84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
From the Shores of The Moray Firth The Story of 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944-1945 Second Edition 2016 Marc Dyos 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
The History of 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944-1945 Second edition: 2016
January 1944. roughout Britain, preparations were being made for what was to become the largest seaborne invasion in history. Operation OVERLORD, o en referred to simply as ‘D-Day’; a word that still to this day conjures up vivid images of courage, bravery and sacrifi ce, of pain and suff ering, of well-planned strategies played-out on the battlefi eld, of rapid improvisation, of achievement of military objectives, but also of loss of life.
ere are many well-written books on the subject of D-Day, and the events before and a er, therefore my aim here is to focus on the individuals behind the statistics; to look beyond the names engraved in stone in the cemeteries of North West Europe or the nominal rolls of the war diaries, and to attempt to discover who these men were, what they did before the dark days of war, and for the lucky ones, what they did a erwards, and what of those family and friends le behind – many would never see their loved-ones again.
is is the story of 84 Field Company RE from January 1944 to August 1945, and the journey which took the men from the shores of northern Scotland to the south coast of England, from the beaches of Normandy to the town of Uelzen in North-West Germany.
I have a particular interest in military history, and always have, but I certainly do not profess to be an expert on the subject, and for this reason I have tried to present the information as I fi nd it, with an analytical view where appropriate, but I have tried to present a document which is easy to read and understand, and not bogged-down with technical jargon or unnecessary detail.
It is my hope that this document can serve as an insight into what our fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, did during the 2nd World War, especially to those of us who have only recently begun to understand and appreciate the full extent of the sacrifi ces those men we knew, made.
is is dedicated to one of those men, my grandfather, Edward Albert Dyos.
In this edition, I have been able to add sappers Hawkins, Leisk and Sadler (the three from the famous D-Day Photograph) and sappers Maryan and Cooper. is edition also includes some general revisions and updates, including sadly the passing of Reginald Sparkes in 2015 and Fred Sadler in 2016, who I had the privilege to meet in November 2015.
Marc Dyos
1 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
In Memory of the Men of 84 Field Company RE who lost their lives during 1944-1945
Spr T.E. Aitken Spr J.F. McHugh 14528692 2127354 Spr B. Bagshaw Sjt D.F. Morse 3865593 2003610 L/Cpl L. Chancellor Spr J.W. Pirrie 2124871 2125394 Spr L.Cooper Spr S. T. Stevens 2123681 14379379 Spr R. Fulton Cpl J.C. Swatridge 2125419 2132664 Spr T Glass Lt J.P. Symon 14357477 226296 Spr R. McAlister Spr C. Wilkinson 2125383 14366349
Remembered with Honour
2 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Glossary of Terms
2IC Second in Command A Gp Army Group (eg 21 A Gp 21st Army Group) A tk Anti-Tank AA Anti-Aircra Armd armoured Br bridge, or sometimes brigade Brit British Capt Captain CO Commanding Officer Coy company CRE Commander, Royal Engineers Div division or divisional Eqpt equipment Fd field GHQ General Headquarters GOC General Officer Commanding Gp group HQ Headquarter(s) Hr hour Inf infantry IO Intelligence Officer L of C Line(s) of Communication LAA Light Anti-Aircra LCOCU Landing Cra Obstruction Clearance Unit Maint maintenance MMG Medium Machine Gun NCO Non-Commissioned Officer OC Officer Commanding Offr officer OR Other Ranks Pk park Pl platoon Pnr pioneer RE Royal Engineers Recce reconnaissance Regt regiment Sjt serjeant Spr sapper Sqn squadron Tk tank Tp troop
3 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Glossary of Terms
AVRE Beehive
Armoured Vehicle Royal Explosive charge used Engineers, is the title given to a against concrete series of armoured vehicles emplacements etc operated by the Royal E Engineers for the purpose of battlefield engineer support
FBE Tetrahedra
Folding Boat Cone-shaped obstacle Equipment used to made of steel create bridges
Hedgehogs Element ‘C’
Steel obstacle of three Massive steel wall channels bolted together
Stakes / Ramped Stakes LCT
Used as beach Landing Cra, Tank obstacles, oen with shells on top
Bangalores LCA
Explosive charge used Landing Cra, Assault against concrete emplacements etc
4 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Glossary of Terms
DD Tanks Fascine
Dual-drive Bundle of palings (amphibious) tanks carried on AVRE and dropped into anti-tank ditch to enable tank to cross
LCOCUs Flail
Landing Cra Obstacle Device for clearing a Clearing Units path through a minefield
Box Girder Bridge Tellermine
Bridge carried and laid ‘plate-mine’ – German by Churchill tanks anti-tank mine
Class 9 Bridge Crocodile
RE classification for Flame-throwing tank bridge that will support 9 tons
5 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
2nd World War Medals and Awards
1939 - 1945 Star Defence Medal
Arctic Star War Medal 1939 - 1945
Africa Star DSO Distinguished Service Order
Pacific Star MC Military Cross
Burma Star MM Military Medal
Italy Star BEM British Empire Medal
France and Germany Star Croix de Guerre
is is not an exhaustive list of medals or awards, but includes the typical medals and awards referred to in the story of 84 Field Company RE during 1944 - 1945. 6 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Glossary of Terms
WO2 CSM L/Cpl Company Serjeant Major aka Warrant Officer Class 2 Lance Corporal Usually acted as an advisor to the Major Sometimes supervised teams of 3 or 4 soldiers
Cpl Corporal WO1 RSM Usually the assistant to a Serjeant Regimental Serjeant Major aka Warrant Officer Class 1 Most senior of NCO ranks, usually advised their units commanding officer
Sjt Serjeant Commanded sections or were 2nd in command over a platoon 2 Lt Lt Second Lieutenant First Lieutenant First rank of all officers Usually in command on being commissioned of platoon or troop
S/Sjt CQMS Staff Serjeant Senior NCO position, usually had control over Capt Maj. resource management Captain Major 2nd in command of Usually in command a company of a company
All individuals are referred to by the rank held during the period; January 1944 - August 1945, however many went on to attain higher ranks and positions aer the war.
7 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
The Sappers, Drivers, and Offi cers of 84 Field Company Royal Engineers
8 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Driver Fred Bromley 1949198
Fred (le ) was a truck driver for the Royal Engineers. His lorry on D-Day was full of mine- detecting gear, used to help clear a safe path for the troops and supplies fl owing into Normandy.
Christopher writes; my grandad, Fred Bromley, was “You couldn’t tell them you didn’t want to go,” he not even 20 years old when he joined the 84th Chemical remarks, dryly. So 23-year-old Fred Bromley followed Weapons Company, Royal Engineers (later known as his orders and drove down the ramp. Cold water rushed 84 Field Company RE), in 1941. His experiences in into the cab and over his head. the Far East and Europe during World War II le him His truck had started to tip over in the deep water: “I unwilling to talk about the war until just a few years got in a shell hole - nobody told me it was there... I kept ago. my foot down. It straightened itself up and I came out.” On the morning of 6 June 1944 - D-Day - Fred Fred was a Royal Engineer attached to 5th Beach Bromley was the second man to drive down the ramp of Group. ese men could be identifi ed by the white his Landing Cra Tank (LCT) and onto Sword Beach - bands on their helmets and they were in charge of the eastern tip of the Allied invasion in Normandy. e Sword beach. ey cleared mines and obstacles, doors of Fred’s LCT were opened before they reached directed troops and vehicles and unloaded box a er the beach and he watched as the fi rst vehicle drove box of supplies from the landing cra . e more down the ramp and disappeared completely under experienced ones also taught fresh soldiers the rules of the water. He knew that if the driver took his foot off survival. the accelerator for a second, water would shoot up the “I said to my lads, ‘Look! Watch me and don’t ever exhaust and stall the engine. get in front of me.” “All of a sudden I saw this blue hat appear and they “You can walk up until [bullets] chop the sand at the came out. ey were still sat there. ey disappeared side of your feet. en you step back a couple of steps.” under the sea and just came out further up. at’s Fred spent more than a month living and working guts.” on Sword under constant threat of enemy fi re. He can I try to imagine what it must have been like, poised remember parking his lorry - full of mine-detecting at the top of that ramp in the early morning light equipment - behind a bungalow near the beach. From with the full racket of war blazing away around me, there he watched a nearby cornfi eld swaying in the sea wondering if I would even make it to the beach. breeze, before realising it was machine gun fi re cutting Would I have been able to do it? I don’t know. My through the crops, not wind. And then there were the grandad didn’t have a choice. big guns.
9 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Driver Fred Bromley
Fred (circled) is pictured here with other sappers of 84 Fd Coy RE, a few weeks aer D-Day.
Sword beach was the most exposed landing area to to try to out a new inflatable ramp for landing cra. enemy fire, with several German “strongpoints” to the ey became close friends. One day a German device south and, beyond the River Orne, the Merville Battery exploded under the professor’s vehicle when he clipped to the east. the edge of the safe path laid out by the Royal Engineers. “It used to shell the beach. It came out at a certain He was blown clear, but landed in the middle of a time - somewhere around teatime - and pounded the minefield. Fred was in the following truck. beach to hell. It nearly got me a time or two.” “I took my mine-detecting gear, strapped it on and One evening Fred was filling up some 45-gallon went over to the white line and fished my way to him... drums with water when he heard the familiar rushing He was conscious but bust to pieces. sound of an incoming shell. He dived behind a low “I got him over my back and fetched him back in the brick wall to take cover. same direction I’d come to make sure we’d be alright.” “I lay down flat in there and when I got up the back ese terrifying experiences are etched into my 83- of my truck looked like a big watering can - all the oil year-old grandad’s memory, yet he talks about them tins were leaking.” with humour and understatement. Sixty years ago, he ese sorts of experiences quickly became part of was one of two million men who took part in Operation daily life. D-Day has been immortalised as the “longest Overlord. ey faced the unimaginable and for them day”, but for those involved in the landings it went on a there is no need for hyperbole. lot longer than that. “You don’t forget anything like that - you wouldn’t. “e first fortnight you never got a wink of sleep,” You remember that for the rest of your life.” Fred says. “It’s alright people saying they weren’t frightened, He specialised in mine clearance, but the beaches were but if they weren’t they were bloody idiots - that’s all I the gateway for the troops and supplies feeding the growing can say.” Allied force in northern France and the work never “I was frightened to death. But you had to do it.” stopped. Unloading live shells from the LCTs was one of the Having attained the rank of corporal, Fred went on worst jobs - especially under enemy bombardment, which to become a farmer aer the war and ended up running Fred says was “a bit dangerous”, as was looking for German three farms in Lincolnshire. Aer retiring in 1988 he snipers in nearby woods. One objected to Fred trying to returned to his first interest - cabinet making, which spy him out with binoculars and took a shot which missed is what he was trained to do before the war. He was his ear by inches. He also unearthed more than 200 enemy remarkably skilled in restoring antiques and building soldiers holed up in a bunker. furniture. He died in Lincolnshire in 2010. “We let a round or two off above their heads to let them know who was in charge... ere was nothing very special in that - I just happened to be there at the right time.” Based on an article written in 2004 by journalist A week or so aer D-Day he was asked to look aer Christopher Sleight, talking to grandfather, Fred a civilian professor, who had arrived in Normandy Bromley, on the 60th anniversary of D-Day.
10 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Lance Corporal William Campbell MM 1921419
Awarded the Military Medal for his actions during the Normandy landings.
