Hello, I am trying to find out some more information about my Grandad during the war. He never talked about his experiences very much and passed on a few years ago. I know he was in the 240th field Company, Royal Engineers, as we have sent off for his service records and have some pictures of the company and Bailey bridges being constructed, but we don't know where. I know he was discharged in Varel, Germany in 1946 and I believe he may have been at D-Day on 6th June, but his records contain some conflicting dates about this so I'm not sure. If anyone has information about the route his unit took into Germany and what actions they were involved with or links to useful resources for finding this information, I would be very grateful for the help. Ben
Ben Welcome on board the Forum You need to look at the 52nd (Lowland) Division they formed part of the Engineers support and was disbanded in 1945
Hi, 52nd (Lowland) Division fits in with my mum telling me that he spent most of his time in Scotland before going over to Europe. Were units moved around and attached to separate divisions at all or did they stay in the same division throughout? He was enlisted 12/12/40 and posted to 240 Field Company 1/5/41, so I imagine that would be after finishing his basic training? He disembarked in the UK 4/6/46 and his testimonial document from his O.C. was signed in Varel Germany 23/5/46 and he was still with 240 Field Company. Thanks very much for the information. Ben
Welcome to The Forum. Some 240th casualties here, looks like the first was in the Sword Beach area. Interesting there is one from May '40. A small cemetery with 3 burials. 001 ANDREWS JWJ 5512569 240 FIELD COY 09/10/1946 ROYAL ENGINEERS 002 BENNETT J 2013885 240 FIELD COY 04/11/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS 003 CLOUSTON JW 2013449 240 FIELD COY 17/06/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS 004 HORTON HA 1983586 240 FIELD COY 12/09/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS 005 HOUGHTON FS 2146504 240 FIELD COY 21/10/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS 006 HUTCHESON G 2076953 240 FIELD COY 23/05/1940 ROYAL ENGINEERS 007 HUTTON GC 1896072 240 FIELD COY 13/03/1941 ROYAL ENGINEERS 008 LAIDLER DK 2125322 240 FIELD COY 11/09/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS 009 LIDDELL F 2036417 240 FIELD COY 16/07/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS 010 POTTS W 1950408 240 FIELD COY 03/09/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS 011 RICHARDS JL 134597 240 FIELD COY 02/11/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS 012 SALISBURY E 5837706 240 FIELD COY 14/09/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS 013 SMITH E 1923069 240 FIELD COY 11/09/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS 014 THACKRAY PL 14440927 240 FIELD COY 03/11/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS
Hello again, I found a site (http://orbat.com/site/uk_orbats/files/6/RE%20World%20War%20II.pdf), which contained the following information about the 240th: 240th (Lowland) Field Coy RE 1st line TA; 3 Sep 1939: Coatbridge; embodied with 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division; relieved 20 Sep 1939. As 240th (Lowland) Army Field Coy RE assigned II Corps 1940. (II Corps RE disbanded Jul 1943.) Later 240th (Lowland) Field Coy RE. Assigned I Corps ca. Jul 1943. Disbanded Sep 1945+. So, I guess I will look into the history of I Corps next. I have also tried looking for the War Diaries for the 240th to see if I can get more detail, but I haven't found anything yet. Does anybody know where I should be looking? Thanks again. Ben
Hi, He wasn't enlisted until the fighting in France during 1940 had finished and only got posted to his first and only Company in May 1941. He wasn't involved in action until he is reported as being embarked on a ship on 3rd June 1944 and then went over to France. Would the 240th have a War Diary for themselves or would I have to search for the Corps Diary? Thanks Ben
Ah, Sorry I missed that-I thought he joined up a lot earlier. 240 will have various diaries, I suspect one for the UK and one for France. I would start with those first and then work you way up to the bigger formations. The bigger the unit ie Div or Corps the bigger the picture you get. 240's diaries will give you the details of what was happening locally to that unit.
How do I get hold of the War Diaries for the 240th? I've been searching around on the National Archives website, but i'm not having much luck at the minute. I could do with a push in the right direction. Thanks Ben
Their SE isn't the easiest to Navigate/Search. You would need to either go in person to Kew once you have the file ref numbers to view them or pay someone to copy them for you.
Here's all the units war diaries covering WW2. Click the red link below if you are interested in getting copies. WO 167/991 240 Company RE 1939 Aug.-1940 June WO 166/3709 240 Company RE 1940 July - 1941 Dec. WO 166/8151 240 Company RE 1942 Jan.-Dec. WO 166/12108 240 Company RE 1943 Jan.-Nov. WO 171/1600 240 Company RE 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 171/5517 240 Company RE 1945 Jan.- Dec. WO 171/9398 240 Company RE 1946 Jan.- June
Hello Ben, I have just discovered this forum and your query about your grandfather. I believe that my father may have served with him. My father was a lance corporal in the 240th from 1943 to 1945. I have quite a few photographs from his time in the army. Maybe your grandfather is amongst them. I have a company photograph I believe was taken in Camberley, Surrey not long before they went overseas to France.
I have a list of REs that landed on Sword. 240 Fld Co RE was not one of them. So look elsewhere perhaps?
