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January 1944

There was no time in, out, serial #, time dated, or action taken this month
Incidents, Messages, Orders, Etc.
1 January 1944
Swindon, Wilts, England
Advance party commenced set up of all sections. Rear still aboard ship preparing to leave in the very short future.

2 January 1944
Swindon, Wilts, England
Advance party continuing setting up of all sections, caring for all details needed. Rear disembarked and proceeded by train for destination.

3 January 1944
Swindon, Wilts, England
Officers and enlisted men of H&S, A, and B Companies arrived at destination (Swindon, Wilt, England) at 0900

Weather very warm.

4 January 1944
Swindon, Wilt, England
Usual routine camp duties. All personnel began clearing and policing of area and buildings. All sections were functioning and smooth coordination was in progress.

5 January 1944
Swindon, Wilts. England
Routine camp duties. Inspection made of all buildings by Major Reagan. Everything was found very satisfactory.

6 January 1944
Swindon, Wilts, England

Bn commenced preparation for inspection to be conducted by SBS. All buildings and grounds thoroughly policed as never before.

8 January 1944
Swindon, Wilts, England
H&S Co. Usual staff and Service functions

ABC Review of training. Weather warm.

7 January 1944
Swindon, Wilts, England
Entire bn inspection by our CO and Staff members. Favorable reports received by all companies. Weather very mild.

9 January 1944
Swindon, Wilt, England
Same as yesterday. Weather mild and cloudy.

10 January 1944
Swindon, Wilt, England
Same as yesterday. Weather very cloudy.

11 January 1944
Swindon, Wilts, England
Many enlisted men began complaining about the food being served. Severe cramps were had because of the poor grade of food being served. Steps were immediately taken to correct the situation.

12 January 1944
Swindon, Wilts, England
Advanced party of 6 Officers and 69 enlisted men departed for new station. Remainder began packing af all our equipment and policing of area. Weather very calm.

13 January 1944
Swindon, Wilt, England

Battalion departed from Swindon by motor convoy. Arrived at Kingston, Bagouize at approximately 1700. This continual experience of moving on several different occasions has prompted us to become very efficient and expeditious.

14 January 1944
Kingston-Bagpuize
H&S resumed normal staff and service functions. ABC began excavation at airport. Weather warm and clear.

15 January 1944
Kingston, Bagpuize Eng
Usual duties. Weather warm but cloudy.

16 January 1944
Kingston Bagpuize
Church services at Oxford today. All personnel who desired to go to the church were given the opportunity and several trucks formed a convoy to Abington Wingate for church services. TAT arrived late last night and was unpacked today.

17 January 1944
Kingston Bagpuize

Wing Commander John visited headquarters. Adjutant made trip to hospital in regards to a few of our men under treatment there.

18 January 1944
Kingston, Bagpuize
The Adjutant left today in regards to finding a suitable area large enough to allow our unit to participate in a battalion inspection to be conducted Saturday the 22nd. A spacious area was found about one mile from our headquarters.

19 January 1944
Kingston, Bagpuize
There has been a slight drizzle of rain falling all day long. Officers of our unit went to a dance given by the 40th Station Hospital Located at Lydiad Park.

A B & C Companies engaged in unit training. H&S Staff and Service functions.

21 January 1944
Kingston Bagpuiz
Battalion prepared for inspection to be held tomorrow. Dry Run was held at 1530. The weather has been very windy. Received 11 mail bags today.

23 January 1944
Kingston- Bagpuize

Nothing much today, boys went to mass in Abington, fine church, more mail came in today, good morale booster.

Weather clear and warm.

24 January 1944
Kingston-Bagpuize
Official notification received today stating that we were assigned to First Army.

25 January 1944
Kingston-Bagpuize
Found out low-down on inspection we had Saturday and we received an excellent rating. Operation on airport going along fine. Weather today was fair yet cloudy.

Field Message-

No. 1 25 January 1944.

To: Commanding Officer, 403rd Water Supply Battalion.

Colonel Pearson O and T Officer, Engar. Section Army, desires you to telephone him at your earliest convenience.

Master 275.

GEORGE R. LYON JR.

1st Lt., C.E.

Adjutant.

26 January 1944
Kingston Bagpuize
Today Lt. Lyon our adjutant and Mr. Kirkland, our personnel officer departed for the 1st Army Headquarters in seek of information both administrative and general. To put a little color in this journal I will now tell you exactly what our mission here is. When we arrived here we did not know exactly but rumors had it that we were going to build what is commonly known an airport, well, rumors had it right cause that's just what we are building.

