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April 1944

There was no time in, out, serial #, time dated, or action taken this month

Incidents, Messages, Orders, Etc.
1 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Berkshire.
TRAINING
All companies were present for the Battalion review and awards, the Good Conduct Ribbon was awarded to 317 members of the command. Inspection in ranks was a part of the days activities with the Bn Staff Officers visiting the various Companies. Col. Rowland, Major Slear and Capt. Gruber was present for the Battalion Inspection and Review.

Colonel Bounder from 1st Army Headquarters paid the Battalion a visit at about 1400.


2 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Berkshire.
TRAINING
Today being Sunday not much in the line of training was carried out although the advanced CP was established and Company A mixed out to Mapledurham. The advanced CP was established at Mapledurham consisting if one Enlisted Man and one Officer from S-2, two Enlisted Men and one Officer from S-3, and two Enlisted Men from the message center of S-1.

3 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Berkshire.
TRAINING
All training in the Companies done according to schedule except that Company B went out to the range to finish zeroing of all their T/E Arms. Company A Continues training at the Bailey Bridge Site at Mapledurham.

Today was the first official scheduled day of training for the radio school being conducted by this Battalion for its own benefit and also the operators of the 204th Engrs.


4 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Berkshire.
TRAINING
A and B Company are training as per schedule at Mapledurham.

Company C, getting all the Battalion fatigue details.

Company B moved out to join Company A at about 1330


5 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Berkshire.
TRAINING
Training as per schedule for Companies A and B at Mapledurham.

Company C moved out today to join the rest of the Battalion at Mapledurham at about 1330

Hq and Serv Co is catching all the Fatigue Details of the Camp.


6 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Berkshire.
TRAINING
Training as scheduled with the entire Battalion including an advanced C.P. less Hq and Service Co located at Mapledurham, One Squad of C Company at U635005 preparing new camp site for new unit, finished necessary work this evening.

7 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Berkshire.
TRAINING
Training as scheduled all companies are in Bivouac at Mapledurham.

Company A is on 25 Ton Ponton Bridge at Site No. 1.

Company B had a tactical road march and a lecture on supply discipline during the morning and Bridge Traffic Control and orientation, and mass athletics during the afternoon.

Company C spent the day on Construction and dismantling of the 25 Ton Ponton Bridge and covered the same subject in a night problem.

H&S Co all staff and service functions also furnishing the necessary guard for the base camp.

Today was a tactical day for the Bn But with only H&S Co in the area the gas masks were not worn for the half hour as usually is the case.


8 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Berkshire.
TRAINING
All activities going on in the Bn is still training with companies disposed as follows:

Company A completed their training on the 25 Ton Ponton Bridge in the morning and spent the afternoon with a lecture on Supply Discipline and Army Talks, returned to the Bn Area at about 1730.

Company B used all day in training on the construction of Infantry Support rafts and then had a night problem on the same subject.

Company C had the entire day on the 25 Ton Ponton Bridge.


9 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Berkshire.
TRAINING
Today being Sunday there is no scheduled training and not much activity in the Battalion Area with one exception Hq and Serv Co hired a dance hall in Abbington and the entire Company had a glorious afternoon and Evening with dancing and entertainment by talented men within the Company. The Company returned to the Bn Area at 0030.

10 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Berkshire.
TRAINING
Company A, Third Platoon only used the morning for training on fixed bridges, while the second and third platoon was busy on rigging. In the afternoon the entire participated in supervised athletics and the move back to the Bn area. The Second Platoon had a night problem on fixed bridges.

Company B was the entire day on the construction of the 25 Ton Ponton Bridge at Site No. 1, Pangbourne.

Company C spent the entire day on the M-3 Pneumatic Bridge ant Site No 3, Mapledurham.


11 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Berkshire.
TRAINING
Company A, First Platoon Fixed Bridges for them in the morning, Second Platoon time was reserved for the C.O. during the morning while the third platoon trained in rigging. The entire Company had the afternoon off due to their moving out to Area 611.

Company B went to Pangbourne for training on the 25 Ton Ponton Bridge, followed by a night problem on the same subject.

