Railway units, royal engineers

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  1. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    RAILWAY UNITS, ROYAL ENGINEERS

    Royal Engineers were responsible for the construction, maintenance and operation of
    railways required for the maintenance of the army.

    Royal Engineers also played a major role in Movement Control.


    RAILWAY UNITS

    Headquarters Railway Operating Group. War Establishment IV/17/3. December 1943.
    Railway Operating Company. War Establishment IV/18/3. December1943
    Railway Company. War Establishment IV/14/2. June 1943.
    Headquarters Railway Workshop Group. War Establishment IV/20B/3. December 1943.
    Railway Workshop Company. War Establishment IV/21/5. December1943
    Railway Mobile Workshop. War Establishment IV/18A/3. December1943
    Transportation Stores Company. War Establishment IV/20/3. December 1943.
    Transportation Stores Company Type A. War Establishment IV/20A/2. November 1944
    Railway Construction Company. War Establishment IV/16/4. December 1943.
    Railway Survey Company. War Establishment IV/13/3. December 1943.
    Headquarters Railway Bridging Company. War Establishment IV/167/1. July 1943
    Railway Bridging Section. War Establishment IV/112/2. July 1943.
    Railway Bridging Company. War Establishment IV/221/1. December 1943.

    Movement Control Group. War Establishment IV/4/4. December 1944.
    Movement Control Pool. War Establishment XIV/105/1. May 1944.
    Movement Control Pool. War Establishment XIV/105/2. November 1944.
    Movement Control Pool. War Establishment XIV/105/3. March 1945.
    Build Up Control Organisation. War Establishment XIV/57/1. December 1944.



    HEADQUARTERS OF A RAILWAY OPERATING GROUP RE
    War Establishment IV/17/3 with an effective date of December 1943.

    Lieutenant Colonel, Officer Commanding
    Major, Second in Command (to be trained in Passive Air Defence and Anti Gas Duties)
    Captain, Adjutant
    Note: of the Major and the Captain one will be responsible for traffic operating duties and one for locomotive duties.

    Warrant Officer Class I (Chief Inspector)
    company quartermaster serjeant
    staff serjeant (inspector) for mechanical
    staff serjeant (inspector) for locomotives
    staff serjeant (inspector) for traffic
    serjeant boiler inspector
    serjeant clerk
    3 X serjeant traffic controller
    driver mechanic
    corporal clerk (railway)
    2 X clerk
    2 X motor cyclist
    3 X corporal traffic operator

    batman
    batman driver
    driver of vehicle
    4 X orderly and general duty man (two to be trained in sanitary duties and two in water duties)
    2 X cook ACC

    Transport
    2 X motorcycle
    1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
    1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
    1 X water trailer

    1 X Bren lmg
    1 X PIAT



    A RAILWAY OPERATING COMPANY RE
    War Establishment IV/18/3 with an effective date of December1943

    This was a large company of 372 all ranks including attached cooks.

    Major, Officer Commanding
    Captain for administration
    Captain for traffic operating
    Captain for locomotive operating, maintenance and repair
    4 X Subaltern

    Regimental Serjeant Major
    company quartermaster serjeant
    4 X staff serjeant traffic operators
    staff serjeant locomotive shed foreman
    15 X serjeant


    blacksmith
    blacksmiths striker or hammerman
    32 X blockman
    3 X boilermaker
    82 X brakesman and shunter
    carpenter and joiner
    8 X clerk (railway)
    4 X clerk (general duties
    coppersmith
    2 X driver (transportation plant
    driver mechanic
    electrician (diesel electric locomotive)
    engine fitter (internal combustion and pumps)
    50 X fireman (locomotive)
    50 X railway engine drivers
    sheet metal worker
    4 X stoker (stationary engine)
    3 X storeman (technical and departmental, railway)
    14 X traffic operators
    6 X wagon erectors
    2 X welder (acetylene and electric)

    Pioneers required for unloading of locomotive coal, coaling and cleaning of locomotives, calling up and sand drying.
    5 X boilermakers mates and washout men
    brickarchman and tuber
    9 X fitters mates
    15 X general dutyman
    6 X motorcyclist
    2 X steam raiser

    3 X batman
    3 X driver of vehicle
    medical officers orderly
    11 X orderly and general dutyman

    officers mess cook ACC
    serjeant cook ACC
    corporal cook ACC
    6 X cook ACC

    Transport
    6 X motorcycle
    3 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
    1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
    1 X 10ton 6 X 4 GS
    1 X water trailer

    Note the 10 ton 6 X 4 GS may be fitted with breakdown equipment in which case an extra driver mechanic may be added.

    3 X Bren lmg
    4 X PIAT
    Note: All engine drivers and firemen will be armed with machine carbines.


    HEADQUARTERS, RAILWAY WORKSHOP GROUP, RE
    War Establishment IV/20B/3 with an effective date of December 1943.