11 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Driver Leslie Dale BEM 1949184
Leslie Dale known by his friends and family as Les, was On 6th June 1944 D-Day he embarked on LCT(A) born in Kingston upon Hull on 3rd April 1921, the son 3150 with his colleagues, and headed for the Normandy of Harry Dale and Annie Sophia Kitching. A er leaving beaches. At 8:40am on 6th June 1944 84 Field Company, school as a young teenager, Leslie moved to Doncaster 5 Assault Regiment RE, landed at ‘Queen Red’ sector, in South Yorkshire to complete his apprenticeship as a Sword Beach near Hermanville and Lion-sur-Mer. mechanic. Leslie’s father 285 Staff Sergeant Harry Dale Driver Leslie Dale’s role was to assist in the clearing AVC had served in the British Army, Army Veterinary of the beaches (removal of mines, explosives and Corps before and during the First World War. On obstructions), building and management of essential 31st February 1941 aged 19 Leslie Dale enlisted into services (water supply and treatment) for the allied the British Army as Driver for the Corps of Royal troops on the beaches and drive support vehicles and Engineers (RE). On 12th May 1941 he married Bella equipment to the troops in the front line McCaw in Doncaster and they had three sons James With 84 Field Company, Les fi nally ended up Harry, Roy Alexander and David Leslie. stationed at Uelzen in North Western Germany, In 1941 he joined his regimental company, 84th rebuilding bridges and roadways which had been Chemical Warfare Company Royal Engineers, which later destroyed in the retreat of the German Army. in 1943 became 84th Field Company Royal Engineers. Driver Leslie Dale RE was awarded the British During May 1944, 84 Field Coy RE were stationed on the Empire Medal (BEM), e Medal of the Order of the south coast of England mustering for a large assault on the British Empire for Meritorious Service, for keeping Nazi controlled French coast. In June 1944 he took part in military vehicles moving while under extreme the allied military assault on France’s Normandy beaches. circumstances. News of his award was broken to him
12 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Driver Leslie Dale BEM
Sgt. Taylor to visit Cairo the capital city of Egypt. On 28th November 1946 he received an official letter from King George VI congratulating him on being awarded the British Empire Medal. on 2nd June 1945 by his Commanding Officer Lt. He retired from the army at the rank of Sergeant on Col. L. F. Heard, CBE RE. On the 21st June, 1945 the 7th August 1946 and volunteered for the army reserves London Gazette published King George VI approval of on 21st October 1946. He worked as a mechanic for the British Empire Medal (Military Division), awarded ‘Red Lion’ Taxis in Doncaster’s Market Place and in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in then as a salesman and mechanic for ‘Louis Greens’ North West Europe. Fruiterer. In 1967 he set up a family business ‘Les Dale In the latter part of 1945 he was posted to the Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Merchant’ with his wife Corps of Royal Engineers Training Department Bella and his two sons, Roy and David. He died at his at Port Said, Egypt, a large military port on the home in Dunsville on 9th August 1985. Mediterranean Sea near the Suez Canal. He was then promoted to Sergeant and on 25th January 1946 was Written by Leslie’s grandson, Andy Dale, who also served granted a 24 hour pass with his friends Sgt. Azoff and with e Royal Engineers. 13 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper John Dearlove 14331655
In January 2015 I was contacted by John, a er before being transferred to Lossiemouth, where wet he had seen the photo of 1 Platoon in Uelzen on the landing exercises took place on Burghead Beaches. ww2talk.com forum, and I had the honour and the A er a short period in Keith, 84 Fd Coy RE moved pleasure of speaking with John, aged 92, and living in south to Cowplain, Waterlooville, and on 3rd June Trieste, Italy: 1944 they headed to the old fl oating bridge site at John Andrew Dearlove was born in Hook, Gosport, Hants where John and 84 Fd Coy RE boarded Hampshire, on 9th September 1922. A er leaving school their LCTs. at the age of 14, he spent a couple of years working as John was part of the beach ‘exit team’ on D-Day, a mechanic’s assistant, until January 1939 when John which also included Sappers Jimmy Leisk, Cyril became an apprentice at ‘John I orneycro ’ of Hawkins, Fred `Sammy` Sadler, Freddie Haste, Ray Basingstoke, who manufactured lorries, Bren-carriers, Ellis, and Lance Corporal George Drummond. It was and Depth-Charge- rowers for the Royal Navy. this particular beach exit team that was captured in the On 5th November 1939 John was called up to famous photograph of D-Day, in which Sappers Leisk, Fulwood Barracks in Preston, and was subsequently Hawkins, and Sadler appear. transferred to 1 Training Battalion RE at Clitheroe, John recalls “On the night of D Day I snatched a Lancs, in December 1939, however before he could few hours’ sleep under the trailer we brought ashore start his RE Training he was taken to Calderstones with us, but on D+1 we searched for more comfortable EMS Hospital in Whalley, Lancs, and returned to accommodation. e house (shown in the photo in 1 TBRE about 4 months later to complete his RE present day) is a few yards from where we landed and has Training. is was followed by 4 Weeks Intensive a semi-sunken garage which provided protection. e Physical Training with 250 Fd Coy, in Brundle, near house still exists today. I visited it with my wife in 1985” Norwich. A er a few days at the Halifax Depot he Moving through Belgium and Holland during 1944- arrived in Girvan, Scotland and joined 84 Fd Coy RE. 45, John remembers how they jokingly became known Training in Ayreshire, was followed by exercise at as “84 Pot-Holing Company” due to the nature of Gullane near Edinburgh, then returning to Girvan works they were repeatedly carrying out. He also recalls 14 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper John Dearlove
Reg`Ned` Sparkes, who was also part of 1 Platoon, Although made redundant in 1960, John continued “when we found a live pig in Germany ‘Ned’ showed his working at the same location in Tidworth, but moved prowess and we had fresh pork for a pleasant change”. to the Garrison Engineers Office where he worked John remained in the army, and in 1946 attained the until 1964. rank of Staff Serjeant, and was posted to Italy. It was In April 1964, John and his family relocated to there he met Adele Cendach, and in 1951 they returned Aldershot, where they bought a house on the Farnham/ to England, and were married on 12th October that year. Aldershot border, and John worked as part of the site Adele already had one daughter who was born in 1947. supervision team on the Aldershot Military Power On 29th December 1952, having recently attained Station project. He remained there as an engineer for 22 the rank of Warrant Officer II, John was posted to years on shi-work, until he reached retirement age in Singapore for 3 years, joined by his wife Adele, and 1986. He then continued with agency work, working at their daughter. Whilst based in Singapore, John and a project in Farnborough until September 1988, when Adele’s son, Michael John was born in 1953. he retired. Aer returning from Singapore in 1956, John was John and Adele then made the decision to move greeted by the news that he had been awarded the rank to Trieste in 1989, as Adele had family living there, of Warrant Officer I, and was stationed in Salisbury, and although Adele sadly passed away in 2009, John Devizes, and Tidworth. remained in Trieste.
15 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Edward Albert Dyos 1856774
Edward Albert Dyos, ‘Ted’, was born in Chertsey, A er landing in France with the BEF in 1939, he was Surrey, on 28th April 1903, where he grew-up alongside evacuated from Dunkirk in May 1940 when the British his two brothers, two sisters, and two step-brothers. Both and French armies were pushed into a hasty retreat from of his step-brothers were to serve during the 1st World the advancing German army. War, with one killed in 1915, and the other discharged A er extensive training and preparation in various due to shell-shock in 1916. One of his brothers also locations throughout Britain, 17th Field Company RE, served in the fi nal few months of the 1st World War. as part of the 3rd British Infantry Division ‘Monty’s In 1919 Ted joined the army at the age of 16, and was Ironsides’, were eventually earmarked for the assault on enlisted into the Royal Engineers. Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, Operation Overlord in June 1944. He was based at Aldershot, where he was awarded On 6th June 1944 (D-Day) he landed on Sword both his 3rd Class and 2nd Class certifi cates. Beach, with 17th Field Company RE, and on 12th June In 1921 he was posted to Turkey with 55 Field was posted to 84 Field Company RE, and remained with Company RE, returning to the UK in 1923. them through France, Belgium, e Netherlands, ending He married Louisa Olivia Eliza Bethell on 17th January up in Uelzen, Germany in May 1945. 1931, and their fi rst child, Daphne in September of that Edward Albert Dyos lived in Coulsdon, Surrey, until year. In 1933 they had another daughter, June Olivia, and 1999, where he died a month before his 96th birthday. then in 1937 a son, Leslie Edward. His wife Louisa ‘Lou-Lou’ had passed away two years Ted remained in the reserves until 1939, when he was before, at the age of 95. mobilised and posted to 17th Field Company RE at the He rarely spoke about his time in the army, apart outbreak of the 2nd World War. from the occasional phrase in Turkish or French which
16 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Edward Albert Dyos
he had remembered from his time there with the British always been led to believe that he remained in England army, or recalling the names of the horses he looked aer aer evacuation from Dunkirk. whilst based at Aldershot. Upon his discharge from the army at the end of the war, In fact, it wasn’t until late 2012 when we learned that he was described as a ‘keen, honest, and reliable soldier’. he had returned to mainland Europe in 1944, as we had
17 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Sapper Leonard Eden 14243767 Sapper Robert Eden 14657252
Len and Bob Eden were brothers from New Southgate scene quite upsetting. in London. Len was born in February 1923, and Bob in Other recollections include mine-sweeping with the October 1924. eir father John was a grocer, and before assistance of dogs, including a three legged Labrador! the war Len and Bob worked with him in the family Len and Bob Eden were good mates with Sapper grocery business. Len also worked as a carpenter and Ronnie Maryan of 84 Fd Coy RE (seen here in uniform joiner, and had an apprenticeship as a cricket-bat maker. boxing with Bob Eden at Rhine Camp in 1946). Ronnie Len Eden enlisted and was posted to 84 Field Maryan went on to join E&M (Electrical & Mechanical) Company RE, and according to Len’s son, John, Len was Platoon, 627 Army Troops RE BAOR. Later in life, Bob then able to request that his brother Bob be posted to the described Ronnie as “… a bit of a lad; good sense of same regiment, as Len had enlisted rather than being humour. Always wore his cap right back…” Ronnie is conscripted. Bob enlisted in July 1943, and was then also shown in the group photo shown here with Bob posted to 84 Fd Coy RE in January 1944. and Len (le to right Len, Bob, Ronnie, and Sapper Jack On D-Day, Len and Bob were in the same landing Fletcher). cra , landing at Sword Beach at around H+20, and e photograph of Bob Eden standing by a tree immediately witnessed their platoon offi cer Lt Symon in 1945 was taken in the garden of a house in Celle (226296) being shot as soon as the front dropped down where in June of that year, he had been reprimanded for on their landing cra . Len and Bob waded in from “obtaining a brown suit belonging to a German civilian the cra , and when they reached the beach Len was and gave it to a Pole.” Bob later explained that he had temporarily blinded by a blast of sand in his face when broken into a house to fi nd clothes for a destitute Polish a shell exploded nearby. Bob grabbed him and they ran family, survivors from the then recently liberated Bergen to a crater where they managed to wash Len’s eyes out. Belsen camp, but had been “…done (by the Military When the beach was secured, the Company remained Police) for passing clothes to Belsen children”, and was there for six weeks, creating and maintaining the exits, confi ned. According to Bob, the OC had him released before moving off . when he was made aware of the circumstances, but still As they moved through the regained areas, Len and fi ned Bob three-day’s pay. e mother of the Polish Bob recalled fi nding a road blocked with dead and dying family was upset at Bob’s arrest, having “…got him into German artillery horses, still attached to whatever they’d trouble”. Apparently she made enquiries and found out been hitched. e column had been strafed and halted where Bob was billeted, and gave him a small ladies’ with aircra fi re. Len was minded of his father’s horse pocket watch as a keep-sake. In the summer of 2004, and cart, working with other family members collecting Bob showed the watch to his son Bob, which he had kept fruit and veg from the London markets, and found the in a bundle of his things in a fi reside cupboard for forty
18 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Leonard Eden Sapper Robert Eden
years. No-one in the family had known of it before then, back, 3rd from le ). Sadly Bill Bristow died at a relatively and clearly it was a very important memento of the war. young age, so his son Jim knew very little about his Bob’s son still has ‘the Belsen watch’. father’s experiences during the war. Bob found himself on a charge again in March 1946 Len married Lillian Moody and they had three whilst serving with 274 Fd Coy RE, for “Riding a War children; Tony in 1955, Graham in 1957, and John in Department motorcycle without a Works Ticket and 1960. According to his son John, Len only ever talked not wearing a Crash Helmet” and “Carrying a German about the war when he saw political parties on the Civilian passenger without due authority”. He was fi ned television or heard them on the radio, he’d say “none of 5 day’s pay. Bob is pictured here on a motorcycle on the them should be allowed to become too powerful...ever le of the photograph next to a fellow dispatch rider. again “. Len passed away in 1998 at the age of 75. Bob was released to the reserves in October 1947. When Bob passed away in August 2004, his son, Bob ankfully both brothers having survived the war, Len requested of the undertakers that his ashes not be sieved, and Bob worked in the building trade, and then in the as he knew a piece of shrapnel had remained from when 1950s Bob set up his own garage business. his father was “Wounded Remaining at Duty”, when a Bob married Wynne in 1955, who had a daughter, shell hit a building in which Bob was taking cover in Barbara. Bob and Wynne then had two sons, Robert in July 1944. He was hit in the backside with the shrapnel 1958 and Chris in 1964. from the exploding roof tiles, and now there is a shard of By sheer coincidence, many years later, Bob’s son, Normandy buried with his ashes at All Saints Church, in Bob, discovered that he was working alongside the son of Ellington, Cambridgeshire. Sapper Bill Bristow (14327698) who also served in 84 Fd Both Len’s son John, and Bob’s son, Bob, returned to Coy RE. He is in the Company Photo taken at Uelzen at the beaches of Normandy for the 70th anniversary of D- the end of the war (6th row back, 3rd from le ), and the Day in June 2014. photograph of 1 Platoon also taken at Uelzen (2nd row
19 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Lance Serjeant F G Ford 2032415
Statement by L/Sjt Ford of 84 Field Coy RE on the The only building that could have suited this discovery and arrest of a suspect of the “Paris Zeitung”: purpose was called “L’ Syclamens”. On examining closely through my binoculars I thought I saw a dark ‘I landed the coast of Normandy at Lion Sur Mer at mark on the highest shutter which might have been 0730 hrs on Tuesday 6th June 1944 as a reconnaissance powder burns. There was little I could do at that Serjeant of an RE Platoon. moment except to determine to watch the occupants After fighting our way off the beach my job was as closely as possible. The occupant turned out to be to go forward and recce the village of Hermanville. an attractive young woman of about 30 years of age. In due course my Platoon established a water She was always conspicuous by her black clothes. point and moved into the village. I had a habit of I struck up a conversation one day and to my surprise taking a walk around the village just before dark she spoke quite good English, and called herself Mlle every evening, as frequently I had heard stray Jacqueline. She did not like the British. I thought it was shots from what must have been snipers. It was high time we put the “skids” under Jacqueline. my ambition to “get me a sniper” I eventually “got Three evenings later, about D+17 I found her myself two snipers”. trespassing on WD property, and on searching an One fine evening, about D+10 I wandered round outhouse nearby which I was continually using, I the corner of an orchard and came across a party of found a small but deadly little Mauser automatic. men carrying a wounded Military Policeman away I notified the Provost Marshall and we from his post, he had been wounded in the thigh. immediately took her in for interrogation. She I established myself in his post with the object of admitted to the Field Security Police that she did not observing the buildings. A number of buildings like the British as her sister was killed in an air raid could be seen above the wall and the trees of the whilst sleeping with the German Commandant. orchard. As the M.P was wounded low in the thigh Whether she was the sniper I do not know as I came to the conclusion that the building from with the entry of the Intelligence Department I which the shot came must be quite a high one. passed out of the picture.’
