘A’ Section would follow up with the object of being to capture at least one bridge intact. The M/C was ditched about 500 yards from the bridges. Lt Foster-Anderson covered by Spr Turp went to one bridge and in spite of enemy fire disconnected the circuit, then proceeded to remove detonators from charges on the bridge. He carried on until the bridge could not be blown by the enemy who by this time was furious with what was going on under their nose. Eventually he withdrew returning with Spr Turp on the pillion. The only casualty was the M/C, which was drilled with bullet holes through the top of the petrol tank but was still serviceable and used until the end of the campaign. ‘225’ took on the task of clearing the bridges to make them safe. Booby traps blew charges on each bridge causing some casualties. A diversion was made across the Oued Hamar. Newspapers at home carried accounts of this incident and there is a short account in the Corps History Volume VIII. At 1715 hrs an MTF was ordered for the attack on Sidi Mediene, B and C Sections to do the job with A Section in reserve. 2330 hrs Zero Hour, B and C Sections were out of their vehicles following 6 Black Watch who made the attack in the traditional manner with their pipes playing. The objective was captured after very bitter fighting lasting 3 hours, and the repulsion of a counter- attack. It turned out that the position was held by 90 well armed Herman Goering paratrooper s in deep trenches.
26 April. Operational contact was lost with B and C Sections. ‘A’ Section was about to be deployed to do the job but was cancelled. B Section made a 16 yard wide lane through the minefield of Mk 2 Tellermines. The first tank blew up near the entrance and C Section were ordered to clear and extend the entrance. The enemy reacted to the tanks by bringing down stonks of Nebelwerfers, six barrel, electronically operated rocket mortars. They could fire their 80lb bombs up to four miles. These became nicknamed ‘Moaning Minnies’. Support weapons and tanks passed through the minefield gap on to the objective before dawn to assist the 6 Black Watch fight off a second counter-attack. The MTF returned to Banana Ridge unscathed. Orders were received to support an attack that night by 1 RWK, a silent attack would be made by ‘A’ Company on Sidi Salem Point 112 and ‘B’ Coy on Sidi Abdallah point 137. Their objectives were on the line of hills NE from Sidi Mediene overlooking and guarding the Tunis road. The 7th would have No1 Troop Scorpion flail tanks, RTR in support. A and C Section would make one lane each 16 yards wide through a minefield in front of Sidi Abdallah from the direction of the Tunis road. Sectionswould be prepared to clear the gaps by hand if for any reason the Scorpions were unable to do so. B Section was in reserve and in the afternoon they trained with the Scorpions at Banana Ridge. The MTF left at 2330 hrs arriving at the RV on the Tunis road near Peter’s corner on the slope running down to the ‘Foster-Anderson’ bridge, timed as midnight.
27 April. The night was dry and clear. For three and a half hours the MTF sat in their vehicles looking at the battlefield on their right. ‘A’ Coy, 1 RWK captured Sidi Salem after a hard fight. The enemy came in with a strong attack on Sidi Mediene with flame throwers and was beaten off by the Black Watch. The whole area was lit by flares, tracer, explosions from grenades and mortars. By 0330 hrs time was short if the lanes were to be completed by dawn. The mines in front of Sidi Abdallah had upset B Coy’s attack in an unexpected manner, the Coy’s compasses were affected, direction lost and the OC decided to halt and wait for day before making the attack. The 7th would therefore be going into uncharted country not for the first time. A and C Sections prepared to clear the gaps by hand because the ‘Scorpions’ were unable to cross the Oud Hamar diversion. It is odd that every conceivable type of vehicle could cross exept the ‘Scorpions’. One explanation at the time was that they must not be seen in daylight. Lt Foster-Anderson went forward and recced the minefield and the location of the points were the gaps were going through. The MTF facing the objective with A Section on the left and C Section on the right, some 200/300 yards apart. The Sections went forward to make the lanes, A Section using detectors and C Section using bayonets. The minefield consisted of four rows of Mk2 Tellermines running parallel to the line of hills. Dawn was breaking and the mist lifting up the slopes of Sidi Abdallah, and nearby MGs (spandaus) were beating out a message with a stream of fire close by from left to right across the 7th’s front. Work was speeded up and risks taken to complete the task. The work was completed in record time and the Sections returned to Banana Ridge none the worse for wear. ‘A’ Squadron 12 RTR drove their ‘Churchill’ tanks through the gaps made by the Shiny 7 in support of 1 RWK. The tanks reached their objective Sidi Abdallah, however the infantry were held back by fierce MG fire. The tanks held on reinforced by A Coy 6 Black Watch, the force was pushed back by a counter- attack with ‘Tiger’ tanks. In the next few days Sidi Abdallah changed hands eight times. Each time the infantry and support weapons took the objective they were not strong enough to hold on.
28 April. During the morning No1 Sub A Section cleared mines from the FUP for an attack by 1 RWK on Point 133 to the left of Cactus Farm. The remainder of A Section cleared a minefield at Point 103 Sidi Mediene under observation lifting 200 Tellermines and 10 S Mines. The enemy had sown S Mines around knocked out ‘Churchill’ tanks, and took great exception to the mine clearing near the tanks bringing down a number of stonks. There was no cover, the ground was open and flat. Visibility could not have been better.
29 April Thursday. C Section put through two 16 yards lanes for the RWK attack on Point 133. One sapper was wounded by shrapnel and evacuated. During the successful attack, the poet Sydney Keyes a PL Commander in the RWK whilst advancing to the objective described ‘S’ Mines to Pte J Lucas, one of his Pl telling him, that they should keep their foot on any mine activated as it would be better for them to have a serious leg injury than to have a number of the platoon badly wounded or worse. The enemy came in with a fierce counter-attack and regained the lost ground when Sydney Keyes was killed. The objective changed hands twice leaving the enemy in possession. B Section were in support of an attack by 2 RF on Sidi Abdallah and Cactus Farm. Their task was to ensure that the lanes cleared by A and C Sections on April 27th were clear and to push another lane through the minefield for tanks. They had completed the task by 6am, when the attack began. Two sappers were slightly wounded. Despite extreme gallantry the attacks were not strong enough to hold gains made. 2 DCLI 10 Bde were brought up to recapture Pt 133, C Section were in support making a lane for tanks by 0230 hrs the next morning.
30 April Friday. In the attack the enemy were alerted about midnight lighting the sky with flares. ‘A’ and ‘D’ Coys took the ridge PT 133, were repulsed by a counter-attack, then took the ridge again. Tanks moved through the marked lane and were stopped by 88mm guns. At 1100 hrs the force was ordered to withdraw. Only 68 all ranks of A and D Coys reported back to 2 DCLI Bn HQ. This was the last attack by the Division on the positions around Peter’s Corner. One official report comments that in some of the most fierce fighting of the war a few miles advance had been made.
The news was sadly received that Lt Foster-Anderson had been killed the day before by an S Mine at Sidi Mediene whilst attached to the’225’. There is no doubt that his recces of the last 10 days had saved a number of casualties.
25 April Easter Sunday. Lt Foster- Anderson and Spr W Turp rode off on a M/C to recce the Oud Hamar bridges on the Tunis road. ‘A’ Section would follow up with the object of being to capture at least one bridge intact. The M/C was ditched about 500 yards from the bridges. Lt Foster-Anderson covered by Spr Turp went to one bridge and in spite of enemy fire disconnected the circuit, then proceeded to remove detonators from charges on the bridge. He carried on until the bridge could not be blown by the enemy who by this time was furious with what was going on under their nose. Eventually he withdrew returning with Spr Turp on the pillion. The only casualty was the M/C, which was drilled with bullet holes through the top of the petrol tank but was still serviceable and used until the end of the campaign. ‘225’ took on the task of clearing the bridges to make them safe. Booby traps blew charges on each bridge causing some casualties. A diversion was made across the Oued Hamar. Newspapers at home carried accounts of this incident and there is a short account in the Corps History Volume VIII. At 1715 hrs an MTF was ordered for the attack on Sidi Mediene, B and C Sections to do the job with A Section in reserve. 2330 hrs Zero Hour, B and C Sections were out of their vehicles following 6 Black Watch who made the attack in the traditional manner with their pipes playing. The objective was captured after very bitter fighting lasting 3 hours, and the repulsion of a counter- attack. It turned out that the position was held by 90 well armed Herman Goering paratrooper s in deep trenches.
26 April. Operational contact was lost with B and C Sections. ‘A’ Section was about to be deployed to do the job but was cancelled. B Section made a 16 yard wide lane through the minefield of Mk 2 Tellermines. The first tank blew up near the entrance and C Section were ordered to clear and extend the entrance. The enemy reacted to the tanks by bringing down stonks of Nebelwerfers, six barrel, electronically operated rocket mortars. They could fire their 80lb bombs up to four miles. These became nicknamed ‘Moaning Minnies’. Support weapons and tanks passed through the minefield gap on to the objective before dawn to assist the 6 Black Watch fight off a second counter-attack. The MTF returned to Banana Ridge unscathed. Orders were received to support an attack that night by 1 RWK, a silent attack would be made by ‘A’ Company on Sidi Salem Point 112 and ‘B’ Coy on Sidi Abdallah point 137. Their objectives were on the line of hills NE from Sidi Mediene overlooking and guarding the Tunis road. The 7th would have No1 Troop Scorpion flail tanks, RTR in support. A and C Section would make one lane each 16 yards wide through a minefield in front of Sidi Abdallah from the direction of the Tunis road. Sectionswould be prepared to clear the gaps by hand if for any reason the Scorpions were unable to do so. B Section was in reserve and in the afternoon they trained with the Scorpions at Banana Ridge. The MTF left at 2330 hrs arriving at the RV on the Tunis road near Peter’s corner on the slope running down to the ‘Foster-Anderson’ bridge, timed as midnight.
27 April. The night was dry and clear. For three and a half hours the MTF sat in their vehicles looking at the battlefield on their right. ‘A’ Coy, 1 RWK captured Sidi Salem after a hard fight. The enemy came in with a strong attack on Sidi Mediene with flame throwers and was beaten off by the Black Watch. The whole area was lit by flares, tracer, explosions from grenades and mortars. By 0330 hrs time was short if the lanes were to be completed by dawn. The mines in front of Sidi Abdallah had upset B Coy’s attack in an unexpected manner, the Coy’s compasses were affected, direction lost and the OC decided to halt and wait for day before making the attack. The 7th would therefore be going into uncharted country not for the first time. A and C Sections prepared to clear the gaps by hand because the ‘Scorpions’ were unable to cross the Oud Hamar diversion. It is odd that every conceivable type of vehicle could cross exept the ‘Scorpions’. One explanation at the time was that they must not be seen in daylight. Lt Foster-Anderson went forward and recced the minefield and the location of the points were the gaps were going through. The MTF facing the objective with A Section on the left and C Section on the right, some 200/300 yards apart. The Sections went forward to make the lanes, A Section using detectors and C Section using bayonets. The minefield consisted of four rows of Mk2 Tellermines running parallel to the line of hills. Dawn was breaking and the mist lifting up the slopes of Sidi Abdallah, and nearby MGs (spandaus) were beating out a message with a stream of fire close by from left to right across the 7th’s front. Work was speeded up and risks taken to complete the task. The work was completed in record time and the Sections returned to Banana Ridge none the worse for wear. ‘A’ Squadron 12 RTR drove their ‘Churchill’ tanks through the gaps made by the Shiny 7 in support of 1 RWK. The tanks reached their objective Sidi Abdallah, however the infantry were held back by fierce MG fire. The tanks held on reinforced by A Coy 6 Black Watch, the force was pushed back by a counter- attack with ‘Tiger’ tanks. In the next few days Sidi Abdallah changed hands eight times. Each time the infantry and support weapons took the objective they were not strong enough to hold on.
28 April. During the morning No1 Sub A Section cleared mines from the FUP for an attack by 1 RWK on Point 133 to the left of Cactus Farm. The remainder of A Section cleared a minefield at Point 103 Sidi Mediene under observation lifting 200 Tellermines and 10 S Mines. The enemy had sown S Mines around knocked out ‘Churchill’ tanks, and took great exception to the mine clearing near the tanks bringing down a number of stonks. There was no cover, the ground was open and flat. Visibility could not have been better.
29 April Thursday. C Section put through two 16 yards lanes for the RWK attack on Point 133. One sapper was wounded by shrapnel and evacuated. During the successful attack, the poet Sydney Keyes a PL Commander in the RWK whilst advancing to the objective described ‘S’ Mines to Pte J Lucas, one of his Pl telling him, that they should keep their foot on any mine activated as it would be better for them to have a serious leg injury than to have a number of the platoon badly wounded or worse. The enemy came in with a fierce counter-attack and regained the lost ground when Sydney Keyes was killed. The objective changed hands twice leaving the enemy in possession. B Section were in support of an attack by 2 RF on Sidi Abdallah and Cactus Farm. Their task was to ensure that the lanes cleared by A and C Sections on April 27th were clear and to push another lane through the minefield for tanks. They had completed the task by 6am, when the attack began. Two sappers were slightly wounded. Despite extreme gallantry the attacks were not strong enough to hold gains made. 2 DCLI 10 Bde were brought up to recapture Pt 133, C Section were in support making a lane for tanks by 0230 hrs the next morning.
30 April Friday. In the attack the enemy were alerted about midnight lighting the sky with flares. ‘A’ and ‘D’ Coys took the ridge PT 133, were repulsed by a counter-attack, then took the ridge again. Tanks moved through the marked lane and were stopped by 88mm guns. At 1100 hrs the force was ordered to withdraw. Only 68 all ranks of A and D Coys reported back to 2 DCLI Bn HQ. This was the last attack by the Division on the positions around Peter’s Corner. One official report comments that in some of the most fierce fighting of the war a few miles advance had been made.
The news was sadly received that Lt Foster-Anderson had been killed the day before by an S Mine at Sidi Mediene whilst attached to the’225’. There is no doubt that his recces of the last 10 days had saved a number of casualties.
FBE Mk III bridge with SBG bridge in the background
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Shiny 7 History 1939-1943
RE Cap Badge during this period
King George VI 1936-1952
7field Company RE Roll of Honour France and Belgium 1939-1940
A Sapper of 8 Fd Sqn RE lifting a mine on the Thala-Kasserine road in 24 Feb 1943
14 May. There was no time for celebrations, and in any case the casualties from Capt Barron’s party had cast a sour note on proceedings. The 7th were now ordered to clear roads in SW of Cap Bon, and then to collect enemy engineering equipment and material into dumps. ‘A’ Section moved at first light preceded by a recce party to a location midway up the west coast of Cap Bon. The recce party picked up a prisoner from 15 Panzer DIV and also two Herman Goering paras dressed in Arab clothes intent on going to Morroco and then crossing to Europe. After being questioned and searched by the local French Gemdarmes they were allowed to join a party of Italian prisoners taken by the Section. Stores of Italian rations were found solving to some extent the ration problem. The Germans were not satisfied with their Allies rations and refused to eat them putting quite a strain on the Section’s resources. Road blocks of enemy guns and vehicles were soon cleared. Deciding what to do with large quantities of explosive without causing damage was a problem. All manner and kind of grenades, mines, ammunition and bombs were dealt with including the destruction of two sea mines washed up on the west coast.
