The 20 Workshop Coy War Diary WO 169/12429 only has entries for September and October 1943. At the end I've added some entries from the 1 Advanced Base Workshop 1943 War Diary - (WO 169/12401) - to provide some information about the unit's movements in November 1943. September 1943. Historical U.K. - Dec.- 1940 Initial mobilisation of company. M.E.F. - May - 1941 Arrival Joined No 4 B.O.W., R.A.O.C M.E.F, (Abbassia) - October 1942 Transferred to No 533 B.W, R.E.M.E NB: (No 533 B.W was largely formed from personnel and equipment under control of 4 B.O.W) Abbassia, M.E.F, (Fargo Camp) - 5 September 1943 - Company filled role of a Holding Unit for No 533 B.W. It remained located in a tented camp during the whole of this period. The personnel consisted of B.O.R.'s, locally enlisted O.R.'s, Syrians, etc. Company was not held complete to strength on G1098 slate. Activities are recorded in War Diaries of No 4 B.O.W and No 533 B.W. Abbassia - 6th September 1943 – Company placed on 48 hours notice to move from 0001 Hrs on 10 Sept. 1943. Abbassia, M.E.F. – 6/9/43 – 0930 – Major C.H. Davies R.E.M.E (52227) from H.Q. No 533 B.W. appointed O.C. Company in lieu of Major Gibbs on grounds of better suitability and fitness. G.H.Q., M.E.F. - 6/9/43 – 1200 – Major C.H. Davies in company with Lt. Col. Holme (R.C.O. No 533 B.W.) reported to E.M.E. Directorate, G.H.Q. to receive special verbal instructions regarding Purpose, Quality and Intentions for Use of Company. Abbassia, Fargo Camp 6/9/43 – 1400 – Work of preparing Company commenced and in effect was an operation involving re-mobilisation of the Company with the termination of activities of a permanent camp. 7/9/43 – 0800 – The following officers reported for duty on posting to company by C.E.M.E. No 533 B.W. Lieut. Butcher A.E.M.E. Lieut. Robinson W.E.O. Capt. Leaky E.M.E. Lieut. Walker Q.M. (Regimental) Lieut. Baker E.M.E. (Ungraded) Capt. Jones N. E.M.E. (Ungraded) 8/9/43 - It is recorded that the original Coy Regimental Officer, Capt Dewar, R.A.O.C. remains as such with the new unit. Various O.R.'s reported to company on inter-coys transfers by the C.E.M.E. No 533 B.W. and Rolls put in hand with equipment checks. Transfers of Syrian O.R.'s etc not reqd arranged. 8/9/43 – 0800 – Visited G.H.Q. ("SD1B") and obtained two copies W.E. for this Wksp. Coy (ME/1045/1) R.E.M.E., M.E.F. Also to E.M.E...and informed to mobilise on G1098 – 794 dated Sept. 1940 modified as necessary to suit revised W.E. strength. Reported changes in W.E. to R.C.O. No 533 B.W. who promised check and confirmation. Wholesale alterations in postings required. C.Q.M. started work on collection and packing of G1098 stores in conjunction with Q.M., H.Q., 533 B.W. Regimental Officer started work of closing Coy Accounts etc.
9/9/43 – 0800 – Coy Organisation hand down ie H.Q. Pltn with three others. Officers appointed. Pltn rolls put in hand. Coy Training Regtl Programme drawn up. Instructions found necessary and obtained on loan from Base Depot. Senior N.C.O.'s generally found very weak on Regtl. Work. All men on leave recalled. Arranged no leave from Camp except on pass for maximum period of 12 hours. 10/9 – 0800 – Medical Inspections of Officers and men put in hand. Kit and Equipment inspections in hand as men arrive, with deficiency reports to C.Q.M. 11/9 – 0800 – Inspection of Officers and mens documents. Personnel concentrated in tents as transfers, etc. permitted. 12/9 – 0800 – Church Parade. O.C. inspection of men on strength. Clearance of all excess personnel to W.E. by R.C.O. hastened. 13/9 – 0800 – First Coy Muster Parade. Gas and P.A.D. Equipment examined, listed in Gas Chamber Drill. Deficiencies issued as available. Surpluses disposed off strength charge. 