Divisional HQ Defence & Employment Platoon

Discussion in 'Trux Discussion Area' started by medic054, Dec 21, 2021.

  1. medic054

    medic054 Member

    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
     
  2. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    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
     
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  3. medic054

    medic054 Member

    Apologies, I should have been clearer, this is the establishment for the Armoured Division which I believe differed from the Infantry Division
     
  4. medic054

    medic054 Member

    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?
     
  5. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    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.
     
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  6. medic054

    medic054 Member

    Thanks for your help. You wouldn't happen to know the structure of this platoon would you?
     
  7. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    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
     
  8. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    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 ?)



    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2021
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  9. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    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
     
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  10. medic054

    medic054 Member

    Thank you all!
     
  11. COMMANDO

    COMMANDO Senior Member

    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?
     
  12. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    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
     
  13. COMMANDO

    COMMANDO Senior Member

    Thank you Gary!
     

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