633 Coy General Transport in Normandy

Discussion in 'RASC' started by Adam540, Nov 16, 2021.

  1. Adam540

    Adam540 Junior Member

    Afternoon All,

    I am researching a chap who embarked on 11th June 44 and was a Driver with 633 Coy GT RASC. Would anyone know their movements in June 44 please? Any help or pointers would be hugely appreciated.

    Many thanks :)
     
  2. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

  3. MarkN

    MarkN Banned

  4. Adam540

    Adam540 Junior Member

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  5. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    I’ve got some of their war diary for 1944 I think, I’ll have a look later.

    Regards

    Tom
     
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  6. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    MarkN

    All I was doing was just pointing out that the moderators don't like duplicate posts.
     
  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    You can take a horse to water but ..............................
     
  8. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Adam540,

    Hopefully this helps your research. It's from WO171/2506)

    1 June 1944 LIVERMERE
    Q Pln depart Marshalling Camp R7 and proceed to Embarkation Point at FELIXSTOWE.

    2 June 1944
    Q Pln embarked onto L.C.Ts at 0630 hrs, cast off immediately and anchored in River ORWELL.
    A Pln moved from Marshalling Camp A11 and proceeded to GOSPORT HARDS where they embarked on L.S.Ts.

    3 June 1944
    A Pln anchored off RYDE PIER.

    4 June 1944
    A + Q Plns awaiting orders to sail.

    5 June 1944
    Q Pln underway by 0800 hrs. Seas very rough. Pass through Straits of Dover at 2200 hrs. No activity.
    A Pln sailed from SOLENT at 1830 hrs. No enemy action whilst crossing Channel. Hyosin Tablets issued to all men as sea was very rough.

    6 June 1944
    Q Pln sighted FRENCH COAST at approx. 2200 hrs. Heavy gunfire and bombing. L.S.T. anchored off-shore.
    A Pln arrived off FRENCH COAST at 1300 hrs and dropped anchor about 3½ miles from shore. Beaches under shell and mortar fire. DUKWs unloaded and swam in loose formation to shore, led by R.A.S.C. motor launch “GROUSE”. All DUKWs arrived without mishap. Pre-loads off-loaded at Sector Stores Dumps and F.D.S. Medical evacuation commenced immediately. Roads and beaches very congested. Pln H.Q. established and line run to CEP.

    7 June 1944
    Q Pln start for shore at 0730 hrs, the first DUKW landing at 0815 hrs. Pre-loads off-loaded and medical evacuation to L.S.T. commenced.
    A Pln continued evacuation of casualties under difficult conditions. Sea very choppy and beaches continually shelled, bombed and machine-gunned. Medical evacuation continued throughout the night without respite. Platoon location sniped all day and occasional air attacks made on G.T. Park. One driver injured by mine and evacuated to U.K.

    8 June 1944
    H.Q. and W/S prepare to leave Concentration Area LIVERMERE and move to Marshalling Area.
    Q Pln vehicle park and personnel dive-bombed twice during night. 4 bombs dropped in park. 4 DUKWs out of action. Evacuation of casualties continued at 0600 hrs. Detail changed in afternoon to unloading of 25 lb ammo. Enemy air activity continued throughout night – personnel quartered in deep slit trenches.
    A Pln continued evacuation of casualties at 0445 hrs and carried on until nightfall. Maintenance of DUKWs done after every double sea trip. Bombing and sniping continued.

    9 June 1944
    H.Q. and W/S arrived at Marshalling Area, Camp T.6, PURFLEET.
    Q Pln commenced ammo detail under 104 Beach Sub Area. Detail changed in afternoon to medical evacuation.
    A Pln carried on medical evacuation on a smaller scale from 0730 hr to 1630 hrs. Heavy air attack on Pln location at 2330 hrs.

    10 June 1944
    Q Pln carried on with ammunition detail.
    Heavy air attack on A Pln location commencing 0100 hrs. Three drivers wounded and evacuated to U.K. One DUKW burnt out and six others holed by shrapnel. Ammunition and medical details carried out during day and night. Another air attack on location at 1500 hrs. One N.C.O. hit by shrapnel and evacuated to U.K.

    11 June 1944
    H.Q. + W/S embark on U.S. L.S.T. 238 at EAST INDIA DOCK, LONDON. L.S.T. sailed 2100 hrs and anchored off SOUTHEND PIER.
    Q Pln carried on with ammunition and medical details until 2330 hrs.
    A Pln on medical evacuation from 0500 hrs until 2200 hrs.

    12 June 1944
    Q Pln carried on with medical evacuation and ammunition details from 0600 hrs until 2330 hrs.
    A Pln commenced medical evacuation and ammunition unloading at 1730 hrs. Heavy air attack at 2330 hrs. One DUKW damaged beyond repair and two others badly holed.