    Lieutenant Colonel, Officer Commanding
    Major Second in Command
    Captain, Adjutant
    Captain in charge of drawing office
    Captain in charge of outdoor machinery

    Warrant Officer Class I
    2 X Quarter Master Serjeant (technical) (technical inspectors)
    2 X staff serjeant fitter (locomotive) (technical inspector)
    serjeant clerk for orderly room
    serjeant in charge of drawing office

    2 X clerk, general duties
    8 X clerk, railway
    8 X draughtsman, technical

    batman
    2 X batman driver
    3 X orderly and general dutyman

    2 X cook ACC

    Transport
    2 X bicycle
    2 X motorcycle
    2 X car 2 seater 4 x 2

    1 X Bren lmg



    A RAILWAY WORKSHOP COMPANY RE
    War Establishment IV/21/5 with an effective date of December1943

    Major, Officer Commanding
    2 X Captain
    3 X Subaltern

    Warrant Officer Class I, technical
    2 X quartermaster serjeant (technical) (locomotive engineers)
    company quartermaster serjeant
    3 X staff serjeant
    7 X serjeant


    10 X blacksmith
    10 X blacksmiths striker or hammerman
    16 X boilermaker
    bricklayer
    12 X carpenter and joiner
    10 X carriage and wagon repairers
    4 X clerk (railway)
    4 X clerk (general duties
    6 X coppersmith
    4 X draughtsman, mechanical
    4 X driver (crane)
    driver mechanic
    3 X electrician (diesel electric locomotive)
    6 X electrician (maintenance)
    4 X engine hands (internal combustion)
    2 X fitter
    70 X fitter (locomotive) (steam or diesel)
    5 X holder up or riveters helpers)
    10 X machinist (metal)
    18 X millwright
    10 X moulder
    painter and decorator
    3 X pattern maker
    2 X plumber and pipe fitter
    pioneers for duty as
    bricklayers labourer
    6 X boiler shop labourers
    3 X joiners and carpenters mates
    2 X coppersmiths labourers
    4 X electricians mates
    40 X fitters mates
    5 X millwrights labourers
    2 X machine shop labourers
    motorcyclist
    plumbers mate
    railway engine driver
    railway engine driver (diesel)
    2 X rigger
    10 X riveter
    4 X sawyer
    5 X storeman (technical and departmental (railway))
    6 X sheet metal worker
    4 X stoker (stationary engine)
    3 X storeman (technical and departmental, railway)
    3 X toolmaker
    16 X turner
    8 X welder (acetylene and electric)

    3 X batman
    2 X driver of vehicle
    5 X orderly and general dutyman

    officers mess cook ACC
    serjeant cook ACC
    corporal cook ACC
    6 X cook ACC

    Transport
    4 X bicycle
    2 X motorcycle
    1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
    1 X 15cwt air compressor
    1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
    1 X water trailer

    3 X Bren lmg
    1 X PIAT
    Note: All engine drivers and firemen will be armed with machine carbines.

    When the company is required to undertake wagon erection the following increments will be made
    serjeant carriage and wagon repairer
    lance serjeant carriage and wagon repairer
    corporal carriage and wagon repairer
    2 X carriage and wagon repairer
    6 X driver (crane)
    corporal engine fitter (IC and pumps)
    3 X engine fitter ( IC and pumps)
    2 X engine hands (IC)
    4 X general dutyman
    5 X riveters mate
    6 X rigger
    2 X corporal riveter
    8 X riveter.



    A RAILWAY MOBILE WORKSHOP RE
    War Establishment IV/18A/3 with an effective date of December1943
    Presumably the workshop is rail mobile since it has very little transport listed.

    Captain, Officer Commanding

    quartermaster serjeant (technical)
    serjeant for administrative duties


    2 X blacksmith
    2 X blacksmiths striker or hammerman
    2 X boilermaker
    2 X boilermakers mate
    carpenter and joiner
    8 X clerk (railway)
    clerk
    draughtsman (mechanical)
    driver mechanic
    electrician
    electrician (diesel electric locomotive)
    4 X fitter
    3 X fitter, locomotive
    2 X fitters mate
    sheet metal worker
    2 X storeman (technical and departmental, railway)
    2 X turner
    corporal welder (acetylene and electric
    3 X welder (acetylene and electric)

    batman driver
    general dutyman
    2 X cook ACC

    Transport
    1 X bicycle
    1 X motorcycle
    1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
    1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
    1 X water trailer

    1 X Bren lmg
    1 X PIAT

    When the workshop is required to work two shifts the following will be added.
    lance serjeant fitter to be in charge of the second shift.
    2 X blacksmith
    2 X blacksmiths striker or hammerman
    electrician (maintenance)
    fitter
    fitters mate
    sheet metal worker
    turner
    welder (acetylene and electric)



    A TRANSPORTATION STORES COMPANY RE
    War Establishment IV/20/3 with an effective date of December 1943.

