LIAISON, PUBLIC RELATIONS, ATS and PROVOST

LIAISON, PUBLIC RELATIONS, ATS and PROVOST

21 Army Group contained personnel from several nations, and operated in several allied nations. All of these required liaison personnel.
Public Relations was concerned with handling the press and media.
The Auxiliary Territorial Service provided women for a wide range of duties.
Provost units, largely the Corps of Military Police, were responsible for discipline and traffic control. They also assisted with security.


ALLIED LIAISON, INTELLIGENCE and PUBLIC RELATIONS.

LIAISON
A Security Liaison Mission. War Establishment XIV/1237/1. September 1944
Liaison Section with HQ French Military Region. War Establishment XIV/1238/1. September 1944.
Liaison Staff with HQ Communication Zone ETOUSA. War Establishment XIV/1239/1. September 1944.
No 23 Liaison Headquarters. Dutch Forces. War Establishment XIV/1231/1. June 1944.
No 22 Liaison Headquarters. Czech Forces. War Establishment XIV/1232/1. June 1944.
No 4 Liaison Headquarters. Polish Forces. War Establishment XIV/1233/1. June 1944.
No 4 Liaison Headquarters. Polish Forces. War Establishment XIV/1233/2. January 1945.
No 20 Liaison Headquarters. French Forces. War Establishment XIV/1231/1. June 1944.
No 2 Liaison Headquarters. Belgian Forces. War Establishment XIV/1231/1. June 1944.
British Liaison Officers (Allied Liberated Manpower). War Establishment XIV/1241/1. January 1945.

INTELLIGENCE
Field Security Section
21 Army Group Photographic Interpretation Unit. War Establishment XIV/1150/1. June 1944.
Scientific Intelligence Staff. War Establishment III/330/1
An Amplifier Unit. War Establishment IV/184/1. September 1943
No5 Public Relations Service. War Establishment XIV/1570/1. March 1944
No5 Army Field and Photographic Section (PR). War Establishment XIV/1571/1. May 1944
No7 Public Relations Service. War Establishment XIV/1578/1. February 1945.
No1 Information Control Unit. War Establishment XIV/1573/1. November 1944.
No2 Information Control Unit. War Establishment XIV/1574/1. November 1944.
No3 Information Control Unit. War Establishment XIV/1575/1. November 1944.
No4 Information Control Unit. War Establishment XIV/1576/1. November 1944.

ATS
Headquarters No1 Group ATS. War Establishment XIV/600/1. May 1944.
ATS Group. War Establishment XIV/603/1. October 1944.
Drawing Section ATS. War Establishment XIV/604/1. December 1944.
Convalescent Depot ATS. War Establishment XIV/607/1. March 1945
Holding Unit ATS. War Establishment XIV/608/1. April 1945.
Provost Section ATS. War Establishment XIV/601/1. May 1944.

PROVOST
Divisional Provost Company. War Establishment II/341/2. March 1944
Corps Provost Company. War Establishment III/60/5. March 1944
Headquarters Provost Company. War Establishment IV/194/1. November 1943
Provost Section. War Establishment IV/195/1. November 1943
Provost Section Tactical HQ 21 AG. War Establishment XIV/1502/1. November 1944.
Traffic Control (Signal) Company. War Establishment IV/263/1. May 1944
Traffic Control Pool. War Establishment XIV/1504/1. February 1945.
Headquarters CMP (Vulnerable Points) Company. War Establishment XIV/1500/1. October 1944
Detachment CMP (Vulnerable Points). War Establishment XIV/1501/1. October 1944.
Headquarters Provost Company (Ports). War Establishment IV/132/2. September 1944
Provost Section (Ports). War Establishment IV/132A/2. September 1944.
CMP Training School. War Establishment XIV/1503/1. January 1945.
Special Investigation. War Establishment IV/125/1. December 1942.

Military Prisons, Detention and Field Punishment Barracks. War Establishment IV/70/4. August 1944.




LIAISON WITH ALLIED CONTINGENTS
A SECURITY LIAISON MISSION. 21 ARMY GROUP.
War Establishment XIV/1237/1. September 1944.
General Staff Officer 2nd Grade (I)
2 X Intelligence Officers
corporal clerk
lance corporal clerk
clerk
batman driver

1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS

Civilian Labour will be employed for local administrative purposes including a driver.




A BRITISH LIAISON SECTION WITH A HEADQUARTERS FRENCH MILITARY REGION.
War Establishment XIV/1238/1. September 1944.
General Staff Officer 2nd Grade
clerk
batman driver
1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2



LIAISON STAFF WITH HEADQUARTERS COMMUNICATION ZONE ETOUSA
War Establishment XIV/1239/1. September 1944.
Headquarters Communication Zone, European Theatre of Operations, United States Army was the equivalent of the British Headquarters Lines of Communication.

Colonel A and Q
3 X Assistant Quartermaster General
2 X Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General
Staff Captain A
Staff Captain Q

Lieutenant Colonel Staff Officer RE
Staff Officer 1st Grade RS
Staff Officer RS, Lieutenant Colonel
Staff Officer RS, Major

Assistant Director Supplies and Transportation
Deputy Assistant Director of Mechanical Engineering REME
Colonel, Deputy Director of Labour. (to be reviewed when the present incumbent relinquishes the post)

serjeant clerk RASC
corporal clerk typist RASC
2 X clerk RASC
4 X driver IC
5 X batman

2 X motorcycle
2 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
1 X car 6 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS



No23 LIAISON HEADQUARTERS. DUTCH FORCES.
War Establishment XIV/1231/1. June 1944.
To liaise with Royal Netherlands Brigade Group ‘Princes Irene’.

General Staff Officer 1st Grade
General Staff Officer 2nd Grade
General Staff Officer 3rd Grade
Staff Captain
6 X clerk RASC including
serjeant
corporal
lance corporal
3 X clerk

Captain RASC
driver IC RASC
5 X batman driver RASC
3 X motorcycle orderly RASC
vehicle mechanic RASC

Brigade Ordnance Warrant Officer RAOC
Armament Artificer (Vehicle) REME

batman
3 X general dutyman
storeman
officers mess cook ACC
cook ACC

Signal Detachment RS
serjeant
driver mechanic
3 X driver operator
driver IC
4 X corporal operator
8 X operator
3 X lance corporal cipher operator

2 X bicycle
8 X motorcycle
1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt Office
3 X 15cwt Wireless House
2 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 Command LP.

8 X Bren lmg
2 X PIAT




No22 LIAISON HEADQUARTERS. CZECH FORCES.
War Establishment XIV/1232/1. June 1944.
To Liaise with Czech Armoured Brigade.

General Staff Officer 1st Grade
General Staff Officer 2nd Grade
3 X General Staff Officer 3rd Grade
Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General
7 X clerk RASC including
staff serjeant
serjeant (for intelligence duties)
corporal
lance corporal
3 X clerk including one for intelligence duties

Crew of a cruiser tank
driver mechanic RAC
corporal driver operator RAC
gunner operator RAC
gunner mechanic RAC

Captain RASC
serjeant clerk RASC
corporal clerk, technical RASC

Captain RAOC
Brigade Ordnance Warrant Officer RAOC
corporal clerk RAOC
storeman, technical RASC

Captain REME
Armament Artificer (Vehicle) REME
Armament Artificer (Field) REME
serjeant vehicle mechanic REME
serjeant clerk technical REME

company quartermaster serjeant
3 X batman
6 X batman driver
driver mechanic
3 X driver IC
3 X motorcyclist
officers mess orderly
2 X general dutyman
storeman
officers mess cook ACC
cook ACC

Signal Detachment RS
serjeant
2 X driver operator
driver IC
2 X corporal operator
10 X operator
corporal cipher operator
2 X lance corporal cipher operator

2 X bicycle
6 X motorcycle
5 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt Office
3 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
2 X Armoured Command Vehicle
2 X Scout Car
1 X water trailer

Plus one cruiser tank held on the establishment of the Czech Armoured Brigade Headquarters.