    13 June 1944
    HQ + W/S sailed from R. THAMES at 1000 hrs and arrived off FRENCH COAST at 2230 hrs. Sea very rough.
    Q Pln continued with Medical evacuation and ammunition details.
    A Pln on medical evacuation from 0545 hrs until 2330 hrs.

    14 June 1944
    HQ + W/S land and proceed to Coy location at RYES at 1300 hrs.
    Q Pl move into location at ASNELLES-SUR-MER.
    A Pln on ammunition detail. One DUKW shelled at sea, driver being wounded by shrapnel and evacuated to U.K.

    15 June 1944 RYES
    W/S establish recovery points at BAYEUX and RYES.
    HQ contacts platoons.
    Q Pln continuing with Medical Evacuation and Amn. details.
    A Pln carrying out Medical Evacuation on a small scale.

    16 June 1944 RYES
    Q Pln on Medical Evacuation. A Pln unloaded R.E. Stores.

    17 June 1944 RYES
    Q Pln carried out Medical Evacuation and ammunition details.
    R.A.M.C. reported that A Pln would no longer be required for Medical Evacuation.

    18 June 1944 RYES
    Q Pln working on coasters all through the night.
    One N.C.O. from A Pln evacuated to U.K. afer DUKW accident.

    19 June 1944 RYES
    Q Pln discharging assorted cargoes from 0500 hrs until 2000 hrs when rough seas made further work impossible.
    A Pln working until 1200 hrs when rough seas stopped work.

    20 June 1944 RYES
    Q Pln attempted to carry on unloading but sea still too rough to continue. One DUKW over-turned.
    Sea too rough to allow A Pln to work.

    21 June 1944 RYES
    Q Pln still unable to operate in the morning, but in the afternoon 5 DUKWs were employed evacuating casualties from 31 FDS to L.S.T.
    A Pln spent day on painting and maintenance.

    22 June 1944 RYES
    Weather conditions improved and Q Platoon commenced unloading cargo in the afternoon and carried on through the night.
    A Pln re-started work in afternoon but ceased at 2200 hrs owing to be beach being shelled all evening.

    23 June 1944 RYES
    Sea moderate. All available DUKWs from Q Pln carried on unloading coasters throughout the day.
    A Pln working until midnight, one section carrying on through the night. Beach and lateral road were shelled through the night.

    24 June 1944
    H.Q, W/S and Q Pln move to HERMANVILLE-SUR-MER.

    25 June 1944 HERMANVILLE-SUR-MER
    Coy started to operate off Peter Red Beach (LION-SUR-MER).
    D.C.P. opened at 0900 hrs. Slight shelling throughout day and night.

    26 June 1944 HERMANVILLE-SUR-MER
    A Pln moved to Coy location at HERMANVILLE-SUR-MER.
    DUKWs working throughout day but weather very bad at night.

    27 June 1944 HERMANVILLE-SUR-MER
    Q Pln unloading mixed cargoes from coasters.
    A Pln erecting camouflage etc in their new location.
    Area heavily shelled at night but none in locaiton.

    28 June 1944 HERMANVILLE-SUR-MER
    All DUKWs engaged on unloading two coasters from 0500 hrs until 1500 hrs when 299 Coy took over detail. Sea calm, weather fine.

    29 June 1944 HERMANVILLE-SUR-MER

    Maj. H.J. Corry posted to H.Q.R.A.S.C. 39 Tpt Coln.
    Maj. P.S. Savage takes over command of Unit on posting from 9 Coy R.A.S.C. (G.T.).

    30 June 1944 HERMANVILLE-SUR-MER
    Normal work. Weather fine. No enemy activity.

    I hope that helps.

    Regards

    Tom
     
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  9. Adam540

    Adam540 Junior Member

    Thats very kind Tom, many thanks :) He embarked on the 11th June and then took up trade training as a Clerk from August onwards.
     
  10. Adam540

    Adam540 Junior Member

    Thats absolutely epic Tom and really appreciated and certainly a welcome change from sarcastic quips to a newcomer. The family of the veteran I am researching will be very happy indeed. Cheers mate :)
     
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  11. JadeLeonard1234

    JadeLeonard1234 New Member

    Hi I was wondering if anyone could help me at all, My grandad John Edward Granger was a driver for the 633 coy company RASC platoon A that landed on normandy D Day Plus 1. Does anyone have any more information regarding this Platoon or a long shot even any information on my Grandad! I would be so appreciative.
     
  12. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Jade,

    I have been looking at a number of documents in hope of sorting out details of 633 Company. I looked at this a decade ago and am now doing so again.

    It is confusing because 633 Company operated DUKWs and had four platoons. One platoon was assigned to each of Sword, Juno and Gold beaches for casualty evacuation, with a fourth platoon being used for landing ammunition. Some of the sources are unclear, presumably the authors had the same difficulty that I have. Some confuse company and platoon. Some seem to have read A Platoon instead of a platoon.

