Pioneer Corps units

I am currently following the WW2 postings of Albert William LANDER (svc no 5931775) in the Royal Pioneer Corps from 1940-1948. I am having problems identifying the following units (with dates LANDER was serving):
312 Coy in June 1943;
375 Coy in July 1943;
843 Coy in December 1943;
401 Coy in May 1944;
143 Coy in March 1946

Can you help or know a member than can?
Thanks in anticipation,
Graham

 

Here are some links to some War Diaries at The National Archives.

WO 166 - War Office: Home Forces: War Diaries, Second World War
Subseries within WO 166 - PIONEER CORPS
Reference: WO 166/14009 Description: 312 Coy. Date: 1943 Jan.-Dec.
Reference: WO 166/14062 Description: 375 Coy. Date: 1943 July-Dec.
Reference: WO 166/14123 Description: 843 Coy. Date: 1943 Jan.-Dec.
Reference: WO 166/16100 Description: 401 Coy. Date: 1944 May- Dec.
Reference: WO 166/17554 Description: 143 Coy. Date: 1945 Nov., Dec.

Richard

 

Graham,

I assume you have his Service Record? See: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17734450 He died in 1986 @ Cambridge. From: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17734450

You may need to use either company and coy when doing online research and here.

You are in luck as Paul Brown is our newly arrived in-house expert on the Pioneer Corps, with access to their archives. I recommend you send him a PM alert to him. He is here as: pikieb

 

Have the following post May 45:

143 Pioneer Company: Major VA Case – 9 L of C Sub Area – Army Troops 5 May 45 – 34 Pioneer Group 5 Sep 45 – Zedelghem-B south-west of Bruges to 5 May 45 – Kirchweyhe north-west of Verden 5 Sep 45

21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)

 

Hi webbyg

A WAR HISTORY OF THE ROYAL PIONEER CORPS 1939-1945 BY MAJOR E H RHODES-WOOD
Many years ago we painstakingly converted the 391 page book "A War History of the Royal Pioneer Corps 1939-1945" complete with photographs and maps in their entirety into electronic format.
The original book often commands high prices of well over £100 on ebay etc.
It is available to buy as an electronic PDF for only £11, with all proceeds going towards the Association. It is also going to be available on Amazon shortly, at a higher price.
To purchase a copy for just £11 email Billy at thepioneerhq@gmail.com

Hope this helps

Gus

 

Gus
Before purchasing this volume does it answer the above questions?
Graham

 

Steve
Thank you.
However, LANDER's service record shows that while in 143 Coy he was in UK! Would there have been an UK element to the rest of the company in Europe?
Graham

 

War Diaries for 143 Coy Pioneer Corps show them to be in NW Europe 1 January 1945 - 31 October 1945 and then in Home Forces in November and December 1945.

 

There is also an entry in LANDER’s record in July 1945 to “D V STARLING”.
Does this mean anything to anyone?

Graham

 

Probably not

But if you are looking info on what the PC were up to in all of the theatres during WW2 this is the one..

Gus

 

Hi Graham,

We have Albert as date of birth 4th December 1902. He joined up on 3rd April 1939 at recruiting office in Cambridge with Kings Own Royal Rifles. He transferred to Pioneers on 31st October 1940 and served until 27th October 1948. We do not have all the coys you have listed on his record but do have 809 Coy listed, which you have not mentioned.

Here are the relevant sections of the War Diaries that you have mentioned.

312 Coy in June 1943;
At the time they were at Horsington, Templecombe. For this short period nothing to report.

375 Coy in July 1943;
21 Jul 43 Moved to DEVONPORT – working in detachments in Devon and Cornwall
2 Oct 43 Maj J C Cleeves – tos OC vice Williams
18 Nov 43 Maj T W Pratt – tos OC vice Cleeves
5 Nov 43 Moved to BERE ALSTON
12 Dec 43 Moved to ASCOT – miscellaneous duties in scattered detachments
31 Dec 43 Officers:-
Maj T W Pratt – OC
Capt S H Williams – 2IC
Lts C R Woodward, G Syddall & C C Kennard
2Lts H McRussell & S L Nicholson

843 Coy in December 1943;
843 was a Smoke Coy.
31 Dec 43 Scattered detachments from TAUNTON to TRURO – miscellaneous work
Officers:-
Maj A G Belfrage MC – OC
Capt F M Marks – 2IC
9 x Lts, 6 x 2Lts and CSM Rogers

19 Jan 44 HQ moved to WEMBURY
8 Feb 44 HQ moved to STOVER, NEWTON ABBOTT
22 Mar 44 Maj A G Belfrage MC – sos PW coy
15 Apr 44 Maj W Halswell – tos OC
5 May 44 Capt F M Marks – sos OC 401 Coy
15 May 44 Capt H Stuart – tos 2IC
25 May 44 HQ moved to CREDITON