Hello, I am trying to find out some more information about my Grandad during the war. He never talked about his experiences very much and passed on a few years ago. I know he was in the 240th field Company, Royal Engineers, as we have sent off for his service records and have some pictures of the company and Bailey bridges being constructed, but we don't know where. I know he was discharged in Varel, Germany in 1946 and I believe he may have been at D-Day on 6th June, but his records contain some conflicting dates about this so I'm not sure. If anyone has information about the route his unit took into Germany and what actions they were involved with or links to useful resources for finding this information, I would be very grateful for the help. Ben Hi Ben, myself and Bluebell Minor are researching the British Army of Occupation post May 45, according to orbat.com 240 Field Company left 52nd (Lowland) Division 20 Sep 1939 and the unit turned up as 1 Corps Troops in July 1943 who ceased to be operational Apr 45...have no records post May 45...according to "Mountain and Flood" the history of 52nd (Lowland) Division the HQRE on disbandement consisted of CRE: Lieutenant Colonel FW Houghton DSO MC On divisional disbandment all units remained as 52 Army Troops RE command HQ BAOR...differs to orbat.com 202 Field Company RE OC: Major R Carmichael MC 241 Field Company RE OC: Major SD Williams MC 554 Field Company RE OC: Major J Bell DSO 243 Field Park Company RE OC: Major RR Crooks Varel is the correct location as 52nd (Lowland) Division took over the area north of Germany replacing 3rd Canadian Infantry Division CAOF in May the Div HQ was in Crerar Barracks Oldenburg then to Bad Zwischenahn Jun 46 disbanded Aug 46...so looks like your Grandad moved at some point to another company...best of luck with your research...
I wonder whether this helps. Looking at my father's military record, I see that wef from 27 May 1943 he was posted from the 280th Fd Coy to the 240 Fld Coy stationed at Maidstone. Three days before D-Day on 3 June 1944 he "embarked UK for BLA (British Liberation Army)" and then "disembarked NWE (North West Europe)" 6 June. My father told me disembarcation in France occurred at 4pm and that they landed with the 3rd Canadian Infantry on Juno. Ergo, it seems your grandpa would also have disembarked NWE (North West Europe) 6 June. Best John
Geoff Thanks for this. I have reorganised your casualty list chronomogically with details of where these men are buried to give some sense of the 240th Field Company's roue through France, Belgium etc. - so long as the formatting behaves itself. I am also working on the War Diaries to document their route. Best John 240th Field Company of Royal Engineers – Casualties, 1940-46 1940 006 Sapper HUTCHESON George 2076953 240 FIELD COY 23/05/1940 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried CROIX COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Croix (west of Roubaix, 10 km NE of Lille), Nord, France 1941 007 Sapper HUTTON Gordon Campbell 1896072 240 FIELD COY 13/03/1941 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried GLASGOW CREMATORIUM, Glasgow, UK 1944 003 Corporal CLOUSTON John William 2013449 240 FIELD COY 17/06/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried HERMANVILLE WAR CEMETERY, Hermanville-sur-Mer (13 kilometres north of Caen), Calvados, France 009 Sapper LIDDELL Frank 2036417 240 FIELD COY 16/07/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, Douvres-la-Delivrande (14 km N of Caen), Calvados, France 010 Driver POTTS William 1950408 240 FIELD COY 03/09/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY, Bayeux, (30 km NW of Caen), Calvados, France 008 Sapper LAIDLER David King 2125322 240 FIELD COY 11/09/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried STE. MARIE CEMETERY, Graville-St. Honorine, LE HAVRE, Seine-Maritime, France 013 Sapper SMITH E 1923069 240 FIELD COY 11/09/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried STE. MARIE CEMETERY, Graville-St. Honorine, LE HAVRE, Seine-Maritime, France 004 Lance Serjeant HORTON Herbert Arthur 1983586 240 FIELD COY 12/09/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried Ste. Marie Cemetery, Graville-St. Honorine, LE HAVRE, Seine-Maritime, France 012 Sapper SALISBURY Edward 5837706 240 FIELD COY 14/09/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried STE. MARIE CEMETERY, Graville-St. Honorine, LE HAVRE, Seine-Maritime, France 005 Driver HOUGHTON Frederick Sidney 2146504 240 FIELD COY 21/10/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried LEOPOLDSBURG WAR CEMETERY, Leopoldsburg, Limburg, Belgium. (JEO-I think this man was killed at Sint-Lenaarts, NW of Antwerp, Belgium) 011 Lieutenant RICHARDS John Lawson 134597 240 FIELD COY 02/11/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY, Nijmegen, Gelderland, Holland 014 Sapper THACKRAY Peter Ledgard 14440927 240 FIELD COY 03/11/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY, Bergen-op-Zoom (40 km NW of Antwerp), Noord-Brabant, Holland 002 Sapper BENNETT Joseph 2013885 240 FIELD COY 04/11/1944 ROYAL ENGINEERS buried BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY, Bergen-op-Zoom (40 km NW of Antwerp), Noord-Brabant, Holland 1946 001 Sapper ANDREWS John William James 5512569 240 FIELD COY 09/10/1946 ROYAL ENGINEERS – buried MUNSTER HEATH WAR CEMETERY, Telgte (nr. Munster 70km N of Dortmund), Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Geoff I am reading the 1944 War Diaries for the 240th Fd Coy RE and have come across an entry on Christmas Day that at 04.30 a "Sgt Stow (or Shaw) was killed". This man is not in your list above, nor could I find him through your search engine. The Diary continues: "Stow? had difficulty in removing safety pin from Mk V mine & it exploded in his face." Poor man. Could you help, please? Many thanks Best John