    A Platoon should have landed on D Day not D+1.

    I am still looking and thinking, slowly.

    Mike.
     
  13. Mike,

    I believe that, like all DUKW Companies in Op NEPTUNE, 633 GT Coy had only three DUKW platoons (A, B & Q). The fourth platoon was suspended until the Company reverted to lorries, on 4 Sep 44 for 933 Coy with the standard four platoons (A, B, C & D) of 33 x 3 ton lorries each.

    Following is what I have on the landing plans for 633 Coy:

    A Platoon - SWORD Area, QUEEN Sector
    Two sections (of 11 DUKWs each) to sail in LST LTIN 381-385 and to land D Day H+330 mins (source: landing tables dated 19 Mar 44)
    One section (11 DUKWs) estimated to sail D+2 (List Index Number D3025) (source: Unit Staff Table 1 Corps Tps; no dated given but prob around 13 Mar 44)

    B Platoon (33 DUKWs) - JUNO Area
    to land H+4 hrs to H+16 hrs (source: landing tables dated 2 May 44)

    Q Platoon (33 DUKWs)
    Two sections (22 DUKWs) in LST 3758 to 3561 (Sailing Group 4, Force L = Convoy ETL1) to arrive Lowering Position at H+16½ and to land on KING Sector (source: your post Naval Force 'L' and ONEAST/L dated 10 May 44)
    I have found no trace of the remaining section. It was possibly carried in the four LST (2927 to 2930) missing from the available Landing Tables, unless there were in the six LCT (3776 to 3781) added to Sailing Group 4, which would explain the puzzling mention in the War Diary that "Q Pln. embarked onto L.C.Ts", although no DUKW is known to have been carried in LCT.

    It is quite possible that one section each from A and Q platoons were initally planned to land some days after D Day but were actually brought forward to land on D or D+1.

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2023
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  14. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Perfect Michel. I am now able to solve my problems.

    I have:

    Sword/Queen.
    22 DUKW and 68 crew to land at H+330 minutes.
    Carried on 5 X LSTs:
    Serial 381. 2 DUKW on davits.
    Serial 382. 2 DUKW on davits.
    Serial 383. 2 DUKW on davits.
    Serial 384. 2 DUKW on davits. 6 DUKW on tank deck.
    Serial 385. 2 DUKW on davits. 6 DUKW on tank deck.

    Gold/Jig.
    22 DUKW and 68 crew to land at H + 19 1/2 hours
    Carried on 4 LSTs.
    Serial 3758. 2 DUKW on davits. 5 DUKW on tank deck.
    Serial 3759. 2 DUKW on davits. 9 DUKW on tank deck.
    Serial 3760. 2 DUKW on davits.
    Serial 3761. 2 DUKW on davits.

    I have not quite solved Juno yet.

    Regarding Jades question:
    There should not have been any 633 Company DUKWs landing on D+1. There is quite a lot of information on the operating methods of the evacuation DUKWs.

    Mike
     
  15. As far as I could find, the six LSsT carrying the two sections of A Pl 633 Coy were:

    Serial 381 = LST 361
    Serial 382 = LST 324
    Serial 383 = LST 302
    Serial 384 = LST 304
    Serial 385 = LST 363

    Serial 3759 was US LST 175 (IWM A23949). I do not know the hull number of the other Serials in this Group.

    IWM film ACB 7 shows DUKWs of A Pl 633 Coy embarking into LST 304 (Serial 384) at Gosport Hard around mid-day on 1 June 1944:
    DUKW 633-A8, 633-A13 - ACB 7 01.25.jpg
    DUKW 633 Coy RASC (GT), LST 304 - ACB 7 02.09.jpg

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2023
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  16. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Thanks again Michel.

    Juno. Still confused but:
    LSTs Serials 1552, 1553 and 1554 each carried 2 DUKW on davits and between them carried a further 15 on the tank deck. Total 21 DUKW. These landed on the first tide.
    12 DUKW followed later.

    The pattern for all three beaches seems to be
    Two sections of 11 DUKW, total 22 landed on the first tide.
    One section of 11 DUKW landed later.

    For some reason B Platoon on Juno is hardly mentioned, even in Toms extract from the War Diary. We know it existed. There is even a clearly marked DUKW photographed with Monty disembarlking.

    DUKWs are enough to drive you quackers.