14/9 – 0800 – Coy Training to programme in operations. 15/9 – 0800 – On instruction of C.E.M.E. all Coy personnel taken from local workshops 533 B.W. Capt. Leaky replaced by Capt Edmund Jones under C.E.M.E. order. 16/9 – 0800 – Arrangements made for marching out Slate. Lt. Baker taken off strength due to sickness. Instruction issued regarding action with Stationary Boxes, Coy Property etc. Reinforcements still arriving. 17/9 – 0800 – Platoon and Section Training in hand. Action taken with Q.M. to hasten up clearance of G1098 slate etc. Slate on this date was: Personnel deficiencies 29 G1098 90% complete 18/9 – 0800 – Coy Training put in hand. Full muster parade and inspections. All ranks fired musketry course (rifle) 2/5 application on No 6 Range. 200 yards. Fairly satisfactory results obtained. 19/9 – 0800 – Muster Parade. Worked ½ day only. Lt. Battersby reported in replacement of Lt. Baker to C.E.M.E. instructions. 20/9 – 0800 – Coy Training progressing fairly well. Marching practice. Lectures arranged and given by Officers on:- Security – this heavily stressed. Relationships in Enemy Occupied Territory Simple Map Reading – War Geography. 21/9 – 0800 – Coy taken on Route March. 3 miles battle order. Exercises done in Gas Attack, Aircraft Attack, and Platoon defence on the march. Lectures arranged and given. Medical Officer – Hygiene on movement. Army Act read – V.D. etc - given and explained. 22/9 – 0800 – Coy Training, Route march 4 miles, battle order, including independent Platoon and Section Training in defence tactics. Afternoon devoted to lectures (1) by M.O. (2) R.E.M.E. Organisation (3) Map Reading. Coy Concert arranged for evening. Small band being developed. Fairly successful. Some promising talent. 23/9 – 0800 – Platoon and Section Training in Musketry and L.M.G. Lectures by Platoons on Security. 24/9 – 0800 – Platoon and Section Training in Field Signals, Aircraft Defence Action, Bayonet Drill. Lectures on Field Experiences, Tank Busting, etc. 25/9 – 0800 – Full Muster Parade. O.C. Inspection of Personnel and Camp. Slate as found considered fairly satisfactory. Action taken to obtain uniformity. Afternoon period (Sat) devoted to Recreation. 26/9 – 0800 – Church Parade. Platoon Parade 0900 hours with Officer i/c check of all AB64 for correctness, completeness and security. Personnel Rolls checked. Work finished 1230 hours. Check made on Sick Reports. Percentage for period 20/26 Sept inclusive, daily average, is 2.02 x number admitted to Hospital during the period in nil x One man died 23/9 and was buried Heliopolis on 25/9 with military honours. [Using Geoff's Search Engine I believe the man was John Borthwick ] Cause of death was natural causes x Causes of Unit sickness are (a) bad feet, (b) diarrhoea, (c) colds, etc. The Unit M.O. is satisfied that slate is not serious, and due to necessary regimental preparation. The average medical grade of Unit is AIV with lowest of BIII. Unit Serial No 30103 received from E.M.E. (Plannings) 27/9 – 0800 – Coy. Muster Parade “A” Platoon taken over Commando Course. “B” x “C” Platoons Bren Gun, Bayonet Drill etc. ABCA discussion. “Tug of War” Competition. 28/9 – 0800 - “B” Platoon taken over Commando Course. “A” x “C” Platoons Bren Gun, Rifle & Bayonet drill. Demonstration of Close Combat by A.P.T.C. Staff. “Tug of War” Competition. 29/9 – 0800 - “C” Platoon taken over Commando Course. “A” x “B” Platoons Musketry Instruction. Guard mounting instruction. Practice close combat. Recreational Training. 200 Kits of Canadian Fitters Hand Tools issued by 5 B.O.D. in lieu of sets of American Spanners. 30/9 – 0800 – Rifle & Bayonet drill. Close Combat. Lectures under Platoon Commanders. Recreational Training. Football Competition.
