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to the Reports Index Page| Incidents, Messages, Orders, Etc. |
| 1 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath |
| CLIFTON HEATH PROJECT |
| Work has already been going on on this project carried out by the
advanced details. Most of the main body is quite busy getting their
new homes and offices in shape for some kind of working quarters. At
first the men were quite disappointed in the general appearance but
they will change their attitude when they begin to compare some of
the training they have had against their present conditions.
Weather clear and sunny. We were quite interested in watching the P-38 and the British Spitfires play around in the skies those above 25000 feet was leaving the most picturesque vapor trails. |
| 2 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| The work of building a new camp has begun in earnest now with all
companies busy on various phases of new construction.
Co. A. Co. B. Co. C. H&S Co. |
| 3 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| The work is progressing in quite the usual manner with the companies changing over on the duties so as to add to the training received by each. Tomorrow the kitchen will be complete with the exception of plumbing. Shower huts are being constructed but the plumbing will be done by the 342nd Engr. Regt GS. |
| 4 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath Berkshire. |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Work on the camp is going on at a high rate of efficiency. The men
work well knowing that the work is something of importance. There
always seems to be a lot of high priority jobs to be done and not
quite enough men to do them.
Work is progressing quite rapidly on the water tower with its construction near completion. Tents are being shifted around to make things about the camp a little more convenient. Today the Hqs moved into the command post tent |
| 5 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Today being Sunday not much of any type of work is being done. Lt Col Van Atta visited us and seemed very much pleased with the way things are going around the area. |
| 6 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath Berkshire. |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| The camp site is improving greatly with new walked (Gravel) being made in all places where a lot of foot traffic is necessary. The men are working pretty hard to finish the project so they can get on with more important engineer training. |
| 7 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire. |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| The area is very near the completion point with painting and
various incidental jobs to do to complete the work.
Major Reagan, Captains Knight and Lt Anderson made a trip to the new bridge site a site adapted to training on the Bailey Bridge construction. |
| 8 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire. |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Bridge reconnaissance was the major item of importance this
morning and the bridge site will be located at Maple Durham.
Still minor adjustments about the camp site to make it complete. The weather is excellent with lots of sunshine. |
| 9 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire. |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Today much the same as other days here, a lot of work to be done
yet before the other units can move in the area.
The Communications Section of the S-1 went to the 1103rd Engr C Gp Hq, to take the tests in Radio communications and came through with flying colors, a really capable section. |
| 10 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| The usual camp duties is about all that took place today. The men
are working quite hard to get the place looking like an army Camp.
Held the first Retreat Parade today in our new camp, went off fairly well. Some parts still quite questionable. |
| 11 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| The Bn is still on the training schedule with practical work
thrown in to help. The men really like it since they all feel that
they are accomplishing something in doing their training.
Today the first of the men for the MG school in AA fire arrived. The men will start the school on the coming Monday. |
| 12 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire. |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Nothing much in the line of training going on today being Sunday. Company C has left their area to take additional training on the Bailey Bridge. They will be gone for five days then Company B will follow. |
| 13 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire. |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Today starts a new idea by the 1103rd Engr C Gp. Each
section is required to sub. a report daily on its activities and its
status, more troubles.
The weather today was very cold with very heavy frosts early in the morning. Quite like the winters at home without the snow. |
| 14 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire. |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Things much the same today with the new headquarters building nearly complete with the exception of the interior painting. The British Telephone service came today to put in a new switch board with 14 new telephones to attend to by our message center. |
| 15 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| The Bn Hq moved this morning from a tent to the permanent
building. The painting is complete on this building and the new
switch board is nearly all installed. The men in the Hq received
instructions on the new telephone system, quite complicated.
The water tower is nearly complete with men from all companies putting on the priming coat of Red Lead, the pump itself is being connected, should have water all over the camp before long. |
| 16 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Nothing much of importance doing today except that Company C. is still at the Bailey Bridge Site. The water tower is now complete in its construction and the pump is connected to the tower. The water tank was filled for a test. The shelter over the pump is very nearly completed. |
| 17 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Company B had its personnel moved out to the Bailey Bridge site
near Wallingsford. The motor transportation that took company B out
also brought back Company C.
The AA school for machine gun fire held here by the first army has been completed, with S/Sgt Warren Snyder excelling as the Bns outstanding student. |
| 18 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Not much new along the training line except that it is found that
the Water tank is leaking very badly and something had to be done
about it.
Company A is preparing to go to the field for additional training. The detail situation about the camp site will be something with only one line company. The mess situation is quite bad but the officers are doing something about it. |
| 19 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Company A has been sent out to do some additional training in the
field. Other than that being Sunday, not much else going on.