No 4 LIAISON HEADQUARTERS. POLISH FORCES. ARMOURED PORTION.
War Establishment XIV/1233/1. June 1944.
The unarmoured portion is War Establishment VIII/638/2

Colonel
General Staff Officer 2nd Grade
5 X General Staff Officer 3rd Grade including
three for operations
one for intelligence
one for air
2 X Major Interpreter
Captain Interpreter
Subaltern RAC Liaison Officer
Subaltern RA Liaison Officer
Subaltern Infantry Liaison Officer

Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General
2 X Staff Captain
7 X clerk RASC including
staff serjeant
corporal
lance corporal
3 X clerk

Warrant Officer Class II RAC for administration and transport
squadron quartermaster serjeant RAC
corporal clerk RAC
corporal driver operator RAC
4 X driver operator RAC
vehicle mechanic RAC

Deputy Assistant Director of Supplies and Transportation
3 X Captain RASC
Warrant Officer Class II for co ordination of the work of serjeants attached to Polish RASC companies
clerk RASC
3 X serjeant driver IC
5 driver mechanic
corporal fitter

clerk RA

3 X serjeant RE
draughtsman RE

Captain, Signal Officer
serjeant RS
corporal clerk for code duties
4 X despatch rider
2 X driver mechanic
instrument mechanic
3 X driver IC
5 X corporal operator
12 X operator
6 X operator as counter clerk
2 X batman driver
Captain or Subaltern for ciphers
Warrant Officer Class II cipher operator
2 X serjeant cipher operator
3 X corporal cipher operator

Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services
corporal clerk RAMC
orderly

Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services
2 X Captain RAOC
3 X Brigade Ordnance Warrant Officer RAOC
8 X clerk RAOC including
Warrant Officer Class I
2 X serjeant
corporal
4 X clerk
3 X storeman, technical including
2 X staff serjeant
storeman

Deputy Assistant Director of Mechanical Engineering
2 X Captain REME
Captain REME (W)
Warrant Officer Class I Armament Artificer (Vehicle) REME
staff serjeant armament artificer (AA) REME
armourer serjeant
2 X serjeant vehicle mechanic REME
5 X clerk technical REME including
serjeant
corporal
3 X clerk
serjeant telecommunications mechanic (field)
driver IC
driver operator

Camp staff
Captain, Administrative Officer
6 X batman
17 X batman driver
2 X clerk RASC
2 X driver IC
2 X driver operator
corporal officers mess orderly
officers mess orderly
2 X other ranks mess orderly
4 X signals orderly
2 X sanitary dutyman
water dutyman
2 X officers mess cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
3 X cook ACC


21 X motorcycle
2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
9 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
7 X car 4 seater 4 X 2 (one to be fitted for wireless)
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 fitted for wireless
1 X 15cwt GS
3 X 15cwt fitted for wireless
2 X 15cwt Office
1 X 15cwt wireless
8 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS (one as office for RAOC)
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
2 X Armoured Command Vehicle
5 X Scout Car
2 X water trailer



No 4 LIAISON HEADQUARTERS. POLISH FORCES. ARMOURED PORTION.
War Establishment XIV/1233/2. January 1945.

Colonel
General Staff Officer 2nd Grade, Operations
General Staff Officer 2nd Grade, Intelligence
5 X General Staff Officer 3rd Grade, Operations
Captain Intelligence Officer
3 X Subaltern Liaison Officer
Captain RA Liaison Officer
Subaltern RA Liaison Officer
Subaltern RE Liaison Officer
Subaltern RS Liaison Officer

Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General
2 X Staff Captain
4 X clerk RASC including
staff serjeant
2 X corporal
clerk

squadron quartermaster serjeant RAC
corporal clerk RAC
corporal driver operator RAC
3 X driver operator RAC
vehicle mechanic RAC

3 X serjeant RE

Deputy Assistant Director of Supplies and Transportation
2 X Captain RASC
Warrant Officer Class II
clerk RASC
serjeant
3 X batman driver


Captain, Signal Officer
serjeant RS
corporal clerk for code duties
4 X despatch rider
2 X driver mechanic
3 X driver IC
5 X corporal operator
13 X operator
6 X operator as counter clerk
2 X batman driver
Captain or Subaltern for ciphers
Warrant Officer Class II cipher operator
2 X serjeant cipher operator
3 X corporal cipher operator

Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services
Captain RAOC
3 X Brigade Ordnance Warrant Officer RAOC
clerk
2 X staff serjeant storeman technical
storeman technical

Deputy Assistant Director of Mechanical Engineering
serjeant vehicle mechanic
corporal clerk
batman driver


Camp staff
Captain Camp Commandant
transport serjeant
3 X batman
9 X batman driver
7 X driver IC
corporal officers mess orderly
officers mess orderly
other ranks mess orderly
4 X signals orderly
water dutyman
corporal cook ACC
3 X cook ACC


10 X motorcycle
1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
6 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
7 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 4 fitted for wireless
2 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt fitted for wireless
5 X 15cwt Office
1 X 15cwt wireless
3 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 Cipher Office
2 X Armoured Command Vehicle
4 X Scout Car
2 X water trailer


No20 LIAISON HEADQUARTERS. FRENCH FORCES.
War Establishment XIV/1231/1. June 1944.
General Staff Officer 2nd Grade
Staff Captain
2 X Captain Intelligence Officer
Quartermaster
3 X clerk RASC including
serjeant
2 X clerk
3 X batman driver
corporal general duty NCO
batman
cook ACC

3 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
2 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS




No2 LIAISON HEADQUARTERS. BELGIAN FORCES.
War Establishment XIV/1231/1. June 1944.
To Liaise with 1st Belgian Brigade Group.

General Staff Officer 1st Grade
General Staff Officer 2nd Grade
General Staff Officer 3rd Grade
2 X Staff Captain
Intelligence Officer, Captain or Lieutenant
6 X clerk RASC including
serjeant
corporal
lance corporal
3 X clerk

Captain RASC
driver IC RASC
5 X batman driver RASC
3 X motorcycle orderly RASC
vehicle mechanic RASC

Brigade Ordnance Warrant Officer RAOC
Armament Artificer (Vehicle) REME

Camp Staff (from any arm)
driver mechanic
batman driver
Serjeant, general duty
general dutyman
storeman
officers mess cook ACC
cook ACC

Signal Detachment RS
Subaltern
serjeant
driver mechanic
3 X driver operator
driver IC
3 X corporal operator
8 X operator
3 X lance corporal cipher operator

2 X bicycle
8 X motorcycle
1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
2 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt Office
3 X 15cwt Wireless House
2 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 Command LP.
1 X scout car

4 X Bren lmg
2 X PIAT



BRITISH LIAISON OFFICERS (ALLIED LIBERATED MANPOWER UNITS).
War Establishment XIV/1241/1. January 1945.

Section Type A
Major
staff serjeant or serjeant

Section Type B
Captain
staff serjeant or serjeant

Section Type C
Major

Section Type D
Captain

Section Type E
Major
5 X staff serjeant or serjeant

Section Type F
Captain
5 X staff serjeant or serjeant

Sections were attached to Allied Liberated Manpower Units according to the size of the unit and the specialised nature of the work. The following types of units had sections permanently attached.
Allied engineer units
Allied transportation units
Allied ordnance units
Allied provost units
Allied LoC units
Allied pioneer group HQ
Allied pioneer company
Allied reinforcement holding units
Allied army engineer battalion

Other Allied Liberated Manpower Units had sections attached for one month only.



INTELLIGENCE
See also the intelligence staffs of Army Group, GHQ, Army and Corp Headquarters.

Intelligence was an integral part of all headquarters staffs. The Intelligence Section of the Army Group is directed by a General Staff Officer 1st Grade and consists of four sections:
- Ix. Organisation and administration
- Ia. Information
- Ib. Security
- Ic. Censorship, publicity and propaganda

Ix. Organisation and administration. Apart from the obvious functions implied in the title this section is responsible for the preparing and printing of intelligence reports, summaries and publications. It also liaises with the Field Survey Directorate regarding the issue of maps.

Ia. Information. Provides information on the following:
- Enemy intentions and operations including strategy, political intelligence, intentions and plans, tactics and methods of warfare.
- Enemy Order of Battle. This includes identification of formations and units, strengths, morale, equipment, casualties, troop movements, lines of communication and supplies. This sub section is responsible for the interrogation of prisoners of was and the study of captured documents.
- Enemy defences and rear area organisation. This includes information on defences, artillery, ordnance, munitions, armoured equipment, gas and technical matters relating to rear areas. The sub section also prepares guide books and route reports.
- Enemy signals. This includes information on the signal system, equipment and traffic. Interception and translation of messages is an important role.
- Air Co operation. This includes information for the Tactical Air Force on enemy air operations, information on targets for bombing attacks and aerial photographs.

Ib. Security. This is responsible for military and civil security as well as for collecting information by ‘special methods’:
- Collecting information by special methods is good old fashioned espionage.
- Civil Security. When operating overseas there is a danger of espionage and sabotage by the civil population. This sub section is responsible for the control of civilians and the deployment of field security police.
- Military Security. This includes control of possible information leaks from military personnel. Apart from the deliberate passing of information there was a vast amount of work in ensuring the security of offices and documents, and of signal traffic and ciphers. Prevention being better than cure advice was given on signal security, military deception and camouflage.