AIRPORT PROJECT.

Co. A,
Working on existing road into the Airport, pouring concrete and extending Road. Very muddy in spots but mostly wet and damp.

Co. B,
Two platoons are working on the Butler Hanger site. Preparations for erecting the hanger. Remainder of the Co. are working on French Drains and laying Pierce planking on the runways. The boys are doing a fine job.

Co. C,
Miscellaneous work on runways such as general police, brushing sand into the pierce planking , French drains, laying tarmas at the intersections and so forth.

H&S Co.,
Little is said of this company but look back and you know darn well that each section here is doing it's part even though no manual labor is involved.

27 January 1944
Kingston Bagpuize
Today our Adjutant and Personnel Officer barged in at about 1030, with plenty of reading material now that we are under the First Army, things will be somewhat different. As Usual it started to rain and made it all the more muddy around the entire area.

AIRPORT PROJECT

Co. A,
Laying forms and pouring concrete on the new "cut in" road to the Airport. Still muddy and very disagreeable to work. Have to pull the trucks into the road site with Angle Dozer. One squad working on the Butler Hangers.

Co. B,
Two platoons working on Butler hanger assembling parts and trusses and laying concrete forms for footers. A.D.E. section running center lines for footers and grade level lines for floor of Hangers.

Co. C,
Miscellaneous work on runways constant. Traffic on runways are ruining them. The company is blacking certain sections of the runway off for traffic, also cutting earth away for tarmac connections between pierced planking and concrete intersections, also working on french drains.

H&S Co.,
Usual staff and service functions.

28 January 1944
Kingston Bagpuize
Today there were three Court Martial orders Cut, which is a record and also a discredit to the Battalion. One man was sent to confinement.

AIRPORT PROJECT

Co. A,
One platoon of the company laid forms for concrete footings for the steel trusses on the Butler Hanger. Remainder of the company poured concrete and grading men cut in Road to Airport.

Co. B,
Two platoons of this company were engaged in grading and excavating earth for the Second Butler Hanger. Preparing forms for concrete footings and remainder of the company did miscellaneous work on runways.

Co. C,
One platoon working on temporary road of Pierced planking from the north end of runway, one to perimeter track. Remainder of company on general police work.

H&S Co.,
Staff and Service functions A.D.E. and S*3 section laying in road and making grade level for Butler Hanger foundation and flooring. Also lining up concrete forms. Instruments were in constant use.

30 January 1944
Kingston Bagpuize
Operations on the Airport ceased today as this was a working man's day holiday. Most of the men went to different services in Abington.

Trucks went in to Oxford for recreational purposes.

Today was the best day we had had since we arrived in the ETO, it was warm and clear.

29 January 1944
Kingston Bagpuize
AIRPORT PROJECT

Co. A,
One platoon working on #1 Butler Hanger, poured concrete on one side for the footings. One platoon pouring concrete on extensions of road leading to the south end of the Airport.

Co. B,
Two platoons working on #2 Butler Hanger, excavation warth for the concrete forms for footings. Remainder of the company were working on miscellaneous work on runways.

Co. C,
One platoon to this company working on temporary road from northern end of the runway one to perimeter track. Remainder of the company working on miscellaneous work on all runways.

H&S Co.
A.D.E. AND S-3 Sections were engaged in surveying roads and lining up steel footings on concrete poured by Company A.

Transits had to be used for this purpose. Remainder of the company on usual staff and service functions.

The weather today was clear and bright.

31 January 1944
Kingston Bagpuize
Co. A,
One platoon pouring concrete footings and laying steel plates on Butler Hanger #1.

Remainder of the Company, grading and laying concrete forms and pouring concrete for concrete road at northern and southern end of new cut in Road to Airport.

Co. B,
Entire Company Working on Butler Hanger #2, laying forms and pouring concrete for footings. Erection of this Hanger should start tomorrow.

Co. C,
Two platoons grading and making preparations for laying concrete forms for the new cut in road to the Airport. This company is working on the center portion of the road. Remainder of the company are working on Runway #1, Drainage on this runway is not so good.

H&S CO.
A.D.E. SECTION AND S-3 Section running transit lines and level lines for Hangers and Roads. Also acting as Liaison between British Air Ministry and Engrs. Remainder of company on Staff and Service functions.

Today was cloudy and damp.

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