[At this point the War Diary Name changes to 20 Workshop Coy 1 Advanced Base Workshop.] October 1943 1/10/43 – 0800 – Muster Parade. Battle Order with Rifles. Inspection of Unit by Brig E.R. Ash C.E.M.E. 533 Base Workshops, R.E.M.E. followed by March Past of Unit. 5 mile Route March. Recreational Training. 2/10/43 – 0800 - Foot & Rifle Drill. Anti Gas Training. Close Combat. Recreational Training. 3/10/43 – 0800 – All ranks C of E Church Parade. 4/10/43 – 0800 – Company Field Scheme. Defended position held by “C” Platoon. “A” & “B” Platoon attacking units. Useful information gained in Field Craft. 5/10/43 – 0800 – Foot & Rifle Drill. Swimming Instruction, First Aid & A.B.C.A. Lectures. Recreational Training. 6/10/43 – 0800 – Foot & Rifle Drill. Swimming Instruction, Close Combat Training. First Aid Lectures. General Fitters given instruction on QF 25 Pdr & 6 Pdr Equipments. Recreational Training. 7/10/43 – 0800 – Coy. Muster Parade. Battle Order with Rifles followed by 5 miles Route March during which exercises were carried out. Foot Inspection of Coy. Recreational Training. 8/10/43 – 0800 – N.C.O.'s Cadre Class started to improve standard of drill. Foot & Rifle Drill. Technical Lectures. Recreational Training. 9/10/43 – 0800 – N.C.O.'s Cadre Class. Foot & Rifle Drill. Musketry Instruction. Technical Lectures. Half Day. 11/10/43 – 0800 – Regimental Training of Company. 12/10/43 – 0800 – Inspection by D.M.E., M.E.F. of Company with march past. Verbal appreciation given by D.M.E. of very satisfactory state of Company. Signal received. 0900 - Reference SD 21250 dated12 October 1943 placing Company on 4 hours notice for move overseas. At final destination to come under command 15 Army Group. 2400 – Final preparations for move made. Marching Out Slate, etc. prepared. 13/10/43 – 1100 – Road Movement Order No MOR/712 dated 13 October 1943 received. Unit moved 1600 hours complete with G1098 stores. Arrived Suez 20:00 hrs. Placed in tented Transit Camp No 157. Supper served and all bedded down by 23:00 hours. Move accomplished without incident. Suez Transit Camp No 157 – 14 Oct – Held in Transit Camp. Day spent in detail camp organisation. Verbal orders received to be prepared to move for Ship early 16 Oct 1943. 15 Oct – Company held ready for move to docks. Suez at 0730 hours. G1098 stores held already loaded. Transport for personnel arrived 0830 hours. All embarked by 0900 hours. Arrived docks 0930 hours, personnel and G1098 stores embarked ship TAMAROA 1245 hours. At Sea – 16 Oct – Ship sailed 0430. Reached Port Said 1630 hrs. At Sea 17 – 21 Oct – Ship anchored AUGUSTA, SICILY 1000 hrs 21 Oct after uneventful voyage. 21 Oct – Personnel disembarked by lighters complete by 1245 hours. Given hot meal on quay. Transported transit camp 1530 hrs. Augusta, Sicily – 21 Oct – 1600 – Arrived transit Camp (Sun Camp No 1) Consist of 60/180 tents only. No water supply or hygiene arrangements. All in very wet and dirty state. (Believed originally Highland Brigade Camp). Took over en bloc, inspected & re-arranged tents set up improvised cooking arrangements. Dug latrines etc. Prepared tea for men. All bedded down by 1200 hrs. Baggage Party at Docks on disembarkation of G1098 stores. Relief guards and hot meal sent down.
22 Oct – All personnel employed in preparation of Camp Site. No R.E. Services available. Reported Coy Arrival to Area Commander. Camp visited by D.A.Q.M.G. (Major Lauder) Essential transport & water trailer service arranged. 22 Oct – Confirmed free day in Camp. Personnel taken by Platoon for Sea Bathing. G1098 Baggage & Stores arrived and stacked. Make & mend done. 23 Oct – Received request from D.D.M.E. No 1 District for assistance in classifying B vehicles in No 42 A.V.P. Visited at Catania & arranged Details. Company regimental training resumed during this day. 24 Oct – 50% Personnel started work, remainder on regimental training. 25 Oct – Work and regtl training continued. Rail Movement Order No SRE/587 received to take effect. Baggage G1098 for rail by 2200 hrs. 25 Oct. Personnel on road by 0630 hours 26 Oct. 26 Oct – All completed to order. Rail journey personnel commenced. G1098 Baggage and party sent on different rail route to arrive destination PALERMO. O.C. Company appointed O.C. Train. All detrained at near GERBINI and entrained ¼ mile further up line. Bomb damage on rail bridge. Two one hour halts arranged. Personnel given hot tea. 24 hours rations carried using Company stores & equipment. One Unit on train (31 Field Butchery) carried no stack of rations. Journey in covered trucks. All ranks. Palermo – 27 Oct – Arrived 0245 hours. Weather wet and cold. Arrival apparently unexpected and delay of 3 hours until detrainment arrangements could be made. 0700 – All personnel carried U.S. Transport to No 1 Staging Camp. USA Officer acting as Liaison. Camp site allocated, poor position, undrained, etc., no water supply. Liaison stated best available at short notice, gave directions for supply of tents and then left site. He returned late afternoon with further directions regarding rations & water supply. Obtained tents (42) and erected same. Using own stock rations, and water carried by personnel had hot meal by 1200 hours. Built fires to dry clothing etc. Improvised sanitary work put in hand. Reported Unit arrival to MOV. LIAISON Officer (British Army) with full details of strength and baggage. Requested adverse report on Unit Arrival arrangements to be passed to British Army Area Command when such available. 