20 May. The 7th were represented by parties from each Section on a 1st Army Victory parade in Tunis. All of the top Allied commanders were present except General Montgomery. Admiral Cunningham was very impressed by the turn out and general bearing of the 1st Army. On the same day the 7th had to say ‘goodbye’ to 26 ORs, all tradesmen, some of whom had been with the 7th for a number years. They were going to reinforce 1 DIV who were going to assault and capture the island of Pantelleria, Operation ‘Cork Screw’. The island surrendered along with two other small islands, Linosa and Lampedusa without a fight clearing the way for the attack on Scicily.
28 May. An accident occurred A Section’s location. L/Cpl Harris being killed and Spr F Shoesmith injured and evacuated. The cause was a mortar bomb of the type used by German paratroopers. It was thought that these had been made safe and not armed. The next day after a court of enquiry orders were issued that these bombs should be destroyed ‘insitu’. The last of the Herman Goering paras were captured hiding near the coast without a fight by Cpl H Lambert’s Sub Section. They surrounded the paras giving them no option other than to surrender their arms. These troops had held Cactus Farm against the Division and still hoped to escape. There had been cases of Section vehicles being fired at, usually at night fall.
02 June. Shiny 7 paraded lining the Grombalia road for the Prime Minister and the CIGS General Brooke.
Work continued in the area setting up water points and mine lifting. Lt Roberts was posted from the ‘59’.
18 June Friday. At midday the 7th lined a road in the area for inspection by the King who as always looked very smart and fit. Dress was KD Shorts (the 7th were in the process of getting ‘their knees brown’) and side arms. Training got underway again, bridging schemes, water points, and general engineering using all equipment, lashings etc. A sign that another operation was pending. Lt Mckay was posted in from the ‘225’
30 June. Preparations were made for a move near to Bougie the next day. Tents were struck. One of the priorities of the last few weeks was to salvage sufficient enemy tents to ensure that the whole unit was under canvas. Eventually all captured MT and weapons was handed in.
The Tunisian campaign was over and 1st Army ceased to exist. General Anderson was ordered to the UK to command 2nd Army forming for the 2nd front.
01 July Thursday. At 0600 hrs Shiny 7 started a convoy run of 456 miles to Bougie. The purpose of the move was to train for an attack code named ‘Goblet’ on the ‘Toe’ of Italy near Crotone to secure two airfields essential to cover any sea landing further up the leg of Italy.
04 July. Shiny 7 arrived at Bougie and pitched their tents on the beach. There was time for a game of cricket.
05 July. Four officers and 14 ORs arrived as reinforcements but the 7th was still 40 ORs under strength. ‘A’ Section started work on a Divisional Rest Camp at Djidjelli. A 48 hour leave pass was granted at the Rest Camp which was most welcome.
10 July. 2nd / Lts Blewitt, Bocker and Marks were posted to the 7th. Intensive training of all kinds was underway as well as inter unit cricket. Swimming, shooting and engineer competitions.
18 July. Lt Corry returned to the 7TH, and Lts Mckay and Venning were posted to other units. Lt-Colonel Moberley was posted as CRE, Major Griffen became OC as Major Richardson was posted as Commandant of the SME at Bone. A training project of interest was to find a solution to building BB bridges on restricted sites in mountainous country. The first idea was to build a one bay, dual carriage-way gantry with BB, then to launch as light a launching nose as possible to reach the far bank. This was not successful. An attempt was made to launch a single truss through the gantry controlled by ropes and came to grief when four or five panels collapsed. Two of B Section in the gantry luckily were unscathed. At a discussion group of officers and NCOs about the problem one of the Sgts said “put a tank on the back”. There were howls of laughter, but a scheme was put forward and this was the answer. Basically a heavy tank would drive onto the first bay built with sufficient rollers to take the weight of the tank and bridge. The tank moved the bridge forward with its tracks as the bridge was built. Nothing further was heard about this until the 7th were in Egypt early in 1944. Operation ‘Goblet’ was cancelled.
03 August. The 7th moved to a wet bridging camp near Bone.
10 August. Lt Roberts was attached to 21 Tank Bde to give instruction on the ‘Snake’. It was a development of the man-powered pushing of BTs through minefields from Crawley days 1941. Tanks instead of Sappers did the pushing. There appeared to be no other development of Armoured Assault Vehicles at that time which were sorely needed.
01 November. The OC, Major Griffin was posted. It was doubtful if the 7th would ever get a taller OC. He was 6’ 9” and towered over everyone.
05 December. Warm clothes at last. Battle dress was issued, and the next day Major Low arrived to take command as OC. He was a mountaineer and ex commando. Lt Smart aided by a few willing assistants and a battered piano as the only musical instrument available began to produce a Christmas pantomime ‘Muscatela’. A small party volunteered for a seven day leave in Algiers, no sooner had they arrived when they were recalled back to the unit. Shiny 7 were on the move again.
13 December. There was no question of leaving the pigs they were fattening up. They were killed for Christmas Dinner followed by a party. ‘Muscatela’ was not ready to put on, but the Company enjoyed an impromptu concert. Apart from personal kit and one or two boxes of tools, everything else would be left on a park at Algiers, and another set of vehicles and equipment would be taken over. This system saved shipping space and also ensured that personnel and units lost their captured equipment such as tents. When units moved to a new theatre of operations they went virtually in what they stood up in and what they could carry by hand. Beds, tents etc usually ended up in the base areas.
15 December. At 0700 hrs the advance party left for Algiers the main body following shortly afterwards. The convoy stopped on the dockside. After dismounting the Company formed up in Sections. At 2100 hrs the OC appeared with orders to embark on ‘HMT Llangibby Castle’ with 2 DCLI, old friends. C Section were detached embarking on another ship.
21 December. One of the three destroyers escorting the convoy ‘HMS Jarvis’ came along side to give seasonal greetings and an extraordinary meeting took place. Sapper T Lawson exchanged greetings across 50 yards of sea with his cousin Alex Bowman serving on the ‘Jarvis’, they had not met for a long time and would not see each other again until after the war. ‘Jarvis’ then set course for Alexandria. The convoy made for Port Said and the ‘Llangibby Castle’ dropped anchor in the main basin.
24 December Friday. The 7th disembarked the ship leaving it in much better shape than they found it. After a typical transit ‘wait’, the 7th eventually entrained for a 90 mile journey to the southern end of the canal on a comfortable but slow troop train. At 2300 hrs the Shiny 7 detrained at Ataka station, formed up and marched off. The OC halted the marching column precisely at midnight, turned the Company towards him and wished them a ‘Merry Christmas’ and then continued to march. The 7th found their tented camps and settled down. Great secrecy surrounded this move to Egypt. All units there continued to use their old address the 7th s address was BNAF. The 7th would now support 28 Bde. The Division would mount an assault on the island of Rhodes code named ‘Hercules’. 10 Indian DIV would follow up after the capture to relieve the Division for duty in Italy.
Boxing Day Sunday. At 0700 hrs the 7th moved the odd mile nearer to mount Ataka (aptly named) next door to ‘225’.
20 May. The 7th were represented by parties from each Section on a 1st Army Victory parade in Tunis. All of the top Allied commanders were present except General Montgomery. Admiral Cunningham was very impressed by the turn out and general bearing of the 1st Army. On the same day the 7th had to say ‘goodbye’ to 26 ORs, all tradesmen, some of whom had been with the 7th for a number years. They were going to reinforce 1 DIV who were going to assault and capture the island of Pantelleria, Operation ‘Cork Screw’. The island surrendered along with two other small islands, Linosa and Lampedusa without a fight clearing the way for the attack on Scicily.
28 May. An accident occurred A Section’s location. L/Cpl Harris being killed and Spr F Shoesmith injured and evacuated. The cause was a mortar bomb of the type used by German paratroopers. It was thought that these had been made safe and not armed. The next day after a court of enquiry orders were issued that these bombs should be destroyed ‘insitu’. The last of the Herman Goering paras were captured hiding near the coast without a fight by Cpl H Lambert’s Sub Section. They surrounded the paras giving them no option other than to surrender their arms. These troops had held Cactus Farm against the Division and still hoped to escape. There had been cases of Section vehicles being fired at, usually at night fall.
02 June. Shiny 7 paraded lining the Grombalia road for the Prime Minister and the CIGS General Brooke.
Work continued in the area setting up water points and mine lifting. Lt Roberts was posted from the ‘59’.
18 June Friday. At midday the 7th lined a road in the area for inspection by the King who as always looked very smart and fit. Dress was KD Shorts (the 7th were in the process of getting ‘their knees brown’) and side arms. Training got underway again, bridging schemes, water points, and general engineering using all equipment, lashings etc. A sign that another operation was pending. Lt Mckay was posted in from the ‘225’
30 June. Preparations were made for a move near to Bougie the next day. Tents were struck. One of the priorities of the last few weeks was to salvage sufficient enemy tents to ensure that the whole unit was under canvas. Eventually all captured MT and weapons was handed in.
The Tunisian campaign was over and 1st Army ceased to exist. General Anderson was ordered to the UK to command 2nd Army forming for the 2nd front.
01 July Thursday. At 0600 hrs Shiny 7 started a convoy run of 456 miles to Bougie. The purpose of the move was to train for an attack code named ‘Goblet’ on the ‘Toe’ of Italy near Crotone to secure two airfields essential to cover any sea landing further up the leg of Italy.
04 July. Shiny 7 arrived at Bougie and pitched their tents on the beach. There was time for a game of cricket.
05 July. Four officers and 14 ORs arrived as reinforcements but the 7th was still 40 ORs under strength. ‘A’ Section started work on a Divisional Rest Camp at Djidjelli. A 48 hour leave pass was granted at the Rest Camp which was most welcome.
10 July. 2nd / Lts Blewitt, Bocker and Marks were posted to the 7th. Intensive training of all kinds was underway as well as inter unit cricket. Swimming, shooting and engineer competitions.
18 July. Lt Corry returned to the 7TH, and Lts Mckay and Venning were posted to other units. Lt-Colonel Moberley was posted as CRE, Major Griffen became OC as Major Richardson was posted as Commandant of the SME at Bone. A training project of interest was to find a solution to building BB bridges on restricted sites in mountainous country. The first idea was to build a one bay, dual carriage-way gantry with BB, then to launch as light a launching nose as possible to reach the far bank. This was not successful. An attempt was made to launch a single truss through the gantry controlled by ropes and came to grief when four or five panels collapsed. Two of B Section in the gantry luckily were unscathed. At a discussion group of officers and NCOs about the problem one of the Sgts said “put a tank on the back”. There were howls of laughter, but a scheme was put forward and this was the answer. Basically a heavy tank would drive onto the first bay built with sufficient rollers to take the weight of the tank and bridge. The tank moved the bridge forward with its tracks as the bridge was built. Nothing further was heard about this until the 7th were in Egypt early in 1944. Operation ‘Goblet’ was cancelled.
03 August. The 7th moved to a wet bridging camp near Bone.
10 August. Lt Roberts was attached to 21 Tank Bde to give instruction on the ‘Snake’. It was a development of the man-powered pushing of BTs through minefields from Crawley days 1941. Tanks instead of Sappers did the pushing. There appeared to be no other development of Armoured Assault Vehicles at that time which were sorely needed.
01 November. The OC, Major Griffin was posted. It was doubtful if the 7th would ever get a taller OC. He was 6’ 9” and towered over everyone.
05 December. Warm clothes at last. Battle dress was issued, and the next day Major Low arrived to take command as OC. He was a mountaineer and ex commando. Lt Smart aided by a few willing assistants and a battered piano as the only musical instrument available began to produce a Christmas pantomime ‘Muscatela’. A small party volunteered for a seven day leave in Algiers, no sooner had they arrived when they were recalled back to the unit. Shiny 7 were on the move again.
13 December. There was no question of leaving the pigs they were fattening up. They were killed for Christmas Dinner followed by a party. ‘Muscatela’ was not ready to put on, but the Company enjoyed an impromptu concert. Apart from personal kit and one or two boxes of tools, everything else would be left on a park at Algiers, and another set of vehicles and equipment would be taken over. This system saved shipping space and also ensured that personnel and units lost their captured equipment such as tents. When units moved to a new theatre of operations they went virtually in what they stood up in and what they could carry by hand. Beds, tents etc usually ended up in the base areas.
15 December. At 0700 hrs the advance party left for Algiers the main body following shortly afterwards. The convoy stopped on the dockside. After dismounting the Company formed up in Sections. At 2100 hrs the OC appeared with orders to embark on ‘HMT Llangibby Castle’ with 2 DCLI, old friends. C Section were detached embarking on another ship.
21 December. One of the three destroyers escorting the convoy ‘HMS Jarvis’ came along side to give seasonal greetings and an extraordinary meeting took place. Sapper T Lawson exchanged greetings across 50 yards of sea with his cousin Alex Bowman serving on the ‘Jarvis’, they had not met for a long time and would not see each other again until after the war. ‘Jarvis’ then set course for Alexandria. The convoy made for Port Said and the ‘Llangibby Castle’ dropped anchor in the main basin.
24 December Friday. The 7th disembarked the ship leaving it in much better shape than they found it. After a typical transit ‘wait’, the 7th eventually entrained for a 90 mile journey to the southern end of the canal on a comfortable but slow troop train. At 2300 hrs the Shiny 7 detrained at Ataka station, formed up and marched off. The OC halted the marching column precisely at midnight, turned the Company towards him and wished them a ‘Merry Christmas’ and then continued to march. The 7th found their tented camps and settled down. Great secrecy surrounded this move to Egypt. All units there continued to use their old address the 7th s address was BNAF. The 7th would now support 28 Bde. The Division would mount an assault on the island of Rhodes code named ‘Hercules’. 10 Indian DIV would follow up after the capture to relieve the Division for duty in Italy.
Boxing Day Sunday. At 0700 hrs the 7th moved the odd mile nearer to mount Ataka (aptly named) next door to ‘225’.