20 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Major Jocelyn James Douglas Groves MC 47724
James Jocelyn Douglas Groves, ‘Jim’ was born in and disciplinarian, always getting the best out of the men Lincolnshire in 1909. He emigrated with his family to under his command. British Columbia in 1912, returning to England in 1916 In 1934 he was posted to Gosport, where he was to so that his father, Captain J. Douglas Groves, could serve meet him future wife. ey married in 1937 but Jim in his old Yeomanry Regiment. In 1919 they returned to was almost immediately posted to Singapore, where he Canada, and the environment in which Jim was brought became a Garrison Engineer, supervising the building up there did much to develop the adventuresome and bold of Alexandria Military Hospital, the school, and some characteristics which distinguished him in later life. Offi cers’ Quarters. In 1920 Jim attended Shawnigan Lake School, He had a distinguished war career, fi rst in the Far East, Vancouver Island. e rough and ready life developed in then later in Europe. He was awarded the Military Cross Jim something of initiative and resourcefulness. When he for his actions during the crossing of the Rhine with 84 le Shawnigan in 1926, he had been Head Prefect for two Field Company RE in 1945. years, Captain of the soccer team, and had never lost a A er the war he was posted to the Burma and Malaya, fi ght in the boxing ring. having gained the rank of Colonel, but le the army in He entered the R.M.C of Canada in 1926, where he 1953, bought a farm in Hampshire, and became a Director represented the college for four years on the soccer team, of the family brewery; Groves & Whitnell, in Salford. He the cross-country running team, and won numerous continued this happy life of farming, hunting, and fi shing, boxing titles. He was in the rifl e and resolver teams, until his health declined, and he passed away in 1985. and was a good horseman. Upon graduation, he took a Founded in September 1927, Groves’ House at commission in the Royal Engineers. Shawnigan Lake School, was named a er Jocelyn James Jim was well suited to army life, and enjoyed it Douglas Groves, its fi rst Head of House. immensely. He was reported as having a strong character, considerable moral and physical courage, that he was Based on the obituary of Colonel James Jocelyn Douglas Groves diligent and hard-working, and that he was a good leader
21 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Major Jocelyn James Douglas Groves MC
22 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Major Jocelyn James Douglas Groves MC
23 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Major Jocelyn James Douglas Groves MC
24 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Cyril Gordon Hawkins 14386402
Cyril Gordon Hawkins was born on 14th March – General Drapers”, selling dresses, baby wear, wool and 1909 in Bathford, Somerset. Cyril’s father died in 1935, haberdashery and had several fl ats above the store which and later that year Cyril married Ada Wilfreda Daniells she rented to local nurses. (known as Freda). Freda had lived in Widdecombe ey then retired in Bath, but it was Cyril’s poor Crescent in Bath for many years when she met Cyril. health that eventually led them to relocate to Exmouth, Cyril and Freda had one daughter Mary, born in 1937. Devon in about 1985. Exmouth was a town they were A er the war Cyril ran a building business and at one very familiar with, as they had enjoyed many holidays time split their Bath house into two houses, meanwhile in their holiday chalet in Exmouth. Freda thought the Freda saw a business premises for sale in Chelsea Road, sea air would do Cyril good, and their daughter Mary Bath and a er approaching the bank with a business plan had already moved to Exmouth. was soon set up as the owner of her own shop with smart Cyril passed away in 1993, and his wife Freda script lettering above the door stating “A.W.Hawkins in 2007.
25 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Lieutenant Sidney Percy Lakin MC 261488
Awarded the Military Cross for his actions during the crossing of the Rhine river.
26 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Harry J Langley 5730302
Sapper Harry Langley was raised in Ealing/ was the almost constant fl ow of fi eld ambulances, Brentford in West London. He was called up in jeeps and trucks – the trucks carrying those who had 1939 at the outbreak of war. On 6th June 1994, 50 given their all. years a er D-day, Harry returned to Normandy for a It was strange that this unit was called a Field remembrance service; Dressing Station, and yet operations were being carried “I suppose you might imagine the invasion like out as if in a London hospital. At one time, while at it’s shown in the fi lms – ramps down, a dash up the the Field Dressing Station, I had a raging toothache beach, all guns blazing. Reality was far from it; just and asked a corporal I knew if he had something for sea-sickness, utter fear and confusion, seeking our the pain, feeling rather small in the midst of so much rendezvous to carry out our pre-arranged duties. suff ering. He directed me to a small tent that was dug ese included clearing mines and making exits in like the others. inking I could get a tablet or through the sand dunes. I came in with my company something as a relief, I opened the fl aps of the tent and – 84 Field Company, RE, No 6 Beach Group – on behold – a dentist’s chair and a dental offi cer behind a Sword beach. Our section corporal was Bob Shaw, a table lit by a gas lamp. In a few moments the off ending ‘demon barber’ from Edinburgh. We fi nally made it off molar was out. What organisation! the beach to Hermanville-sur-Mer, to the Mare Saint On passing back through the lines to my own, it Pierre church. At this small place, not far from the was brew-up time and I noticed a queue had formed, beach, I found comradeship, courage and dedication, including some German soldiers. I learned that a and saw pain and suff ering. German medical unit had been captured and had Across the road from the church was a small volunteered to stay and assist. e German offi cers orchard and to the le ran a lane alongside the orchard worked alongside the British offi cers, carrying out that led to a fi eld at the top, adjoining a small wood. In endless operations until they passed eventually to the fi eld a Field Dressing Station (the 21st) was dug in. POW camps. Penicillin was being used, which was e tents, etc, were dug in three to four feet deep. hailed as magic. Our task was to set up a water supply unit, as pure Outside the tents the lines of blanket shrouds water was so important at this stage. A passing tank grew (this was the true cost of war), and were being obliged by fl attening the concrete posts and fencing carried almost continuously by the medics and round the orchard. Fox holes were dug and our water pioneers to a clearing in the small wood where they fi ltering unit trailer was moved into position. A were laid to rest. scaff old tower was erected to carry three large canvas At our water unit we continued to pump and supply water tanks at three levels. e top of the well was water. Occasionally we came under shellfi re from Le blown and we were in business. Very soon we had Havre. On one occasion we heard the whine of a shell water trucks queuing as one would queue for petrol. and immediately dived to the ground (several of us We were in contact with the Medical Station for in one heap). On looking around when we got up, our supplies of fi ltering chemicals, etc, and for them to it was found that our truck driver was beyond help, check the supply of water. Up the adjoining lane there and at that moment one of our chaps emerged from
27 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Harry J Langley
the shattered latrine, doing his belt up and saying Along the way we often saw the 21 Field thankfully, ‘ey missed me, they missed me!’ e Dressing Station sign, by now occupying toilet was made up of hessian sackcloth and stakes, buildings and hospitals. which were in pieces and shreds. In Normandy our small orchard is still there. As the front began to move on aer Caen was e field is cultivated and the little wood is now captured, we moved on and on, to bridge and cross Hermanville cemetery, neat and quiet, with rows of many rivers – the Seine, the Maas, the Weser and the headstones, more than a thousand of them.” Rhine, and then on to Hanover.
28 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 James ‘Jimmy’ Leisk 14246780
James ‘Jimmy’ Leisk was born 25th February 1911 that the soldier immediately ahead of him was to James and Janet Leisk. Jimmy’s sister, Jane was born carrying a Bren gun and, being of low stature, had in 1908. e family were from Sandwick in Shetland, difficulty keeping his head above water. Jimmy where Jimmy’s father owned a building company. hooked his rifle under the poor fellow’s back and Jimmy married Jemima Jamieson on 16th assisted him ashore. February 1938, and their first daughter, Jessamine Whilst overseas during the war, Jimmy would was born in December of that year. o en send postcards to his family, and even sent During the D-Day landings, a photograph of Jessamine a large doll from Brussels for her birthday. Jimmy was to become a lasting image of the events, After the war, Jimmy returned to Sandwick, and in what was one of the most famous images of the he and his wife had a second daughter, Sylvia, born war. The photograph was published in one of the in 1947. Jimmy continued working as a joiner for daily newspapers a few days after the landings, and the family business, later taking over the business eventually reached the troops in France. Jimmy’s following the death of his father in 1957. He daughter Jessamine explains “someone recognised employed two joiners and two handymen. Jessamine my dad, and he ordered a copy. I still have that recalls “I remember him telling me one day that he original copy which he took home with him.” had a new employee. It turned out to be ‘Henry Lees’ Jessamine remembers her father saying that just – a brand new concrete mixer, which was some asset before they disembarked from the landing craft, in the 1950s instead of mixing by hand.” the gangway was hit and destroyed by enemy fire Sadly Jimmy passed away at the age of 69 on 18th and they had to use another one. He also recalled November 1980.
Information and photographs supplied by Jimmy’s daughter, Jessamine Goudie (Dec 2015) 29 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 James ‘Jimmy’ Leisk
30 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Ronald Maryan 1876713
Ronald Henry Maryan was born 24th March 1924, career spent time in Berlin, Osnabruck, Chatham, in East London. He married Stella James in Portsmouth and Wiltshire. He also did a tour of Cyprus during the in 1944, shortly before he was due to take part in the EOKA troubles in 1954-6, where he was in charge of Normandy landings. eir fi rst child, Ian, was born building the British Military Hospital at Dhekelia. Dur- in 1945, and they had a further four children; Julie in ing this time Ronald and family lived in Famagusta, 1950, followed by twins Nigel and Trevor in 1954, and with son Ian attending the Famagusta Military School later Philip in 1965. and passing his 11+ whilst there. Ronald remained in the army a er the war, rising to Ronald’s son, Ian, and his grandson Simon also the rank of WO2. At the end of the war he was posted served in the British armed forces. to E&M (Electrical & Mechanical) Platoon, 627 Army Ronald passed away at the age of 83, in Troops RE BAOR, and during his subsequent army March 2007.