The weather is very good on a whole, less rain than expected. |
| 20 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Today is really blue Monday, with every thing being wrong. The
message center was in bad shape. We sent one man out of the message
center to Radio Operations School.
The mess situation was really bad today so a new idea has been worked out and the last meal of the day showed signs of improvement. A new type of recreation has been established in the battalion, being namely softball. The officers of the Bn played the officers of the 204th and beat them 5 to 4 but a very good game. |
| 21 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| Work had been started by the Bn for a rifle range. Company C is
doing the work since both companies A and B are still in the field.
A lot of work is necessary to make it a good range.
The men in camp is working quite hard because of the necessity of so many details. In the line of recreation Hq and Serv Co played a game of softball against C Co and won by a score of 9 to 1. A very good game. |
| 22 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| There was a lot of activity about the camp and training area
today. Company C is very busy getting the rifle range in shape for
the Bn to use in training. Company A has moved from the fixed bridge
site out to the Bailey Bridge site while Company B moved from the
Bailey Bridge site back to the camp area. The men all want to go
back to the Bridge sites since the number of details there is
considerably smaller and the food is much better.
The weather today is really beautiful, clear and sunny. |
| 23 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| CAMP CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| One Platoon of Company C is on the range zeroing their rifles
while the remainder of the company is one the fixed bridge site.
Company A is established at the Bailey Bridge site now and started training today. Col. Rolland and Lt Col Latham, the CO and the O of the 1103rd Engr C Gp visited the area today most of their time being spent at the 204th Hq. The weather today as quite cloudy in the morning but this afternoon the sun came out and it turned quite warm. |
| 24 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire. |
| TRAINING |
| Today is training day when everyone carries their individual
equipment. Hq and Serv co is still performing Staff and Service
functions.
Company A. is still in training on the Bailey Bridge. Company B. is training in construction of Timber Trestle Bridging. Company C. is all out at the range zeroing their individual weapons. |
| 25 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| TRAINING |
| The Bn is training as per schedule with Company A on the Bailey
Bridge and Company B on the Timber Trustle Bridge.
Company C is in the area doing local policing and fatigue details. The weather is clear and very warm. |
| 26 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| TRAINING |
| Company B left the Bn area and went into Bivouac out at Area 611,
near Nettlebed, for minefield training.
The day being Sunday no other type of training of importance was carried on. The day was exceptionally warm and very bright. |
| 27 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| TRAINING |
| Company B is now established out at Area 611 and has started training on the mine fields. Company A should complete training on the Bailey Bridge today. Company C is still in the area doing general policing and fatigue duties. Hq and Serv Co started to zero their individual weapons today. Authorization came through for the Bn to start use of their radios, radio silence is now broken. Tried all day to reach group, but impossible, it has since been learned that Group was operating on the wrong frequency. |
| 28 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| TRAINING |
| Today Hq and Sev Co finished zeroing of their pieces and most of
the men seemed quite pleased with the way their rifles do fire. At
1330 Company C moved out to establish a bivouac in preparation for a
might problem.
Bn Hq started a radio school today to train additional radio operators. |
| 29 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| TRAINING |
| Company A is now at Mapledurhamon continued training on the Bailey
Bridge, during the morning and during the afternoon they moved to
Area 611 for training in minefields.
Company B is at Area 611 for training in minefields, roads and Demolition's. Company C at Mapledurham training with the Bailey Bridge. Hq and Serv Co performing Staff and Service functions and also getting all the camp fatigue details. The weather is quite cloudy with threats of rain. |
| 30 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire |
| TRAINING |
| Company A moved from Mapledurham to Area 611 yesterday and they
are spending the day training in minefields, roads and demolition's.
Company B completed training at area 611 and moved into the Battalion area at 1630 this afternoon. Company C is continuing training at the Bailey Bridge site at Mapledurham. Hq and Serv Co still staff and service functions. |
| 31 March 1944 |
| Clifton Heath, Berkshire. |
| TRAINING |
| Company A returned to Battalion Area at 1500
Company B in Bn area continuing training. Supplied all details for the day. Company C returned to Battalion recognized tactical day with everyone carrying the weapons they are armed with and gas masks. Gas masks are worn at least 30 minutes a day. Lt Col Latham, the Executive Officer of the 1103rd Engr C Gr visited the Bn Hq at 1000, departed about 1045. Col Rowland, Co of 1103rd Engr C Gp, Col Carter, Executive Officer Engr Hq, First U.S. Army, Lt Col Van Atta, Co of this Bn, and Major Thompson, Royal Canadian Army attended a meeting at this Hq at 1900 hours when Major Thompson addressed the officers on "Procedures in Street Fighting." |