‘A’ Section were ordered to construct a sweeper to clear A/Pm for use by vehicles and in particular ‘Scorpions’. Within 24 hours ‘Slug’ came to life. It was a form of heavy mat dragged behind a ‘Scorpion’ driven at slow speed (7 MPH), it was highly successful. With adjustment it could be used with any vehicle. An A/P minefield laid by the Section was gapped a number of times with ‘Slug’ towed by a ‘Scorpion’. It was no relation to ‘Snail’ developed in the desert to give a safe path. This vehicle was heavily sand-bagged and dripped in oil from an oil tank on the back of the vehicle, if the vehicle struck a mine then the next came forward to continue, or if it was thought a minefield had to be crossed then a ‘Scorpion’ took the lead. A great event,‘NAAFI Rations’. ‘The Lone Sapper’ noted, cigarettes, beer, whisky for the lucky few, razor blades, washing gear and supplies of chocolate. NAAFI Rations usually arrived once per month. Free issue cigarettes came 50 per tin and were normally a fortnightly issue. No one cheered if they were ‘Victory V’ brand, well meant no doubt, but useless as a cigarette. In the highest level urgent conferences took place whilst the Division rested and were brought up to strength with reinforcements. The infantry alone had lost a third in the last week. There had been a setback to the ‘Vulcan’ attack. General Alexander made this clear years later in his Basil Hicks lecture at Sheffield. ‘Monty’ described the 1st Army attack, as a “Partridge shoot” forgetting that 8th Army fared no better once they reached the Tunisian mountains at enfidaville. The Allied plan was that Africa must be cleared by mid May so that ‘Huskey’ the assault on Scicily could go ahead. The huge superiority of the Allies on the sea, in the air, and on the ground ensured that the fate of the axis forces was sealed and this force was about to be concentrated in a crushing attack planned by General Alexander called ‘Strike’. 4th Indian and 7th Armoured DIVS and 201 Guards Bde of 8th Army were moved to the Medjez sector. They with 4 DIV and 6 Armoured DIV would form IX Corps commanded by Lt-General Crocker. He was unfortunately wounded demonstrating a PIAT, a new infantry A/T Weapon. Lt-General Horrocks took command of IX Corps. Lt-General Allfrey’s V Corps would hold the outer ring demonstrating and would take the last heights known as the ‘Bou’ with 1 Div north of Medjez.
02 May Sunday. It was something to go to a mobile shower bath unit and clean up in readiness for the issue of KD the next day. NCOs appeared with chevrons on the right arm only held in place by the elastic band from a pair of eye shields. The yellow vehicles of 8th Army began to appear at Medjez amongst the camouflaged trucks of 1st Army. Generals down to the grass roots of 8th Army had their condescending say at the time and when writing of the period later. The 7th for their part whilst officially resting, were busy looking for a solution to the problem of blowing positions for the infantry once an objective had been taken and before a counter-attack could be mounted. Digging was a non-starter due to the rocky nature of the terrain. Sections found the best method was to use ‘Beehives’ to blow holes and then made up charges in ‘Jam’ tins were placed in the holes blown by the ‘Beehives’ and ‘Foxholes’ could be very quickly made. After trials this method was adopted. After a flight of ‘Focke-Wulf’ aircraft attacked the Medjes area. It was reported that Spr E Mann assisted in bringing one of the aircraft down on Banana Ridge with his Bren gun from his swivel seat on a 15cwt truck. This was one of the very few day-light attacks made, and from this time onwards air attacks were made at night.
03 May Monday. At 0630 hrs B Section went to assist ‘225’ camouflaging 4 DIV GOC’s battle HQ for the forthcoming attack ‘Operation Strike’. This was placed in front of the leading infantry 1 RWK guarding the start line of 3000 yards to be used in the attack by the Division and 4 Indian DIV. A Sub Section of ‘A’ Section went to assist a US Army Signals Unit, and cleared a mine infested area in Medjez el Bab of A/Tm and A/Pm. The mines were British, American and German dug into the ground, attached to telegraph poles and fences, some with a number of trip wires (necklace). The job was safely completed during the afternoon in time to join C Section in a night exercise with ‘Scorpions’ bringing to a high pitch the team work of gapping minefields. The use of ‘SLUG’ had made the ‘Scorpion’ a 100% mine clearer its flails dealt with the A/Tm and ‘SLUG’ A/Pm.
04 May. The ‘Scorpions’ left to join 4 Indian DIV not to be seen again during the war by the 7th, more to the point ‘SLUG’ disappeared from the scene for good. The day was spend ‘Make and Mend’, checking equipment, preparing jam tin charges, tuning detectors ready for last-light.
05 May. At 0710 hrs ‘Shiny 7 left their rocky patch on Banana Ridge and moved NE of the Tunis-Medjes road in open rolling country. In the late afternoon ‘O’ Groups were held. The 7th were in support of 12 Bde. Operation ‘STRIKE’ would commence with 600 guns firing at 0300 hrs May 6 the next morning. B Section would clear the FAA on the start line held by 1 RWK. C Section would support and blow 6 Black Watch into position on their objective Point 161 Arg el Hadjar. ‘A’ Section would support 1 RWK blowing them into position on the Division’s last objective Frendje. C Section left at 1545 hrs to join 6 Black Watch, Spr Bevin was injured when a piece of flying rock struck his head whilst C Section were experimenting blowing fox holes. He was not evacuated but out of the battle.
06 May Thursday. At 0130 hrs B Section moved off to the FAA to complete their task. C Section moved off with 6 Black Watch at 0230 hrs to their start line. 6 Black Watch history mentions that a Section from‘225’were in support of the Bn, no doubt a slip of the pen. At 0300 hrs the barrage opened crashing out a harsh message to the enemy from one gun a yard of front, 16000 rounds falling on 4th Division front alone. B Section were on the start line clearing the FAA when the battle began around them and Sapper Gibbon was killed. The Section returned in time to move to a new location with Coy Tac HQ at 0600 hrs as reserve Section. C Section crossed the start line at 0345 hrs walking in four high corn. It was found that progress could only be made along a track, and the Section became intermingled with the Black Watch and 2 DCLI moving to another objective - 10 Bde sector with tanks of 48 RTR. Due to this C Coy 6 Black Watch attacked Pt 161 supported by C Squadron 12 RTR and a squadron of 48 RTR who were in fact in support of 2 DCLI. Pt 161 was clear of the enemy. C Section began at once to blow fox holes for 6 Black Watch to consolidate their position. L/Cpl J McNight went forward in a Bren carrier to distribute the explosive. Elements of the section moved forward under the cover of ‘Churchill’ tanks. The enemy opened up with MGs firing tracer at the ‘Churchills’ as a direction finder for their 88mm A/T guns which engaged the tanks. In this fire Spr Card was killed, Cpl Corner mortally wounded, and eighteen of the Section was wounded, this number included Sprs Atkinson, F Daly, D Fairgrave, Powell, Russel and wheeler. L/Cpl H Morris and Spr Hallam assisted the wounded, the majority of whom were flown home to the UK. Spr Coomber was saved by his belt buckle which took the full force of a piece of shrapnel. The recce party were in a PU the Section’s wireless truck the only soft skinned vehicle in a column of armoured vehicles mainly Bren carriers. The following is the eye witness account of what happened: “ Les Mitchum was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and Wally Edwards was on set. As the only soft skinned vehicle in the column we felt uncomfortable listening to MG bullets whistling by. Later Lt W L Taylor was shot in the hand by a bullet from an A/T rifle situated under a tree half a mile away. I very plainly saw the shot fired, and as we had an Artillery 00 on hand it was promptly dealt with.” Lt Taylor was evacuated and returned to the UK. The Section depleted as they were, having lost close to 50% of their Sapper strength completed the job of blowing the Black Watch into position before returning to Tac HQ at 0930 hrs. ‘A’ Section moved off in semi darkness to join 1 RWK amid a dust storm thrown up by a column of 6 armoured DIV tanks advancing on the same route. At 0730 hrs the armour was ordered to pass through the infantry. ‘A’ Section advanced on foot with 1 RWK towards Frendj at 1630 hrs. Frendj was a prominent feature overlooking almost featureless country and in the distance the road to Tunis. The infantry and Sappers advanced in extended order. Each few yards the ground was pock marked by shell fire like a gigantic chess board. The terrain was rocky scrub, devoid of cover. Unknown to the rank and file the enemy had fled from the immediate battlefield earlier in the day. At the objective Lt Venning distributed beehives and explosive to blow positions. A number of 88mm guns were captured with their breech blocks missing and prepared for demolition. The charges were stripped and the guns turned in the direction of the enemy ready should the breech blocks be found. Two Sappers, one believed to be Spr A Awcock, were ordered to go down into a large underground room and clear it of mines etc. They went down and found two tall clean looking Germans who surrendered to the Sappers much to their surprise. These were the first prisoners taken by Shiny 7 in WW2. The infantry took charge of the prisoners and the sappers went back down the cellar to carry on the good work. By 2030 hrs a party of B Section sent out to destroy a gun, which was successfully dealt with, returned to HQ at the same time as A Section. The attack was a complete success and went exactly as planned. Until May 6th the 7th had been very lucky in regard to casualties, now it had gone the other way. 4 Indian Division found that the ‘Scorpions’ were mechanically unsound and therefore could not be used.
07 May. News came through that Tunis had Fallen.
09 May. B Section sent a sub section with a party from 48 RTR to recover knocked out tanks and the bodies in them. The job was made difficult as the enemy had planted A/P mines around the tanks, however the job was done without any further casualties.
10 May. There was no let up as the 1st Army pressed on to finish the job. 12 Bde headed for Korba, and 6 Armoured DIV quickly cut across the base of Cap Bon to Hammament. This movement cut the Axis forces into three pockets, north, south and Cap Bon. 6 Armoured DIV turned south and met up with the 8th Army at Enfidaville. About 50,000 enemy were in Cap Bon, well-armed and quite capable of putting up a fight in ideal country for that purpose. 12 Bde were directed up the eastern coastline of Cap Bon and 10 Bde Group up the Western coastline. They were ordered not to stop until they met. Twenty four hours later both Bdes met at Menzel Heur. Cap Bon was encircled. The enemy had been given no time to organise a defence and they began to surrender in large numbers. The 7th moved at 1400 hrs.
11 May. The convoy finally arrived near Soliman on a main road at 0100 hrs. by 0600 hrs Sections were hard at work A and B Sections constructing diversions and C Section clearing a route through Soliman. Lorry loads of German POWs without guards began to appear in convoy. They were headed to a POW Camp. A band, officers in a staff car and an 88mm gun with crew made up one convoy. it was similar to people heading off for a bank holiday break.
12 May. Capt Barron left for an airfield recce in Cap Bon.
13 May Thursday. Dvr J James the DR of Captain Barron’s party reported to the OC at 0900 hrs that the party had been ambushed. Capt Barron had been killed, Cpl Snowden mortally wounded and died in an Italian hospital to which he, and Spr A Walker the other member of the party (also wounded) were taken. Dvr James had been taken prisoner, then released the next morning (13 May). Capt Barron’s body was found and buried by Lt Hodgart. His description of the incident goes on: “As Capt Barron had been at Company HQ for almost the whole of the campaign it was decided by the OC to give him a break. He left in a captured German Volkswagon with Cpl Snowden as a driver, his Batman Spr Walker, and a DR, Dvr James. They were shot up by a large party of German paratroopers, probably Herman Goering. Along the road where John’s body lay both sides of the road were occupied by about a company and a half of these paras all armed to the teeth. I don’t mind admitting that I was nervous. However, they did not interfere or help. We decided to bury him there taking careful map reference. I am convinced that what saved us and didn’t for John was the fact that he was in a captured vehicle, and they resented that. I am sure they realised that the war was over for them. We being in a British vehicle escaped by the skin of our teeth. Even Nobby Clark admitted to being apprehensive”
Field Marshal Kesselring the German GOC in C stated that: “ All Axis forces in the north, which included Cap Bon laid down their arms on May 12th, and that the final surrender was in the ‘South’ on May 13th, and that he was in touch with his forces right to the end”. It would appear that the Field Marshal didn’t know what his forces were doing.
At 1415 hrs General Alexander reported to the prime minister:
“it is my duty to report that the Tunisian campaign is over. All enemy resistance has ceased. We are masters of the North African shores”.
Church bells were rung at home to herald the most overwhelming victory ever won by a British Commander with tremendous support from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. No other battle had been so decisive, and the enemy so completely destroyed. The enemy were holding formidable positions, which they intended to hold at all costs. Within one week the enemy agreed to unconditional surrender, and a quarter of a million men laid down their arms. Only 663 of the enemy escaped by air. There was no Dunkirk and shoals of small ships. The Booty was enormous but the victory in Tunisia had been won at a price. The casualties in the final battle were light for the campaign. They were:
1st Army 25,742
US Army 18,221
French Forces 19,439
8th Army from entry into Tunisia 12,348
The 7th made a short journey to Bir Drasson, a sandy fly blown location in cane groves, arriving at 1530 hrs. Late in the evening a dishevelled German soldier gave himself up to the 7th and was put at ease with a meal.
02 May Sunday. It was something to go to a mobile shower bath unit and clean up in readiness for the issue of KD the next day. NCOs appeared with chevrons on the right arm only held in place by the elastic band from a pair of eye shields. The yellow vehicles of 8th Army began to appear at Medjez amongst the camouflaged trucks of 1st Army. Generals down to the grass roots of 8th Army had their condescending say at the time and when writing of the period later. The 7th for their part whilst officially resting, were busy looking for a solution to the problem of blowing positions for the infantry once an objective had been taken and before a counter-attack could be mounted. Digging was a non-starter due to the rocky nature of the terrain. Sections found the best method was to use ‘Beehives’ to blow holes and then made up charges in ‘Jam’ tins were placed in the holes blown by the ‘Beehives’ and ‘Foxholes’ could be very quickly made. After trials this method was adopted. After a flight of ‘Focke-Wulf’ aircraft attacked the Medjes area. It was reported that Spr E Mann assisted in bringing one of the aircraft down on Banana Ridge with his Bren gun from his swivel seat on a 15cwt truck. This was one of the very few day-light attacks made, and from this time onwards air attacks were made at night.
03 May Monday. At 0630 hrs B Section went to assist ‘225’ camouflaging 4 DIV GOC’s battle HQ for the forthcoming attack ‘Operation Strike’. This was placed in front of the leading infantry 1 RWK guarding the start line of 3000 yards to be used in the attack by the Division and 4 Indian DIV. A Sub Section of ‘A’ Section went to assist a US Army Signals Unit, and cleared a mine infested area in Medjez el Bab of A/Tm and A/Pm. The mines were British, American and German dug into the ground, attached to telegraph poles and fences, some with a number of trip wires (necklace). The job was safely completed during the afternoon in time to join C Section in a night exercise with ‘Scorpions’ bringing to a high pitch the team work of gapping minefields. The use of ‘SLUG’ had made the ‘Scorpion’ a 100% mine clearer its flails dealt with the A/Tm and ‘SLUG’ A/Pm.