Photographs and information supplied by Ian Maryan
31 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Ronald Maryan
32 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Captain Ernest Frederick Nicolay MC 236537
Ernest Frederick Nicolay was born in Hong Kong As 2IC with 84 Fd Coy RE, Captain Nicolay was on 5th September 1911, the son of Charles Frederick part of the Rhine crossing operation of March 1945, and Elizabeth. When Ernest was just two years of age, earning a Military Cross for his actions during the Ernest and his mother le Hong Kong, and arrived in operation, described as “personally responsible London in April 1914. for the organisation and direction of the engineer Ernest was part of the British Army campaign in work entailed in establishing embarkation and Waziristan between 1936-39 (where the photo was disembarkation points for the amphibious cra ” in taken of Ernest dressed like a soldier of the Indian the MC recommendation, which also describes his Army), however Ernest was an engineer by trade, and “devotion to duty”, stating that by “exposing himself following his return to England, he soon departed for continually to the small arms fi re and mortar fi re Nigeria in May 1939 at the age of 27, to continue his which raked the beach” Captain Nicolay “inspired and trade overseas. It was in Lokoja, Nigeria that Ernest was encouraged his men in their hazardous task”. to marry Joan Barbara Quinton in 1939. On the 25th June 1945, Captain Nicolay was posted ey returned to England during the 2nd World to 184 Field Company RE, and fi nished the war at the War, and had two children: Karen Jane in 1944, and rank of Major. Charles Frederick in 1946. A er the war, Major Nicolay continued his Ernest served with the British Army during the 2nd occupation as an engineer, working on civil engineering World War, as part of the Royal Engineers. A er serving projects overseas including building a cement factory in other regiments, he was posted to 84 Field Company in Tororo, Uganda, and establishing a pipeline from RE in January 1945 at the rank of Captain, reporting for Mzima Springs to Mombasa in Kenya, to supply the duty as 2IC (2nd in command) on 27th January 1945. town with fresh water. 33 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Captain Ernest Frederick Nicolay MC
Upon his return to the UK he worked to construct a all the world’s sailing cra from ‘square rigged ships’ to dry dock in Newport, South Wales, before finishing his his own 120 year-old sailing fishing smack. career as resident engineer with London Transport for Ernest Nicolay passed away in Norfolk in 1998 at the on completion of the Victoria Line. age of 87. Ernest was also a lifelong and very accomplished sailor, with a very keen interest and great knowledge of Information and photographs supplied by Ernest’s son, Charles Nicolay.
34 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Bill Pryde 2150907
Ledbury Reporter, Herefordshire, Monday 14th June 2004; copy of the picture. Unfortunately, what they were able to send wasn’t a big improvement on Bill’s cutting, Bill Pryde served as a sapper with the 84th Field so the quest began to track down a clearer image. e Company, Royal Engineers and boarded a landing trail led, via an internet search, to a book packager in cra at 1am on June 4. But 10 miles from the French North London, Atlantic Publishing, where Greg Hill coast a signal was received ordering them back. “When also agreed to help and sent a copy of the book, D-Day we fi nally got off the cra it was still in three feet of to Victory, published for Marks & Spencer in 2002, in water, up to our chests. We could not have got any which the photograph had been used. anks to the more soaked as there was no shelter on the cra . With marvels of modern technology a larger, crisper copy the stormy weather it was sheer hell. “ ere was more of the 60-year old image of a momentous moment in danger of drowning than there was from mines,” he Bill’s life and in the progress of the Second World War recalls. “It was 05.45 on June 6, a time and date I will emerged, and the framed picture presented to him. never forget. “We were on that beach for six weeks, Bill had long been aware of the photograph, taken, he a sitting target from Ouistreham on our le fl ank believes, by a News Chronicle photographer who was night and day. When the fl oating Mulberry Harbours on the landing cra . “We saw the photograph in the arrived, our job was done and we fi nally moved off the paper the next day,” he says. beach. I would not like to go through that again.” Over the years, Bill has tried to discover what became When the Hereford Times published a request of his companions on Sword beach that morning for veterans to get in touch, Bill responded with his - Jimmy Leisk, in the foreground, who was from the recollections of D-Day. Accompanying his hand- Shetland Isles, Fred Sadler, seen in profi le also in the written story was a newspaper cutting of a letter, foreground, from Yorkshire, and Cyril Hawkins. Bill entirely unrelated to Bill, written to the Daily Mail. has rarely spoken of his wartime experiences. “ ere e photograph illustrating the letter, however, was are probably plenty of people in Hereford (where he of great interest to him - in it, Bill found himself and has lived for more than 40 years) who don’t even know several comrades. A call from the Hereford Times I was in the Army. I never talk about it.” e fear of that to the Daily Mail led to a syndication agency who morning has stayed with Bill and it’s not an experience happily sent the image from their library believing, as he would wish on anyone. “I wouldn’t let my son go,” he the Hereford Times did, that Bill should have a better says emphatically. Bill Pryde died in 2006.
35 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Serjeant John Edward Ringrose BEM 2138678
Awarded the British Empire Medal for his actions during the crossing of the Seine river.
36 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Captain Dimitri Ruperti 176544
According to the 84 Fd Coy RE War Diaries, Fd Coy RE on Sword Beach, Queen Red, at H+20, Captain Ruperti was attached to 84 Fd Coy RE prior to although according to the Nominal Roll, his LCT the D-Day landings, and gave talks to the unit on the was due to land at H+45. Sicily and Italy landings of 1943. is perhaps suggests His medal recommendation states that he that Capt Ruperti was involved in these operations in worked as part of the groups organising the exits 1943, however at present I have very little information from the beaches, and was awarded the Croix de on Capt Ruperti, and have been attempting to contact a Guerre with Vermilian Star, for his actions during relative of his. erefore I also do not know whether he the D-Day landings, personally crossing minefields remained with 84 Fd Coy RE, and if so for how long, as numerous times, amidst heavy shelling and mortar he is listed with 18 GHQ Troops Engineers. fire. He also assisted in putting an enemy mortar The 84 Fd Coy RE Nominal Roll for the D-Day out of action. landings suggests that Capt Ruperti landed with 84
37 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Lance Corporal Herbert Sandell 2138865
Herbert Sandell was born 9th April 1914 in North In May 1941, Hebert was posted to 284 Field Ormesby, Middlesbrough. A carpenter/joiner by trade, Company RE, and was later posted to 13 Field Squadron he married May Gibson in 1936, and two years later RE. In June 1943 he was posted to 84 Field Company they had their fi rst child, David. RE, and remained with them until the end of the war. At the outbreak of the war, Herbert joined the civil A er landing with 84 Field Company RE on Sword defence, and later the army in January 1941, when he Beach on D-Day, Herbert was given the rank of Lance was posted to 3rd Training Battalion in Rippon. Corporal on June 12th 1944. In March 1941, Herbert and his wife had their In July 1945 Herbert was posted to 184 Field Company second child, Mabel. RE and embarked for the UK on 23rd July 1945. In March 1946 he was posted to 250 Field Company RE until August 1946, when he was released to the reserves. A er the war Herbert returned to his job working for a local builder. He became a leader in the local Scouts and was a member of the Methodist church. Sadly Herbert died on 22nd June 1966 at the age of just 52. He rarely talked about his wartime experiences.
Information and photographs supplied by Herbert’s granddaughter, Linda Patterson.
38 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Fred Sadler 2126663
Fred Sadler was born in 1919, and grew up in Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston near Reading, Ripon, Yorkshire as part of a large family. He trained where he remained for 14 years, before becoming a and worked as a bricklayer until he was called up in self-employed builder. eir second daughter, Janet 1940 at age 20, and went on to be stationed at a farm was born in 1948. just outside Overton. Whilst there during Christmas In 1955 Fred and Kathleen bought a plot of land 1941, Fred met Kathleen in the local pub and they in the village so that Fred could build a home for were married in October 1942. Their first daughter, them in his spare time. A er their daughter Tina was Tina was born in September 1943, and soon after, married in 1962, Fred also built a home for Tina and Fred was posted to Scotland to prepare for the her husband, and also later rebuilt and refurbished Normandy landings. a property for their younger daughter Janet in 1976 On D-Day, Fred was captured on camera alongside despite still working full-time. Cyril Hawkins and Jimmy Leisk, in the famous Despite Fred working so hard, he and Kathleen photograph taken on Sword Beach. enjoyed many holidays over the years, travelling in A er the war Fred was posted to the Middle East, their caravan throughout England and Scotland. including Gaza, until demobilisation in 1946. Fred In November 2015 Fred was honoured as a Chevalier then worked for a local building fi rm, until around de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of 1948 when he went to work at e Atomic Weapons Honour) by the French government, for his eff orts
39 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Fred Sadler
his efforts during the Second World War, which I was liberation of France during the Second World War. As privileged to attend and meet Fred and his family. e we contemplate this Europe of peace, we must never letter by the French government thanked him for his forget the heroes like you who came from Britain and involvement in the liberation of France, saying: “I have the Commonwealth to begin the liberation of Europe the pleasure of informing you that the president of the by liberating France.” Republic has appointed you to the rank of Chevalier Fred and Kathleen had been married for over 73 in the Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur. I years, until Fred passed away in March 2016, at the age offer you my warmest congratulations on this high of 96. honour in recognition of your acknowledged military engagement and your steadfast involvement in the Information supplied by Fred’s wife Kathleen
40 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper J E Simpson 2150907
“Experiences with 84 Fd Coy in 101 Beach Sub Area” The first sapper I found told me the bad news from the Royal Engineers Battlefi eld Tour. that my platoon officer had been killed very soon after he left the LCA. However everything was well “My company was chosen for beach work in the very under control, and Sejeant WEBBER, the platoon early stages of invasion training, and we trained in all serjeant, was in command. He was busy sweeping the well-known camps in SCOTLAND and elsewhere. more while the early exits were being laid with Eventually we moved into camp in our concentration area Sommerfeld track. near PORTSMOUTH, and awaited the fi nal command. I was platoon DR, but had not much riding to do On 2 June I embarked on a LCT at GOSPORT, and at with the beach being so compact, so I went to work midday we moved round to NEWHAVEN. with the section to which I belonged before I took During the evening of 5 Jun the Captain of the ship to despatch riding. It was now after midday and the told us that next morning we should be doing our task platoon had had quite a number of casualties. Shell on the NORMANDY beach. I was in possession of the fire from the extreme left flank was getting pretty “secret” envelope containing orders for myself and the regular. It seemed to come from guns across the other sappers on board, and I could now take a look at R ORNE, and also from much heavier artillery on them, so I opened the envelope and there were all the the coast to the East. The flashes of the guns could maps and information I needed. be seen quite plainly against the dark background I was due to land at H plus 150 minutes, but for some of the hills. Most of the casualties, however, were unknown reason I was landed at H plus75 minutes. caused by mines. However I was only too glad to set foot on solid ground I must not omit to mention two members of 84 Fd again, and take my chance with the others. I landed Coy who will always live in my memory of the beaches. in QUEEN sector. e beach was well afl ame with e fi rst was my OC, Major SMITH, who was a shining everything and a number of dead were lying around. example to the company, always active and always I set off to fi nd my comrades who had landed before cheerful. e second is Lance Corporal CAMPBELL, me. ey had the job of fi nding suitable exits from the who dragged a beach barrow full of explosives up the beach to the coast road that ran quite close to the sea at beach under heavy machine gun fi re. He was later that point, directly behind COLLEVILLE SUR ORNE. decorated with the MM.”
41 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Reginald Major Sparkes 14522025
At the time of writing, he is now 90 years old. He has In the run up to D-Day, Sapper R M Sparkes was enjoyed looking at the Company photos remembering stationed near Southampton. There he remembers some platoon members names and civilian jobs. As we taking a train to Portsmouth with Sapper Tommy were growing up he always told us that during the war Aitken to rendezvous with Tommy’s brother who he built Bailey bridges. He taught us to count from 1 was serving in the navy there. A few days before to 10 in German and said “avez vous dix oeuf” as he leaving for Normandy from Gosport he needed needed to say this to get eggs from the farms in France. urgent dental treatment. He was taken under guard Reginald Major Sparkes was born in Wainstalls, as he had already been told that they were soon to Halifax, on 6th August 1924. He was working be mobilised and this fact was secret information. at Ratcliff e & Son Blanket Factory in nearby He sent a letter to his wife with a one kiss ending, Mytholmroyd when he was called up at the age of 18 which was the code for her to know that he was to in January 1943. He was sent a rail pass along with two be going abroad. other young men from Wainstalls village. ey began He was in the first wave to land on D-Day landing their war in Richmond, North Yorkshire. First he was at H+45. He has said little about the actual landing sent to join the Royal Engineers in Chatham, Kent, except to say that, “If anyone says that we weren’t and in March 1943 he married Edith Emily Mitchell, scared then that’s a lie”. also from Wainstalls village. On the 84 Fd Coy RE D- Day Roll you can see that In July 1943 he was to join 84 Field Coy, where he he landed with his friends Sapper Newsome, Sapper spent time in Girvan, Scotland, preparing for D-Day in Bowness, Sapper George Franklin and Sapper Tommy 1 Platoon, 84 Field Company RE. Aitken. A sniper was to shoot Sapper Tommy Aitken
42 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Reginald Major Sparkes
on the beach as he walked between George Franklin Once across the Rhine Sapper Sparkes was and someone he calls Sapper Jack. fortunate enough to draw the no 10 out of the raffle While at Lion-sur-Mer, he along with others lived in draw for home leave, so number 10 remains his a basement garage on the seafront. He helped prepare lucky number. the beach for supplies and troops coming in, until that He continued through Germany to Uelzen, and when sector of the beach was no longer needed, when the 84 Fd Coy RE disbanded in 1945, he spent a further two Mulberry harbours were built at Arromanche. years in Hamburg with 53 Infantry Division. When he He has been back to Normandy many times, wanting returned home he continued in the textile trade as a to see the resting place of Sapper Tommy Aitken and worsted overlooker, until his retirement. Sadly his wife Sapper Bagshaw ,He enjoyed family holidays there died on the last day of January 2012, just twelve weeks with grown up children and grandchildren, but saying short of their 70th wedding anniversary. little about the horrors of war. He went back for the In 1985 he took his wife, two of his adult children, 50th anniversary of D-Day in 1994, and received his and grandchildren to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Veterans Medal in Caen. Germany re-tracing his route he took during the war, From Lion-sur-Mer he went with 1 Platoon to taking ending-up in Uelzen, where he had been forty Caen, then further west towards Bayeux, Tilly- years before. sur-Seulles, and St-Lo. He was then to continue In his war record his service is described as with his platoon through France, Belgium, and the “exemplary”, and states that as a soldier he performed Netherlands, to the Rhine. On the Rhine 1 Platoon his duties “conscientiously and loyally”. was to lose Sjt Morse. He says of his serjeant “He was Sadly Reginald passed away a few months aer this kind and fair, a true gentleman.” was written on 11th June 2015.
