Stevemac, Here is an equivalent 50 Div RASC diary for August 1944. Lots of interesting information. Source: WO/171/2482 1 August 1944 810749 0750 11 x 3 ton deliver P.O.L. to Pet Pt and reload from FMC. 0830 17 x 3 ton collect supplies from 119 D.I.D. for delivery to Sup Pt. 1035 3 x 3 ton collect rfts from Corps Rec Camp & deliver to S.P. 2030 L/T message – officer rep required by CRASC – 2 i/c reports. Informed that 30 x 3 ton will be required during the night to convey amn forward under directions CRASC 30 Corps Tps. 2120 L/T message re amn lift. Officer to report to CRASC 30 Corps Tps. 2150 R/T message from CRASC Div. 30 x 3 ton to proceed immediately to amn dump 151 FMC. 2220 30 x 3 ton proceed to amn dump 151 FMC. 2 August 1944 0630 30 x 3 ton return to unit – amn detail completed. 0700 14 x 3 ton deliver POL to Pet Pt, refilling on return route. 0715 14 x 3 ton collect supplies + deliver to Sup Pt. 1040 6 x 3 ton collect rfts + deliver to Sup Pt. 1400 O.C. proceeds to CRASC conference. 1410 10 x 3 ton deliver POL to 522 Coy + reload at FMC. 1435 L/T message from O.C. at HQ RASC to prepare immediately to move to new location. 1600 O.C. returns from conference having recced new location en route. 1615 Unit moves to new location [811708]. 1645 Coy HQ established at new location, plns moving in. CRASC notified by signal. 3 August 1944 811708 0600 30 x 3 ton troop carrying 69 Bde. 0800 10 x 3 ton deliver POL to Pet Pt & reload on return route. 0815 15 x 3 ton collect supplies & deliver to Sup Pt. 1110 4 x 3 ton collect rfts from 205 Rec Camp to Sup Pt. 1345 8 x 3 ton moving unit to new location. 1620 12 x 3 ton collect empty jerricans from old location Sup Pt for return to Pet Depot. 1630 Comp Pln opens new Sup Pt at 788690. 1700 O.C. to CRASC conference thence to Sup Pt. 4 August 1944 0800 19 x 3 ton collect supplies + deliver to Sup Pt. 0800 17 x 3 ton deliver POL + reload on return route. 1000 CRASC visits unit and inspects locations. 1045 5 x 3 ton collect rfts & convey to Sup Pt. 1700 O.C. attends CRASC conference. 5 August 1944 0600 10 x 3 ton troop carrying with 346 Coy. 0730 21 x 3 ton move 50 Div O.F.P. to new location. 0800 17 x 3 ton deliver P.O.L. to Pet Pt + reload on return route. 0800 15 x 3 ton collect supplies from 119 D.I.D. 1330 8 x 3 ton deliver POL to Pet Pt. 1700 OC attends conference at HQ RASC. 6 August 1944 0730 17 x 3 ton deliver POL + collect from FMC on return. 0800 14 x 3 ton collect supplies from FMC + deliver to Sup Pt. 1615 31 x 3 ton move amn from 151 FMC to new FMC 152. 1700 OC unit to CRASC conference. 1800 Capt. L PAXTON joined Coy as 2 i/x. Capt D.M.K. Stoke [?] transferred to 346 Coy. 7 August 1944 0830 28 x 3 ton collect supplies from FMC. 12 x 3 ton deliver POL to Comp Platoon and collect from FMC. 19 x 3 ton collect POL from F.M.A. Two days supplies of POL collected as F.M.A. is moving. 1530 10 x 3 ton vehicles move Comp Platoon to 767688. 1730 60 x 3 ton vehicles troop carry 69 Bde to area ONDEFONTAINE 790485. 2130 One lorry carrying Comp Platton runs over a mine in the new Comp Platoon area 767688. No personnel injured but vehicle set on fire. All nearby personnel rush to assist in extinguishing the fire. Someone treads on an ‘S’ mine resulting in the death of 1 Cpl, 1 L/Cpl, 1 Dvr and 1 Pte whilst 22 others are more or less seriously injured, including medical orderly of 522 Coy. 8 August 1944 0900 Supply Point opens 767688. Supply Cpl assisting in traffic control of mined area steps on another mine but only slightly wounded. 1500 25 x 3 ton move Comp Platoon to 785518. 1945 30 x 3 ton collect and deliver to 522 Coy 25 Pdr HE for gun dumping programme. 9 August 1944 0900 Supply Point opens 785518. 1015 Coy move to new location area 785557. Arrive 1100 hrs. 1130 30 x 3 ton return to 346 Coy to move their loads to new area 765400 as all 346 Coy are troop carrying 151 Bde. 1500 50 Div RASC Adm Order No 4 dated 9 Aug received.. 2300 30 x 3 ton collect 6000 25 Pdr HE from 152 FMC for gun dumping programme and deliver to 522 Coy A.P. 10 August 1944 785557 1400 30 x 3 ton collect 6000 25 Pdr HE from 152 FMC and hold on vehicles for another gun dumping programme. 11 August 1944 0900 30 x 3 ton deliver 6000 25 Pdr HE to 522 Coy. 12 August 1944 1730 Collect 220 P.O.W. from Div Cage and deliver to F.M.A. Cage. 2400 30 x 3 ton collect 6000 25 Pdr HE from 152 F.M.C. and deliver to 508 Coy for further dumping programme. 