Ic. Censorship, Publicity and Propaganda. This section supervised censorship, publicity and propaganda in the field as well as being responsible for liaison with technical intelligence officers, press representatives, attaches and visitors.
- Censorship included postal censorship of all private and official communications and parcels passing into and out of the theatre. It also included telegraph and telephone censorship, trade and blockade censorship and communications to and from prisoners of war.
- Publicity included the censorship and control of movements of press representatives, attaches and visitors, photographers and war artists.
- Propaganda included propaganda for civilians and forces, allied forces, enemy civilians and forces. It also included the supervision of propaganda material and its printing and distribution.

The Survey Directorate is also a branch of Intelligence and has the following sections
- FS(i). Field Survey. This section is responsible for the acquisition, recording and indexing of information required for field survey and maps. It is responsible for the intiation of surveys where necessary and for the co ordination of surveys carried out by other branches. Survey information is supplied to the artillery for use in sound ranging, flash spotting etc.
- FS(ii). War Topography. This section is responsible for the compilation of route and topographical reports and topographical interpretation of air photographs.
- FS(iii). Field Survey Maps and Publications. This section is responsible for the production, revision, reproduction, custody and supply of maps and survey publications in the field.



FIELD SECURITY SECTION, INTELLIGENCE CORPS

Captain or Lieutenant
Warrant Officer Class II
2 X serjeant
4 X corporal
4 X lance corporal

Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep)
Captain or Lieutenant, lance corporal batman driver
Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep
Warrant Officer Class II
Motorcycle
serjeant
Motorycle
serjeant
Motorcycle
corporal
Motorcycle
corporal
Motorcycle
corporal
Motorcycle
corporal
Motorcycle
lance corporal
Motorcycle
lance corporal
Motorcycle
lance corporal


21 ARMY GROUP PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION UNIT.
War Establishment XIV/1150/1. June 1944.
Supersedes War Establishment VIII/617/1

Headquarters Section
Major, Intelligence Officer
Subaltern, Administrative Officer
Batman
2 X clerk
driver IC
1 X bicycle
1 X car 5cwt

Army Group Section
5 X Intelligence Officer (Captain or Lieutenant)
2 X Warrant Officer photographic interpreter
2 X staff serjeant photographic interpreter
draughtsman (topographical) RE
clerk RASC trained in the reproduction of tactical sketches
batman
2 X batman driver
corporal clerk
4 X clerk
3 X cook ACC
4 X corporal draughtsman (topographical) RE
5 X draughtsman (topographical) RE
3 X driver IC
2 X general dutyman

1 X bicycle
2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
4 X 3ton 4 X 4 air photographic interpretation office
2 X 10cwt trailer

Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron Section.
One section attached to each RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Section
2 X Intelligence Officer (Captain or Lieutenant)
batman
3 X draughtsman (topographical) RE
driver IC
1 X bicycle
1 X 3ton 4 X 4 air photographic interpretation office

Army Section
8 X Intelligence Officer (Captain or Lieutenant)
draughtsman (topographical) RE
serjeant for administrative duties
2 X batman
batman driver
corporal clerk
2 X clerk
2 X cook ACC
2 X corporal draughtsman (topographical) RE
4 X draughtsman (topographical) RE
5 X driver IC
2 X driver mechanic
2 X general dutyman
motorcyclist

1 X bicycle
1 X motorcycle
2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
5 X 3ton 4 X 4 air photographic interpretation office

Corps Section
One section per corps.
Intelligence Officer (Captain or Lieutenant)
batman driver
clerk
draughtsman
driver IC
1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
4 X 3ton 4 X 4 air photographic interpretation office

Division Section
One section per Division.
2 X Intelligence Officer (Captain or Lieutenant)
batman driver
clerk
draughtsman
driver IC
1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
4 X 3ton 4 X 4 air photographic interpretation office


SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE STAFF, FIELD FORCE
War Establishment III/330/1

4 X Brigadier
6 X Colonel
20 X Lieutenant Colonel
30 X Majors and Captains

This is the sum of the information given apart from the note ‘Not an army establishment’.

There were specialist officers who studied enemy equipment and then prepared reports, carried out comparative tests and gleaned information which was of use in developing our own equipment. Sometimes the actual equipment was captured intact, but more often documents, instruction manuals, user handbooks etc were captured.

Of particular interest were armoured vehicles, artillery and ordnance, radar and signals equipment and any new or improved small arms.

As the campaign reached Germany several small groups were formed from Army, Naval and RAF scientific personnel. They were to seize and examine new equipment in factories and dockyards etc., together with documents and personnel. Tanks, submarines and jet aircraft were of especial interest.


AN AMPLIFIER UNIT TYPE A
War Establishment IV/184/1. September 1943

Intelligence Officer, Captain or Lieutenant
serjeant, Intelligence Corp
batman driver RASC
electrician, signals RS

1 X van 30cwt 4 X 2


AN AMPLIFIER UNIT TYPE B
War Establishment IV/184/1. September 1943

Warrant Officer Class II, Intelligence Corps
serjeant, Intelligence Corp
batman driver RASC
electrician, signals RS

1 X van 30cwt 4 X 2


The primary task of the Amplifier Unit was to talk the enemy into surrender. A secondary task was to give information to civilians. Units were typically active in the advance into Belgium and Holland, and again in the advance into Germany. However units did broadcast propaganda from the front line in static periods. In Germany it was usual for the units to advance just behind the forward armoured troops and to tell civilians to remain indoors and military personnel to come out and surrender.

Serjeants were German speakers and officers and warrant officers usually spoke French.

The van 30cwt 4 X 2 was in fact a converted Austin K2 ambulance. Equipment included
10 X loud speaker
2 X microphone
radio
gramophone turntable
generator
cables for remote operation

The ambulance was not much modified. The interior fittings were removed and replaced with racks for the amplifier equipment. A frame was fitted on the roof for the speakers and a frame over the cab for a camouflage net. Speakers were mounted in cubical frames which could be clipped to the roof and to each other. Combinations of speakers seen include
Two rows of four speakers plus one front and rear
A row of four speakers each side plus two at the front
Nine speakers stacked in three rows on one side only.

K2s retained their ambulance census number but with the prefix L instead of A. The white circle and red cross markings were painted out but were still visible as a circle of a different shade. White stars were added. Two census numbers were L5418159 and L1211434.

Later White scout cars were issued in place of the K2. These were more suitable since they were armoured. These vehicles had a sheet metal roof added although the canvas tilt was also retained. The same frame was added as for the K2.

There appear to have been five units with 2 Army. Some operated with the US Army in Normandy.



INFORMATION and PUBLIC RELATIONS

No5 PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE.
War Establishment XIV/1570/1. March 1944.
Supersedes War Establishment VIII/680/1.
To carry 63 accredited War Correspondents in 7 conducting sub sections of 9 each.
This unit intended for 2nd British Army.

Headquarters
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Deputy Assistant Director of Public Relations
2 X Captain War Artist (without army pay and allowances)
Warrant Officer Class I Clerk RASC
company quartermaster serjeant
6 X batman
4 X clerk
3 X cook
3 X general dutyman
7 X mess orderly
storeman

Copy room
serjeant clerk RASC
lance corporal clerk RASC
2 X clerk RASC

Conducting Sub Section
Captain Press and Publicity Officer
3 X Captain or Subaltern Conducting Officer

Attached RAF
Squadron Leader
3 X Flight Lieutenant


3 X Conducting Section each
Deputy Assistant Director of Public Relations
corporal clerk
2 X cook

2 X Conducting Sub Section each
Captain Press and Publicity Officer
3 X Captain or Subaltern Conducting Officer

Notes:
Conducting Officers are 75% Subaltern and 25% Captain.
For every increase or decrease of nine war correspondents one conducting sub section may be added or deleted.
For every British division in the army one Observer Officer (Captain or Subaltern) will be added. 50% may be Captains.

War Establishment XIV/1570/2. November 1944 had the following changes to headquarters
One Deputy Assistant Director was added.
One Captain, Press and Publicity was deleted
One cook ACC was added
Five general dutymen were added
Four mess orderly were deleted.
Three clerks were shorthand typists.


Transport is provided by Public Relations Car Company RASC, War Establishment XIV/1825/1.