A piece written by the children of Reginald Sparkes.
43 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Lt Frank Henry Squires 291884
Frank Squires was born in Hertfordshire on the 84 Fd Coy RE who remained with the unit between 16th April 1916 to Stephen and Jessie Squires, and January 1944 to August 1945. was the youngest of five children. Sadly Frank’s After the war Frank began working with the father died of stomach cancer when Frank was just Ministry of Works in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, as a seven years old. civil engineer, living in Rotherfield, Sussex, where In 1939 Frank married Diana Joan Wood, and in Nicolette recalls her mother wearing Frank’s army 1941 their daughter, Nicolette was born. coat and peaked-cap to feed the chickens in! Nicolette lived with her mother and her In 1950 he started working for J&P Coats grandmother in Broxbourne whilst Frank was Co (Glasgow), relocating to North East Brazil, serving with the Royal Engineers during the 2nd supervising the cotton-making machinery and oil World War. semi-refinery. Nicolette then returned to England Frank served with 84 Fd Coy RE from June to attend boarding school, and in 1956 Frank and 1943, holding the rank of Lieutenant, both as a Diana divorced, both remarrying and remaining reconnaissance officer and platoon officer, and in Brazil. Frank married Maria Zelia Cocentino, remained with the unit until he was posted out on and together they had two daughters, Fiona and 23rd August 1945, just six days before 84 Fd Coy RE Jacqueline. were disbanded. In fact he was the only officer from Frank passed away in 1993.
Information supplied by Frank’s daughter, Nicolette
44 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Hermanville War Cemetery
45 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Thomas Edmund Aitken 14328692
Remembering Sapper omas Edmund Aitken of South Church, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, who died on 6th June 1944, at the age of 19.
46 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Bernard Bagshaw 3865579
Remembering Sapper Bernard Bagshaw of Miles Platting, Manchester, who died on 8th June 1944, at the age of 23. Bernard was the son of Richard and Hannah Bagshaw.
47 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Lance Corporal Leslie Frank Chancellor 2124871
Remembering Lance Corporal Leslie Frank Chancellor of Oldbury, Worcestershire, who died on 6th June 1944 at the age of 37. Leslie was the son of Charles Alfred and Harriet Louisa Chancellor, and was married to Doris May Chancellor.
48 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Robert Fulton 2125419
Remembering Sapper Robert Fulton of Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, who died on 10th June 1944 at the age of 32. e son of John and Jeannie Fulton, he had two brothers, John and George, with whom he worked with at the Joseph Johnson furniture factory before the war. All three brothers joined diff erent regiments, but John and George survived the war. Robert was married to Mary Greenlees Fulton, and they had one son, named John.
49 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper John McHugh 2127355
Remembering Sapper John McHugh, of South Reddish, Lancashire, who died at the age of 24, on the 7th June 1944.
A piece written by the McHugh family; eldest, Joseph, wounded on campaign in North Africa, was forced out of active service as a result of the large John McHugh was born on 16th May 1920 into a family amount of shrapnel remaining in his legs. of nine children. He le school at 14 years old in 1934 In 1943 John & Kathleen had their fi rst son, and became a bricklayer (designated Class 1 on his Army Kevin. eir 2nd child was due the following year (in Pay Book as he enlisted). He married Kathleen on 5th July 1944) and on 14th May 1944 Kathleen’s mother October 1940, prior to being called up for conscription died. Because of her advanced pregnancy; the fact later that month, at the age of 20, into the Royal Engineers. that she had a child under one year old and a 12 His two older brothers were also in military service (Jim year old orphaned sister to care for, John was given McHugh who joined John as a Normandy veteran on compassionate leave to return home and assist with D-1 [5th June 1944] serving in a minesweeper) and the the burial, before returning to his unit.
50 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper John McHugh
e Normandy Campaign Dear Madam No 2127355 Spr (Sapper) McHugh, J. RE John had Kathleen’s distress very much in mind It is with profound regret that I have to inform you as he was involved in preparations for the Channel that a report has been received in this Office to the effect crossing, sending a letter in May 1944 (which did not that your husband died of wounds in North West Europe arrive until aer Kathleen had been informed of his on 7th June 1944. death because all mail sent by soldiers had been held Although nothing I can say can comfort you in your back to ensure the secrecy of the operation) and nearer grief, may I express to you my deepest sympathy in the the scheduled embarkation sending a telegram (at 11 sad loss you have sustained. am on 5th June) reassuring her Together in thought this day set 5th Love John. John went to Normandy on June Kathleen’s distress caused her to go into premature 6th with the 2nd Platoon, 84th Field Company, serving labour and her second son, named John in memory of with HQ 18 Royal Engineers, and landed on SWORD his father, was born a week later. As Kathleen nursed beach, tasked with clearing mines. her new born son, she received a personal, hand written e role John’s unit played is mentioned in R.P. letter, dated 9th July and sent by John’s commanding Packenham-Walsh ‘History of the Corps of the Royal officer, Major D.A. Smith: Engineers’ Vol. IX, (published in 1958). As they pressed inland, and the tide receded, a Dear Mrs McHugh more thorough clearance of obstacles and mines was You will by now have had the official intimation undertaken, and efforts were redoubled to improve of your husband’s death with my unit in France. I am and multiply the exits from the beaches in an endeavor writing to try and give you my deepest sympathy and that to relieve the terrible congestion. is congestion, of all the fellows still here with us. and casualties in senior controlling officers, led to I feel that words are not adequate but we do assure considerable disorganisation and delay. Somehow or you that we feel most deeply for you in your great loss. other exits were increased and traffic got moving. A Your husband survived all the initial assault and was report says that it was difficult to establish by whom severely wounded in a mine explosion. He was taken to the some of the exits were made. Some of the originally dressing station but he did not survive long. I don’t think he designated parties were delayed afloat, others suffered could have suffered as he was mercifully unconscious. heavy casualties. But it is clear that the briefing of all Like everyone else out here he got the very best of medical R.E. parties in the essential requirements was so good attention and everything possible was done for him. that officers and N.C.Os. were able to organise parties If there is anything that we can do for you please don’t from the nearest available men and get on with the job. hesitate to ask and we will try and manage it for you. It is in the context of this disorganisation and urgency Yours sincerely, that John McHugh was mortally injured. His brother, Jim, was later given a first-hand account of the circumstances David Smith of his brother’s death from an eye-witness. John had landed successfully at Sword beach in the early morning, John was eventually buried in Hermanville Cemetery¹ supporting the Canadians alongside the Special Forces. although the process of constructing the cemetery itself He cleared a particular section of beach of mines, and and the compilation of the Roll of Honour (e names explained that he had not completed areas beyond a of all members of His Late Majesty’s Forces who fell in certain point. However, the driver of John’s lorry, who it the 1939 – 1945 War printed in cemetery and memorial seems likely was suffering from shock, did not heed this Registers) was a longer process; the Roll of Honour was warning and drove through the unsafe section. John was not completed until 1957. wounded by the explosion that occurred when the lorry For Kathleen, the widow with her sister and two very struck a mine and died of his wounds at a field hospital young children to care for, life then became extremely the following day. hard. She was granted a widow’s pension: Official notification of John’s death was received by Kathleen at the end of June, with the enclosed letter, Dear Madam, dated 1st July 1944, sent from the Royal Engineers With reference to your letter dated 7th October 1944, Record Office: I am to inform you that under the regulations of this
51 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper John McHugh
Ministry, the rate of pension payable to the widow of a However, receiving no allowance for the care of Sapper is as follows:- her sister (and thus ensuring she was not sent to an To a widow over 40 years of age, or a widow under orphanage) Kathleen was forced to go back to work. 40 with children of pensionable age in her care, 32/6d Her husband’s family helped out; her sister-in-law weekly, plus an allowance of 11/- weekly for each child. picking one of the children up from the nursery whilst is is the maximum amount of pension applicable Kathleen picked the other baby up on her way home in your case and it is regretted that the Minister has no from work. power to sanction any increase. At the end of the War, Kathleen was sent John’s War Service Campaign medals with a note: Kathleen received the balance of John McHugh’s pay and allowances (£1 15s 7d) and £21.19s 6d Post War e Army Council share your sorrow that 2127354 Credit in November 1944. e accompanying letter Spr (Sapper) McHUGH. J.in respect of whose service explained: these Awards are granted did not live to receive them¹
e Post War credit, which it has been decided to e village of Hermanville lay behind Sword release specially for payment in the case of deceased beach and was occupied early on 6 June by men of the soldiers, is assessed at 6d a day for the period 1st January South Lancashire regiment. Many of those buried in 1942 (or date of enlistment if later) to date of death. Less Hermanville War Cemetery died on 6 June or during days for which pay was not admissible. the first days of the drive towards Caen. e cemetery contains 1,003 Second World War burials, 103 of them unidentified.
52 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper James Wood Pirrie 2125394
Remembering Sapper James Wood Pirrie, who died on 6th June 1944, at the age of 32. He was the son of James and Jeannie Wood Pirrie, and was married to Elizabeth Pirrie. James was from Stonehaven in Kincardineshire.
53 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Sidney Thomas Stevens 14379779
Remembering Sapper Sidney omas Stevens, who died on 10th June 1944, at the age of 34. Sidney was the son of William and Rose Stevens of Shamley Green in Surrey. He was married to Honor Stevens of Aldeburgh.
54 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Sidney Thomas Stevens
Sidney omas Stevens remembered at Shamley Green Church
55 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Corporal Jack Carter Swatridge 2132664
Remembering Corporal Jack Carter Swatridge of Thornton Heath in Surrey. Husband to Doreen Gladys Swatridge. Jack died on 6th June 1944 at the age of 35. He was the son of Jack and Lottie Swatridge.
56 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Charles Edward Wilkinson 14366349
Remembering Sapper Charles Edward Wilkinson of Lincoln, who died on 12th June 1944 at the age of 38. Charles was the son of John Edward and Matilda Wilkinson, and the husband of Clara Winifred Wilkinson.
57 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Bayeux Memorial
58 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Leonard Cooper 2123681
Remembering Sapper Leonard Cooper, who died on 6th June 1944 at the age of 30. Leonard was married, and was from Staff ord.
59 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Robert Watson McAlister 2125382
Remembering Sapper Robert Watson McAlister of Glasgow, who died on 6th June 1944, at the age of 26. Robert was the son of George and Annie McAlister, of Tollcross, Glasgow, and was married to Jamesina L. McAlister.
60 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Lieutenant John Parker Symon 226296
Remembering Lieutenant John Parker Symon, who died on 6th June 1944, at the age of 22. John was the son of James Alexander Symon and Marion Rae Symon, of Edinburgh.
61 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
62 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Sapper Thomas Glass 14357477
Remembering Sapper omas Glass, of Parkhead, Glasgow, who died on 24th March 1945 during the Rhine crossing operation, at the age of 34. omas was the son of John and Elizabeth Glass.
63 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Serjeant Desmond Frank Morse 2003610
Remembering Serjeant Desmond Frank Morse, who died on 24th March 1945, during the Rhine crossing operation. He was age 28. Desmond was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Morse, of Watchet in Somerset, and was the husband of Marjorie Beatrice Morse.