Company C all day in training with the M-3 Pneumatic Ponton Bridge at Site No 3, Mapledurham.


12 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Berkshire.
TRAINING
Lt. Col Van Atta returned from school at Bresenose College, Oxford, to take command of the Battalion again.

Company A spent the entire day at Area 611 training on Mine fields.

Company B The entire company in training on the 25 Ton Ponton Bridge at Site No 1, Pangbourne.

Company C Training in Construction of the Infantry Support Raft at Site No 4, Mapledurham.


13 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Company A is on this day training with minefields in area 611, starting with a night problem which meant calling out the men at 0100 in the morning and finishing at about 0330. The period from 0800 to 1200 was reserved for the C.O.

Company B, The morning was reserved for the C.O. to facilitate the moving of the Company back to the Bn area. The afternoon was spent in supervised athletics.

Company C, The morning was reserved for the C.O. to facilitate their move back to the Bn Area. The afternoon was used in instruction and practical work in the care and cleaning of the equipment.

Hq & Serv Co as usual, Staff and Service functions. The organization finally has drawn the last of its rolling stock, consisting of 27 new Dump, 2 ½ Ton trucks, the maintenance section goes on a two shift schedule to get the trucks serviced.


14 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Company A from 0800 to 1100 was busy with training in road construction, and more of the same from 1300 to 1600. 1100 to 1200 was a one hour lecture on supply discipline. 1600 to 1700 was a lecture and exercises in chemical warfare.

Company had quite a variation in their training program with periods 0800 to 0830 lecture in supply discipline, 0830 to 1200 rigging, 1300 to 1400 Army Talks, 1400 to 1700 Camouflage.

Company C spent the entire day in Area 440 training with the construction of wood trestle bridges.

Today was Friday which meant tactical day for everyone in the Bn Area, with a pre-arranged gas attack at about 1715 in the evening.


15 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Company A, the morning was reserved for the C.O. to facilitate their moving back to the Bn Area. The afternoon was spent in instruction and practical work in care and cleaning of equipment.

Company B spent from 0800 to 0900 in Identification of Aircraft and from 0900 to 1700 on training with minefields.

Company C had a varied day of training starting with Calisthenics from 0800 to 0830, 0830 to 0930 was spent on Army Talks, 0930 to 1030 preparation for inspection in ranks and from 1030 to 1200 inspection in ranks. The entire afternoon was spent in supervised athletics.

Hq and Serv Co had Staff and Service functions until 1600 when they stood and inspection in ranks.


16 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Today is Sunday and consequently there is no training being carried on.

Company B spent Sunday afternoon in moving the entire company to Mapledurham.


17 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Company A has d diversified training schedule today, mainly on camouflage and roads.

Company B is still at Mapledurham training on fixed and floating bridges, Bailey type.

Company C in Bn area training with roads supply discipline, and military courtesy for the morning and the afternoon is reserved for the C.O. to move the company to Mapledurham.

Hq and Serv Co just staff and service functions, with the Maintenance section working over time to service the new trucks.


18 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Company A had supervised Athletics in the morning while the afternoon was reserved for the C.O. to facilitate movement to Mapledurham.

Company B at Mapledurham training on fixed and Floating Bailey Bridges.

Company C moved from Mapledurham to Area 36 for training in demolition's and roads.

Hq and Serv Co still staff and service functions, the Message Center of Bn Hq has established an advanced CP at the Mapledurham site.

The entire Battalion was alerted for movement, destination and occasion unknown.


19 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Company A at Mapledurham training o Fixed ad Floating Bailey Bridges.

Company B moved from Mapledurham to Area 36 for training on Demolition's and Roads.

Company C completed training on demolition's and roads and used the afternoon to move the company back to the Bn Area.

Lt Col Williams a Bn CO of an Armored Bn paid this Bn a visit.


20 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Company A spent the morning moving from Mapledurham to the Bn area. The afternoon was used to have a showdown inspection of personal clothing and equipment.

Company B training on Demolition's and roads at Area 36 in the morning and spent the afternoon moving to the Bn Area.

