50th Division Engineers

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by DavidW, Apr 8, 2012.

  1. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Does anyone know when the 50th Divisional Engineers arrived in North Africa?
     
  2. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    They went in April 1941, it maybe prudent to have a look at Convoy Net for WS convoys this will give you more of an idea as to when they travelled
     
  3. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thanks for that.

    What is Convoy net?
     
  4. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    Convy Net
    Tells you all the convoy's that left the UK, you need the WS (Winston's Specials) it
    will tell you when the left the UK and arrival in the Middle East.

    Also remember that the 50 Div got badly mauled at the "Cauldron" and units may have changed or been reformed afterwards.
     
  5. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    It depends on what RE outfit you mean, and also what you mean by 'arrived in North Africa.' 50th Div arrived in the Middle East early in 1941, but didn't stay in Egypt long at all before moving to Cyprus. By the winter, the division was in Iraq. The 150th Brigade Group was in North Africa (Libya) by January of 1942. The 232nd Field Company was the sapper component of the brigade group. The rest of 50th Division (including 233rd & 505th Field Coys and 235th Field Park Coy) arrived in Libya (Gazala Line) in March. So if you mean 'arrived in North Africa for field service,' as opposed to transit through the Egyptian ports, then the answer is January-March 1942.
     
  6. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    TTH.
    I was refering to
    232nd, 233rd & 505th Field Companies. + 235th Field Park Company.
    So the Jan - Mar 1942 dates were the ones I was after.
    Thank you for a most detailed answer.
    David.
     
  7. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    You're welcome, but I don't have more exact dates. The 232nd Field Coy was destroyed along with the rest of 150th Brigade at Gazala early in June 1942, and as far as I know was never reformed.
     
  8. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello David,

    Nothing much to add to what TTH has said except that, the 150th Infantry Brigade was first sent up the Western Desert soon after it arrived in Egypt on 13 June 1941, spending approximately 1 month at the front before moving to join the rest of 50 Div in Cyprus. It is likley that the 232 Field Coy, RE, would have been with them.

    As TTH says the 150th Infantry Brigade were sent up the West Desert [again], on 25 January 1942, finding itself in the Gazala line at Bir Hacheim around the 2 February 1942. Interestingly, it was the 150th Infantry Brigade, including its Sappers, that began to devise the defences at Bir Hacheim that the Free French were to make such good use of during the Gazala battles a few months later. The 150th Infantry Brigade's fate at Gazala was sealed when it was ordered to swap positions with the Free French a couple of weeks later.

    The first elements of the rest of 50 Div - principally the 69th and 151st Infantry Brigades - started to arrive in the Gazala line around the 25/26 February 1942, the move likely being completed in March 1942.

    The 232 Field Coy, RE, was destroyed on 1 June 1942 and never reformed.

    I hope this helps.

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  9. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    It does, thanks.
     

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