    Mike
     
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  17. Quack quack indeed! For B Pl 633 Coy (JUNO Area) I have:

    From the Landing Tables dated 13-14 Apr 44:
    Force J, embarking Southampton
    MIKE - to land H+7 hrs - 12 DUKW
    Serials 1147 to 1152 - each 5 men & 2 DUKW on Davits​
    NAN - to land H+4 to H+7 hrs - 6 DUKW
    Serials 1552 & 1553 (NAN WHITE) & 1554 (NAN RED) - each 5 men & 2 DUKW on Davits​
    NAN - to land H+7 hrs - 9 DUKW
    Serial 1740 - 5 men & 2 DUKW on Davits, 16 men & 6 DUKW in Tank Deck
    Serial 1741 - 3 men & 1 DUKW on Davit​
    Force L, embarking Tilbury
    NAN - to land H+16 hrs - 6 DUKW
    Serial 1745 - 16 men & 6 DUKW in Tank Deck​
    Grand total = 33 DUKW = the complete B Platoon. This matches the 1 Corps Tps Unit Staff Table for B Pl, which states a total of 85 men and 33 DUKW (21 on Davits, 12 swimming) to land on D Day:
    T-7620 - 1890 - Unit Staff Table - 1 Corps Tps - A 1042 - B DUKW Pl 633 GT Coy.jpg

    From the Landing Tables dated 2 May 44 (I have typed the changes in bold):
    Force J, embarking Southampton
    MIKE - to land H+4 hrs - 12 DUKW
    Serials 1147 to 1152 - each 5 men & 2 DUKW on Davits​
    NAN - to land H+4 hrs - 6 DUKW
    Serials 1552 & 1553 (NAN WHITE) & 1554 (NAN RED) - each 5 men & 2 DUKW on Davits​
    NAN - to land H+4 hrs - 9 DUKW
    Serial 1740 - 5 men & 2 DUKW on Davits, 8 men & 3 DUKW on Rhino Ferry
    Serial 1741 - 3 men & 1 DUKW on Davit
    Serial 1743 - 5 men & 2 DUKW on Davits, 3 men & 1 DUKW in Tank Deck
    Force L, embarking Tilbury
    NAN - to land H+9 hrs - 6 DUKW
    Serial 1745 - 16 men & 6 DUKW in Tank Deck​
    Grand total = 33 DUKW = the complete B Platoon

    This illustrates that some (here, minor) changes did occur between the early and late versions of the landing tables.

    Here is the 9 Cdn Inf Bde Unit Sheet dated 2 May 44 for "633 DUKW Pl (Med)":
    T-12331 - 0404 - 9 CIB OO1 - Appx E - Unit Sheets - 2 May 44 - 090 - 633 DUKW pl (Med).jpg
    Just for fun, here is a very early (18 Mar 44) version of this same Unit Sheet, mentioning Serials 1732 and 1737 (both Serials subsequently deleted):
    T-7620 - 0664 - 9 CIB OO No 1 - App E - Unit Sheets - 633 DUKW Pl (Med) - 18 Mar 44 - OBSOLETE .jpg

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2023
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  18. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Michel,

    You've got it. By Jove I think you've got it.

    Complicated and confusing. I will let the facts and figures rattle about my brain for a while. The answer often comes out about two o clock in the morning.

    Part of my problem is that the copies of original documents that I obtained a decade ago are still on a pile of discs. It takes a long time to search them manually. I am still happier with a pile pf papers.

    Thank you.

    Mike.
     
  19. Loading plans for B Pl 633 GT in short:

    Landing Tables 13-14 Apr 44:
    Force J - to land H+4 to H+7
    Serials 1147-1152, 1552-1554, 1740 - each 2 DUKW on Davits
    Serial 1740 - plus 6 DUKW in Tank Deck
    Serial 1741 - 1 DUKW on Davit​
    Force L - to land H+16 hrs
    Serial 1745 - 6 DUKW in Tank Deck​

    Landing Tables 2 May 44 - same as above except:
    Force J: all landing times changed to H+4
    Serial 1740 - of the 6 DUKW in Tank Deck, 3 are moved to Serial 1740R (Rhino Ferry), the remaining 3 are moved to Serial 1743 (2 on Davits, 1 in Tank Deck)​
    Force L: time changed to H+9 hrs​

    On the following still we can see, from left to right, LST 404 (Serial 1154), 425 (1153) and 199 (1152). The first two each carried 2 DUKW from 199 Coy on Davits (only the port side one is visible on LST 425 below), and we know that Serial 1152 (LST 199) had 2 from 633 Coy:
    121-489-187 - 04.27 - LST 425 (1153), 199 (1152), DUKW on davits.jpg

    A closer view of another one:
    121-489-187 - 04.40 - LST DUKW on davits.jpg

    Michel
     
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  20. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Well, I have learned a great deal about the organisation and landing of DUKWs but I still have found no trace of the missing section of 'Q' Platoon, 633 Company. It was to have landed on King Sector and the number of DUKWs actually landed suggest that it did so. When and how remains a mystery.

    Michels suggestion of LCTs being used is a possibility. Presumably they landed later and the records have not survived (or have they).

    Mike.
     

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