64 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
84 Field Company RE Their journey from the shores of Northern Scotland, to Uelzen in Germany
January 1944 - August 1945
65 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
66 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Preparation January - May 1944
In January 1944 84 Field Company RE consisted of 8 deteriorated and there was enemy air activity by night. offi cers and approximately 260 other ranks. Like many During April and May there were further conferences other Royal Engineer companies at that time, 84 Fd Coy attended by Major Smith regarding 5 Beach Group and RE were based in Scotland, preparing for the invasion, 101 Beach Sub-Area, which 84 Fd Coy RE were to be a rehearsing battlefi eld strategies, ever-adapting and part of. learning to overcome the obstacles that awaited them ere were fi nal ‘dressed rehearsals’ and preparations on the beaches. ey did not yet know that the theatre in the form of exercises HANDSUP, FABIUS, and of these well-rehearsed strategies would be the beaches BULL. e men of 84 Fd Coy RE trained under platoon of Normandy. arrangements, and practiced loading the vehicles e preparations generally consisted of training and maintaining the stores. A water purifi cation set at locations such as Lossiemouth, Keith, Burghead, was collected from Victoria Docks in London, and and Findhorn, attending mine-clearing schools, subsequently loaded onto the D and D+1 trucks on participating in the rehearsals of exercise’s CROWN, the 23rd May 1944, along with the other specialist ANCHOR, GIMLET and LEAPYEAR, and for the equipment and raw materials necessary for the Royal offi cers including the OC at that time Major D.A Engineers to carry out their work. Smith, attendance of conferences and briefi ngs. ese Assault jackets were issued on the 25th May, followed briefi ngs included talks by Lt Pestell and Lt Ruperti on by the briefi ng for OVERLORD on the 26th May. the landings in Sicily and Italy. ere were lessons to be ere was a request by Major Smith for the return learned from the Allied invasions of 1943. to the ranks of Sjt D. Forbes (791455), Cpl A.B. Knox Some leave was granted, but offi cers were o en (2125371), and Spr W. Jackson (1873477), who were recalled from leave. being treated in various military hospitals for one In April 1944, 84 Fd Coy RE relocated to Waterlooville condition or another. It was also requested that Spr A. in the South of England, as the Allied forces gathered Brand (6029153) return to the ranks a er being held in for the fi nal preparations for the invasion. ey found military detention in Colchester. the camps unprepared and generally in bad condition. e fi nal entry into the War Diary for May 1944 In fact, the War Diaries of 84 Fd Coy RE describe the reads simply, “Coy moves to marshalling areas for tents as “mostly unfi t for habitation”. e weather OVERLORD”. e wait was nearly over. 67 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Overlord June - July 1944
Prior to embarkation, 84 Field Company RE were small-arms fire. Their main objectives were to spread over a number of camps within Marshalling clear any mines, explosives, or obstacles from the Area ‘A’, along the South Coast of England. beaches, to provide the infantry with a clear route Conditions at the camps were described in the war across the beaches. diaries as ‘disgraceful’, ‘the food particularly so’. Whilst the beaches were soon cleared of small- On the 3rd June 1944, 84 Fd Coy RE embarked onto arms fire, the shelling continued, and 84 Fd Coy RE various cra , including LSI (L), LCT, and LST. e OC, were to suffer causalities on D-Day; Major Smith, embarked on SS Broadsword. e cra ose killed in action on D-Day were Sappers Pirrie, remained anchored until the evening of 5th June 1944, Aitken, McAllister, Cooper, Corporal Swatridge, and when the convoys set sail for Operation OVERLORD. Lieutenant Symons. Aboard the cra , maps were issued, and the men of Many others were wounded, and Sapper Bagshaw 84 Fd Coy RE fi nally learned where they were to land and Lance Corporal Chancellor were reported missing. on D-Day, it was the area referred to as Sword Beach, Both were later confi rmed as killed in action. which was the section of beach near Lion-sur-Mer Some equipment was lost during the landings, and La Breche, on the Normandy coastline. e exact including a 3 ton 4x4 winch. area they were to land on Sword Beach was known as’ On Sword Beach, No1 Platoon were employed on Queen’, in the ‘White’ and ‘Red’ sectors. ‘Queen White’, No2 Platoon on ‘Queen Red’, whilst Perhaps the crossing of the English Channel and No3 Platoon were positioned inland of the beaches arrival at the beaches of Normandy are best described once a safe route had been cleared. by the men of 84 Fd Coy RE themselves; It was at this point when one of the most famous In the words of Sapper Harry Langley, it was “just photos of the D-Day landings was taken by photographer sea-sickness, utter fear and confusion”. Jim Mapham, of three Sappers of 84 Fd Coy RE, Leisk, Sapper Bill Pryde recalls “when we fi nally got off Hawkins, and Sadler; all of No1 Platoon. the cra it was still in three feet of water, up to our 84 Fd Coy RE remained in the area of Lion-sur- chests. We could not have got any more soaked as Mer and Hermanville, the beach area known as there was no shelter on the cra . With the stormy 101, for the remainder of the month of June and weather it was sheer hell. ere was more danger of throughout July. Their work involved creating and drowning than there was from mines. It was 05.45 on maintaining exits from the beach, establishing and June 6, a time and date I will never forget.” maintaining water supplies and mine detecting and The units landed in accordance with the landing clearance. The war diaries claim that their work was sheets, and were met with shelling, mortars, and often delayed due to lack of equipment.
68 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
An article from e Guardian, dated 11th July 2010: shell and mortar fire. In the foreground and on the right are sappers of 84 Field Company Royal Engineers. “If ever a photograph needed a soundtrack, this one Behind them, heavily laden medical orderlies of 8 does,” began an elegant appreciation of this remarkable Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps (some of image, published in the New Review last month to mark whom are treating wounded men) prepare to move off the anniversary of D-Day. “e photographer stills life the beach. In the background, men of the 1st Battalion, into a series of tableaux that look like quotations from the Suffolk Regiment and No 4 Army Commando religious art.” swarm ashore from landing cra. True indeed, but that single reference to “the e IWM has identified the sappers in the photographer” drew an angry response from a reader who foreground as Jimmy Leisk (le, glancing up at Sgt knew something of what the cameraman had experienced. Mapham’s camera) and Cyril Hawkins, while on the Desmond Davis served in the Army Film and Photographic right, walking towards the camera, is Fred Sadler of Unit and chastised the Observer for failing to give credit to the same platoon. All three men survived the war; they a colleague who risked his life to take what the US press had appear in another archive photograph taken when they called “the greatest picture of the war”. reached the Rhine. He was Jim Mapham, who, by 1944, had already Jim Mapham was one of seven cameramen of recorded the Eighth Army’s triumph at El Alamein the AFPU who went in on D-Day: Sgt Ian Grant, and been made Field Marshal Montgomery’s official Sgt Christie, Sgt Norman Clague (killed), Sgt photographer. is picture is just one of a portfolio Desmond O’Neill (wounded), Sgt Billie Greenhalgh of images captured by Sgt Mapham throughout that (wounded) and Sgt George Laws. eir work forms an extraordinary day which now lies in the Imperial War extraordinary record of the invasion and is still widely Museum’s huge photographic archive. used by the media – but rarely credited. e shutter clicked at 8.32am as “Queen Red” beach Many attempts have been made over the years to near La Brèche, Hermanville-sur-Mer, came under put names to the individuals depicted, yet it was not
69 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
until the 50th anniversary was upon us that they were List confirmed from the nominal roll of No.84 Field at last correctly identified. David List, our photographic Company that all three men had come ashore from the interpretation specialist, always believed that the Battle same landing cra at 0815 hours, tying in nicely with Jerkins indicated Royal Engineers, and he thought the his earlier research. most likely time the picture had been taken was around It appears Sgt Mapham walked a few hundred 0845 as No.84 Field Company, RE, which wore Beach yards to the west to take the picture while standing Group formation signs (Red anchor in a light blue on White Beach looking back towards Red Beach, the circle) landed in small parties throughout the morning heavily laden troops with the rucksacks in the centre - a total of 160 men coming ashore between 0745 and being from 8th Field Ambulance, RAMC, attached 0825 hours and another 52 from 1030 to 1230 hours. to the 8th Brigade, who were most probably helping Fiy years later Fred Sadler (Walking on the right) wounded from the wrecked carrier on the right of contacted the Sunday Mirror. ‘My job was to search the 2nd Battalion, e Middlesex Regiment. We may for land mines. I remember the photographer walking also be seeing men of No.41 (RM) Commando in past me on the beach, then turning around and taking the background. e casualties of the 2nd Battalion, a picture. I know I look calm, but I was quaking in my East Yorks on Red Beach are unknown, but the 1st boots.’ Fred first saw the picture in the Sunday Dispatch Battalion of the South Lancs which landed on White two weeks later, showing in the foreground two of Beach sustained 126 casualties during the assault his mates: Cyril Hawkins and Jimmy Leisk. David phase of the landing.
Sapper Jimmy Leisk Sapper Cyril Hawkins Sapper Fred Sadler
70 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Overlord 84 Field Company RE – D-Day Landing Craft Register
Whilst the landing cra registers and nominal events of D-Day, despite the extent of preparation and rolls for the D-Day landings are a useful source of dressed-rehearsals beforehand. information, it is not possible to wholly rely upon is information, when compared to the 84 Fd Coy the accuracy of the information, as there are o en RE Nominal Roll and the casualties suff ered by the unit contradictions, and in reality, LCTs o en landed at the on D-Day, does enable us to see which landing cra or incorrect time and even arrived at the wrong beach groups were worst aff ected by enemy fi re. location, such was the chaos and confusion of the
71 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Overlord June - July 1944
e well of St Pierre at Hermanville-sur-Mer was used as a source of water supply by the British Army, which was maintained by 84 Field Company RE. ere is a plaque on the well which reads “ is is the well of the Mare Saint Pierre which is mentioned in British Army records as having supplied 1,500,000 gallons of water to the British Forces between the 6th June and the 1st July 1944”
72 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Overlord Nominal Roll for the D-Day landings 84 Field Company RE
73 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Overlord Nominal Roll for the D-Day landings 84 Field Company RE
74 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Overlord
Throughout their time working on Sub-Beach On the 20th July 1944, the war diary reports that two Area 101 during June 1944, there was sporadic men of 84 Fd Coy RE were wounded whilst taking a shelling of the beaches, and there were casualties, short-cut across a mine-fi eld. e author of the war diaries including those killed in action; Sappers McHugh, describes this action as “stupidity in an advanced stage”. Fulton, Stevens, and Wilkinson. On the 14th July, Towards the end of July, roads and water points were the OC Major Smith, and a number of men attended gradually handed over to other RE units, and 84 Fd Coy the church in Colville to lay a wreath for those killed RE began to prepare to relocate, a er nearly two months in action. in the area around Hermanville and Lion-sur-Mer.
75 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Advance to the Seine August 1944
At the start of August, 1 Platoon were based at a In crossing the Seine, the rafts averaged nine ra ing site in Caen, where they remained for most of vehicles for five journeys per hour. The Company the month, whilst the rest of the Company were either was reported to have been in good spirits despite on road repair duties in the Flers Argentan area, or the numerous moves and lack of sleep. training exercises for ra launch and maintenance. On the 29th August, the Company reverted to At this time, many of those injured on or just a er the command of 7 GHQ Tps Eng, and remained at D-Day, returned to the ranks. the river Seine, maintaining FBE. The fall in the 84 Field Company RE were on constant notice to level of the Seine caused some problems with both move to a new location at any time, and as a result the the FBE and the road-bearers, which restricted the recce offi cers were kept very busy reconnoitring these flow of vehicles across the Seine. The Company locations. However the most signifi cant move was were then to maintain the rafts, which were not until the end of August when the company were operating day and night, crossing the Seine. These ordered to advance to the river Seine. ferries were then handed over to the divisional On the 28th August, 84 Fd Coy RE came under engineers of 53 Division. the command of 53 Division for the crossing of the Frustratingly for the troops of 84 Fd Coy RE, Seine. A er advancing to the Seine at 0500 hours, the they did not advance beyond the Seine at this time, equipment subsequently arrived at 0700 hours. ere and on the 30th August were ordered to move back was some diffi culties unloading this equipment, but to south of Bernay for road maintenance duties. they had all ra s operational by 1000 hours.
