264 Field Company Royal Engineers

Looking at the beginning may not always show the most active part of a units time, however its the foundations that with military training turned out an effective field coy. For 264 it looks to start -September 6th 1939 when they were based at Seaford.

Major S C Lynn in command
Lieutenant R S Orchard Carter [temp in command until the arrival of Major SC Lynn]

October 1939 moved to Gravesend for training.-
264 received 18 army class recruits from Woolwich and a further 18 on the 19th Oct
followed by another 24 in total during the next two days.
January 18th of 1940 still at Gravesend, seen another intake of 47 army class men
6th march another intake of 11 army class men
8th March Orders received for overseas service [BEF]


Thanks to M1ke_A and Vernon for information

 

264 field coy RE Diary excerpts.

The first 1940 the second from 1944
1940 November 5th UK and following days of similar tasks
1944 November 5th Italy

 

Italy 1944 Bridge building assessment from 264 Field Company RE to HQ Porterforce

 

Looking back at what 264 Field Coy RE was doing around this time of year. First diary being 1941 in Kent but with orders about a move to Devon .
1944 still in Italy under Canadian RE .Then for Jan 1945 a few words by -K Larkin 264 Field Coy RE Italy.







1945 -K Larkin 264 Field Coy RE Italy.
"With the arrival of January came more troops and new equipment. New Sherman tanks, Kangaroo infantry carriers, Ark tanks that dropped into canals and made bridges for others to follow, and new Assault Engineering vehicles, which included bulldozer tanks. Some of the unit were withdrawn for training with Stormboats, and with a secret new amphibious carrier tank known as a Fantail. Talks were given on ferrying the RIVER PO, which caused much speculation and not a little apprehension. "

 

Italy 1944
264 Field Coy R.E diary ,road sign info

 

Some of the bridging works undertaken in Italy 1944 by 264 Field Coy R.E while under command of Porterforce

 

Some 264 Field Coy RE details about German parachute explosives .


Basic information for - Nominal roll of 264 Field Coy R.E HQ and sections 1,2,3 listed on site

 

Hi, I am looking for more information on J F Potter. I recently managed to buy a grouping belonging to him, now I am trying to get a clear story of what he was up to during the war. Could you maybe give me more information on him?

 

Hi thanks for posting, I will take a look to see what or if I have anything on him.

 

This is the only part I have of his Tracer card but other forum members may be able to find more or if he has a medal card.

As part of No1 Section Sgt – J F Potter in 1944 should have departed from Bari and disembarked at Komiza on Vis a Yugoslavian Island [Force 133]

 

I will post what I have so far. I was able to find the newspaper that he was mentioned in for getting the British Empire Medal. Maybe that would be of any help?

 

A couple of items mentioning Sgt – J F Potter ,I still have plenty of other information to search

 

Wow amazing, thank you for the effort! I look forward to seeing what you find!

 

Another mention of Sgt – J F Potter, January-March/April- Yugoslavian islands 1944

 

Very nice! Since I am new to this field company, I am wondering where was this field company active during the war? Only Italy? Sorry for the questions, but I am trying to learn as much to get a complete view for the actions that Potter was in.

 

His Service no 1896453 looks to be reasonably early going by the number allocations for R.E
I believe the numbers Royal Engineers were 1842001 - 2303000


Basic movements of the fld coy. [I have far more reading/research to do]
April 1940 they serve as part of the BEF- then leave France in June for Southampton aboard RMS Duke of Argyll
November 1942 they embark on the SS Orontes for Algiers N Africa
7th December 1943 arrive at Taranto Italy
March 1945 they leave Italy for Marseilles France
Then through Belgium and into Holland and by the beginning of April 1945, crossed the Rhine at Emmerich and into Germany

Chances are he was involved with much of the platoons Bridging 1944 Italy and Porter Force Bridges as No1 platoon that can be found on the 264 website


If J F Potter spent most of his time with 264 Field Coy R.E his medals/card should show something like-
1939-45/Africa/Italy/France & Germany/Defence/War Medal

 

Thank you very much! That is correct, he has these medals. When they leave for France in 1945 is that part of operation Goldflake?
I will post some pictures of what i have tonight!

 

Thanks that will be good of you.
I would say Operation Goldflake as they were withdrawn along with the 1st Canadian Corps and moved out with them.

 

Here are some pictures of what I got. As you can see a very nice battledress, nicely marked and has the initials JFP written in them. His medals, the BEM one, his capbadge and the oakleafs for mentioned in despatches. Since his battledress is 30 corps marked I assume he was part of the B.A.O.R.?

 

Thanks for the pictures, all items look in good condition given the age of them, B.A.O.R. and demobbed eventually 1946.