04 May. The ‘Scorpions’ left to join 4 Indian DIV not to be seen again during the war by the 7th, more to the point ‘SLUG’ disappeared from the scene for good. The day was spend ‘Make and Mend’, checking equipment, preparing jam tin charges, tuning detectors ready for last-light.
05 May. At 0710 hrs ‘Shiny 7 left their rocky patch on Banana Ridge and moved NE of the Tunis-Medjes road in open rolling country. In the late afternoon ‘O’ Groups were held. The 7th were in support of 12 Bde. Operation ‘STRIKE’ would commence with 600 guns firing at 0300 hrs May 6 the next morning. B Section would clear the FAA on the start line held by 1 RWK. C Section would support and blow 6 Black Watch into position on their objective Point 161 Arg el Hadjar. ‘A’ Section would support 1 RWK blowing them into position on the Division’s last objective Frendje. C Section left at 1545 hrs to join 6 Black Watch, Spr Bevin was injured when a piece of flying rock struck his head whilst C Section were experimenting blowing fox holes. He was not evacuated but out of the battle.
06 May Thursday. At 0130 hrs B Section moved off to the FAA to complete their task. C Section moved off with 6 Black Watch at 0230 hrs to their start line. 6 Black Watch history mentions that a Section from‘225’were in support of the Bn, no doubt a slip of the pen. At 0300 hrs the barrage opened crashing out a harsh message to the enemy from one gun a yard of front, 16000 rounds falling on 4th Division front alone. B Section were on the start line clearing the FAA when the battle began around them and Sapper Gibbon was killed. The Section returned in time to move to a new location with Coy Tac HQ at 0600 hrs as reserve Section. C Section crossed the start line at 0345 hrs walking in four high corn. It was found that progress could only be made along a track, and the Section became intermingled with the Black Watch and 2 DCLI moving to another objective - 10 Bde sector with tanks of 48 RTR. Due to this C Coy 6 Black Watch attacked Pt 161 supported by C Squadron 12 RTR and a squadron of 48 RTR who were in fact in support of 2 DCLI. Pt 161 was clear of the enemy. C Section began at once to blow fox holes for 6 Black Watch to consolidate their position. L/Cpl J McNight went forward in a Bren carrier to distribute the explosive. Elements of the section moved forward under the cover of ‘Churchill’ tanks. The enemy opened up with MGs firing tracer at the ‘Churchills’ as a direction finder for their 88mm A/T guns which engaged the tanks. In this fire Spr Card was killed, Cpl Corner mortally wounded, and eighteen of the Section was wounded, this number included Sprs Atkinson, F Daly, D Fairgrave, Powell, Russel and wheeler. L/Cpl H Morris and Spr Hallam assisted the wounded, the majority of whom were flown home to the UK. Spr Coomber was saved by his belt buckle which took the full force of a piece of shrapnel. The recce party were in a PU the Section’s wireless truck the only soft skinned vehicle in a column of armoured vehicles mainly Bren carriers. The following is the eye witness account of what happened: “ Les Mitchum was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and Wally Edwards was on set. As the only soft skinned vehicle in the column we felt uncomfortable listening to MG bullets whistling by. Later Lt W L Taylor was shot in the hand by a bullet from an A/T rifle situated under a tree half a mile away. I very plainly saw the shot fired, and as we had an Artillery 00 on hand it was promptly dealt with.” Lt Taylor was evacuated and returned to the UK. The Section depleted as they were, having lost close to 50% of their Sapper strength completed the job of blowing the Black Watch into position before returning to Tac HQ at 0930 hrs. ‘A’ Section moved off in semi darkness to join 1 RWK amid a dust storm thrown up by a column of 6 armoured DIV tanks advancing on the same route. At 0730 hrs the armour was ordered to pass through the infantry. ‘A’ Section advanced on foot with 1 RWK towards Frendj at 1630 hrs. Frendj was a prominent feature overlooking almost featureless country and in the distance the road to Tunis. The infantry and Sappers advanced in extended order. Each few yards the ground was pock marked by shell fire like a gigantic chess board. The terrain was rocky scrub, devoid of cover. Unknown to the rank and file the enemy had fled from the immediate battlefield earlier in the day. At the objective Lt Venning distributed beehives and explosive to blow positions. A number of 88mm guns were captured with their breech blocks missing and prepared for demolition. The charges were stripped and the guns turned in the direction of the enemy ready should the breech blocks be found. Two Sappers, one believed to be Spr A Awcock, were ordered to go down into a large underground room and clear it of mines etc. They went down and found two tall clean looking Germans who surrendered to the Sappers much to their surprise. These were the first prisoners taken by Shiny 7 in WW2. The infantry took charge of the prisoners and the sappers went back down the cellar to carry on the good work. By 2030 hrs a party of B Section sent out to destroy a gun, which was successfully dealt with, returned to HQ at the same time as A Section. The attack was a complete success and went exactly as planned. Until May 6th the 7th had been very lucky in regard to casualties, now it had gone the other way. 4 Indian Division found that the ‘Scorpions’ were mechanically unsound and therefore could not be used.
07 May. News came through that Tunis had Fallen.
09 May. B Section sent a sub section with a party from 48 RTR to recover knocked out tanks and the bodies in them. The job was made difficult as the enemy had planted A/P mines around the tanks, however the job was done without any further casualties.
10 May. There was no let up as the 1st Army pressed on to finish the job. 12 Bde headed for Korba, and 6 Armoured DIV quickly cut across the base of Cap Bon to Hammament. This movement cut the Axis forces into three pockets, north, south and Cap Bon. 6 Armoured DIV turned south and met up with the 8th Army at Enfidaville. About 50,000 enemy were in Cap Bon, well-armed and quite capable of putting up a fight in ideal country for that purpose. 12 Bde were directed up the eastern coastline of Cap Bon and 10 Bde Group up the Western coastline. They were ordered not to stop until they met. Twenty four hours later both Bdes met at Menzel Heur. Cap Bon was encircled. The enemy had been given no time to organise a defence and they began to surrender in large numbers. The 7th moved at 1400 hrs.
11 May. The convoy finally arrived near Soliman on a main road at 0100 hrs. by 0600 hrs Sections were hard at work A and B Sections constructing diversions and C Section clearing a route through Soliman. Lorry loads of German POWs without guards began to appear in convoy. They were headed to a POW Camp. A band, officers in a staff car and an 88mm gun with crew made up one convoy. it was similar to people heading off for a bank holiday break.
12 May. Capt Barron left for an airfield recce in Cap Bon.
13 May Thursday. Dvr J James the DR of Captain Barron’s party reported to the OC at 0900 hrs that the party had been ambushed. Capt Barron had been killed, Cpl Snowden mortally wounded and died in an Italian hospital to which he, and Spr A Walker the other member of the party (also wounded) were taken. Dvr James had been taken prisoner, then released the next morning (13 May). Capt Barron’s body was found and buried by Lt Hodgart. His description of the incident goes on: “As Capt Barron had been at Company HQ for almost the whole of the campaign it was decided by the OC to give him a break. He left in a captured German Volkswagon with Cpl Snowden as a driver, his Batman Spr Walker, and a DR, Dvr James. They were shot up by a large party of German paratroopers, probably Herman Goering. Along the road where John’s body lay both sides of the road were occupied by about a company and a half of these paras all armed to the teeth. I don’t mind admitting that I was nervous. However, they did not interfere or help. We decided to bury him there taking careful map reference. I am convinced that what saved us and didn’t for John was the fact that he was in a captured vehicle, and they resented that. I am sure they realised that the war was over for them. We being in a British vehicle escaped by the skin of our teeth. Even Nobby Clark admitted to being apprehensive”
Field Marshal Kesselring the German GOC in C stated that: “ All Axis forces in the north, which included Cap Bon laid down their arms on May 12th, and that the final surrender was in the ‘South’ on May 13th, and that he was in touch with his forces right to the end”. It would appear that the Field Marshal didn’t know what his forces were doing.
At 1415 hrs General Alexander reported to the prime minister:
“it is my duty to report that the Tunisian campaign is over. All enemy resistance has ceased. We are masters of the North African shores”.
Church bells were rung at home to herald the most overwhelming victory ever won by a British Commander with tremendous support from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. No other battle had been so decisive, and the enemy so completely destroyed. The enemy were holding formidable positions, which they intended to hold at all costs. Within one week the enemy agreed to unconditional surrender, and a quarter of a million men laid down their arms. Only 663 of the enemy escaped by air. There was no Dunkirk and shoals of small ships. The Booty was enormous but the victory in Tunisia had been won at a price. The casualties in the final battle were light for the campaign. They were:
1st Army 25,742
US Army 18,221
French Forces 19,439
8th Army from entry into Tunisia 12,348
The 7th made a short journey to Bir Drasson, a sandy fly blown location in cane groves, arriving at 1530 hrs. Late in the evening a dishevelled German soldier gave himself up to the 7th and was put at ease with a meal.
German anti personnel 'S' Mine
German anti tank Tellermine
Tiger tank in Tunis North Africa
A Pill Box sits on the bank of the River Thames in Howberry Park
These photos were taken sometime in the late 1950s or early 60s. The Nissen huts are no longer there. Construction of one of the many new buildings in the park can be seen above
The grounds of Howbery Park is a 65 acre site, illustrated in this aerial view between the top line of hedge and the bottom line of hedge. Troops were billeted in Nissen huts, which were located in different parts of the estate. My guess is that the bridging took place in the lower half of the camp as the top half has rows of trees close together, which would have been there at the time the REs had their bridging camps. The lower half now belongs to a farmer
Howbery Park near Wallingford in Oxfordshire
The Shiny 7 attended Bridge Camps here in 1940/41
The Shiny 7 attended Bridge Camps here in 1940/41
Nissen huts can be seen on the right of the picture
Selsey Bill
18 May. The 7th were still in convoy as dawn broke crossing the river Dendre manned by 3 Div. A stop was made for breakfast at Meire and then back on the road as the weather cleared at 0700 hrs. Disappearing in fields near Turkstraat close to Nokere a few hours later. The Sappers were glad to put their heads down and sleep for the day in fine weather, unmolested from the air. Fighter cover protected those columns on the road. The Luftwaffe concentrated on the roads packed with refugees causing chaos. The hasty withdrawal of the 5th Belgian Division without giving notice to do so allowed the German 19th Division to find 4 Divisions left flank, advanced elements cut in behind the 15/19 Hussar rear- guard and quite a battle ensued. A 15 Cwt HQ truck of the 7th was ditched and could not be recovered. It was destroyed. After being picked up by the 15/19 Hussars, the two Spr occupants of the 15 Cwt took part in the armoured battle, in which the majority of the 15/19 tanks were lost. They saved what would have been a much worse situation had the 19th Div been able to close on the division’s crossing places over the river Dendre. At 2100 hrs as dusk was falling refreshed by sleep and food the 7th pulled out crossing the Escault about midnight via the bridge at Egytem, Oudenarde. The roads were clear and the town quiet, many of the locals had taken to the roads leading to the Frech frontier, which was closed. Further along the Escault, cafes were filled with able bodied males playing billiards and cards as if nothing was happening outside. An ‘O’ Group was held in a crowded café by a Brigadier whilst the locals enjoyed their weekend recreation.
19 May. At 0300 hrs the Shiny 7 arrived at Deerlyck (Coutrai). Sections were detached in large houses. There was no sign of the owners of these properties. The Division now came under the command of III Corps. The 7th were supporting 11 Bde. 1 and 2 sections working against the clock, demolished a crane, warehouse and several buildings to clear a field of fire on the enemy bank of the Escault. The Germans were not far away as 3 section completed the preparation for the demolition of Kerkhove bridge, covered by A Coy of the Surreys. They were ready to fire on time at 2200 hrs. The French had no forces to mount an attack from the South to seal off the German armoured thrust. Shortage of supplies ruled out the allies options. It was agreed therefore that the only feasible action was to fall back on the channel ports and form a perimeter.
20 May. Road blocks had been erected east of the Kirkhove bridge and a light screen of the Surreys were ready to hold back the Germans if they appeared. Shortly before 2300 hrs on May 19, The adjutant of the 3 Div rear guard arrived to say that the rear- most battalion was some miles away, and that the bridge should not be blown until it had crossed. It was now a question of waiting to see who would arrive first, 3 Div or the enemy who appeared to rest at night planning next day’s battle. The very tired battalion of 3 Div crossed the bridge, which was successfully blown. Parties from each section went down to the river line to strengthen buildings as the 19th 14th and 7th German Divisions closed in on the Divisional front.
21 MAY. Small parties went forward to continue work on defences, all movements were observed from the high ground at Mont de l’Enclus. Whilst working forward a party found some musical instruments, they formed up and marched down the village towards the Escault. 19 Div soon dispersed Spr E Blunt’s band. Drum sticks were used as splinters on the arm of one of the wounded. Lcpl Jupp and Spr Mercier were both evacuated. Enemy guns also registered Coy HQ without causing casualties. It was becoming impossible to work forward in daylight. At dusk a section went forward to erect hessian screens strung from trees on the road side leading to the Escault. A sub section posted in pairs kept a sharp lookout and a Bren covered the road. Enemy patrols crossed the river to recce as a prelude to an attack but did not make contact. The work was completed without incident after an edgy night. The BEF launched an attack on Arras with the object of breaking through to join up with the attack from the south by the French, The attack was a success. The SS Totenknopf Div were given a bloody nose. 400 POWs were captured from them and taken back to England via the beaches north of Dunkirk. The German 7 Armoured Div commanded by Maj General Rommel was bumped, he ordered every available weapon that could be brought to bear, including his 88mm A/A guns in their dual role as A/T guns to fire. In order to try to halt the advance of the 4 bn RTR tanks. At one point British and French tanks mistook each other for the enemy adding to the fog of war. Finally Maj General Martel in command of the tanks and 50 Div reported, the force was not strong enough to hold the ground captured in the ten mile advance. The French agreed to provide two divisions for the attack but did not do so, and the projected attack from the south did not materialise. The Germans had a scare, certain that the advance would be exploited, and thought that their infantry divisions, which had horse drawn transport would not be able to reach the area to save the armoured divisions. They called a temporary halt of the armour until the infantry closed up. Ironically this same day the long awaited 1 Armoured DIV began to land at Cherbourg south of the Somme, too late to influence the impending result of the campaign. The French Seventh Army was running out of ammunition to say nothing of other supplies. The BEF had three days of supplies left. Each ally knew exactly where events were leading and what the final destination would be.