No5 ARMY FILM AND PHOTO SECTION (PUBLIC RELATIONS)
War Establishment XIV/1571/1. May 1944.
Supersedes War Establishment VIII/561/1.

Headquarters
Major
Captain, Director
company quartermaster serjeant
serjeant camera mechanic
corporal camera mechanic
lance serjeant clerk
corporal clerk
4 X clerk
orderly
orderly trained in water duties
storeman
4 X batman
officers mess cook
2 X cook

Developing Section
Captain
staff serjeant developer
serjeant developer
2 X corporal developer
6 X developer

Camera Sub Section
Lieutenant
6 X photographer, cinematograph

Still Section
Captain or Subaltern
6 X photographer, still

Note:
3 X photographer, cinematograph and one photographer, still may be parachutists.

2 X Camera Section each
Captain Director
2 X Lieutenant ic sub section
12 X photographer, cinematograph
2 X batman

Note:
Transport for No 5 Public Relations Service and No5 Army Film and Photo Section is provided by PR Transport Company RASC. War Establishment XIV/1825/1.

War Establishment XIV/1571/2. November 1944 contains the following changes
Lance serjeant clerk is deleted
One orderly is added
Two cooks ACC are added.

There are now three Camera Sections each
Captain Director
2 X Lieutenant ic sub section
18 X photographer, cinematograph
4 X photographer, still (two may be parachutists)
3 X batman


No7 PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE.
War Establishment XIV/1578/1. February 1945.
For Lines of Communication; to carry 27 accredited war correspondents in three conducting sections of 9 each.
One of the conducting sections will be composed of British, one of Canadian and one of attached RAF personnel.

Headquarters
Deputy Assistant Director of Public Relations
Captain, Photographic Officer
staff serjeant clerk
corporal clerk for pay duties
2 X clerk

Canadian
Press and Publicity Officer
Photographic Officer
photographer

Headquarters Section
Administrative
Junior Commander ATS, Administrative Officer
company quartermaster serjeant
officers mess steward
3 X cook
batman

Copy room
2 X clerk
Canadian Press and Publicity Officer

Transport sub section
Transport serjeant RASC
2 X driver mechanic RASC
electrician RASC
corporal vehicle mechanic
vehicle mechanic
7 X driver IC
2 X motorcyclist
2 X spare driver

Conducting Section
Staff Captain, Public Relations
2 X Captain, Conducting Officer (one will be ATS)

Canadian Conducting Section
Conducting Officer
2 X Press Liaison Officer

RAF Conducting Section
2 X Flight Lieutenant

4 X motorcycle
7 X car 4 seater 4 X 4
4 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
4 X jeep
1 X 15cwt
1 X 3ton 4 X 2
1 X 10cwt trailer

Extra conducting sections may be added in which case each will have the following
4 X driver IC
3 X car 4 seat 4 X 4
1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4

Administrative personnel
2 X clerk
2 X cook
general dutyman
mess orderly
2 X motorcyclist

2 X motorcycle
3 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt GS
3 X 10cwt trailer



No1 INFORMATION CONTROL UNIT
War Establishment XIV/1573/1. November 1944.
Consisting of
Radio Section
Press Section (including five press control sub sections)
Publications Section
Films and Public Entertainment Section
Administrative Section

As the army approached German territory, which it did in November, It was necessary for preparations to be made for controlling the content of the media in captured areas. This was not the case in liberated areas. All control officers and staff serjeants were German speaking.

Lieutenant Colonel
Captain, Adjutant

Radio Section
Regional Radio Chief (Lieutenant Colonel)
Director of News and Public Affairs Broadcasts (Major)
Foreign Language Editor (Major)
Officer in Charge of German personnel (Major)
Radio Technician (Major)
3 X Assistant to the Director of News and Public Affairs (Captain)
Assistant for Foreign Language Editor (Captain)
2 X Captain for supervising transmitter
2 X Captain for supervising studio
2 X staff serjeant for switch censors

Press Section
Military District Press Chief (Lieutenant Colonel)
Deputy Military District Press Chief (Major)
5 X Captain for press control sections
5 X Subaltern for press control sections
5 X staff serjeant for press control sections

Publications Section
Publications Control Officer (Major)
Assistant Publications Control Officer (Captain)

Films and Public Entertainment Section
Films and Public Entertainment Control Officer (Major)
2 X Assistant Films and Public Entertainment (Captain)

Administrative Section
34 X clerk including
Warrant Officer Class II
2 X staff serjeant
3 X serjeant
corporal
3 X lance corporal
24 X clerk
2 officers mess cook
serjeants mess cook
cook
9 X batman
5 X batman driver
4 X driver IC
4 X motorcyclist including corporal
2 X officers mess steward
5 X orderly
2 X officers mess orderly
serjeants mess orderly
2 X other ranks mess orderly
storeman

2 X bicycle
2 X motorcycle
7 X car light uility
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS

All officer posts may be filled by Canadian Army personnel or (except officer commanding) by qualified civilians.

Batmen are provided on the following scale.
Lieutenant Colonels one between two.
Majors and below one between three except
Press Control Sub Sections one batman driver per sub section.



No2 INFORMATION CONTROL UNIT
War Establishment XIV/1574/1. November 1944.
Consisting of
Press and Publications Section (including press control sub section)
Films and Public Entertainment Section
Administrative Section

Major
Subaltern, Adjutant

Press and Publication Section
Military District Press and Publications Control Officer (Major)
Deputy Military District Press and Publications Control Officer (Captain)
Captain for press control section
Subaltern for press control section
staff serjeant for press control section

Films and Public Entertainment Section
Films and Public Entertainment Control Officer (Major)

Administrative Section
7 X clerk including
serjeant
corporal
lance corporal
4 X clerk
officers mess cook
cook
3 X batman
batman driver
2 X driver IC
motorcyclist
orderly
officers mess orderly
other ranks mess orderly
storeman

bicycle
motorcycle
4 X car light uility
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS

All officer posts may be filled by Canadian Army personnel or (except officer commanding) by qualified civilians.

Batmen are provided on the following scale.
Majors and below one between three except Press Control Sub Section which had a batman driver.




No3 INFORMATION CONTROL UNIT
War Establishment XIV/1575/1. November 1944.
Consisting of
Press Section (including two press control sub sections)
Publications Section
Films and Public Entertainment Section
Administrative Section

Major
Subaltern, Adjutant

Press Section
Military District Press Control Officer (Major)
Deputy Military District Press Control Officer (Captain)
2 X Captain for press control section
2 X Subaltern for press control section
2 X staff serjeant for press control section

Publications Control Officer (Major)

Films and Public Entertainment Section
Films and Public Entertainment Control Officer (Major)

Administrative Section
9 X clerk including
staff serjeant
serjeant
corporal
lance corporal
5 X clerk
officers mess cook
2 X cook
3 X batman
2 X batman driver
2 X driver IC
motorcyclist
orderly
officers mess orderly
other ranks mess orderly
storeman

bicycle
motorcycle
2 X car light utility
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS

All officer posts may be filled by Canadian Army personnel or (except officer commanding) by qualified civilians.

Batmen are provided on the following scale.
Majors and below one between three except Press Control Sub Sections which have a batman driver per sub section.



No4 INFORMATION CONTROL UNIT
War Establishment XIV/1576/1. November 1944.
Consisting of
Radio Section
Press Section (including three press control sub sections)
Publications Section
Films and Public Entertainment Section
Administrative Section

Lieutenant Colonel
Captain, Adjutant

Radio Section
Regional Radio Chief (Lieutenant Colonel
Director of News and Public Affairs Broadcasts (Major)
Foreign Language Editor (Major)
Officer in Charge of German personnel (Major)
Radio Technician (Major)
3 X Assistant to the Director of News and Public Affairs (Captain)
Assistant for Foreign Language Editor (Captain)
2 X Captain for supervising transmitter
2 X Captain for supervising studio
2 X staff serjeant for switch censors

Press Section
Military District Press Chief (Lieutenant Colonel)
Deputy Military District Press Chief (Major)
3 X Captain for press control sections
3 X Subaltern for press control sections
3 X staff serjeant for press control sections

Publications Section
Publications Control Officer (Major)
Assistant Publications Control Officer (Captain)

Films and Public Entertainment Section
Films and Public Entertainment Control Officer (Major)
2 X Assistant Films and Public Entertainment (Captain)

Administrative Section
28 X clerk including
Warrant Officer Class II
staff serjeant
3 X serjeant
corporal
3 X lance corporal
17 X clerk
2 officers mess cook
serjeants mess cook
2 X cook
8 X batman
3 X batman driver
4 X driver IC
4 X motorcyclist including corporal
serjeant officers mess steward
4 X orderly
2 X officers mess orderly
serjeants mess orderly
2 X other ranks mess orderly
storeman

2 X bicycle
2 X motorcycle
5 X car light uility
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS

All officer posts may be filled by Canadian Army personnel or (except officer commanding) by qualified civilians.