76 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Beyond the Seine and into Belgium September 1944
At the beginning of September 1944, 84 memorial, where the OC laid a wreath to honour Field Company RE were based in the Muids and those who had lost their lives. Beaumont region, maintaining FBE over the Seine. Whilst the Company trained with Bailey ere were numerous recces and proposed plans bridges at Louviers, relocation was o en proposed for temporary and permanent bridges on the and then swi ly changed or cancelled at the last Seine, but most were not feasible. moment, until fi nally the Company relocated to They lifted a minefield at Ecardenville on the St Omer and Courtrai, erecting a 130’ DD Bailey 5th September, and the next day commenced at Courtrai on the 17th September, commencing work on a bridge at Courcelles, however the work at 0740hrs, the bridge was complete and ready for was quickly stopped, as plans were often changed traffi c by 1800hrs. or abandoned. e Company, consisting of about 250 men, 84 Fd Coy RE were then posted to maintain remained at Courtrai and Wetteren for the bridges at Elbeuf, and dismantle FBE at Muids. remainder of September, maintaining bridges, On the 10th of September the OC and 50 men signposting routes, and repairing roads including of 84 Fd Coy RE attended a anksgiving Service the route from Ypres to Ghent. at Muids, followed by a small ceremony at the war
77 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Letter from Chief Engineer of 12 Corps congratulating 7 GHQ Tps Engrs on the Seine crossing operation
78 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Buzz Bombs and Booby Traps October 1944
At the beginning of October, 84 Fd Coy RE were 84 Fd Coy RE were then allocated a new area, and ordered to take over the works of 85 Fd Coy RE, new works consisting of mine clearance, road repairs, including strengthening and maintaining bridges at and bridge maintenance, in the Antwerp / Brecht / Courtrai, Menin, and Audenarde, and repairing the Costmalle / Wyneghem area, including the Cameron Maple Leaf route between Courtrai and Ghent, and Bridge near Antwerp, which was to be modifi ed to a repairing roads in the Audenarde area. Class 70 rating. ey were then moved to Wetteren for training with ‘Buzz-Bombs’ (V1 fl ying-bombs) were a frequent Bailey bridges, using barges as piers. sight, and more ‘Big-Bens’ (V2 fl ying-bombs) were Works were handed over to other RE units, and 84 and heard, but thankfully not close enough to be seen. 85 Fd Coys began working together on some projects. Reports of booby-traps in Wilryck were carefully On the 6th October, a new OC, Major Groves investigated by Lt Squires, but were found just to be arrived. Major Smith was subsequently posted out on Belgium bird-traps! 11th October, and Major Groves assumed command of On the 27th October, Cpl Campbell was awarded the unit. the Military Medal, for ‘gallantry on the beaches on Following their return from Courtrai, 3 Platoon began D-Day’. constructing a 30’ timber trestle pier in a 300 ton barge. On the 31st October, the notifi cation was received e Company were then put on training exercises at that 7GHQ Trps Engrs were to revert to the command Termonde and Selzaete, with barge bailey bridges and of 2nd Army, and as a result all works were to be handed pile drivers, amidst heavy rain, where they heard ‘Big-Ben’ over to 18 GHQ Trps Engrs. Lt Compton experienced rocket explosions nearby, probably intended for Antwerp. a ‘near-miss’ with a fl ying bomb, which landed in Following these training exercises, 84 and 85 Fd Coys Antwerp. 84 Fd Coy RE assisted in the clearing the dead carried out a demonstration for a Canadian unit. and wounded from the area of impact.
79 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Training Programme, 7 GHQ Tps Engrs October 1944
80 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Winter in the Netherlands November/December 1944
e month of November began with a Flying Bomb e large off ensive by the Allied Forces in the area landing within 100 yards of 2 Platoon, who were based resulted in excessive traffi c, making road and bridge in Schooten. maintenance critical. e unit moved to the Eindhoven area, with e unit took over bridge maintenance of a 130’ company HQ at Weert, and 84 Fd Coy RE took over Bailey at Nederweert, and a 80’ at Hulsen. the commitments of 73 Fd Coy RE. ere were soon Company HQ was relocated fi ve times in four rumours of an impending counter-attack by 15 weeks, which was not met with great enthusiasm, and Panzer Grenadiers and 9 Panzers, although thankfully the works also began to take their toll, as the war diary these rumours were proved unfounded. entry from 30th November illustrates, “no prospect yet Whilst inspecting works on the 5th November, OC of any more interesting commitments”. Major Groves found GOC of 11th Armoured Division December bought no such more interesting stranded with a fl at tyre. Major Groves (who, according commitments, and they remained on bridge and to the war diaries was ex-11th Armoured Division road maintenance, including the repair of 84 General himself), ensured that General Roberts was safely Hospital access. e hard frosts continued to hinder returned to his HQ at Deurne. their progress. During November 1944, 84 Fd Coy RE were covering A few further V1 ‘Buzz Bombs’ and German jet- an area consisting of Valkenswaard, Stratum, Geldrop, propelled aircraft were seen in the days leading up Zomeren, Nederweert, Stamproij, Weert, Leende, and to Christmas. Grathem, which was still occupied by the Germans. Christmas Day gave the sappers a welcome rest, with e area was then extended to include orn, Bree, the exception of a minimal number of essential guards. and Hamont. Extra food rations were issued, and each platoon produced Civilian labour from the local area was utilised, its own preacher to conduct a Christmas Service. to assist with roads repairs and general labouring, e coming of the New Year was greeted by the however the unit was held-up by the lack of tippers sappers discussing and hoping for, more interesting available, and hindered by the appalling weather which tasks, home leave, and eventual demobilisation. lasted throughout most of November. On New Year’s Eve, C in Cs Certifi cates were issued Some leave was granted, and men were permitted 48 for good service. Recipients included CQMS Coggins, hour leave in Brussels. and Cpl H. Smith (Chief Clerk).
81 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Hard Frosts and Freezing Weather January/February 1945
e troops were greeted by a bright, cold morning Whilst Major Groves was on 48 hours leave, on January 1st 1945, accompanied by low-fl ying Captain Nicolay took the position of Acting German bombers casually strafi ng the area. e LMGs OC, whilst ‘blitz’ road repairs continued, and (light machine guns) of HQ were ineff ective on this roads were gradually handed over to Civilian occasion against the German aircra . Authorities. Some of the roads began to soften, e hard frost continued to hinder the works of crack, and break-up in places, due to ‘ice lenses’ the unit, and the fall of 4 inches of snow on the 6th (ice accumulating in cracks and then wedging January, followed by freezing weather, did little to help the cracks apart), and the extent of heavy traffic the attempted road repairs and maintenance. passing over them. However, the roads began to On the 27th January, Captain E.F. Nicolay reported dry-out following an improvement in weather for duty as the new 2IC (2nd in command). conditions. As January came to a close, Sjt Scragg was notifi ed On the 17th February the Company paraded that he was to be awarded the C in C Certifi cate, and for the presentation of the C in C’s certifi cates to the OC, Major Groves, put all platoons on 6 hours’ CQMS Coggins, Cpl H. Smith, and Sjt Scragg, notice to relocate. by CRE of 7 GHQ Tps Engrs. Major Groves then aw set in very suddenly on the 1st February, and proceeded to Caulille to take over from the CRE quickly the newly repaired roads began to so en and who was on leave, leaving Capt Nicolay to again of collapse, including the ‘Sherry’ route from Stamproij assume command of 84 Fd Coy RE. to Kinroy, and the ‘Star’ route from Hamont to Budel. Repair and maintenance of the roads continued Traffi c was also restricted along the Valkenswaard to for the remainder of February, with civilian labour Leende route, to enable ‘blitz’ repairs. peaking at 355 towards the end of the month. A e weather began to improve and many of the road lack of stone restricted progress of works. repair commitments were handed over to other units.
82 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 “84 Crosses the Rhine!” March 1945
Major Groves resumed command of 84 Fd Coy occupy the area of Sonsbeck, Labbeck, and Xanten, RE at the beginning of March, following the return however the German Army were still fi ghting hard from leave of the CRE, and upon his return the CRE in Xanten to hold the bridge-head west of Wesel. carried out an inspection of the current works, and Road commitments began to be handed over to expressed his satisfaction of the works. 159 CRE Works, and Company HQ moved from Company works extended eastwards as 8 Asten to Sonsbeck. Corps moved across the River Maas, whilst Major Groves attended a conference with 1 also continuing works in their existing area of Commando Brigade, and a reconnaissance of the Valkenswaard, Stratum, Geldrop, Zomeren, new area of works was carried out. In the days that Nederweert, Stamproij, Weert, Leende, and followed, further meetings and reconnaissance Grathem, were they had remained for much of missions with 1 Commando Brigade took place, the winter. whilst the rest of 84 Fd Coy RE began works on the Each platoon attended a one day training course roads in the area of Geldern and Xanten. at ‘mine school’ at Bourg Leopold, which was quickly e platoons took part in storm-boat followed by a warning of an advance into Germany. training, mine-detection/clearance, and Buff alo Reconnaissance Offi cer Lt Wootton crossed the embarkation/disembarkation training at Wansum, frontier north of Well on the morning of the 9th which was shortly followed by preparation of the March. An advanced party consisting of 3 platoon storm-boat launching sites, and the fi rst storm boats commander Lt Squires and 2 sections proceeded to began to be delivered.
83 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 “84 Crosses the Rhine!” March 1945
e Company moved to Menzelen on the 21st March, e town of Wesel was captured the following day, and further reconnaissance of the banks and beaches and a vehicle ferry was established, however Major took place with 77 Assault Squadron and 1 Commando Groves’ jeep was punctured by a Spandau during a Brigade. Storm boats were delivered and harboured premature recce of the ferry site. under cover of night, whilst arms and explosives were 3 Platoon relocated to Wesel on the 24th, and collected for the RE dumps, and the verges were cleared established a jeep route through the bomb debris. ey to make way for the Buff alos tracks. were rewarded with a day’s rest and a double ration of On the 23rd March, the Company rested until rum a couple of days later. e success of the Rhine zero-hour, 22:00, at which point 84 Field Company RE crossing was not without sacrifi ce though, and sadly Sjt crossed the Rhine, in support of 1 Commando Brigade, Desmond F. Morse (2003610) and Spr Glass (14357477) as part of Operation WIDGEON, part of the wider were killed in action on the 24th March. Operation PLUNDER. “84 crosses the Rhine!” was the entry in the War Diary.
84 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 “84 Crosses the Rhine!” March 1945
85 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Reports from the Rhine crossing, Operation “Widgeon”
86 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Reports from the Rhine crossing, Operation “Widgeon”
87 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Reports from the Rhine crossing, Operation “Widgeon”
88 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Reports from the Rhine crossing, Operation “Widgeon”
89 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Reports from the Rhine crossing, Operation “Widgeon”
90 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Reports from the Rhine crossing, Operation “Widgeon”
91 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Back to the River Maas March - April 1945
On the 27th March, 84 Fd Coy RE were ordered to On the 30th March, Major Groves visited 1 revert back to the command of 7 GHQ Tps Engrs. “So Commando Brigade 30 miles beyond Wesel, in the ends our holiday!” the entry in the War Diary described town of Erle in Germany, where recommendations for the situation. e Coy relocated to Labeck that same awards were made. night, but were then moved the following day to a large vacated farmland near Vynen. ey were then notifi ed that they were to move 30 miles back to maintain bridges on the river Maas. e entry in the War Diary describes this as an “absolute calamity” and “what a come down!” Having moved back to the Maas, they were assigned the following locations; 1 & 3 Platoons were to maintain a Class 30 high- level bridge and a Class 40 Bailey pontoon bridge at Gennep, whilst 2 Platoon maintained a Class 24 high- level Bailey built over a demolished railway bridge, and a Class 40 Bailey pontoon bridge.
Class 30 High-Level Bridge at Gennep
92 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Back to the River Maas March - April 1945
Class 30 High-Level Bridge at Gennep
Class 40 Bailey Pontoon Bridge at Gennep
93 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Back to the River Maas March - April 1945
Class 40 Bailey Pontoon Bridge at Mook 1 Platoon remained at Gennep to maintain the high- Coy RE and 85 Fd Coy RE for this task, which was to level bridge, whilst the other bridges were handed back continue for one week. to 6 Army Trps. 2 Platoon were to move to Geisteren On the 9th April, Sjt Ringrose was awarded the BEM with the task of dismantling a bridge, whilst 3 Platoon for “outstanding good service and leadership” for the were to dismantle a bridge at Well. e billets were period up to 31st October 1944, including the crossing moved from Gennep to Wanssum, and Coy HQ was of the Seine. It was on this same day that Major Rigby moved to Meerlo near the bridge at Well. arrived, who was to succeed Major Groves who was 2 and 3 Platoons were then relocated to Blerick due to be posted to the Far East. ey both inspected where they were to dismantle a Class 70 Bailey the works at Gennep, Mook, and Venlo prior to the pontoon bridge at Venlo. Work started on the 8th departure of Major Groves on the 13th April, at which April, and 84 Fd Coy RE worked alongside 184 Fd point Major Rigby assumed command of 84 Fd Coy RE.