22 May. In the dawn mist Lt Curtis lad a party of 1 section down to a branch of the river Escault held by the 2 LF to demolish a brick arch. Locks were left intact as it was thought that if the locks were either opened or demolished the Escault would run dry. After completing the job Lt Curtis reported to the Fusilier HQ, which was hit by a salvo of shells just after he left killing the CO and Adjutant. This was the first of a series of stonks which methodically hammered HQs and other targets prior to an attack at 1500 hrs. 1 section were chased up a slope to their transport by mortars and shells. A vehicle of the 7th ditched on the forward slopes could not be recovered due to heavy stonking. BEF were put on half rations, provided time was available to forage this was not too much of a hardship. Many houses were deserted, animals left had been left to fend for themselves, some were injured or slaughtered by enemy shelling. Firing parties were sent out to three bridges over the Courtral/Bossuyt Canal, which falls by means of locks from Courtrai into the Escault at Bossuyt. The demolition had been prepared by the RE of 44 Div. The bridges were successfully blown from the SW bank of the canal. The Sappers then pulled out and caught up with their sections the next morning. Boulogne, Calais and Ostend were out of action as ports and the water supply at Dunkirk was destroyed. A greater part of the railhead transport had been captured. All general hospitals had been cut off from the forward areas since May 20th. in spite of this hospital trains ran until May 26th and hospital ships berthed at Dunkirk until May 31st / Jun 1st.
23 MAY. As the mist gave way to a sunny day the 7th arrived at Le Halct south of Wervick on the frontier back were they started. The division were in II Corps once again on the left of the BEF with 3 Div on their right. The 7th were in support of 12 Bde on the left of the division. The Belgians held the line from where it hinged north to Ypres at Comines and the disused Ypres-Comines canal joined the river Lys. The Belgians were being pushed back rapidly by the advancing Germans. Sections quickly set about digging positions, erecting a double apron barbed wire fence, clearing buildings and other structures in the line of fire. 2 section laid the only minefield put down by Shiny 7 in the campaign. Shortly after it was laid a very senior officer was seen in the minefield, he was halted mid-stride, one leg up in the air, he was safely led out. Sections manned the defences until the arrival of the Bde infantry who were withdrawing from the Escault position. British and French troops were withdrawn from Arras. All of the 4 Bn RTR tanks were out of action except two. Calais was cut off to save supplies, base troops who could no longer contribute to the battle were evacuated via Dunkirk, which was under continuous air attack, Goering had said the Luftwaffe would deal with the BEF and defeat any attempt to evacuate.
24 May. 12 Bde infantry relieved the 7th manning defences at 0100 hrs. Sappers put down their rifles to work on defences, making loopholes in buildings for MGs. Lt Clarke led 3 section to a site near the Halluin-Menin bridge which was blown. To the north of the Division the Belgians had withdrawn leaving the way clear for the German IV Corps to exploit at will. Enemy patrols were expected any time. The section built a double apron barbed wire fence on the bank of the river Lys in complete silence. A frog farm close to the site made most noise. 2 section were clearing lines of fire and sinking barges. 1 section had the thankless task of moving civilians from their homes in a terrace of houses to clear a field of fire. A patrol of the 1/7 Midd’x MG Bn, crossed the Lys between Comins and Menin, shot up a large car and grabbed a brief case from the car. The patrol succeeded in withdrawing across the lys bringing with them a wounded OR. The brief case contained plans of the German attack, their order of attack, which was now being mounted by IV Corps with the 61, 31 and 18 Infantry DIVs across the front of 4 Division aimed at Kemmel. The whole German Army in Belgium was wheeling left with the object of cutting off the BEF and linking up with the armoured forces in the south. Hitler issued Directive No13. The order of total victory.
No. 1 The destruction of the Belgian, French and the BEF.
No. 2 Then as soon as possible the remaining French forces
It was agreed by the allies that a breakout to the south was not feasible due to the weakness of the Belgians.
25 May. At dawn the 7th witnessed a spectacular air battle against the rays of the rising sun. the outcome was not known. As jobs were finished Sections made for detached locations on farms to eat, clean up, catch up with sleep, then make and mend. At this time the Germans were closing in, their pincers were only 10 miles apart. The French 1st Army were under continuous bombardment and they had lost all their heavy guns. They were almost out of ammunition and there were no bread rations. General Blanchard gave the order to withdraw to the coast.
26 May Sunday. At home this was a day of national prayer. The BBC broadcast a message heard by one or two of the 7th, “That there would be no news of the BEF for a week.” The news caused a lot of comment amongst the sappers. The war cabinet had endorsed Lord Gort’s decision to evacuate, and the French PM was asked to make a similar order. As if to confirm the order Calais fell after a fight to the death. During the Siege a German officer demanded an answer to an ultimatum to surrender. Brigadier Nicholson replied: “There can be no answer as it was the British Army’s duty to fight as well as the German Army’s.”
All day long in perfect weather conditions bombers flew overhead to drop their loads on Armentiers an important junction of roads. 3 section mounted a Bren in a field In the hope of shooting down an aircraft but it was a fruitless effort, the distance was too far. At 1800 hrs Section ‘O’ Groups were told that the BEF and eight French Divisions were almost surrounded, and that some HQ vehicles and NCOs had left for the coast to go home at once to train new units in our place and to tell them we had done our best. The feeling was we will fight our way out. Sections moved off at 2300 hrs in a thoughtful, determined mood forming a Company convoy in dry weather heading for Marieburg near Ploesgsteert a haunt of the 7th in the previous conflict. During the hours of darkness guns could be seen firing to the left and right as the convoy rolled through the neck of the closing corridor on roads clear of vehicles and people. Thankfully the Luftwaffe were asleep. That evening operation ‘Dynamo’ the evacuation of Dunkirk began, commanded by Vice Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey from Dover. At the time the best estimate of numbers which might be evacuated was 20/30,000. Dunkirk was a shambles and due to air raids the only means of landing much needed supplies of water and ammunition was over the beaches where dumps built up. There was complete accord between Lt General Adam and French Commander General Fagalde as to how the perimeter would be held. Basically the 60 French DIV would hold Nieuport in the north, the BEF exclusive Nieuport to Bergues and the French exclusive Bergues to Dunkirk.
19 May. At 0300 hrs the Shiny 7 arrived at Deerlyck (Coutrai). Sections were detached in large houses. There was no sign of the owners of these properties. The Division now came under the command of III Corps. The 7th were supporting 11 Bde. 1 and 2 sections working against the clock, demolished a crane, warehouse and several buildings to clear a field of fire on the enemy bank of the Escault. The Germans were not far away as 3 section completed the preparation for the demolition of Kerkhove bridge, covered by A Coy of the Surreys. They were ready to fire on time at 2200 hrs. The French had no forces to mount an attack from the South to seal off the German armoured thrust. Shortage of supplies ruled out the allies options. It was agreed therefore that the only feasible action was to fall back on the channel ports and form a perimeter.
20 May. Road blocks had been erected east of the Kirkhove bridge and a light screen of the Surreys were ready to hold back the Germans if they appeared. Shortly before 2300 hrs on May 19, The adjutant of the 3 Div rear guard arrived to say that the rear- most battalion was some miles away, and that the bridge should not be blown until it had crossed. It was now a question of waiting to see who would arrive first, 3 Div or the enemy who appeared to rest at night planning next day’s battle. The very tired battalion of 3 Div crossed the bridge, which was successfully blown. Parties from each section went down to the river line to strengthen buildings as the 19th 14th and 7th German Divisions closed in on the Divisional front.
21 MAY. Small parties went forward to continue work on defences, all movements were observed from the high ground at Mont de l’Enclus. Whilst working forward a party found some musical instruments, they formed up and marched down the village towards the Escault. 19 Div soon dispersed Spr E Blunt’s band. Drum sticks were used as splinters on the arm of one of the wounded. Lcpl Jupp and Spr Mercier were both evacuated. Enemy guns also registered Coy HQ without causing casualties. It was becoming impossible to work forward in daylight. At dusk a section went forward to erect hessian screens strung from trees on the road side leading to the Escault. A sub section posted in pairs kept a sharp lookout and a Bren covered the road. Enemy patrols crossed the river to recce as a prelude to an attack but did not make contact. The work was completed without incident after an edgy night. The BEF launched an attack on Arras with the object of breaking through to join up with the attack from the south by the French, The attack was a success. The SS Totenknopf Div were given a bloody nose. 400 POWs were captured from them and taken back to England via the beaches north of Dunkirk. The German 7 Armoured Div commanded by Maj General Rommel was bumped, he ordered every available weapon that could be brought to bear, including his 88mm A/A guns in their dual role as A/T guns to fire. In order to try to halt the advance of the 4 bn RTR tanks. At one point British and French tanks mistook each other for the enemy adding to the fog of war. Finally Maj General Martel in command of the tanks and 50 Div reported, the force was not strong enough to hold the ground captured in the ten mile advance. The French agreed to provide two divisions for the attack but did not do so, and the projected attack from the south did not materialise. The Germans had a scare, certain that the advance would be exploited, and thought that their infantry divisions, which had horse drawn transport would not be able to reach the area to save the armoured divisions. They called a temporary halt of the armour until the infantry closed up. Ironically this same day the long awaited 1 Armoured DIV began to land at Cherbourg south of the Somme, too late to influence the impending result of the campaign. The French Seventh Army was running out of ammunition to say nothing of other supplies. The BEF had three days of supplies left. Each ally knew exactly where events were leading and what the final destination would be.
22 May. In the dawn mist Lt Curtis lad a party of 1 section down to a branch of the river Escault held by the 2 LF to demolish a brick arch. Locks were left intact as it was thought that if the locks were either opened or demolished the Escault would run dry. After completing the job Lt Curtis reported to the Fusilier HQ, which was hit by a salvo of shells just after he left killing the CO and Adjutant. This was the first of a series of stonks which methodically hammered HQs and other targets prior to an attack at 1500 hrs. 1 section were chased up a slope to their transport by mortars and shells. A vehicle of the 7th ditched on the forward slopes could not be recovered due to heavy stonking. BEF were put on half rations, provided time was available to forage this was not too much of a hardship. Many houses were deserted, animals left had been left to fend for themselves, some were injured or slaughtered by enemy shelling. Firing parties were sent out to three bridges over the Courtral/Bossuyt Canal, which falls by means of locks from Courtrai into the Escault at Bossuyt. The demolition had been prepared by the RE of 44 Div. The bridges were successfully blown from the SW bank of the canal. The Sappers then pulled out and caught up with their sections the next morning. Boulogne, Calais and Ostend were out of action as ports and the water supply at Dunkirk was destroyed. A greater part of the railhead transport had been captured. All general hospitals had been cut off from the forward areas since May 20th. in spite of this hospital trains ran until May 26th and hospital ships berthed at Dunkirk until May 31st / Jun 1st.
23 MAY. As the mist gave way to a sunny day the 7th arrived at Le Halct south of Wervick on the frontier back were they started. The division were in II Corps once again on the left of the BEF with 3 Div on their right. The 7th were in support of 12 Bde on the left of the division. The Belgians held the line from where it hinged north to Ypres at Comines and the disused Ypres-Comines canal joined the river Lys. The Belgians were being pushed back rapidly by the advancing Germans. Sections quickly set about digging positions, erecting a double apron barbed wire fence, clearing buildings and other structures in the line of fire. 2 section laid the only minefield put down by Shiny 7 in the campaign. Shortly after it was laid a very senior officer was seen in the minefield, he was halted mid-stride, one leg up in the air, he was safely led out. Sections manned the defences until the arrival of the Bde infantry who were withdrawing from the Escault position. British and French troops were withdrawn from Arras. All of the 4 Bn RTR tanks were out of action except two. Calais was cut off to save supplies, base troops who could no longer contribute to the battle were evacuated via Dunkirk, which was under continuous air attack, Goering had said the Luftwaffe would deal with the BEF and defeat any attempt to evacuate.
24 May. 12 Bde infantry relieved the 7th manning defences at 0100 hrs. Sappers put down their rifles to work on defences, making loopholes in buildings for MGs. Lt Clarke led 3 section to a site near the Halluin-Menin bridge which was blown. To the north of the Division the Belgians had withdrawn leaving the way clear for the German IV Corps to exploit at will. Enemy patrols were expected any time. The section built a double apron barbed wire fence on the bank of the river Lys in complete silence. A frog farm close to the site made most noise. 2 section were clearing lines of fire and sinking barges. 1 section had the thankless task of moving civilians from their homes in a terrace of houses to clear a field of fire. A patrol of the 1/7 Midd’x MG Bn, crossed the Lys between Comins and Menin, shot up a large car and grabbed a brief case from the car. The patrol succeeded in withdrawing across the lys bringing with them a wounded OR. The brief case contained plans of the German attack, their order of attack, which was now being mounted by IV Corps with the 61, 31 and 18 Infantry DIVs across the front of 4 Division aimed at Kemmel. The whole German Army in Belgium was wheeling left with the object of cutting off the BEF and linking up with the armoured forces in the south. Hitler issued Directive No13. The order of total victory.
No. 1 The destruction of the Belgian, French and the BEF.
No. 2 Then as soon as possible the remaining French forces
It was agreed by the allies that a breakout to the south was not feasible due to the weakness of the Belgians.
25 May. At dawn the 7th witnessed a spectacular air battle against the rays of the rising sun. the outcome was not known. As jobs were finished Sections made for detached locations on farms to eat, clean up, catch up with sleep, then make and mend. At this time the Germans were closing in, their pincers were only 10 miles apart. The French 1st Army were under continuous bombardment and they had lost all their heavy guns. They were almost out of ammunition and there were no bread rations. General Blanchard gave the order to withdraw to the coast.
26 May Sunday. At home this was a day of national prayer. The BBC broadcast a message heard by one or two of the 7th, “That there would be no news of the BEF for a week.” The news caused a lot of comment amongst the sappers. The war cabinet had endorsed Lord Gort’s decision to evacuate, and the French PM was asked to make a similar order. As if to confirm the order Calais fell after a fight to the death. During the Siege a German officer demanded an answer to an ultimatum to surrender. Brigadier Nicholson replied: “There can be no answer as it was the British Army’s duty to fight as well as the German Army’s.”
All day long in perfect weather conditions bombers flew overhead to drop their loads on Armentiers an important junction of roads. 3 section mounted a Bren in a field In the hope of shooting down an aircraft but it was a fruitless effort, the distance was too far. At 1800 hrs Section ‘O’ Groups were told that the BEF and eight French Divisions were almost surrounded, and that some HQ vehicles and NCOs had left for the coast to go home at once to train new units in our place and to tell them we had done our best. The feeling was we will fight our way out. Sections moved off at 2300 hrs in a thoughtful, determined mood forming a Company convoy in dry weather heading for Marieburg near Ploesgsteert a haunt of the 7th in the previous conflict. During the hours of darkness guns could be seen firing to the left and right as the convoy rolled through the neck of the closing corridor on roads clear of vehicles and people. Thankfully the Luftwaffe were asleep. That evening operation ‘Dynamo’ the evacuation of Dunkirk began, commanded by Vice Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey from Dover. At the time the best estimate of numbers which might be evacuated was 20/30,000. Dunkirk was a shambles and due to air raids the only means of landing much needed supplies of water and ammunition was over the beaches where dumps built up. There was complete accord between Lt General Adam and French Commander General Fagalde as to how the perimeter would be held. Basically the 60 French DIV would hold Nieuport in the north, the BEF exclusive Nieuport to Bergues and the French exclusive Bergues to Dunkirk.