Batmen are provided on the following scale.
Lieutenant Colonels one between two.
Majors and below one between three except
Press Control Sub Sections one batman driver per sub section.






ATS
Headquarters No1 Group ATS. War Establishment XIV/600/1. May 1944.
ATS Group. War Establishment XIV/603/1. October 1944.
Drawing Section ATS. War Establishment XIV/604/1. December 1944.
Convalescent Depot ATS. War Establishment XIV/607/1. March 1945
Holding Unit ATS. War Establishment XIV/608/1. April 1945.
Provost Section ATS. War Establishment XIV/601/1. May 1944.

See also ATS units under
Royal Artillery Mixed HAA units.
RASC units
Royal Signals
Army Group Headquarters


The first ATS personnel to arrive in the theatre landed at Arromanches on 12 August 44 with HQ 21 Army Group. They were 400 personnel of No 1 Continental Group ATS with three companies - the auxiliaries being employed as cooks, orderlies, clerks and drivers. The group moved to Brussels on 28 September. In November the strength of the ATS in 21 Army Group was increased by the addition of two companies formed to take over some of the various duties of male personnel at L of C headquarters and in two general hospitals.

The advance party of the first mixed HAA regiment to arrive in the theatre landed on 21 November and by the end of the year the ATS who formed part of two mixed regiments which defended Antwerp during the V bomb attacks. Three further mixed AA Regiments for the defence of Brussels were manned by 7 February.

The strength of the ATS in the theatre steadily increased and the total reached approximately 8500 by VE day. Complete ATS signal sections arrived to take over from military sections. The manning of the
switchboards at Rear HQ 21 Army Group was one of the first commitments. The move of GHQ Second Echelon to Brussels also brought an ATS group of over 500. In March a programme of the despatch of drafts of 200 here a week was put into execution. These drafts were of mixed trades, largely clerical, but also included auxiliaries for work in hospitals.



HEADQUARTERS No1 GROUP (CONTINENTAL) ATS
War Establishment XIV/600/1. May 1944.
Supersedes War Establishment VIII/716/1.

Headquarters
Senior Commander
Subaltern, Adjutant
Subaltern
Company Serjeant Major
staff serjeant clerk
serjeant storewoman
2 X corporal clerk
4 X clerk
chiropodist
8 X house orderly
2 X hairdresser
corporal medical orderly
2 X medical orderly
2 X storewoman

E Company
To administer 200 to 250 clerks
Junior Commander
3 X Subaltern
Company Serjeant Major
Duty Serjeant

A Company
To administer 100 to 150 mess orderlies
Junior Commander
2 X Subaltern
staff serjeant
duty corporal


HEADQUARTERS ATS GROUP GHQ 2nd ECHELON
War Establishment XIV/51/1. May 1944.
Supersedes War Establishment VIII/649/1.
To administer ATS personnel at GHQ 2nd Echelon.

Senior Commander
Subaltern, Adjutant
2 X Subaltern, Company Commander
6 X Subaltern or 2nd Subaltern
3 X Company Serjeant Major
staff serjeant clerk
serjeant storewoman
duty serjeant
2 X assistant cook
3 X corporal clerk
4 X clerk
2 X officers mess cook
corporal serjeants mess cook
5 X serjeants mess cook
serjeant cook
corporal cook
8 X cook
2 X hairdresser
corporal medical orderly
2 X medical orderly
2 X storewoman
officers mess orderly
2 X serjeants mess orderly
12 X mess orderly





ATS GROUP
War Establishment XIV/603/1. October 1944.

Platoon Headquarters.
A Platoon Headquarters is authorised for a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 75 all ranks.
Subaltern or Second Subaltern.
clerk
The clerk is generally a private but in an isolated unit may be a corporal (15 to 40 personnel) or a serjeant (41 to 75 personnel).

Company Headquarters.
50 to 100 all ranks.
Subaltern or Second Subaltern
staff serjeant
corporal for Q duties
corporal clerk
clerk
duty corporal
driver IC
2 X house orderly
hairdresser
medical officers orderly
storewoman
2 X officers mess cook
2 X serjeants mess cook
lance corporal cook
2 X cook
officers mess orderly
serjeants mess orderly
3 X mess orderly

2 X bicycle ladies
1 X light utility


101 to 150 all ranks.
Junior Commander
staff serjeant
corporal for Q duties
corporal clerk
clerk
duty corporal
driver IC
3 X house orderly
hairdresser
medical officers orderly
storewoman
2 X officers mess cook
2 X serjeants mess cook
corporal cook
2 X cook
assistant cook
officers mess orderly
serjeants mess orderly
4 X mess orderly
serjeants mess caterer

2 X bicycle ladies
1 X light utility


151 to 200 all ranks.
Junior Commander
Company Serjeant Major
duty serjeant
corporal for Q duties
corporal clerk
clerk
driver IC
3 X house orderly
hairdresser
medical officers orderly
storewoman
2 X officers mess cook
3 X serjeants mess cook
corporal cook
3 X cook
2 X assistant cook
officers mess orderly
2 X serjeants mess orderly
5 X mess orderly
serjeants mess caterer

2 X bicycle ladies
1 X light utility


201 to 250 all ranks.
Junior Commander
Company Serjeant Major
duty serjeant
corporal for Q duties
corporal clerk
clerk
driver IC
4 X house orderly
hairdresser
2 X medical officers orderly
storewoman
2 X officers mess cook
3 X serjeants mess cook
corporal cook
3 X cook
2 X assistant cook
officers mess orderly
2 X serjeants mess orderly
6 X mess orderly
serjeants mess caterer

2 X bicycle ladies
1 X light utility


251 to 300 all ranks.
Junior Commander
Subaltern
Company Serjeant Major
duty serjeant
serjeant clerk
corporal for Q duties
2 X clerk
2 X driver IC
4 X house orderly
2 X hairdresser
2 X medical officers orderly
office orderly
storewoman
2 X officers mess cook
3 X serjeants mess cook
corporal cook
4 X cook
officers mess assistant cook
3 X assistant cook
officers mess orderly
2 X serjeants mess orderly
6 X mess orderly
serjeants mess caterer

2 X bicycle ladies
1 X light utility
1 X 15 cwt
1 X water trailer


301 to 350 all ranks.
Junior Commander
Subaltern
Company Serjeant Major
duty serjeant
serjeant clerk
corporal for Q duties
2 X clerk
2 X driver IC
5 X house orderly
2 X hairdresser
2 X medical officers orderly
office orderly
storewoman
2 X officers mess cook
3 X serjeants mess cook
corporal cook
4 X cook
officers mess assistant cook
4 X assistant cook
officers mess orderly
2 X serjeants mess orderly
7 X mess orderly
serjeants mess caterer

2 X bicycle ladies
1 X light utility
1 X 15 cwt
1 X water trailer


GROUP HEADQUARTERS
A. 251 to 500 all ranks.
Senior Commander
Adjutant, Subaltern
Subaltern
Company Serjeant Major
serjeant clerk
serjeant storewoman
clerk
chiropodist
driver IC
2 X house orderly
2 X officers mess cook
2 X cook
officers mess orderly
mess orderly

2 X bicycle ladies
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2


B. 501 to 750 all ranks.
Senior Commander
Adjutant, Junior Commander
Subaltern
Company Serjeant Major
staff serjeant clerk
serjeant storewoman
2 X clerk
chiropodist
driver IC
2 X house orderly
2 X officers mess cook
2 X cook
officers mess orderly
mess orderly

2 X bicycle ladies
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2


C. 751 to 1000 all ranks.
Senior Commander
Adjutant, Junior Commander
Subaltern
Company Serjeant Major
staff serjeant clerk
serjeant storewoman
2 X clerk
chiropodist
driver IC
2 X house orderly
2 X officers mess cook
2 X cook
officers mess orderly
mess orderly
office orderly

2 X bicycle ladies
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2


D. 1001 to 1250 all ranks.
Chief Commander
Adjutant, Junior Commander
Subaltern for Q Duties
Subaltern
Company Serjeant Major
staff serjeant clerk
serjeant storewoman
3 X clerk
chiropodist
driver IC
2 X house orderly
2 X officers mess cook
2 X cook
officers mess orderly
mess orderly
office orderly

2 X bicycle ladies
1 X light utility
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2


E. 1251 to 1500 all ranks.
Chief Commander
Adjutant, Junior Commander
Subaltern for Q Duties
Subaltern
Company Serjeant Major
staff serjeant clerk
serjeant storewoman
3 X clerk
chiropodist
driver IC
2 X house orderly
2 X officers mess cook
2 X cook
officers mess orderly
mess orderly
office orderly

2 X bicycle ladies
1 X light utility
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2


A DRAWING SECTION ATS
War Establishment XIV/604/1. December 1944

Subaltern
serjeant, technical
clerk
10 X draughtswoman, topographical including
corporal
lance corporal
8 X private


PORT STAGING CAMP ATS
War Establishment XIV/602/2. March 1945.
Supersedes XIV/602/1.
To accommodate up to 275 ATS.