28 Oct – Full Unit under command paraded and thorough check made of slate. 15% sick roll, mainly chills and colds. No malaria suspects. Work on camp sanitary, cooking arrangements etc., continued. Morale good. Spirits improving. Baggage Party with G1098 stores reported, and arrangements initiated for transport from Railhead and Camp reception, unloading etc. All arrived in good condition. 29 Oct – Work on camp arrangements, drainage in hand. Sick parade 9%. U.S. Army found unwilling to give assistance. Little or no adequate pressure possible and unable to obtain alternatives to own efforts due absence of Local British Army Area Command. Issue of U.S. Rations (C) 2 days obtained. 30 Oct – Coy regimental and recreational training resumed. Sick parade 8%, colds, etc. No malaria. Leave given to visit town. Curfew 1900 hours. Camp site visited 1100 hrs by A.D.M.S. No 1 District. All improvised sanitary and drainage arrangements passed as satisfactory. Agreement obtained that R.E. Services essential at early date. Water supply service (by carrying party 2 miles) inspected and early improvement promised. Action also promised with U.S. H.Q. for change of ration issue to B type to improve quality and variety. This subsequently obtained. 31 Oct – Camp settling down to normal routine. Efforts made to secure issues of battledress from No1 District, in lieu of K.D. worn, unsuccessful. Some friction observed with neighbouring Maurition Unit References to 20 Workshop Coy in 1 Advanced Base Workshop 1943: Tel-El-Kebir - August 24 1943 – ...4 Cfn. Motor Mechs. posted from this unit to 20 Workshop Coy., 533 Base Workshops. It was agreed by G.H.Q. O.2.E. M.E.F. that these personnel remain with the unit but surplus to Establishment. Naples – October 27 1943 – Signal 3ABW/560, dated 25-10-43, received advising the departure by sea of 7 Workshop Company to C.M.F., on 24-10-43. This Signal was the first intimation received that this Company was en route to this location. It had previously been impressed on A.D.M.E. 57 Area that neither 7 Workshop Coy nor 20 Workshop Coy should be called forward until they could be utilised and arrangements made for their reception. The position will not be helped by the premature arrival of 7 Workshop Company,. Finally in a correspondence to the D.D.M.E: The Headquarters of this unit arrived at Salerno on 7 Oct 43 and on landing found that No.15 Workshop Company had been in that town since 26 Sept 43. No. 7 Workshop Coy. Arrived at Naples on 1 Nov 43 and No. 20 Workshop Coy arrived in Naples on 8 Nov 43. It is not understood why the Workshop companies were called forward to join the Headquarters before either a suitable workshop site or accommodation for the personnel had been obtained.
On 7th December 1943, 20 Workshop Company was moved to Reggio Istituto Tecnico Alessandro Volta for billet accommodation.
From 1 Advanced Base Workshop War Diary - WO 170/2951 Jan - June 1944: Naples - 8th January 1944 - ADME 57 Area visited this Headquarters with regard to billet accommodation. The billets at present occupied by No 20 Workshop Company, were about to be taken over as a hospital, thereby entailing another move or this Company, but, as yet, no ruling has been given regarding new premises to be occupied. 15th February 1944 - Due to the arrival of personnel of 67 General Hospital at Instituto Technico, personnel of this formation (B Group) moved from Instituto Technico to billetting accommodation in Piedmont Barracks. 5th May 1944 - W/Lieut Walker (LT/QM 20 Coy) SOS on admission to hospital. 18th May 1944 - Lieut H.N Lamb posted to 20 Wksp Coy from 8 Army Tps Wksps. 22nd May 1944 - W/Lieut W. Walker (Lt/QM 20 Workshop Coy) TOS on discharge from hospital. 14th May 1944 - HQ and 7 and 20 Wksp Coys are to be prepared to move to a new location taking G.1098 equipment and machinery. Message from MAIN AAI to DISTHREE sent in June 1944 states "1 Adv Base Wksp, 7 and 20 Wksp Coys will move from NAPLES to TOR SAPIENZA F 8365 under orders MOVWIT on a date to be mutually arranged between Movwit and 1 Adv Base Wskps.
Hi Kerri - sorry nothing on the transit camp. Below are the war diary references for it. The files are held at The National Archives in Kew. Have you already a copy of any of them? If not - and you can't get there yourself - Lee (psywar.org) copies relevant files for a reasonable price. This is his web link: Arcre - Home WO 169/6708 157 Transit Camp 1942 May- Dec. WO 169/13556 157 Transit Camp 1943 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/17940 157 Transit Camp 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/21496 157 Transit Camp 1945 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/24179 157 Transit Camp 1946 Jan.- June Total records found: 5