1940
01 Jan. The phoney war, ‘sitzgrieg’ continued. Work on the frontier was held up, heavy frosts hampered the concreting and serious drainage problems were experienced due to either spring water or damaged drainage when excavating some sites. Security was at a premium as the frontier was still open and many locals lived on one side and crossed daily to work on the other side.
Lt Curtis became became OC 1 section as Lt Walker was posted to 3rd Division HQRE as adjutant. 2nd Lt V Harding was posted as a reinforcement and Lt Walmsley-White was attached from HQRE. CSM E Gilbert a veteran from WW1 became CSM. Daily temperatures fell to a minus 10 degrees centigrade and more. Driving was treacherous, a CDF of 3 section skidded past 2 trams and end up crashing into a café. The ground was hard enough to take heavy armour and ‘Fall Gelb’ (plan yellow) raised its head again, this being the German code for the invasion. The BEF were put on full alert. Meanwhile a German officer flying near Belgium lost his way and landed in Belgium. He was caught in the act of trying to destroy some papers, which were proved to be the full plan of ‘Fall Gelb’. This in part caused Hitler to change the main armoured thrust from the Flanders plain to the Ardennes.
01 Feb. the ground was frozen solid to a depth of 2’. Welfare facilities increased, the ENSA put on shows in Lens and Lille. Home comforts, pullovers, socks, balaclavas, gloves, mitts and free issue cigarettes arrived by the box load. Sections went out at night repairing damaged roads, which caused substantial subsidence. The OC was promoted to CRE 5 Division, Captain Hodgson posted to HQRE and Spr Taylor to the UK as an instructor. Major Gilespie became OC on March 16th for the remainder of the campaign. The 9th Fd Coy RE left the Division and was replaced by 225 Fd Coy RE.
01 Apr. As the weather improved work on the frontier was pushed ahead as quickly as possible. 1 section completed one of the first A/T pillboxes in a barn near Neuville. It was later reported as being of great interest to the German General Staff, and that both General Von Runstedt and Goering inspected it.
7Apr. Lt Vaughan- Williams 246 Fd Coy RE was posted as 2/ic. In view of a fracas at very high level about the work of the BEF, two summaries of the main tasks of work completed by the BEF and Shiny 7 are of interest.
BEF: 400 Pillboxes, 40 miles of revetted A/T ditch, 50 new airfields involving the laying of 50,000 tons of concrete. Store dumps to take 10 days supply between the Seine and the Somme.
7th Company RE: 100% 1 A/T, 3 Bren ; 75% 1 A/T, 1 Bren; 50% 3 Bren, double MG. Plus a number of sights excavated and bunkers prepared. Seven days supply had been built up in the dumps north of the Somme, with a tail of 500 miles to the main ports. Lord Gort reported shortages many times during the previous 8 months. In particular there was no A/T ammunition for the RA in France. The only armoured division destined for the BEF, 1ST Armd Division was still in the UK.
09 May. An exceptionally fine day, and completed pillboxes were camouflaged. Warnings were received by the Allies that the German forces were closed up at their jumping off points ready to attack. The direction and numbers were given. The French 1st army were put on alert. Many of these troops were out on the farms helping out in the fields.
10 May. In the early hours ‘Fall Gelb’ was signalled by bombs exploding in Lille, Arras and other cities. No bombs fell near the 7th Coy billets. The enemy were moving forward into Holland, Belgium and France. Within hours the 12th Lancers were leading the BEF race forward across Belgium to the river Dyle, from prepared defences to no defences. A complaint was lodged in London by the Belgians that our forces had crossed the frontier uninvited!! One blessing is that the fifth column had not done their work yet, causing hordes of people to take to the roads. Lt Pawle was posted to HQRE. The Company officers were: OC Major Gillespie, 2i/c Captain J Vaughan-Williams. Sections: 1 Lt A D E Curtis, 2 2nd Lt J Simpson, 3 2ND Lt V Harding. Advance Parties were given 2 hours notice and the Company 6 hours notice. Pillbox sites were cleared up, machinery immobilised, starting handles and keys collected ready to handover to the 2nd General Construction Bn RE. At home the RT Hon Mr W S Churchill became Prime Minister and three days later made a rallying speech in the House of Commons making now, the famous phrase: “I have nothing to offer but blood, tears and sweat.”
11 May. The Division would occupy a reserve position on the canalised river Senne from Brussels to Vivorde joining there with the 5th Belgian Division, and would move in two days. Arrangements were made to evacuate non-essential civilians from the frontier areas. It can be said that the 7th were no strangers to Flanders. On March 16, 1793 a Company was formed from detachments of the other 6 Companies in the UK and named the ‘Flanders Company’. At that time Companies were not numbered but known by the name where they were stationed. The ‘Flanders Company’ was the seventh formed and the first sent abroad to support the Army on an ill fated mission in the first campaign of the Napoleonic wars. The OC was Captain Gother Mann RE, under command were 5 NCOs, 30 Artificers, 50 Labourers and 1 Drummer. They did good work, sometimes supervising a labour force of 14,000 building defences. Once the French decided to attack the whole force was pushed back to Holland, eventually returning to Woolwich on 5 May 1795 under their OC Capt Johnson. The ‘Flanders Company’ was disbanded and split up amongst the other six Companies.
12 May. Lt Harding left to recce bridges on the willebreock canalised river Senne from Brussels to a point a few miles north of Vilvorde. 3 Div of II Corps were holding positions on the river Dyle covering Louvain. German forces had made striking gains in Holland. A devastating incendiary air attack on Rotterdam sealed the fate of Holland. Support from the RAF was planned from England, requests for attacks on targets had first to pass through the Air Marshal’s HQ. It would be difficult to think of a more cumbersome style of command. In contrast the Luftwaffe were used as advance artillery for the spearheads, partially controlled by flying HQs (junker 52s) over the area of operations and had the necessary ground to air communications.
13 May. Lt Curtis left to Recce a concentration area NW of Brussels, where a Belgian horse drawn artillery unit were occupying the wrong area. . After standing to from 1300 hrs the Shiny 7 moved off in dry weather at 2130 hrs. many of the locals waved them off. After crossing the frontier there was no evidence of refugees on the roads and the roads were clear. They drove on 'Dif lights' and no route cards were given below section OCs. They drove NW of Brussels. A detour was made around alost due to an air attack. The 7th saw no signs of air activity for most of the journey.
14 May. As dawn broke the convoy halted well spaced out on a long straight road in open country with no cover. Attempts were made to make local purchases from small holdings dotted along the road without success, the locals were not very friendly. At 0830 hrs the convoy arrived at Strombeek Bever and moved in the grounds of a monastery. Made breakfast. Vehicles were under trees. Brens set up, alarm posts manned ans shallow slits dug to sleep in. Aircraft attacked roads nearby as the Company officers went to recce a bridge site on the canal near the Royal Palace at Laeken. The PM of France, M Reynard demanded to know what orders had been given to the Armies in Belgium as only the BEF were standing firm. The Germans had broken through at Sedan smashing their way through the French 9th Army.
15 May. The PM of France telephoned the Prime Minister to say that the Allies were defeated and requested help from the RAF in the way of bombing troop concentrations. The RAF bombed the Ruhr in the hope the Germans would recall their planes to defend their homeland. At this time Sections drove down to the bridge site to prepare the bank seats, level off ballast in barges, and manhandle a multitude of railway sleepers onto barges to build piers. The rumble of guns could be heard in the distance as 3 Div held back the enemy advance on the Dyle at Louvain. On the bridge site SBG vehicles were unloaded, spans built and launched on to the floating piers.
16 May. At 0700 hrs the7th were withdrawn, ‘225’ took over and completed the Bridge. During the afternoon the Shiny 7 went down to the canal line to prepare demolitions. Two bridges recced by Lt Clarke two miles north of Vilvorde were prepared and blown by 2 section in the face of the enemy who suffered some casualties. 6 Black Watch then handed over the sector to the 5th Belgian Division.1 section went to Vilvorde to deal with the main bridge, refugees were a hinderance and required severe handling. 3 section with another bridge at Vilvorde. The Pont Lever and SBG bridge, plus a number of barges and an unmarked tunnel discovered by the 2 RF. All bridges had to be ready for demolition by midnight. An air attack developed near the ‘Pont Lever’ as a lorry drew up loaded with three tons of explosive, a number of the party dived under the lorry for cover! The Belgian operating the lifting gear, without any warning lifted the bridge whilst Sprs J Stamper and J Kelly were loading ammonal in the chamber beside the counter weight. Spr Stamper was injured but did not leave the site. This bridge was to be used by the light tanks of 15/19 Hussars the rear guard, and a sapper guard was mounted to prevent anyone crossing the bridge. Two cuts were needed on the bridge, 25 kilos placed by the Belgians were incorporated in both the FID ring main and the electrical circuit. Camouflets were driven down on each abutment, but due to the sand fill, collapsed, therefore all of the ammonal was placed in the counter weight chambers, and tamped down with sand bags. Due to a shortage there was only 150 yds of electric cable, the exploder was in a shallow hole on the canal bank. A daunting prospect. 12 Bde Commander visited the site before midnight to ensure that all was well, by this time all the bridges were ready to fire,
17 May. After a dry night a fine day was in prospect, the demolition parties continued to work hard as they had done through the night. 2 section successfully blew their bridges, L/sgt Noble and party dealt with the tunnel and barges. After the 15/19 Hussar tanks crossed the SBG, Cpl A little and Lcpl W Farrimond blew the bridge, which disappeared into the canal. The electric cable used was passed to the Pont Lever, which enabled the leads and the exploder to be placed a reasonable distance away at the side of a house where 3 section Bren was in position. The OC and 2/lt Harding arrived and ordered the bridge to be blown at 1330hrs. The bridge was blown and the Bren team were ordered to shoot at the gasometre on the far bank in an effort to puncture it. The OC went to assess the bridge damage. The main girders were a tangled mass of metal hanging down in the water. A good percentage was under the water level of the canal. The OC did not want a second attempt to drop the remainder into the canal. He assessed it as 60% destroyed and only an active infantryman would be able to cross. The party moved back to base famished. At 2100 hrs the Company moved out west of Brussels. It was overcast and raining lightly. Refugees littered the roads pushing carts and bicycles load with their possessions. It was stop, start for much of the way. When the convoy halted the 2i/c walked up and down trying to keep drivers and front seat passengers awake. German armoured spearheads continued their drive to the channel coast. Unless the French could collect a force to seal off this drive, the northern allied armies would be cut off from their supply bases.
01 Jan. The phoney war, ‘sitzgrieg’ continued. Work on the frontier was held up, heavy frosts hampered the concreting and serious drainage problems were experienced due to either spring water or damaged drainage when excavating some sites. Security was at a premium as the frontier was still open and many locals lived on one side and crossed daily to work on the other side.
Lt Curtis became became OC 1 section as Lt Walker was posted to 3rd Division HQRE as adjutant. 2nd Lt V Harding was posted as a reinforcement and Lt Walmsley-White was attached from HQRE. CSM E Gilbert a veteran from WW1 became CSM. Daily temperatures fell to a minus 10 degrees centigrade and more. Driving was treacherous, a CDF of 3 section skidded past 2 trams and end up crashing into a café. The ground was hard enough to take heavy armour and ‘Fall Gelb’ (plan yellow) raised its head again, this being the German code for the invasion. The BEF were put on full alert. Meanwhile a German officer flying near Belgium lost his way and landed in Belgium. He was caught in the act of trying to destroy some papers, which were proved to be the full plan of ‘Fall Gelb’. This in part caused Hitler to change the main armoured thrust from the Flanders plain to the Ardennes.
01 Feb. the ground was frozen solid to a depth of 2’. Welfare facilities increased, the ENSA put on shows in Lens and Lille. Home comforts, pullovers, socks, balaclavas, gloves, mitts and free issue cigarettes arrived by the box load. Sections went out at night repairing damaged roads, which caused substantial subsidence. The OC was promoted to CRE 5 Division, Captain Hodgson posted to HQRE and Spr Taylor to the UK as an instructor. Major Gilespie became OC on March 16th for the remainder of the campaign. The 9th Fd Coy RE left the Division and was replaced by 225 Fd Coy RE.
01 Apr. As the weather improved work on the frontier was pushed ahead as quickly as possible. 1 section completed one of the first A/T pillboxes in a barn near Neuville. It was later reported as being of great interest to the German General Staff, and that both General Von Runstedt and Goering inspected it.
7Apr. Lt Vaughan- Williams 246 Fd Coy RE was posted as 2/ic. In view of a fracas at very high level about the work of the BEF, two summaries of the main tasks of work completed by the BEF and Shiny 7 are of interest.
BEF: 400 Pillboxes, 40 miles of revetted A/T ditch, 50 new airfields involving the laying of 50,000 tons of concrete. Store dumps to take 10 days supply between the Seine and the Somme.
7th Company RE: 100% 1 A/T, 3 Bren ; 75% 1 A/T, 1 Bren; 50% 3 Bren, double MG. Plus a number of sights excavated and bunkers prepared. Seven days supply had been built up in the dumps north of the Somme, with a tail of 500 miles to the main ports. Lord Gort reported shortages many times during the previous 8 months. In particular there was no A/T ammunition for the RA in France. The only armoured division destined for the BEF, 1ST Armd Division was still in the UK.
09 May. An exceptionally fine day, and completed pillboxes were camouflaged. Warnings were received by the Allies that the German forces were closed up at their jumping off points ready to attack. The direction and numbers were given. The French 1st army were put on alert. Many of these troops were out on the farms helping out in the fields.
10 May. In the early hours ‘Fall Gelb’ was signalled by bombs exploding in Lille, Arras and other cities. No bombs fell near the 7th Coy billets. The enemy were moving forward into Holland, Belgium and France. Within hours the 12th Lancers were leading the BEF race forward across Belgium to the river Dyle, from prepared defences to no defences. A complaint was lodged in London by the Belgians that our forces had crossed the frontier uninvited!! One blessing is that the fifth column had not done their work yet, causing hordes of people to take to the roads. Lt Pawle was posted to HQRE. The Company officers were: OC Major Gillespie, 2i/c Captain J Vaughan-Williams. Sections: 1 Lt A D E Curtis, 2 2nd Lt J Simpson, 3 2ND Lt V Harding. Advance Parties were given 2 hours notice and the Company 6 hours notice. Pillbox sites were cleared up, machinery immobilised, starting handles and keys collected ready to handover to the 2nd General Construction Bn RE. At home the RT Hon Mr W S Churchill became Prime Minister and three days later made a rallying speech in the House of Commons making now, the famous phrase: “I have nothing to offer but blood, tears and sweat.”