Junior Commander
Company Serjeant Major
duty serjeant
corporal clerk
medical orderly
4 X house orderly
driver IC

2 X bicycle
1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS

Cooks will be supplied from civilian labour resources.
Up to 40 additional civilian labour may be employed for administrative duties.


CONVALESCENT DEPOT ATS.
War Establishment XIV/607/1. March 1945.
To accommodate 100 ATS other ranks.

Major RAMC
Junior Commander for administration and training
Subaltern as supervising officer for Physical Training
Subaltern, Adjutant
Company Serjeant Major
corporal clerk
lance corporal clerk
corporal cook
4 X cook
duty serjeant
2 X duty corporal
driver
hairdresser
2 X Physical Training Instructor
serjeant Q dutywoman
4 X house orderly
2 X medical orderly
serjeants mess orderly
4 X mess orderly
storewoman
serjeant serjeants mess caterer
driver mechanic

12 X bicycle
1 X light utility
1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS

Cooks may be civilians.
Additional house orderlies (civilian) may be employed.
clerk


ATS HOLDING UNIT
War Establishment XIV/608/1. April 1945.

Type A for 100 to 150 ATS personnel.
Junior Commander
staff serjeant
duty serjeant
corporal clerk
clerk
corporal for Q duties
2 X driver
duty corporal trained as PT Instructor
3 X house orderly
2 X medical orderly
corporal ration NCO

2 X bicycle
1 X light utility
1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS

Type B for 151 to 200 ATS personnel.
Junior Commander
Subaltern
Company Serjeant Major
duty serjeant
serjeant for Q duties
corporal clerk
clerk
2 X driver
2 X duty corporal trained as PT Instructor
3 X house orderly
2 X medical orderly
corporal ration NCO

2 X bicycle
1 X light utility
1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS

Type A for 100 to 150 ATS personnel.
Junior Commander
Subaltern
Company Serjesnt Major
Company quartermaster serjeant
duty serjeant
serjeant clerk
2 X clerk
2 X driver
2 X duty corporal trained as PT Instructor
4 X house orderly
2 X medical orderly
corporal ration NCO

2 X bicycle
1 X light utility
1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS

Cooks will be added according to the standard scale and may be civilians.
Civilian labour may be added for administrative duties as follows
10 for the first 100 ATS personnel
5 for each additional 50 ATS personnel


ATS PROVOST SECTION.
War Establishment XIV/601/1. May 1944

serjeant
corporal
7 X lance corporal

4 X lance corporal are unpaid





PROVOST
Divisional Provost Company. War Establishment II/341/2. March 1944
Corps Provost Company. War Establishment III/60/5. March 1944
Headquarters Provost Company. War Establishment IV/194/1. November 1943
Provost Section. War Establishment IV/195/1. November 1943
Provost Section Tactical HQ 21 AG. War Establishment XIV/1502/1. November 1944.
Traffic Control (Signal) Company. War Establishment IV/263/1. May 1944
Traffic Control Pool. War Establishment XIV/1504/1. February 1945.
Headquarters CMP (Vulnerable Points) Company. War Establishment XIV/1500/1. October 1944
Detachment CMP (Vulnerable Points). War Establishment XIV/1501/1. October 1944.
Headquarters Provost Company (Ports). War Establishment IV/132/2. September 1944
Provost Section (Ports). War Establishment IV/132A/2. September 1944.
CMP Training School. War Establishment XIV/1503/1. January 1945.
Special Investigation. War Establishment IV/125/1. December 1942.

Military Prisons, Detention and Field Punishment Barracks. War Establishment IV/70/4. August 1944.



DIVISIONAL PROVOST COMPANY.
War Establishment II/341/2. March 1944

Deputy Assistant Provost Marshal (non staff)
2 X subaltern

Regimental Serjeant Major
company quartermaster serjeant
transport serjeant
5 X serjeant

4 X batman driver
2 X clerk
8 X driver IC
12 X corporal
72 X lance corporal
storeman

Total 111
The Military Police do not have privates. 50 % of the lance corporals have the authority of the rank but do not get the pay.

Attached
corporal vehicle mechanic REME
3 X cook ACC

Headquarters
Car 2 seater
batman driver
This vehicle is provided for the use of the Assistant Provost Marshal of the division and is normally at Divisional Headquarters.
Motorcycle
transport serjeant

Car 2 seater
Subaltern, batman driver
Car 2 seater
Subaltern, batman driver

Car 4 seater
Deputy Assistant Provost Marshall, batman driver,

Car 5cwt 4 X 4
vehicle mechanic REME

15cwt GS
3 X cook ACC, driver IC
Carries cooking set and rations

3ton 4 X 2 GS
storeman, driver IC

This organisation applies also to the Provost Companies attached to other headquarters. The main difference was the number of platoons that were deployed. A Corps Provost Company for example had nine platoons. The platoon was always the same.

Sections were deployed according to the needs of the current situation but generally included
- one at tactical headquarters, one at rear headquarters
- one for traffic control on the centre line road
- one for control at dumps and refilling points
- one for Prisoners of War
- two which could be switched according to need.

Controlling traffic and erecting signposts were major tasks no matter if the division was moving or static.


Section X 6
5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep)
serjeant
5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep)
corporal
15cwt GS
driver IC
Motorcycle 1
corporal
Motorcycle 2
lance corporal
Motorcycle 3
lance corporal
Motorcycle 4
lance corporal
Motorcycle 5
lance corporal
Motorcycle 6
lance corporal
Motorcycle 7
lance corporal
Motorcycle 8
lance corporal
Motorcycle 9
lance corporal
Motorcycle 10
lance corporal
Motorcycle 11
lance corporal
Motorcycle 12
lance corporal
Motorcycle 13
lance corporal



ARMY AND CORPS PROVOST COMPANY
War Establishment III/60/5. March 1944

Deputy Assistant Provost Marshal (non staff)
3 X subaltern

Regimental Serjeant Major
company quartermaster serjeant
transport serjeant
9 X serjeant

5 X batman driver
corporal clerk
clerk
11 X driver IC
18 X corporal
108 X lance corporal
storeman

Attached
corporal vehicle mechanic REME
3 X cook ACC

Headquarters

Motorcycle
transport serjeant

Car 2 seater
Subaltern, batman driver
Car 2 seater
Subaltern, batman driver
Car 2 seater
Subaltern, batman driver

Car 4 seater
Deputy Assistant Provost Marshall, batman driver,

Car 5cwt 4 X 4
vehicle mechanic REME

15cwt GS
3 X cook ACC, driver IC
Carries cooking set and rations

3ton 4 X 2 GS
storeman, driver IC

9 X sections
5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep)
serjeant
5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep)
corporal
15cwt GS
driver IC
Motorcycle 1
corporal
Motorcycle 2
lance corporal
Motorcycle 3
lance corporal
Motorcycle 4
lance corporal
Motorcycle 5
lance corporal
Motorcycle 6
lance corporal
Motorcycle 7
lance corporal
Motorcycle 8
lance corporal
Motorcycle 9
lance corporal
Motorcycle 10
lance corporal
Motorcycle 11
lance corporal
Motorcycle 12
lance corporal
Motorcycle 13
lance corporal



HEADQUARTERS PROVOST COMPANY.
War Establishment IV/194/1. November 1943
Designed to administer a variable number of provost sections for duty on a beach and/or lines of communication.

Captain
2 X subaltern

Regimental Serjeant Major
company quartermaster serjeant
transport serjeant
3 X batman driver
corporal clerk
clerk
3 X driver IC
storeman
corporal vehicle mechanic REME
corporal cook
2 X cook

1 X motorcycle
3 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt office
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS



PROVOST SECTION
War Establishment IV/195/1. November 1943
Designed for duty on a beach and/or line of communication.

serjeant
2 X corporal
driver IC
12 X lance corporal

13 X motorcycle
2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt GS


PROVOST SECTION for TACTICAL HEADQUARTERS 21 ARMY GROUP.
War Establishment XIV/1502/1. November 1944.