13 August 1944 1600 Collect 200 P.O.W. from Div Cage and deliver to F.M.A. Cage. 14 August 1944 1600 Collect 70 P.O.W. from Div Cage and deliver to FMA Cage. Reserve holding of 1 days compo rations delivered to S.P. for issue to all units of the Division. Divisional units will then hold 2 days reserve rations in compo. Daily supply and petrol details continue and Comp Platoon continues to maintain the whole Division in supplies whilst 522 Comp Platoon forms Divisional Petrol Point. 15 August 1944 Daily maintenance of Div Supply + Petrol Points. 16 August 1944 Daily maintenance of Div Supply + Petrol Points. 17 August 1944 Daily maintenance of Div Supply + Petrol Points. 2 days supplies now held by Comp Pl foar all units of the Division. RASC Adm Order No 5 rec’d. 1600 Comp Pl moves to area Le Plessis Grimault 847447 and S.P. is to open same place following day. 18 August 1944 Supply + Petrol + Amn Points open 847447. 1700 Coy moves to 856410 (north [?] of Condé sur Noireau). Petrol replenishment throughout the night. 19 August 1944 0800 Replenishment of supplies. 1200 Comp Platoon moves to 922277 (near ATHIS) and Supply Point opens and issues in the evening. 1800 Coy moves to 926296 (area St Honerine La Chardaine [?]). Roads very congested with all Divisional traffic moving up. 20 August 1944 Normal supply + POL replenishment. 1600 Comp Platoon moves to 023223 (near MEGUILLAMME) and Div Supply + Petrol + Amn point opens there. 2000 Coy advance party moves to 005215 (area LES TOURAILLES). 21 August 1944 1900 Coy moves to 007215 in [??] – normal maintenance in supplies + petrol, with petrol a priority. 22 August 1944 0730 Coy advance party moves to 236187 (near ARGENTAN) and Comp Platoon to 3218 (East of ARGENTAN). 1200 Coy advance party moves to 345208. 1300 Coy moves to 236187. Comp Platoon moves to 4845 (near Gacé). 23 August 1944 0730 Coy advance party moves to 615486 (La Trinité des Laitiers) and Comp Pl to 4847 (near St Emault des Bois). 1100 Coy moves to 615486 but owing to road congestion does not arrive until 1800 hrs. 24 August 1944 0730 Coy moves to 802427 (near Laigle). Comp Platoon moves to 8740 (near CHANDAI). Maintenance continues with daily supply points despite very wet weather, bad roads and traffic congestion. Comp Platoon [??] after dark and demands for petrol very high. Both transport platoons working day and night for the last week to keep supply + petrol points maintained. Ferrying of petrol [??] location to new location takes a long time when roads are so congested. Rain and a very dark night also make night convoys very [??]. 25 August 1944 803427 Maintenance of SP continues will all available lorries ferrying petrol from old location. 26 August 1944 0400 Advance Party leave for Pacy sure Eure area at 0400 hrs. 0800 Coy moves at 0800 hrs. 1200 Traffic congestion intense. Coy only moves 4 miles in 4 hrs. 1600 Complete stoppage of convoy since 1200 hrs. 1900 After conference with Comd 69 Bde all transport moved off the road for the night 920538 (near LES BAUX DE BASTEAU?). 27 August 1944 1500 After waiting nearly a full day to move an order received to proceed. 1930 Coy reaches destination 313643 (ORGEVILLE). One pl dumps POL and returns immediately for further loads from LAIGLE. The other pl under comd 522 Coy dumps 30 loads of Compo rations and prepares to return for POL. 28 August 1944 313643 1045 The other Pl now reverts to Coy comd and returns to 30 CORPS TROOPS at RUGLES (8648) to act as 3rd line Pl to bring up supplies for forward F.M.C. 1700 ‘A’ Pl completes first run from RUGLES to 156 F.M.C. CHAIGNES. Very slow owing to road congestion. 29 August 1944 0400 ‘A’ Pl returns to RUGLES for further 3rd line loads. 1700 P.O.L. delivered to 522 Coy Petrol Point. 30 August 1944 All vehicles out helping to stock 30 Corps F.M.C. Very slow indeed owing to road congestion. 1730 Coy moves to new location in a chateau near ECOS [529809]. Again a very slow move. 31 August 1944 529809 ‘A’ Pl collects P.O.L. from 156 F.M.C. near PACY. ‘B’ Pl under comd 522 Coy to move Comp Pl + supplies. Appendix A Situation at 2030 Hrs Daily August 1944 reports for 524 Coy RASC (INF BDE): Under comd: 50 (N) Division Approx Strength: 307 (1 Aug); 305 (2 -3 Aug); 306 (4 – 5 Aug); 307 (6 Aug); 308 (7 Aug); 288 (9 Aug); 290 (10 Aug); 303 (11 Aug); btw 304 – 307 (12 – 31 Aug). Approx Veh Strength: 77 (1 – 7 Aug); 76 (8 – 10 Aug); 77 (11 – 31 Aug)) Casualties: Men: 28 on 7 Aug; Vehicles: 1 on 7 Aug. Cheers Tom
Hello Tom O'Brien, I see that you transcribe RASC war diaries. Do you have already post the 504 coy RASC WD? I research it for august 1944. Thanks Laulem from Normandy
