Hi all, I was just wondering if anyone had access (and was willing to share) War Establishment II/146/2; that of the Divisional HQ Defence & Employment Platoon. Thanks
Info on this site: Division headquarters Employment platoon The platoon is attached to the headquarters of an armoured division and messing arrangements will be made by the headquarters. serjeant corporal 2 X lance corporal 3 X driver IC 27 X trooper Total 34 Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS driver IC For personnel and baggage Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS driver IC For personnel and baggage Lorry 3ton 4 X 4 GS driver IC For personnel and baggage
Apologies, I should have been clearer, this is the establishment for the Armoured Division which I believe differed from the Infantry Division
Additionally, does anyone know if a platoon was taken from a unit to provide this unit or were a small number of personnel drawn from a number of units to form it. Did they keep their own unit's cap badge?
Got it…….this is the establishment and information for Canadian Infantry and Armoured Divisions from 1939 to 1945 https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/t...aryhistory/dhh/reports/ahq-reports/ahq057.pdf I’m not sure how they established British Employment & Defence units, but in Canada they assigned the Employment and Defence Company/Platoon duties to Two Infantry Regiments. In most case the Lorne Scots where tasked with suppling Companies and Platoons for this Roll. They wore their Regimental Hat badge The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) The regiment subsequently mobilized the '1st Battalion, The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment), CASF' for active service on 6 February 1941, to "provide personnel and reinforcements for all 'Defence and Employment' requirements of The Canadian Army. As a result, numerous Lorne Scots defence and employment units served in the Mediterranean, North-West Europe and Canada. The overseas battalion was disbanded on 21 February 1947 Also the Royal Montreal Regiment was also assigned this duty for the First Canadian Army Headquarters. The Royal Montreal Regiment First Army Headquarters Defence Company (Royal Montreal Regiment), CASF' on 12 April 1944;and 'First Canadian Army Headquarters Defence Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment), CASF' on 5 April 1945. This unit embarked for the Britain on 7 December 1939.On 28 July 1944, the company landed in France as a unit of First Canadian Army Troops, and it continued to serve in North West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battalion was disbanded on 30 September 1945. 23 On 24 May 1944, a sub-unit of the regiment, designated 'No. 9 Defence and Employment Platoon (Royal Montreal Regiment), CIC, CASF', was mobilized in England. On 27 June 1944, it landed in France as a unit of First Canadian Army Troops, and it continued to serve in North West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas platoon was disbanded on 16 October 1945.
Divisional Headquarters Defence and Employment platoon. War Establishment II/146/2. August1944 Subaltern 3 X serjeant 2 X corporal AA gun numbers 2 X lance corporal AA gun numbers 10 X AA gun numbers 1 X batman 4 X corporal 3 X lance corporal 25 X private Total 51 Attached 1 X driver mechanic RASC 7 X driver IC RASC 2 X cook ACC 5 X motorcycle 5 X 15cwt GS 3 X 3ton GS 14 X Bren lmg 4 X PIAT 1 X signal pistol Organisation Headquarters Motorcycle Subaltern Motorcycle batman 15 cwt GS 2 X cook ACC, driver IC RASC Carries cooking set and rations. 3ton 4 X 4 GS driver IC RASC Carries ammunition and stores Anti Aircraft section Motorcycle serjeant Motorcycle AA gun number for duty as orderly Motorcycle AA gun number for duty as orderly 15cwt GS corporal, 2 X AA gun numbers, driver mechanic RASC Carries 3 X Bren lmg Carries PIAT 15cwt GS corporal, 2 X AA gun numbers, driver IC RASC Carries 3 X Bren lmg Carries PIAT 15cwt GS lance corporal, 2 X AA gun numbers, driver RASC Carries 3 X Bren lmg Carries PIAT 15cwt GS lance corporal, 2 X AA gun numbers, driver IC RASC Carries 3 X Bren lmg Carries PIAT OR When equipped with 20mm AA guns 15cwt GS corporal, 2 X AA gun numbers, driver mechanic RASC Carries Bren lmg Carries PIAT Tows a 20mm AA gun on travelling platform 15cwt GS corporal, 2 X AA gun numbers, driver IC RASC Carries Bren lmg Carries PIAT Tows a 20mm AA gun on travelling platform 15cwt GS corporal, 2 X AA gun numbers, driver RASC Carries Bren lmg Carries PIAT Tows a 20mm AA gun on travelling platform 15cwt GS corporal, 2 X AA gun numbers, driver IC RASC Carries Bren lmg Carries PIAT Tows a 20mm AA gun on travelling platform Ground Defence Section 3ton 4 X 4 GS serjeant, driver IC RASC Carries 2 X Bren lmg and ammunition Marching corporal, lance corporal, 6 X private 1 X Bren lmg corporal, lance corporal, 6 X private 1 X Bren lmg Employment section 3ton 4 X 4 GS serjeant, driver IC RASC Marching corporal, lance corporal, 6 X private 1 X Bren lmg corporal, 7 X private 1 X Bren lmg Mike
Tha above aligns with the Canadian Infantry Division document (for the approved WE) I posted above. You can also see that each Canadian Infantry Brigade in the Division had a smaller Ground Defence component at their Brigade HQ. (Mike may also have a copy of this WE ?)
The Armoured Division HQ only had an Employment Platoon attached. The WE was published during 1941 and not reissued until April 1945, with I think just two amendments incorporated. From memory only; Serjeant 3 Corporals 27 Privates 3 Drivers, IC The 1941 WE had three 30-cwt lorries, the 1945 three 3-ton lorries. I would reckon one of the amendments was the change to 3-tonners, which I'd guess was made long before April 1945. Gary
The task of a AA Section is obvious, but what is the difference between a Deployment Section and a Ground Defence Section. Did each have a specific task to carry out when in battle?
Employment - helping to physically establish the HQ area, as in picks, shovels and move that... Ground Defence - securing the HQ area site and, if it comes to it, defending against enemy attach or infiltration. In the absence of the enemy I think they'd also be assisting the Employment Section to an extent. Gary