Class 70 Bailey Pontoon Bridge at Venlo
2 Platoon were then given the task of maintaining continued to maintain the bridges at Mook and bridges at Lottum and Venlo, whilst 1 Platoon Gennep, and 2 Platoon maintained the bridges at Venlo maintained an FBE at Bergen (not to be confused and Lottum. 3 Platoon then relocated to Grubbenvorst, with Bergen in Germany). 84 Fd Coy RE were le north-west of Venlo, in preparation for the dismantling to maintain all bridges on the Maas from Mook to of the bridge at Lottum. Venlo, whilst the rest of 7 GHQ Tps Engrs relocated to In a break from the everyday routine, a football Osnabruck. e bridge at Bergen was then dismantled match between HQ and 3 Platoon took place, ending on the 17th April. in a 3-3 result. A few days later HQ were beaten 4-1 by Two Bailey bridges north of Meerlo were then 2 Platoon. repaired and re-decked by 3 Platoon, whilst 1 Platoon
94 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Back to the River Maas March - April 1945
Class 40 Bailey Pontoon Bridge at Well
Class 9 FBE at Bergen
Class 40 Bridge at Lottum
Timber Pile Bridge at Venlo
95 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Across The Rhine...Again May - June 1945
At the beginning of May, Major Rigby was admitted double-rum issue in celebration of VE Day, but there to 79 General Hospital, resulting in 2IC Capt Nicolay was no break from the work. being recalled from leave. Works progressed and were On the 10th May, 1 Platoon, still based in Gennep in gradually handed over to other units to maintain. the Netherlands, handed over the bridges on the Maas On the 5th May, 84 Fd Coy RE (less 1 Platoon) once to 724 AW Coy RE and began their journey to join the again crossed the Rhine, and travelled nearly 300 rest of 84 Fd Coy RE in Uelzen, Germany, where they miles to rendezvous at Loccum in Germany, arriving arrived on the 12th May, and were then allocated the 20 minutes late. Acting OC Capt Nicolay met with the route of Zernien-Darchau to repair and maintain. CRE of 7 GHQ Tps Engrs, and then carried out a recce A thanksgiving service in honour of the victory was of the route from Darchau to Uelzen via Zernien. e held on the 13th May, by the Padre who had landed company was billeted in Uelzen, with HQ based in the with Coy HQ on D-Day. Records Offi ce, and 2 and 3 Platoons based in large Lt L.G. Taylor reported for duty at Reconnaissance houses nearby. Offi cer II on the 15th May, and OC Major Rigby was During reconnaissance of the roads around Uelzen, collected from the 79 General Hospital on the 19th Celle, Zernien, and Darchau, on the 7th May, news May, re-joining the Coy on the 22nd. Major Rigby reached the troops via a BBC broadcast, of Germany’s inspected the works and met with the CRE. surrender, however work continued as normal, and e Company were given a rest day on the 20th, each platoon was allocated a route to maintain. and spent the day boating and bathing at Uelzen, and e following day, route recces and classifi cation this was followed by a Russian concert show which was of bridges continued, and preparation of works began. performed for the troops on the evening of the 25th 2 Platoon were allocated the route Uelzen-Zernien- May, and even a football match between 84 Fd Coy RE Darchau, whilst 3 Platoon were given the Weyhausen- and another unit, which ended in a 7-1 victory for 84 Celle-Uelzen route to repair and maintain. Fd Coy RE. Back at HQ the Acting OC, Capt Nicolay gave a Curiously, the month of May ended with one of the talk on the subject of behaviour whilst the troops were diesel rollers being sabotaged during the night! based in Germany. e troops were given beer and a Road maintenance and equipment began to be handed
96 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 Across The Rhine...Again May - June 1945 over to CRE 43 Division at the beginning of June, and On the 8th June all platoons started work on the Class preparations were being made for bridge construction 40 Bailey pontoon bridge at Celle, and preparing the and repair near Celle. ground for a timber roadway. Work continued over the Capt Nicolay and Lt Lakin were awarded the MC next week, broken-up with occasional sports activities and for the Rhine crossing operation. Another offi cer, Lt time on the rifl e-range, until the bridge was completed on Wootton, was posted-out a er volunteering for service the 15th. Other bridge maintenance and strengthening in the Far East. Lt Taylor was also posted-out, whilst Lt continued at Celle for the duration of the month. Dudley joined the unit on the 13th June. On the 25th June Capt Nicolay was posted to 184 An improvised range was dug, and used by the Fd Coy RE, and was replaced by Capt Turner of 184 platoons, until heavy rain brought a premature end Fd Coy RE. A er numerous changes at offi cer level, the to proceedings. They were able to return the next ‘roll of offi cers’ at the end of June read; day for an uninterrupted day on the range. The Major Rigby OC anniversary of D-Day brought a welcome break from Capt Turner, 2nd-in-command parades and inspections. The War Diary comments Lt Squires, Lt Young, and Lt Lakin as platoon offi cers that approximately 70% of the troops who landed Lt Dudley as reconnaissance offi cer with 84 Fd Coy RE on D-Day, were still with the unit Lt Squires and Lt Young are noted as ‘being suitable for a year later. service in the Far East’.
97 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 The Last Days of 84 Field Company RE July - August 1945
All platoons were working at Celle Bridge, On the 8th August Lt Lakin, who had been attached excavating, piling, and concreting, with a total of 176 to 7 GHQ Tps Engrs, received a posting order, as the piles required. 2 Platoon were working shi s for the number of offi cers was again reduced. pile-driving, and billets for 1 and 3 Platoons were Heavy rain on the 9th and 10th August hindered moved closer to Celle for convenience whilst the bridge progress of works on the bridge at Celle, however the works continued. bridge was still completed ahead of schedule; thirty- Forty ORs were posted to 184 Fd Coy RE in nine days, a day earlier than the estimated forty days. exchange for forty ORs who are under A&S Gp 26. Two e completion of the bridge coincided with news ORs were posted to 53 E&M Platoon, whilst a cook was from 21st Army Group, that 84 Fd Coy RE was to be posted to 10 AGRE, and a further two ORs detached as disbanded. e reasons for which were given by the instructors to 30 Corps Trade Training School. CRE at an assembly two weeks later. On the 22nd July, Lt Young was posted to 50 RHU, 1 and 3 Platoons returned from their temporary which le only fi ve offi cers, one of which was on leave billets near Celle, to their original billets in Uelzen. in the UK, and two were detached from the unit. Materials were loaded onto the vehicles, the stores Sapper Wilson received the C-in-Cs Certifi cate for cleaned, and handed-over. gallantry, assumed during the Rhine operation. VJ was celebrated on the 17th and 18th August, with A warning order was received on the 25th July, to a minimal working party still cleaning the stores. On post all available men to SEAC to 50 RHU, however no the a ernoon of 20th August, there was a full dress- action was taken by the CRE. rehearsal for the guard of honour at the opening of On the 29th July a fi re at the M.T (motor transport) Celle Bridge, which took place the following day, with garage, destroyed three vehicles and ten M/Cs. e the GOC of 43rd Division offi cially opening the bridge, cause of the fi re was unknown, but a Court of Inquiry with a guard of honour consisting of Major Rigby, two was instigated the next day. offi cers, and 50 ORs. On the 1st August, 2 Platoon now assisted on Major Rigby went on leave the next day, leaving bridge construction at Celle, as the piling had been Capt Turner in charge of the Company, with Lt Squires completed. In the days that followed, all RSJs were receiving a posting order on the 23rd. in position, the bottom decking was completed, and e Company began to dismantle the Class 40 the tram lines completely across the bridge. 1 and 3 Bailey bridge at Celle on the 22nd August, and this task Platoons were working shi s to complete the bridge, was completed by the 24th. On the 27th the decision and visits were made by 30 Corps and 21st Army was made to post all personnel, approximately 240 Group to inspect the work being carried out by 84 Fd men, to 85 Fd Coy RE. is took place on the 28th with Coy RE at Celle. the disbandment completed the next day.
98 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
The Uelzen Photographs
The photographs taken at Uelzen were taken e only doubt is cast by the Company photograph, between June and July 1945, and have since sat in in which 1 Platoon and 3 Platoon Offi cers appear to be lofts and cupboards, with their now owners often seated in the wrong order, as generally platoon offi cers unaware of where or when they were taken. The are seated outwards, le to right from the centre, 1-2-3. Company and Platoon photographs which belonged e seating positions of the offi cers in the Company to my grandfather were no exception when they were photograph also supports the theory of which platoon passed down to my father following my grandfather’s is HQ Platoon. death in 1999. As Capt Nicolay does not appear in the Uelzen Although none of the platoon photos located so photographs, but Lt Young does, I believe that the far identify which platoon they are, my conclusions photographs were taken between 25th June (when Capt are based on the information and sources available, Nicolay was posted out) and 22nd July 1945 (when including fi rst-hand accounts by 84 Fd Coy veterans Lt Young was posted out). Further identifi cation of Sparkes and Dearlove, confi rming their platoon as 1 individuals in the future may enable a more accurate Platoon, and that Lt Young was their platoon offi cer. timescale of when the photographs were taken. e War Diary also states that Lt Young was platoon e photograph of 3 Platoon is the property of the offi cer for 1 Platoon. e portrait photograph of my Dyos family, and the photograph of HQ Platoon was grandfather was taken in Courtrai, where 3 Platoon kindly supplied by Andy Dale, the grandson of Driver spent the most time out of the three platoons. Leslie Dale BEM. e photograph of 1 Platoon was e number of offi cers suggests the other photo is obtained through the IWM Photographic Archives, whilst HQ Platoon, which would leave the photograph of 2 this restored version of the Company photograph was Platoon still yet to be located. supplied by a member of the ww2talk website forum.
99 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
1 Platoon, 84 Field Company RE, Uelzen, Germany 1945
100 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
HQ Platoon, 84 Field Company RE, Uelzen, Germany 1945
101 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
3 Platoon, 84 Field Company RE, Uelzen, Germany 1945
102 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Reverse of 3 Platoon photograph belonging to Sapper Dyos
Reverse of 3 Platoon photograph belonging to L/Cpl Sandell
103 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Reverse of 3 Platoon photograph belonging to Sapper Dyos
1 Spr J. Hewitt 2145647 22 2 Spr F. Elder 14239129 23 Spr R. Barron 14518528 3 Spr F. Borton 14640890 24 4 25 5 26 Spr A. Brand 6029153 6 L/Cpl H. Baggaley 2124872 27 Spr F.L. Turner 14379783 7 Cpl Arthur Eric Marsh 21226155 28 Spr D.T. Butts 2075637 8 Spr C. Arnold 2139090 29 Spr W.R. Potter 1944895 9 Dvr P.I. Appleton 1949382 30 L/Sjt G.R. Laidlaw 2125573 10 Spr E. Marchant 10693038 31 11 Cpl Robert Shaw 2125257 32 12 Spr H. Potter 2118491 33 13 Spr H.D. Keates 14379730 34 Spr Harry Langley 5730302 14 35 15 Spr H.A. Joynes 1929380 36 16 Spr G.O. Coxon 1579005 37 Sjt J.B. Ringrose BEM 2138678 17 38 18 39 19 Spr Edward Albert Dyos 1856774 20 Spr J. Garbett 1906096 L/Cpl Herbert Sandell 2138865 21 Spr J.R. Pennell 1878228
104 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
84 Field Company RE, Uelzen, Germany 1945
105 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Present-Day Uelzen
e Amtsgericht (district court), on Veerse Strasse, where the photographs of 84 Field Company RE were taken at the end of the 2nd World War
106 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945
Credits, Acknowledgements & Thanks
I would like to thank my family and friends for their support and assistance in this research, and I am extremely grateful for the contributions made by the relatives of those who served in 84 Field Company RE during 1944-45: In no particular order, Andy Dale, Bob Eden, John Eden, Linda Patterson, Elaine Mitchell, Vera Preston, Charles Nicolay, Chris Sleighton, Nicolette Schirrmacher, Kathleen & Janet Sadler, Jessamine Goudie, Ian Maryan, and a special thanks to John Dearlove. I would also like to thank Stuart Horner, Andrew Newson, and Mike Simpson for the additional information and assistance. In many ways I have only just begun to scratch the surface of researching 84 Field Company RE during 1944/45, and the men who served with the unit during this time. ere are many more stories yet to be told, and no doubt there are many more photographs stashed away and remain forgotten in lo s and the back of cupboards.
Marc Dyos (January 2016) Contact: [email protected] www.84fi eldcompany.wordpress.com
Graphic Design by Dan England
Acknowledgements & Sources
Imperial War Museum Photographic Archives
National Archives
Army Records (Glasgow)
War Grave photos appear courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and e War Graves Photographic Project
Royal Engineers Battlefi eld Tour – Volume 1: Normandy to the Seine
Royal Engineers Battlefi eld Tour – Volume 2: e Seine to the Rhine
e History of the Corps of Royal Engineers: Volume IX (Maj. Gen. R.P. Pakenham-Walsh)
Monty’s Iron Sides: From the Normandy Beaches to Bremen with the 3rd Division (Patrick Delaforce)
Assault Division: A History of the 3rd Division from the Invasion of Normandy to the Surrender of Germany (Norman Scarfe)
Bridging Normandy to Berlin (1945) (BAOR)
107 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945 84 Field Company Royal Engineers 1944 - 1945