Subaltern
serjeant
2 X corporal
12 X lance corporal
batman driver
driver IC

10 X motorcycle
4 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt 4 X 2 GS
2 X trailer 10cwt



HEADQUARTERS CMP (VULNERABLE POINTS) COMPANY
War Establishment XIV/1500/1. October 1944
Designed to control up to 50 sections CMP (VP).

Captain
Subaltern
Company Serjeant Major
company quartermaster serjeant
corporal clerk
clerk
driver IC
2 X batman driver
2 X cook ACC

1 X motorcycle
2 X car 2 seat 4 X 2
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS

Two sections are normally based at Headquarters and are catered for.



DETACHMENT CMP (VULNERABLE POINTS)
War Establishment XIV/1501/1. October 1944.
Detachments may be composed of a variable number of sections. A section has seven privates with NCOs added according to the following scale.

1 X section lance corporal
2 X section 2 X lance corporal, corporal
3 X section 3 X lance corporal, corporal, serjeant
4 X section 4 X lance corporal, corporal, serjeant
5 X section 4 X lance corporal, corporal, serjeant
6 X section 5 X lance corporal, corporal, 2 X serjeant
7 X section 4 X lance corporal, 2 X corporal, 2 X serjeant
8 X section 5 X lance corporal, 2 X corporal, 2 X serjeant
9 X section 6 X lance corporal, 2 X corporal, 2 X serjeant
10 X section 7 X lance corporal, 3 X corporal, 2 X serjeant
11 X section 8 X lance corporal, 3 X corporal, 2 X serjeant
12 X section 9 X lance corporal, 4 X corporal, 2 X serjeant
13 X section 9 X lance corporal, 4 X corporal, 2 X serjeant
14 X section 10 X lance corporal, 4 X corporal, 3 X serjeant
15 X section 11 X lance corporal, 4 X corporal, 3 X serjeant
16 X section 12 X lance corporal, 4 X corporal, 3 X serjeant
17 X section 13 X lance corporal, 5 X corporal, 3 X serjeant

Bicycles are provided on the basis of one per serjeant.

If a detachment contains 20 sections the following will be added
Subaltern
batman driver
1 X car 2 seat 4 X 2



HEADQUARTERS PROVOST COMPANY CMP (PORTS)
War Establishment IV/132/2. September 1944
Designed to administer a variable number of CMP(Port) and CMP (VP) sections.

Assistant Provost Marshal
Staff Lieutenant

Regimental Serjeant Major
company quartermaster serjeant
corporal
5 X lance corporal
vehicle mechanic REME

2 X motorcycle
1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt GS

For every 8 sections on War Establishment IV/132A/1 or 14 sections on War Establishment IV/133/1 or War Establishment IV/134/1 controlled by this headquarters the following will be added
Subaltern
batman driver
1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4

For every two sections controlled by this headquarters which have no 15cwt GS on their War Establishment one 15cwt GS will be added.



PROVOST SECTION CMP (PORTS)
War Establishment IV/132A/1. September 1944.
Designed to be used as an alternative to WE IV/133/1. Sections will be formed on the basis of one section for every two sections on WE IV/133/1.

serjeant
corporal
13 X lance corporal

2 X bicycle
3 X motorcycle
1 X 15cwt GS



TRAFFIC CONTROL (SIGNAL) COMPANY CMP
War Establishment IV/263/1. May 1944
Headquarters
Captain
3 X Lieutenant
Company Serjeant Major
company quartermaster serjeant
transport serjeant
2 X motorcyclist
3 X driver IC
4 X batman driver
corporal clerk RASC
corporal vehicle mechanic REME
corporal cook ACC
2 X cook ACC

3 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
4 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt 4 X 2 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS


6 X Section each
serjeant
corporal
2 X lance corporal
9 X private
driver mechanic
3 X driver

1 X motorcycle
2 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
1 X 15cwt 4 X 2 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
2 X 10cwt trailer



TRAFFIC CONTROL POOL
War Establishment XIV/1504/1. February 1945.
4 X Deputy Assistant Provost Marshall (Traffic Control)
4 X batman driver
4 X light utilty


CMP TRAINING SCHOOL
War Establishment XIV/1503/1. January 1945.
To hold from 200 to 300 under training.

Major, Commandant
Captain, Deputy Assistant Provost Marshal
Captain, Training Officer
Subaltern, Adjutant
Company Serjeant Major
company quartermaster serjeant
drill serjeant
MT serjeant
serjeant clerk
7 X serjeant
5 X corporal
corporal clerk
4 X clerk
2 X storeman
2 X batman driver
2 X driver
motorcyclist
medical officers orderly
ration NCO, lance corporal
2 X sanitary dutyman
2 X office orderly
2 X mess orderly

Attached
corporal vehicle mechanic REME
vehicle mechanic REME
serjeant cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
7 X cook ACC
Instructor APTC

Cooks may be civilian or allied military personnel.

Administrative transport
2 X motorcycle
2 X light utility
2 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS

Training transport
78 X motorcycle
12 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
6 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS


CORPS of MILITARY POLICE (SPECIAL INVESTIGATION)
War Establishment IV/125/1. December 1942.
Special Investigation Section
Higher Establishment
Captain
Lieutenant
2 X Company Serjeant Major
10 X serjeant
2 X corporal
2 X motorcycle
7 X car 2 seater

Lower Establishment
Lieutenant
Company Serjeant Major
6 X serjeant
2 X corporal
2 X motorcycle
4 X car 2 seater

Special Investigation Group
2 X serjeant
2 X motorcycle

Each man carries a pistol .38”


The Corps of Military Police was in 21 Army Group divided into three types of unit, Provost, Traffic Control and Vulnerable Points. This division came about because of a shortage of suitable manpower. Ideally Provost Units should be composed of men capable of carrying out all the duties normally expected of police, plus military police duties and be fit for front line active service. Traffic Control units were composed of men below the standard required for front line service and many were older civil policemen who had previously been exempt from military service. Vulnerable Points units were composed of reliable men below the standard required for front line service, often men recovered from wounds.


Elements of all three wings of the Corps of Military Police were planned to land with the assault forces on the first and second tides of D-day. They comprised:-
(i) Three Divisional Provost Companies (each of HQ and six sections) whose task was to regulate and control traffic of the assault and follow-up brigades.
(ii) Six Beach Provost companies (each of HQ and four sections) and several Traffic Control Sections, which were responsible for control of traffic and signing of routes in the beach transit and assembly areas.
(iii) Ten sections of CMP (VP) who were responsible for guarding PW, detaining suspect civilians and constructing cages.
(iv) Two Corps Provost Companies who were deployed to control the area between the beaches and the forward divisions.
During the build-up the provost strength in the beach-head increased by the addition of:-
(i) A provost company for each division phased in after the assault.
(ii) Four provost companies, four TC companies and one VP company for each of the armies.
(iii) Seven provost, seven TC and three VP companies for L of C areas.

During build-up the problem of maintaining an easy flow of traffic was complicated because a modern mechanised army was attempting to manoeuvre on a system of narrow and badly maintained roads which had been designed to carry the slight traffic of an agricultural area. Towns quickly became bottlenecks. The problem was eventually partially solved by:-
(i) Building tank tracks, lateral cross country roads and by-passes.
(ii) Instituting a system of movement control. In the absence of a firm plan for traffic control, movement tended to take place during the hours of daylight, leaving the roads relatively free at night, but after the institution of movement control all operational traffic was timed to take place during the hours of darkness, when administrative traffic was less heavy.

During the build-up period the congestion of formations, depots and installations in the beach-head produced a confusing multiplicity of signs. Provost became responsible for co-ordinating all route signing. Each company set up a sign factory operated in the initial stages by its own personnel but later by Pioneers, civilian carpenters and sign writers.

Each corps and army was allotted a CMP (TC) signal section.

Four TC companies and six VP companies arrived from the UK in October and a VP company in December. A special squad of thirty Belgian gendarmes was lent to help in the control of the slow moving civilian traffic which used the main military supply routes. All wings of the Provost carried out their routine tasks of patrolling and signing routes, guarding vulnerable points, routing convoys and exercising disciplinary control over military personnel. The main task at this time centred around the
advance base and Brussels which became the main leave centre. Provost working in close co-operation with the local police dealt with all problems attendant on the setting up of a leave centre in a city.