11 May. The Division would occupy a reserve position on the canalised river Senne from Brussels to Vivorde joining there with the 5th Belgian Division, and would move in two days. Arrangements were made to evacuate non-essential civilians from the frontier areas. It can be said that the 7th were no strangers to Flanders. On March 16, 1793 a Company was formed from detachments of the other 6 Companies in the UK and named the ‘Flanders Company’. At that time Companies were not numbered but known by the name where they were stationed. The ‘Flanders Company’ was the seventh formed and the first sent abroad to support the Army on an ill fated mission in the first campaign of the Napoleonic wars. The OC was Captain Gother Mann RE, under command were 5 NCOs, 30 Artificers, 50 Labourers and 1 Drummer. They did good work, sometimes supervising a labour force of 14,000 building defences. Once the French decided to attack the whole force was pushed back to Holland, eventually returning to Woolwich on 5 May 1795 under their OC Capt Johnson. The ‘Flanders Company’ was disbanded and split up amongst the other six Companies.
12 May. Lt Harding left to recce bridges on the willebreock canalised river Senne from Brussels to a point a few miles north of Vilvorde. 3 Div of II Corps were holding positions on the river Dyle covering Louvain. German forces had made striking gains in Holland. A devastating incendiary air attack on Rotterdam sealed the fate of Holland. Support from the RAF was planned from England, requests for attacks on targets had first to pass through the Air Marshal’s HQ. It would be difficult to think of a more cumbersome style of command. In contrast the Luftwaffe were used as advance artillery for the spearheads, partially controlled by flying HQs (junker 52s) over the area of operations and had the necessary ground to air communications.
13 May. Lt Curtis left to Recce a concentration area NW of Brussels, where a Belgian horse drawn artillery unit were occupying the wrong area. . After standing to from 1300 hrs the Shiny 7 moved off in dry weather at 2130 hrs. many of the locals waved them off. After crossing the frontier there was no evidence of refugees on the roads and the roads were clear. They drove on 'Dif lights' and no route cards were given below section OCs. They drove NW of Brussels. A detour was made around alost due to an air attack. The 7th saw no signs of air activity for most of the journey.
14 May. As dawn broke the convoy halted well spaced out on a long straight road in open country with no cover. Attempts were made to make local purchases from small holdings dotted along the road without success, the locals were not very friendly. At 0830 hrs the convoy arrived at Strombeek Bever and moved in the grounds of a monastery. Made breakfast. Vehicles were under trees. Brens set up, alarm posts manned ans shallow slits dug to sleep in. Aircraft attacked roads nearby as the Company officers went to recce a bridge site on the canal near the Royal Palace at Laeken. The PM of France, M Reynard demanded to know what orders had been given to the Armies in Belgium as only the BEF were standing firm. The Germans had broken through at Sedan smashing their way through the French 9th Army.
15 May. The PM of France telephoned the Prime Minister to say that the Allies were defeated and requested help from the RAF in the way of bombing troop concentrations. The RAF bombed the Ruhr in the hope the Germans would recall their planes to defend their homeland. At this time Sections drove down to the bridge site to prepare the bank seats, level off ballast in barges, and manhandle a multitude of railway sleepers onto barges to build piers. The rumble of guns could be heard in the distance as 3 Div held back the enemy advance on the Dyle at Louvain. On the bridge site SBG vehicles were unloaded, spans built and launched on to the floating piers.
16 May. At 0700 hrs the7th were withdrawn, ‘225’ took over and completed the Bridge. During the afternoon the Shiny 7 went down to the canal line to prepare demolitions. Two bridges recced by Lt Clarke two miles north of Vilvorde were prepared and blown by 2 section in the face of the enemy who suffered some casualties. 6 Black Watch then handed over the sector to the 5th Belgian Division.1 section went to Vilvorde to deal with the main bridge, refugees were a hinderance and required severe handling. 3 section with another bridge at Vilvorde. The Pont Lever and SBG bridge, plus a number of barges and an unmarked tunnel discovered by the 2 RF. All bridges had to be ready for demolition by midnight. An air attack developed near the ‘Pont Lever’ as a lorry drew up loaded with three tons of explosive, a number of the party dived under the lorry for cover! The Belgian operating the lifting gear, without any warning lifted the bridge whilst Sprs J Stamper and J Kelly were loading ammonal in the chamber beside the counter weight. Spr Stamper was injured but did not leave the site. This bridge was to be used by the light tanks of 15/19 Hussars the rear guard, and a sapper guard was mounted to prevent anyone crossing the bridge. Two cuts were needed on the bridge, 25 kilos placed by the Belgians were incorporated in both the FID ring main and the electrical circuit. Camouflets were driven down on each abutment, but due to the sand fill, collapsed, therefore all of the ammonal was placed in the counter weight chambers, and tamped down with sand bags. Due to a shortage there was only 150 yds of electric cable, the exploder was in a shallow hole on the canal bank. A daunting prospect. 12 Bde Commander visited the site before midnight to ensure that all was well, by this time all the bridges were ready to fire,
17 May. After a dry night a fine day was in prospect, the demolition parties continued to work hard as they had done through the night. 2 section successfully blew their bridges, L/sgt Noble and party dealt with the tunnel and barges. After the 15/19 Hussar tanks crossed the SBG, Cpl A little and Lcpl W Farrimond blew the bridge, which disappeared into the canal. The electric cable used was passed to the Pont Lever, which enabled the leads and the exploder to be placed a reasonable distance away at the side of a house where 3 section Bren was in position. The OC and 2/lt Harding arrived and ordered the bridge to be blown at 1330hrs. The bridge was blown and the Bren team were ordered to shoot at the gasometre on the far bank in an effort to puncture it. The OC went to assess the bridge damage. The main girders were a tangled mass of metal hanging down in the water. A good percentage was under the water level of the canal. The OC did not want a second attempt to drop the remainder into the canal. He assessed it as 60% destroyed and only an active infantryman would be able to cross. The party moved back to base famished. At 2100 hrs the Company moved out west of Brussels. It was overcast and raining lightly. Refugees littered the roads pushing carts and bicycles load with their possessions. It was stop, start for much of the way. When the convoy halted the 2i/c walked up and down trying to keep drivers and front seat passengers awake. German armoured spearheads continued their drive to the channel coast. Unless the French could collect a force to seal off this drive, the northern allied armies would be cut off from their supply bases.
At the outbreak of WW2, Major E M Blake commanded the ‘Shiny 7’ at Reed Hall Camp Colchester. The Company were part of 4 Division and Eastern Command as they had been at the outbreak of WW1 when they were stationed in Shorncliffe. Early in that war they were transferred to 50 Northumbrian Division until the end of the war.
In March 1939 the TA doubled and the army was expanding rapidly. The peace time routine of a small detached unit changed quickly. About forty ORs were available for general training based on mobile warfare under lieutenants Walker and Reiss. Bridges were prepared for demolition with dummy charges. The local ranges were visited more frequent. The dress for the ranges was Marching Order. Starting at 600 yards, a practice was fired at each 100 yard firing point, finally running with fixed bayonets to the 100 yard point and firing a practice in the standing position.
Expansion of the army continued with the passing of the National Service Act in May 1939. New conscripts started to arrive in July. About this time, the 7th moved to a tented bridge camp on the Medway at Wouldham, to train with SBG and FBE under the watchful eye of the CRE, Lt Colonel Coxwell-Rogers, remaining under his overall command for most of WW2 as CRE. 9 Fd,59 Fd and 18 Fd Pk Coys made up the rest of 4 Div RE. Early in 1940, 225 Fd Coy replaced 9 Coy.
1 Sep 1939. Germany invaded Poland, the allies Britain and France were bound by treaty to go to the aid of the Poles. The order was given to mobilise and preparations were made to return to Reed Hall Camp where, Capt Hodgson replaced Capt J A Hasler as the 2i/c. The next day the main body of the 7th left Wouldham on a mobility exercise, halting afternoon until 17.00hrs, and then drove to Reed Hall Camp via the Blackwall Tunnel arriving about midnight.
3 Sep. The Company officers were: OC Major E M Blake MBE. 2i/c Capt H P E Hodgson.
Sections: No 1, Lt R H Walker. No 2, Lt B C Reiss, No 3, G D H Pawle.
Reinforcement 2/Lt A D E Curtis, HQRE attached LT R L Clarke.
The face of Reed Hall was rapidly changing. Tents were sprouting to house the large increase in numbers. A draft from 38 Fd Coy brought the 7th up to the war establishment
of 5 officers and 250 ORs. Detachments left to carry out urgent tasks, the dismantlement of Felixstowe Pier, supervision of Brandon Hall as an internment camp and the blanking out of buildings taken over as HQs.
11.15 hrs, The Prime Minister makes a historic broadcast announcing that a state of war now existed with Germany.
There was a chronic shortage of almost every item required to wage war, it was necessary to impress some civilian vehicles to bring the numbers up to scale. The new 37 pattern equipment and battledress had not been issued to the 7th they went to war dressed as their fathers were at the outbreak of WW1 except for a steel helmet, gas mask, gas cape, eye shields and SD trousers in place of breeches. Long bayonets were still an issue. Each section had a Bren LMG and one Boys .55 A/T rifle.
Capt Lipscombe the doctor worked overtime examining and inoculating the men. Forty-eight hour leave was granted to many sappers to clear up personal admin and family problems. They were advised to make an allowance to a next of kin naming them in the form in the back of the AB 64, this was detached and sent to RE Records. This meant that if the worst came to the worst, the person named was certain to receive a pension.
Sections received their establishment of trucks: 1x8 cwt PU, 2x15 cwt Morris 4 wheeled trucks, 1x15 cwt Morris Compressor equipped with pneumatic drills, chainsaw and pick, 4x30 cwt Morris 6 wheel CDFs. with a winch, anchorage holdfasts and removable tracks for cross country work.
A number of signs were painted on to all vehicles, a white figure 19 on a cobalt blue square background the unit tactical aerial number; a red circle with the first quadrant set out, later this was on a white back-ground representing the 4th Division sign. The class load of the vehicle was a white figure inside a white outer circle, all military bridges had a similar sign denoting their class load. Against opposition the system was adopted in 1939. Prior to this each vehicle had to be examined before it crossed the bridge to ascertain its class load. The CDFs each carried a Sub Section and were given a false floor, raised seats and a box to take the Sub Section tools, picks, shovels, crowbar, etc, and the tracks for the four rear wheels, holdfast anchorages. The holdfast pins were carried outside the CDF by an improvised bracket. The CDF was a highly versatile engineer vehicle.
15 Sep. The GOC 4TH Division accompanied by the CRE inspected the Shiny 7 dressed in marching order with the MT loaded as a rehearsal to move, The parade took place on the Reed Hall playing fields in overcast cloudy weather. During the inspection the GOC is reported to have remarked: “They are tough, very tough”. Morale was high and a feeling of excitement was in the air. The French had made a limited advance, they had found the going strewn with mines, eventually using cattle to clear the path ahead.
22 Sep. Major Blake was unfortunately admitted to hospital with appendicitis and unable to go to France. Lt Walker left for France with a recce party, joining up with Lt Clarke to find billets in the area of Sable near Le Mans. The next day Lt Reiss left with the MT numbering 34 vehicles and 14 M/Cs (this included 6 impressed trucks). Their route was via Wheatley to Newport enroute for Nantes then Sable. Plans for the movement of the BEF to France were worked out on the assumption there would be air attacks. Therefore bases were held back five hundred miles from the Franco-German frontier, creating a very long tail requiring large numbers of troops on the lines of communication.
26 Sep. Tuesday at 0815 hrs the Shiny 7 parade for the last time at Reed Hall Camp. In marching order plus one blanket, a gas cape perched on top of their packs, a pair of eye shields on the front of the steel helmet, respirators high up on the chest, pouches filled with fifty rounds of 303 ammunition, pockets stuffed with cigarettes and jack knives at the ready, the 7th were on the move entraining at Colchester ten to a compartment. The train passed through Ipswich and made a wide detour around London halting at Bordon. After a short march the 7th filed into huts, each bed had its army mattress of three biscuits. Time was spent on military training, route marches, map reading, weapon training and keeping out of site.
28 Sep. The Company paraded in marching order to be inspected by the new OC, Major Le Sueur, two days later the 7th marched to Bordon station with the 9th to entrain. A Bren was set up on the front of the train for AA action. It was fine weather and sunny as the train drew in to Southampton Docks. The only evidence of war was the barrage balloons and the grey ships embarking troops. The Shiny 7th embarked on HMT Royal Sovereign. Bully and biscuits were issued as the ship cast off, slipping out of the dock into the Solent to anchor until about midnight when it began to make way. There was nothing to see except the blue lights at the mast heads of other ships. The shore line was blacked out.
1 Oct. At dawn the ship entered Cherbourg harbour. Disembarkation was completed by 0650 hrs, guards were mounted on the baggage and equipment, leave was granted for the day. The food was cheap and the wine too strong for a number of sappers, who arrived at the station late and in a happy state. The train arrived at Sable and the Company detrained, sections formed up and marched off to their billets on farms at Ballee, Beaumont and Bignor in hot summer weather. Sections settled into the farm buildings, sleeping on straw. Messing funds were set up for local purchases to supplement the hard tack rations.
5 Oct. At first light the 7th moved off, well spaced out with the usual blue flag flying from the first vehicle and the green flag on the last vehicle. The local population were out in force and the move took on a carnival atmosphere, 1-2-3 Divisions had already driven on the same route to take up positions on the Franco-Belgian frontier between the 1st (on the right) and 7th French Armies. 51 French Division were on the left of and under command of the BEF ,GHQ code name ‘Brassard’ was located at Arras; dispersed over fifty square miles making control difficult. The convoy arrived at Soindres south of the Seine later in the day as reinforcements arrived by train at La Baule Les Pins.
7 Oct. The Shiny 7th made an early crossing of the Seine, halting for one night at Lawards, then proceeding north over the Somme, travelling through WW1 battle areas, though there was no sign of the previous conflict where the shiny 7 fought. Paths crossed in the area of amiens, in 1916 they 7th were in 50 division moving south from the Ypres Salient, and in early 1917 they marched from the Somme to Arras. At that time they were known as the 'Black Horse' a name passed down through the mists of time and may have been adopted from the 7th Dragoon Guards. Between the wars 'Shiny 7' was established, due (reported sapper Gould) to the fact that the 7th won a turnout competition of all units in the Army of the Rhine in the period 1920-29. Spr J Cope related that the 7th were renowned for their turnout on the march or wherever. At 1300hrs the shiny 7th arrived at Harnes a small mining town. the Company got on well with the locals and facilities were made available at the local pit for the use of the showers. Sections were billeted in local schools though initially 3 section was billeted in a farm.
