WO 171/2401 - 171 Company - May 1944

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

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
ALDERSHOT	1		Grenade Range used by unit. (24 O.Rs. Practice throwing) Rifle Range used by Unit (40 O.Rs.) 10 new Fords 4 x 4 collected from 55 VRD. 7 Mack 6 ton vehicles taken on charge. 3 O.Rs. admitted to hospital and SOS of unit.
	2		Swimming instruction. More 6 ton vehicles arrive. Lecture given by DCA on 24 hours packs and tommy cookers. 2 O.Rs. discharged from hospital. 1 O.R. admitted to hospital and S.O.S. unit.
	3		Loading trails carried out with 6 ton Macks. Waterproofing of 4 Fords in preparation for wading. 1 O.R. posted to this unit from H.Q. RASC 11 Armd Div.
	4		Swimming instruction for non-swimmers. 20 vehicles unload ammunition train at FRIMLEY. 5 vehicles collect tank engines at CHILWELL. 2 O.Rs. admitted hospital and SOS unit.
	5		Personnel on Exercise “Fabius” return to unit. Continued work on new vehicles – painting etc. 1 O.R. discharged from hospital and retaken on strength of unit. 1 OR admitted hospital and S.O.S. unit.
ALDERSHOT	6		AFW 3008 and 3009 f rendered to GHQ 2nd Echelon. Str. 15 Offrs 525 ORs 14 HSD.	Appendix 'A'
	6		Platoons commence packing AFG 1098 equipment. Waterproofing continues in preparation for wading. 1 O.R. posted to unit from 7 F.D.S.
	7		Exercise “Bridge II” – Practising drivers in driving over Bailey Bridges. Exercise “Harlot” – Platoons carry out marches to put up mileages on new vehicles, column control and march discipline.
	8		Vehicles wading at HAWLEY LAKE. The Company's four Fords completed in all 83 successful wades. Mack 6 tons modified by Workshops – extra sides added in order that they can carry a full load. Disposal of surplus personnel to 34 RHC (1 Electrician, 1 Veh. Mech) 1 O.R. discharged from hospital and retaken on strength of unit.
	9		De-waterproofing of vehicles after wading. Swimming instruction for non-swimmers. 1 O.R. awarded 112 days detention and struck off strength of unit.
	10		Cleaming and packing of A.F.G. 1098 equipment.
	11		Hygiene demonstration attended by 20 O.Rs.
ALDERSHOT	11		Swimming instruction for non-swimmers. Range – 20 O.Rs. 1 O.R. posted to No. 1 Holding Bn. R.A.S.C. 1 O.R. discharged from hospital and retaken on strength of unit.
	12		Training and testing of drivers and NCOs in use of hand signals and reversing of vehicles on to mock landing craft.
	12		Final tests in vehicle handling commenced – all personnel who have not previously waded. 1 O.R. admitted to hospital and SOS unit.	Appendix 'B'
	13		AFW 3008 and 3009 f rendered to GHQ 2nd Echelon. Str. 15 Offrs 525 ORs 18 HSD.	Appendix 'C'
	13		Training and testing of drivers and NCOs in use of hand signals and reversing of vehicles on to mock landing craft. 1 NCO SOS and posted to Inf N.C. Centre, HIGH BECH, Cheshire.
	14		Training and testing of drivers and NCOs in use of hand signals and reversing of vehicles on to mock landing craft.
	15		Lecture by DCA on use of 24 hours ration and tommy cooker. Wading at HAWLEY LAKE (2 Fords and 2 Macks used by unit).
ALDERSHOT	15		1 O.R. transferred to Class W reserve. 1 O.R. discharged from hospital and retaken on strength of unit.
	16		Party leaves location to collect 20 new Fords 4 x 4 from 23 VRD, ALLESMERE, Hereford, biviouacing overnight and collecting vehicles on 17. May.	Appendix 'D'
	16		Party leaves location to collect 10 new vehicles (Fords) 4 x 4 from 21 VRD, NORTHAMPTON, bivouacing overnight and collecting vehicles on 17 May.	Appendix 'E'
	17	0630	Party left location to collect 5 Ford 4 x 4 3 on vehicles from 61 VRD MALMESBURY, bivouacing overnight and collecting vehicles on 18. May.	Appendix 'F'
	17		7 NCOs posted to 34 RHU (Surplus) 1 O.R. posted to 721 Coy. RASC (GHQ(M)Car). 1 O.R. posted to this unit from 721 Coy, RASC (GHQ(M)Car). 1 OR admitted hospital, and SOS unit.
	18		Maintenance on new vehicles.
	19	0630	Exercise “Spotless” commenced a comprehensive maintenance immediately prior to waterproofing vehicles for operations.	Appendix 'G'
ALDERSHOT	20	1200	AFW 3008 and 3009 f rendered to GHQ 2nd Echelon. Str. 15 Offrs 502 ORs 18 HSD.	Appendix 'H'
	20	0630	Exercise “Spotless” continued. 1 O.R. posted to 34 RHU (Surplus) 4 ORs posted to 711 GT Coy. R.A.S.C. 8 O.Rs. posted to 712 Gt Coy. R.A.S.C.
	21	0630	Exercise “Spotless” continued. Capt. M. Griffiths posted to HQ RASC 11 Armd Div. Griffiths, M.
	21	2200	Exercise “Spotless” completed.
	22	0630	Exercise “Blue” commenced (Waterproofing of vehicles) ready for operations)	Appendix 'I'
	22		1 O.R. admitted to hospital and SOS this unit
	23	0630	Exercise “Blue” continued.
	24	0630	Exercise “Blue” continued. 3 ORs posted to “paper” strength of No. 1 Holding Bn. RASC.
	25	0630	Exercise “Blue” continued.
	25	1300	Exercise “Blue” concluded. 1 O.R. admitted to hospital and SOS of unit
	26		All ranks issued with AV battledress. Loading of M/Cycles and Jeep trailers etc. completed on vehicles. Normal training.
ALDERSHOT	27		AFW 3008 and 9f rendered to GHQ 2nd Echelon. Str. 14 Offrs 514 ORs 8 HSD.	Appendix 'J'
	27		5 ORs posted to this unit from 712 Coy, R.A.S.C. (Gen. Tpt.). Normal training.
	28	0900	Code word Cornelius. Company stand to to be prepared to move. Company packing up – skeleton officers etc left.
	29	1415	GOC visits unit and inspects vehicle loads. Normal daily routine.
	30	0930	340 personnel attend trainign films at Emire Theatre, ALDERSHOT. Normal daily routine.
	31		Normal daily routine.

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Source: Jeroen Koppes, TracesOfWar.com.

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

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