A permanent river patrol of port and security police policed the River Scheldt on fast motor launches.

For Operation Veritable strict traffic control was necessary to move and concentrate the required formations in time. A series of traffic check points was set up at intervals along the routes. Each post was connected by telephone with the Provost and Q (Movement) branches at HQ First Canadian Army, with the result that if any formation did not move to time, immediate notice could be given to Q (Movement), who altered the move of other units accordingly. This meticulous control was a major contribution in moving 35,000 vehicles in such a short period. The move into the forward areas took place during five consecutive nights. Special traffic restrictions were imposed during those nights to ensure that incidental and administrative traffic did not interfere with operational moves and to make certain that all important movement was completed by first light. To enforce these restrictions the Provost staff was lent the assistance of six hundred personnel of a Canadian LAA regiment, who were supplied with TC equipment and given temporary authority as regimental police.

Operation Goldflake Provost staff officers from HQ 21 Army Group lived in Paris with the American Transportation and Provost Marshal branches to co-ordinate the traffic control arrangements of the formations concerned. Since the line of movement from Marseilles crossed the main US supply routes it was agreed that the US military police would sign the convoy route from the point of disembarkation to the dispersal point at Cambrai, but that the marshalling and guiding of the various convoys should be the responsibility of a British traffic control company. At a later stage of the operation a L of C provost and a Canadian TC company arrived from Italy.

In the build-up for operation Plunder control of the main bridges was exercised by an army traffic control company, assisted by experienced sections lent from L of C resources. Two traffic control companies were allotted for duty in the bank control on both sides of the Rhine. Extra personnel were supplied by pioneer or infantry resources.

At the time of the break-out from the Rhine bridgehead, Second Army had seven CMP (TC) companies and three CMP (VP) companies under command, while First Canadian Army had four CMP (TC) companies and one CMP (VP) company, leaving a balance of nine CMP (TC) companies and eight CMP (VP) companies in the L of C. A further CMP (TC) company and a CMP (VP) company were sent from UK for the L of C areas.

Sixty German civil police (Ordnungspolizei) were attached to the Provost Branch Second Army for a short course of instruction and afterwards assisted provost companies in enforcing law and order.

SIB.
One SIB section was fully occupied in investigating crimes connected with the disappearance of large quantities of all types of WD property which found their way into the black markets of the liberated countries. After the entry into Germany military police helped in the search for suspects, enemy soldiers in hiding, and fire-arms, and also enforced the Military Government laws and ordinances, especially those relating to looting and curfew restrictions.






MILITARY PRISONS, DETENTION and FIELD PUNISHMENT BARRACKS.
War Establishment IV/70/4. August 1944.
These are not CMP units but are Military Prison Staff Corps administered by the Provost Marshals Department.

Up to 200 prisoners
Major
Captain
Serjeant Major
quartermaster serjeant
8 X staff serjeant
16 X serjeant
serjeants mess caterer
serjeant clerk
corporal clerk
batman
serjeants mess orderly
driver IC
corporal nursing orderly RAMC
nursing orderly RAMC
2 X serjeants mess cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
3 X cook ACC
1 X 15cwt GS

201 to 300 prisoners
Major
Captain
Serjeant Major
quartermaster serjeant
11 X staff serjeant
22 X serjeant
serjeants mess caterer
serjeant clerk
corporal clerk
2 X clerk
batman
serjeants mess orderly
driver IC
corporal nursing orderly RAMC
nursing orderly RAMC
2 X serjeants mess cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
3 X cook ACC
1 X 15cwt GS

301 to 400 prisoners
Major
2 X Captain
Serjeant Major
quartermaster serjeant
14 X staff serjeant
28 X serjeant
serjeants mess caterer
serjeant clerk
corporal clerk
2 X clerk
batman
3 X serjeants mess orderly
driver IC
corporal nursing orderly RAMC
nursing orderly RAMC
3 X serjeants mess cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
4 X cook ACC
1 X 15cwt GS

401 to 500 prisoners
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
2 X Captain
Serjeant Major
2 X quartermaster serjeant
16 X staff serjeant
32 X serjeant
serjeants mess caterer
serjeant clerk
corporal clerk
lance corporal clerk
3 X clerk
2 X batman
3 X serjeants mess orderly
driver IC
corporal nursing orderly RAMC
nursing orderly RAMC
3 X serjeants mess cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
4 X cook ACC
1 X 15cwt GS

501 to 600 prisoners
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
3 X Captain
Serjeant Major
2 X quartermaster serjeant
18 X staff serjeant
36 X serjeant
serjeants mess caterer
serjeant clerk
corporal clerk
lance corporal clerk
3 X clerk
2 X batman
4 X serjeants mess orderly
driver IC
corporal nursing orderly RAMC
nursing orderly RAMC
3 X serjeants mess cook ACC
serjeant cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
4 X cook ACC
1 X 15cwt GS


It was the policy of 21 Army Group to retain in the theatre any soldiers who were convicted of a military offence and sentenced to detention, imprisonment or penal servitude and to hold them in 21 Army Group penal establishments. It was considered essential, however, that up to the time these penal establishments arrived in the theatre, soldiers under sentence should be evacuated. The escorts were provided from the theatre and the soldiers were handed over to Garrison HQ Southampton who became responsible for their disposal.

A number of troops absented themselves from their units prior to D-day. The policy of HQ 21 Army Group in dealing with these absentees was to despatch them when they were apprehended to a Reinforcement Holding Unit and to ensure that they were sent overseas with their unit or with an early
reinforcement draft.

One Military Prison large enough to hold 500 soldiers under sentence and five Field-Punishment Camps each to hold 150 were allocated to 21 Army Group. No 5 Field Punishment Camp arrived opened on 18 July.

HQ 21 Army Group had planned to have two Court Martial Centres at its disposal. The objects of these centres were:-
(i) To relieve units in the line of the responsibility of paper work in
connection with trials.
(ii) To hasten the disposal of cases.
(iii) To hold courts which would sit permanently and be presided over by a
permanent president.
(iv) To relieve units of the responsibility of guarding soldiers awaiting
trial, promulgation or committal.

A centre accommodated 150 soldiers and was designed to try 100 cases a week. Fifteen permanent presidents of FGCsM were allocated to 21 Army Group. Permanent presidents landed with the assault corps and were required to preside at FGCsM almost immediately.

Difficulty was encountered in returning to their units absentees and deserters who were apprehended in the rear areas. Units taking part in operations were unwilling or unable to spare good NCOs and men to escort an absentee or deserter who would probably be of no use to them in battle. They were eventually sent forward by rail with escorts being provided from reinforcements.

It was decided to employ 36 Reinforcement Holding Unit as a sorting, holding and despatching centre for absentees and deserters apprehended both in the UK and in the field.

Special orders were published setting out the procedure for dealing with cases of self-inflicted injury. The procedure entailed segregation of these soldiers in one hospital in the theatre.

A new Military Prison - No 25 - was formed in Brussels during the first week of November. The premises of this prison contained a laundry, and soldiers under sentence were employed there in washing blankets and similar stores in bulk for Ordnance.

Economic conditions in Belgium and Holland lent themselves to illicit trading, stealing of WD property and illegal currency transactions. British soldiers were tempted to trade with civilians in stolen and mis-appropriated WD property, mainly food and clothing, in return for luxury goods.

It was usual for courts martial to impose a sentence of three to five years penal servitude for cases of desertion, and it was the policy that the first two years of such a sentence were to be served in a military prison. Many of these cases, however, were occasioned by battle exhaustion arising from long and dangerous contact with the enemy. In order, therefore, to give suitable men a chance of redeeming themselves by sending them back into a fighting unit a board of officers was set up to review by personal interview all cases of desertion and kindred offences after three months.

All the penal establishments of 21 Army Group were finally concentrated in Belgium when 26 Military Prison and 7 Field Punishment Camp/Detention Barracks were set up in the Antwerp area at the end of February.

A combination of hospitable Belgian civilians and the availability of forged documents meant that there were large numbers of absentees and deserters hiding in Belgian towns, often involved in organised crime. In February all troops in the L of C were confined to their unit locations for a period of twenty-four hours and short leave in Brussels was stopped. As a result of checking the identity of all service men found in the streets and public places more than four hundred absentees and deserters were apprehended.

As the army entered Germany all ranks were given a copy of a letter outlining the way in which the British armed forces were to behave in enemy country. In order to cause them a feeling of shame for the crimes they had committed and condoned, German civilians were to be ostracised.