The 1937 type equipment and battledress was issued. At first gaiters were in short supply so puttees were cut short to finish the dress. Work consisted of building defences.
13 Oct. The 7th were under command of brigadier Anderson 11 Bde. The Brigade sector was from Pont a Vendin to Benthune on the La Basse Canal. Fifty bridges were recced for load carrying capacity and demolition. Bridges were prepared for demolition and A/T obstacles along the brigade front were prepared and if that wasn't enough they had to assist 1 E Surreys, 2LF, and 1 Ox & Bucks with their defences. Some of these tasks were hampered by severe downpours making it impossible to work on some days.
27 Oct. 234 Army Fd Coy RE relieved the 7th of their tasks and Lt Walker joined 11 Bde on the frontier in the area of Roncq. Three days later 1 section moved to Roncq to dig in the mud with the infantry. at the same time the Company took over from '59' in support of 2RF, 1 S Lancs and 1 Black Watch of 12 Bde.
12 Nov. The OC and a party of ORs attended a local Armistice Day parade wearing both a Poppy and a Corn Flower, the emblem of the French.
30 Nov. The 7th packed up, paid their fees for alleged damages to the local cess pits to the mare of Harnes, and at 2045 hrs headed north to La Madeleine arriving there at 2300 hrs. La Madeleine was one mile north of Lille on the main Tour/Robaix road was an ideal base for work on the frontier. Billets were in a large modern private house, and the next morning work was started on a cookhouse and dining area. This would be a pleasant change as they had eaten their hard tack rations off their knees since leaving the UK.
3 Dec. 1 section returned to base from Roncq. The Company’s sector to be covered on the frontier extended from Martimore to Neuville. It had almost a continuous A/T ditch, and some pillboxes built by the french.
6 Dec. Shiny 7 cleaned off the mud to take their place on a massed parade inspected by H M King George vi in the grounds of a large chateau on a cloudy, dry day. The King was accompanied by the PM N Chamberlain and escorted by senior commanders of the BEF.
7 Dec. Excavation began for three pillboxes on the left of the brigade front at Le Purgatoire, the first task of a major engineering programme. There were three types of pillboxes to be built, the Bren, hexagonal in shape. The MG and A/T were rectangular. Floors were 2’ thick, walls and roof 3’, reinforcing was 7/8” steel at 6” centres in three dimensions. Every cross joint was fixed with wire by hand.
12 Dec. A ten day leave roster was set up commencing on the 17 December. Travel by train Lille to Boulogne then by ship to Dover.
16 Dec. The 7th suffered its first casualty of WW2 when Lt B C Reiss was killed at the Junior Leader’s School Bethune whilst demonstrating a British A/TM. Few people had any experience of mine warfare, and courses were set up for all ranks. Two days later a funeral party went to the village of Beuvry in very cold weather for the burial of Lt Reiss.
25 Dec. The CRE visited the Company Christmas Dinner to wish ‘Shiny 7’ seasonal greetings. Many sappers were invited to French homes enjoying their hospitality sitting down to banquets lasting hours. The year ended on ‘Make and Mend’
In March 1939 the TA doubled and the army was expanding rapidly. The peace time routine of a small detached unit changed quickly. About forty ORs were available for general training based on mobile warfare under lieutenants Walker and Reiss. Bridges were prepared for demolition with dummy charges. The local ranges were visited more frequent. The dress for the ranges was Marching Order. Starting at 600 yards, a practice was fired at each 100 yard firing point, finally running with fixed bayonets to the 100 yard point and firing a practice in the standing position.
Expansion of the army continued with the passing of the National Service Act in May 1939. New conscripts started to arrive in July. About this time, the 7th moved to a tented bridge camp on the Medway at Wouldham, to train with SBG and FBE under the watchful eye of the CRE, Lt Colonel Coxwell-Rogers, remaining under his overall command for most of WW2 as CRE. 9 Fd,59 Fd and 18 Fd Pk Coys made up the rest of 4 Div RE. Early in 1940, 225 Fd Coy replaced 9 Coy.
1 Sep 1939. Germany invaded Poland, the allies Britain and France were bound by treaty to go to the aid of the Poles. The order was given to mobilise and preparations were made to return to Reed Hall Camp where, Capt Hodgson replaced Capt J A Hasler as the 2i/c. The next day the main body of the 7th left Wouldham on a mobility exercise, halting afternoon until 17.00hrs, and then drove to Reed Hall Camp via the Blackwall Tunnel arriving about midnight.
3 Sep. The Company officers were: OC Major E M Blake MBE. 2i/c Capt H P E Hodgson.
Sections: No 1, Lt R H Walker. No 2, Lt B C Reiss, No 3, G D H Pawle.
Reinforcement 2/Lt A D E Curtis, HQRE attached LT R L Clarke.
The face of Reed Hall was rapidly changing. Tents were sprouting to house the large increase in numbers. A draft from 38 Fd Coy brought the 7th up to the war establishment
of 5 officers and 250 ORs. Detachments left to carry out urgent tasks, the dismantlement of Felixstowe Pier, supervision of Brandon Hall as an internment camp and the blanking out of buildings taken over as HQs.
11.15 hrs, The Prime Minister makes a historic broadcast announcing that a state of war now existed with Germany.
There was a chronic shortage of almost every item required to wage war, it was necessary to impress some civilian vehicles to bring the numbers up to scale. The new 37 pattern equipment and battledress had not been issued to the 7th they went to war dressed as their fathers were at the outbreak of WW1 except for a steel helmet, gas mask, gas cape, eye shields and SD trousers in place of breeches. Long bayonets were still an issue. Each section had a Bren LMG and one Boys .55 A/T rifle.
Capt Lipscombe the doctor worked overtime examining and inoculating the men. Forty-eight hour leave was granted to many sappers to clear up personal admin and family problems. They were advised to make an allowance to a next of kin naming them in the form in the back of the AB 64, this was detached and sent to RE Records. This meant that if the worst came to the worst, the person named was certain to receive a pension.
Sections received their establishment of trucks: 1x8 cwt PU, 2x15 cwt Morris 4 wheeled trucks, 1x15 cwt Morris Compressor equipped with pneumatic drills, chainsaw and pick, 4x30 cwt Morris 6 wheel CDFs. with a winch, anchorage holdfasts and removable tracks for cross country work.
A number of signs were painted on to all vehicles, a white figure 19 on a cobalt blue square background the unit tactical aerial number; a red circle with the first quadrant set out, later this was on a white back-ground representing the 4th Division sign. The class load of the vehicle was a white figure inside a white outer circle, all military bridges had a similar sign denoting their class load. Against opposition the system was adopted in 1939. Prior to this each vehicle had to be examined before it crossed the bridge to ascertain its class load. The CDFs each carried a Sub Section and were given a false floor, raised seats and a box to take the Sub Section tools, picks, shovels, crowbar, etc, and the tracks for the four rear wheels, holdfast anchorages. The holdfast pins were carried outside the CDF by an improvised bracket. The CDF was a highly versatile engineer vehicle.
15 Sep. The GOC 4TH Division accompanied by the CRE inspected the Shiny 7 dressed in marching order with the MT loaded as a rehearsal to move, The parade took place on the Reed Hall playing fields in overcast cloudy weather. During the inspection the GOC is reported to have remarked: “They are tough, very tough”. Morale was high and a feeling of excitement was in the air. The French had made a limited advance, they had found the going strewn with mines, eventually using cattle to clear the path ahead.
22 Sep. Major Blake was unfortunately admitted to hospital with appendicitis and unable to go to France. Lt Walker left for France with a recce party, joining up with Lt Clarke to find billets in the area of Sable near Le Mans. The next day Lt Reiss left with the MT numbering 34 vehicles and 14 M/Cs (this included 6 impressed trucks). Their route was via Wheatley to Newport enroute for Nantes then Sable. Plans for the movement of the BEF to France were worked out on the assumption there would be air attacks. Therefore bases were held back five hundred miles from the Franco-German frontier, creating a very long tail requiring large numbers of troops on the lines of communication.
26 Sep. Tuesday at 0815 hrs the Shiny 7 parade for the last time at Reed Hall Camp. In marching order plus one blanket, a gas cape perched on top of their packs, a pair of eye shields on the front of the steel helmet, respirators high up on the chest, pouches filled with fifty rounds of 303 ammunition, pockets stuffed with cigarettes and jack knives at the ready, the 7th were on the move entraining at Colchester ten to a compartment. The train passed through Ipswich and made a wide detour around London halting at Bordon. After a short march the 7th filed into huts, each bed had its army mattress of three biscuits. Time was spent on military training, route marches, map reading, weapon training and keeping out of site.
28 Sep. The Company paraded in marching order to be inspected by the new OC, Major Le Sueur, two days later the 7th marched to Bordon station with the 9th to entrain. A Bren was set up on the front of the train for AA action. It was fine weather and sunny as the train drew in to Southampton Docks. The only evidence of war was the barrage balloons and the grey ships embarking troops. The Shiny 7th embarked on HMT Royal Sovereign. Bully and biscuits were issued as the ship cast off, slipping out of the dock into the Solent to anchor until about midnight when it began to make way. There was nothing to see except the blue lights at the mast heads of other ships. The shore line was blacked out.
1 Oct. At dawn the ship entered Cherbourg harbour. Disembarkation was completed by 0650 hrs, guards were mounted on the baggage and equipment, leave was granted for the day. The food was cheap and the wine too strong for a number of sappers, who arrived at the station late and in a happy state. The train arrived at Sable and the Company detrained, sections formed up and marched off to their billets on farms at Ballee, Beaumont and Bignor in hot summer weather. Sections settled into the farm buildings, sleeping on straw. Messing funds were set up for local purchases to supplement the hard tack rations.
5 Oct. At first light the 7th moved off, well spaced out with the usual blue flag flying from the first vehicle and the green flag on the last vehicle. The local population were out in force and the move took on a carnival atmosphere, 1-2-3 Divisions had already driven on the same route to take up positions on the Franco-Belgian frontier between the 1st (on the right) and 7th French Armies. 51 French Division were on the left of and under command of the BEF ,GHQ code name ‘Brassard’ was located at Arras; dispersed over fifty square miles making control difficult. The convoy arrived at Soindres south of the Seine later in the day as reinforcements arrived by train at La Baule Les Pins.
7 Oct. The Shiny 7th made an early crossing of the Seine, halting for one night at Lawards, then proceeding north over the Somme, travelling through WW1 battle areas, though there was no sign of the previous conflict where the shiny 7 fought. Paths crossed in the area of amiens, in 1916 they 7th were in 50 division moving south from the Ypres Salient, and in early 1917 they marched from the Somme to Arras. At that time they were known as the 'Black Horse' a name passed down through the mists of time and may have been adopted from the 7th Dragoon Guards. Between the wars 'Shiny 7' was established, due (reported sapper Gould) to the fact that the 7th won a turnout competition of all units in the Army of the Rhine in the period 1920-29. Spr J Cope related that the 7th were renowned for their turnout on the march or wherever. At 1300hrs the shiny 7th arrived at Harnes a small mining town. the Company got on well with the locals and facilities were made available at the local pit for the use of the showers. Sections were billeted in local schools though initially 3 section was billeted in a farm.
The 1937 type equipment and battledress was issued. At first gaiters were in short supply so puttees were cut short to finish the dress. Work consisted of building defences.
13 Oct. The 7th were under command of brigadier Anderson 11 Bde. The Brigade sector was from Pont a Vendin to Benthune on the La Basse Canal. Fifty bridges were recced for load carrying capacity and demolition. Bridges were prepared for demolition and A/T obstacles along the brigade front were prepared and if that wasn't enough they had to assist 1 E Surreys, 2LF, and 1 Ox & Bucks with their defences. Some of these tasks were hampered by severe downpours making it impossible to work on some days.
27 Oct. 234 Army Fd Coy RE relieved the 7th of their tasks and Lt Walker joined 11 Bde on the frontier in the area of Roncq. Three days later 1 section moved to Roncq to dig in the mud with the infantry. at the same time the Company took over from '59' in support of 2RF, 1 S Lancs and 1 Black Watch of 12 Bde.
12 Nov. The OC and a party of ORs attended a local Armistice Day parade wearing both a Poppy and a Corn Flower, the emblem of the French.
30 Nov. The 7th packed up, paid their fees for alleged damages to the local cess pits to the mare of Harnes, and at 2045 hrs headed north to La Madeleine arriving there at 2300 hrs. La Madeleine was one mile north of Lille on the main Tour/Robaix road was an ideal base for work on the frontier. Billets were in a large modern private house, and the next morning work was started on a cookhouse and dining area. This would be a pleasant change as they had eaten their hard tack rations off their knees since leaving the UK.
3 Dec. 1 section returned to base from Roncq. The Company’s sector to be covered on the frontier extended from Martimore to Neuville. It had almost a continuous A/T ditch, and some pillboxes built by the french.
6 Dec. Shiny 7 cleaned off the mud to take their place on a massed parade inspected by H M King George vi in the grounds of a large chateau on a cloudy, dry day. The King was accompanied by the PM N Chamberlain and escorted by senior commanders of the BEF.
7 Dec. Excavation began for three pillboxes on the left of the brigade front at Le Purgatoire, the first task of a major engineering programme. There were three types of pillboxes to be built, the Bren, hexagonal in shape. The MG and A/T were rectangular. Floors were 2’ thick, walls and roof 3’, reinforcing was 7/8” steel at 6” centres in three dimensions. Every cross joint was fixed with wire by hand.
12 Dec. A ten day leave roster was set up commencing on the 17 December. Travel by train Lille to Boulogne then by ship to Dover.
16 Dec. The 7th suffered its first casualty of WW2 when Lt B C Reiss was killed at the Junior Leader’s School Bethune whilst demonstrating a British A/TM. Few people had any experience of mine warfare, and courses were set up for all ranks. Two days later a funeral party went to the village of Beuvry in very cold weather for the burial of Lt Reiss.
25 Dec. The CRE visited the Company Christmas Dinner to wish ‘Shiny 7’ seasonal greetings. Many sappers were invited to French homes enjoying their hospitality sitting down to banquets lasting hours. The year ended on ‘Make and Mend’
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Click on the thumbnails for 7 Field Company's mobilization for WW2 and tavel instructions to Southampton for Embarkation to France
Click on the thumbnails for the OC's Intellegence Report on the construction of the Home Defences. Very interesting it highlights the situation at that time in 1940
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