Hi, does anyone know info about this company or any links to history ? I know there are war diaries for the following at Kew - - HQ 1 Port Construction (RE), - Port Construction and Repair Groups - 1 Group, My grandad was in Royal Artillery 1942 until March 1944 then Royal Engineers until March 1946. He was in Burma and India in 1945/46 attached to 980 Company RE. In RE his trade was barge engineer. I believe he was part of Transportation Training Centre at Longmoor - RTC Tn Tc and attached to companies/units whilst in RE. I found this, the title above, yesterday, written on the back of an old photo of him, the day before he joined the army in 1942, where he listed date joined RA, then this company, a little lower I doubt he'd have worked there when he was in Royal Artillery as it seems too early for the development of Marchwood as a port. in the RA I know he was in 227th AA driver training regiment. Have requested full military records but COVID delays. Thanks for any help. The main period I have not tracked down his movements for is Mar 1944 to Nov '44 so I think this clue could be where he was attached as a barge engineer.
I have reread the 980 company war diaries and from November 1944 they were moved to Southampton from IOW. They had attachments because they then took over all commitments of No 2 IWT Group RE based at Marchwood. They were stripping and overhauling Tregurtha engines and rail units. Working on unicraft and also fitting engines to Minca barges. They remained there until shortly after 13/2/45 when they received orders of re-mobilisation to tropical climate ... Burma. The day after my grandad's 40th birthday ! So I know he was in Marchwood now and what the company he was attached to did but I feel he was probably previously there with the No 1 Port Construction and depot coy