Company C entire day on Engineer Reconnaissance and Care and Cleaning of equipment.

Hq and Serv Co advanced CP moved back in Bn area.

The entire Bn had a practice review at 1600 in preparation for the decoration and awarding of the soldiers metals. The last of the new trucks was serviced and issued to the line companies.


21 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
All Companies attended a lecture in the early part of the morning on "Pre-Capture Training," given by a lieutenant and a T/4 who had escaped from a German Prison.

Company A training in Chemical Warfare, Orientation, Supply Discipline and a Tactical March.

Company B spent the entire day training with minefields and roads.

Company C training with Camouflage,

Aircraft recognition, Army Talks and Rigging.

The entire Bn had another practice review at 1530.

Lt Col Latham, Ex Officer of 1103rd Engr (C) Gp visited the Bn.


22 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
The entire morning was spent in an inspection in ranks which was completed by 0930 and at 1000 the entire Bn moved out to the parade ground for the review and the awarding of the Soldiers Medals to ten 10 of the enlisted men and Officers of this Bn.

This afternoon all companies had a showdown inspection of the supply rooms for all organizational equipment.


23 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Today being Sunday no particular training is scheduled. Hq and Serv Co did have a showdown inspection in the morning.

24 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Company A spends all morning training on British and Foreign mines and Booby Traps. The Afternoon's training was on Camouflage, followed by a tactical march.

Company B Spent the morning training in supply discipline, Aircraft Identification and Army Talks. The afternoon The Company had a tactical march, load classification of Bridges and Driver's School.

Company C, British and Foreign explosives and Foreign Mapain the morning and Practice loading in the afternoon with from 1500 reserved for the CO to facilitate movement of the Company to Area 611.


25 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Entire Company spent the morning of British and Foreign Explosives, and Foreign Maps, the afternoon was spent on preliminary training on Rifle Marksmanship.

Company B had training on British and Foreign Explosives and Foreign Maps. Part of the afternoon was spent on practice loading, from 1500 the time was reserved for CO to facilitate movement to Area 611.


26 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Company A had the entire day on the range training in rifle marksmanship.

Company B, entire Company training with minefields at area 611.

Company C, the entire day spent on Booby Traps at Area 611.


27 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
The morning's training for Company A was spent on showdown inspection, Supply Discipline and Army Talks. The Afternoon practice loading and from 1500 was reserved for the CO to facilitate movement to Area 611.

Company B at Area 611 entire day spent training with Booby Traps and A.P. mines.

Company C, 0800 to 1000 reserved for the CO for movement back to Bn Area, the rest of the morning spent on camouflage. The afternoon training was Army Talks, Map Reading, and Supply Discipline.


28 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Company A entire Company at Area 611 training on Minefields.

Company B, 0800 to 1000 reserved for CO to move the Company back to the Bn Area, with the rest of the morning on care and cleaning of equipment. The afternoon spent in training on Camouflage, Chemical Warfare and Radio Communication.

Company C, British and Foreign mines and Booby Traps in the morning with a Tactical March in the afternoon.

Today is Friday being set as a tactical day for the Bn, everyone has to wear their gas masks for 30 minutes of the day.


29 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Company A from 0800 to 1500 training on Booby Traps and A.P. devices. 1500 to 1700 reserved for the CO to facilitate movement back to Bn Area.

Company B spent the morning in Training on British and Foreign Mines and Booby Traps. The afternoon training was on inspection and Bn Tests.

Company C, the morning on Infantry Tactics and the afternoon preparation for inspection by Platoon Leaders and CO.


30 April 1944
Clifton Heath, Oxon.
TRAINING
Today is Sunday with no regularly scheduled training. A Bn detachment of 154 men and officers departed this station at 0630 hours for AA Training with l50 Cal MG's at Penhole AA Range at Lands end. It being the last day of the month the troops were all paid by the designated finance officers.

Entire BN. departed from Clifton Heath Oxfordshire at 2010 hrs. by motor convoy arrived Neddlebed (area 611) at 2145 hours. Morale excellent. Bn. Hqs. set up advance CP.

The weather today was clear and warm.

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