401 Coy in May 1944;
5 May 44 Formed at SOUTH HILL and engaged on camp construction with detachments at TRURO, BODMIN, WASHAWAY, GOTHERS, FORT EFFORD, FORT AGATON and PITTSCLEAVE – part of 37 Group
Officers:-
Maj F M Marks – OC
Capt T S Barr – 2IC
Lts A Varey, J R E Rogers, R H Brown & W F Papwoth
19 Jul 44 Moved to LOSTWITHIEL
31 Dec 44 Still at LOSTWITHIEL with detachments at TRURO – CRE, BODMIN – SCD, GOTHERS – COSD, FORT EFFORD – EAM, BRAUNTON – Camp construction, FORT AGATON – CSD, and supplying orderlies at Cornwall Sub-District and PLYMOUTH Garrison HQs

23 Mar 45 Maj F M Marks – sos 843 Coy
23 Apr 45 Maj H Collier MC – tos OC
8 May 45 Officers:-
Maj H Collier MC – OC
Capt J Laidlaw – 2IC
Lts J L Cooper-Chadwick & A P Wellbelove
2Lts F G Dromgoole, L C Kearly & F P Le Roy de Ste Croix
7 Jul 45 Maj J Laidlaw – promoted OC vice Collier
28 Jul 45 Moved to RAGLAN BARRACKS, DEVONPORT
25 Oct 45 Moved to FORMBY for work in LIVERPOOL Docks
9 Nov 45 Returned to DEVONPORT – camp and barrack maintenance
13 Nov 45 Maj J Laidlaw – sos as 2IC 37 Group
14 Nov 45 Maj E B Weston – tos OC
31 Dec 45 Last Diary entry – still at DEVONPORT
Maj E B Weston – OC
3 Apr 46 Disbanded as per W.O. records

143 Coy in March 1946
28 Jun 46 Disbanded at DEVONPORT as per W.O. records

Let me know if you would like a copy of The War History book, price is £10.

Best, Paul Brown

 

Paul
Really helpful, thank you.

I have LANDER serving in 809 Coy from Oct 1940 to May 1942. Any details where, and other details of its 'smoke' role, please?

Graham

 

Hi Graham,

No problem. As you know, 809 was also a smoke company. Not a lot here in this date range...

Oct 1940 to May 1942

30 Oct 40
Formed ACCRINGTON
Maj H L G Buckingham – OC
Capt J L George – 2IC

4 Jan 41
Capt J L George – sos

20 Jan 41
Capt O A J Whiteman – tos 2IC

1 Feb 41
Officers:-
Maj H L G Buckingham – OC
Capt O A J Whiteman – 2IC
Lts H H Homewood & J Beardsmore
2Lt J P Jackson

3 Jul 41
Capt T J Flannery – tos 2IC vice Whiteman (sos RE)

Oct 41
HQ at ACCRINGTON with detachments at LIVERPOOL and PLYMOUTH

28 Dec 41
Maj T J A Rogers – tos OC vice Buckingham (sos Lt Col)

31 Dec 41
Officers:-
Maj T J A Rogers – OC
Capt J Beardsmore – 2IC
Lts H H Homewood, V A Webster, D C C Sexton & M J Carew

6 Feb 42
Maj T J A Rogers – sos 841 Coy

8 Feb 42
Maj G B Winsor – tos OC

 

Fort Efford and Fort Agaton are part of the landward defences of Plymouth, disused by the military after WW1 - aftera brief look. Both are well documented.

Piitscleave is Pitts Cleave and is a former quarry and current industrial estate located on the eastern edge of Tavistock in West Devon.

Smoke was used to protect industrial sites and in the Middle East oil refineries / ports. Not read about UK-use, but there are threads here on them IIRC protecting Haifa. See: Basuto Smoke Company

Other mentions: 802 and 815 Smoke Companies Pioneer Corps WW2 @ Bari, Italy in Post 20: The Bombing of Bari Harbour 2 December 1943 - a white-wash? 185 Smoke Company @ Normandy in Post 232: Sword Beach.

 

Paul

Thank you.

Graham

 

Paul

May I ask if these details came from War Diaries?

I see that the RLC Museum have transcripts of the War Diaries and while I am prepared to take out a subscription to read them I am wondering if I am likely to get any more information than you have kindly provided.

Graham

 

Hi Graham,

Yes, over many years our main historian has converted hundreds and hundreds of War Diaries. We are still in the process of converting some units, such as Fire Fighting ones etc. The ones the RLC have will be exactly the same as ours

Best, Paul

 

Paul

Thank you.
You have probably provided all the information i am looking for.
Regards
Graham

 

Good to hear

The only other thing that can think of is a group photo of the relevant companies. This is something that can search on, we are always finding group photographs all over the place and adding them into our collection.