    Major, Officer Commanding
    Captain
    4 X Subaltern (section officers)

    quartermaster serjeant RE (in charge of stores sections)
    company serjeant major
    2 X company quartermaster serjeant
    8 X serjeant

    blacksmith
    blacksmiths striker or hammerman
    3 X boilermaker
    6 X brakesman and shunter
    bricklayer
    12 X carpenter and joiner
    4 X checker (railway)
    4 X clerk
    draughtsman, mechanical
    draughtsman, railway or port construction
    6 X driver, crane
    drive, transportation plant
    driver mechanic
    electrician (maintenance)
    engine fitter (internal combustion and pumps)
    engine fitter, steam, reciprocating
    holder up or riveters helper
    instrument mechanic
    4 X painter and decorator
    6 X platelayer
    2 X plumber and pipefitter
    12 X rigger
    riveter
    sawyer
    sheet metal worker
    2 X steelwork erector
    60 X storeman (technical and departmental, railway)
    2 X welder (acetylene and electric)

    Pioneers for duty as
    boilermakers mate
    bricklayers labourer
    6 X carpenters mates
    electricians mate
    2 X fitters mates
    3 X motorcyclist
    office orderly
    plumbers mate
    8 X regimental police and guards
    2 X switchboard orderly
    2 X welders mate

    2 X batman
    5 X driver of vehicle
    4 X orderly and general dutyman
    sanitary dutyman

    corporal linesman RS
    linesman RS
    officers mess cook ACC
    serjeant mess cook ACC
    corporal cook ACC
    4 X cook ACC

    Transport
    4 X bicycle
    4 X motorcycle
    1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
    1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS

    3 X Bren lmg
    1 X PIAT

    One fire fighting sub section type B is attached.



    A TRANSPORTATION STORES COMPANY (Type A) RE
    War Establishment IV/20A/2 with an effective date of November 1944.
    Supersedes WE IV/20A/1 with six amendments.

    Captain
    Subaltern
    company quartermaster serjeant
    3 X serjeant
    2 X lance serjeant
    5 X corporal
    3 X lance corporal
    50 X sapper
    5 X driver
    2 X cook ACC

    blacksmith
    2 X brakesman and shunter
    bricklayer
    2 X carpenter and joiner
    2 X clerk
    driver, crane
    2 X driver, transportation plant
    fitter RE
    painter and decorator
    3 X platelayer
    plumber and pipefitter
    rigger
    sheet metal worker
    10 X storeman (technical and departmental, railway)
    29 X pioneer for duty as tradesmans mates, labourers, orderlies and police.

    batman
    2 X driver of vehicle
    sanitary dutyman
    water dutyman

    Transport
    2 X bicycle
    1 X car light utility
    1 X 3ton 4 X 2 or 6 X 4 GS

    One fire fighting sub section type A is attached. (WE IV/91/2



    A RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY RE
    War Establishment IV/16/4 with an effective date of December 1943.

    Major, Officer Commanding
    2 X Captain
    4 X Subaltern

    Company Serjeant Major
    company quartermaster serjeant
    8 X serjeant


    6 X blacksmith
    6 x blacksmiths striker or hammerman
    4 X bricklayer
    16 X carpenter and joiner
    6 X clerk
    4 X draughtsman, railway or port construction
    4 X driver, transportation plant
    4 X driver mechanic
    electrician (maintenance)
    4 X engine fitter (internal combustion and pumps)
    engine fitter, steam, reciprocating
    2 X engine hand
    2 X fitter (railway signals)
    mason
    painter and decorator
    100 X platelayer
    2 X plumber and pipefitter
    20 X rigger
    4 X riveter
    12 X steelwork erector
    3 X stoker (stationary engine)
    5 X storeman (technical and departmental, railway)
    5 X surveyor (engineering)
    turner
    8 X welder (acetylene and electric)

    Pioneers for duty as
    4 X fitters mates
    4 X motorcyclist

    2 X batman
    batman driver
    18 X driver of vehicle
    general dutyman

    officers mess cook ACC
    corporal cook ACC
    5 X cook ACC

    Transport
    2 X bicycle
    4 X motorcycle
    4 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
    15cwt air compressor
    6 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
    8 X 3ton 6 X 4 GS
    1 X 6 X 4 machinery RE 24 KW
    2 X 10 ton 6 X 4 GS fitted to carry loads uo to 40 feet in length.

    5 X Bren lmg
    4 X PIAT



    A RAILWAY SURVEY COMPANY RE
    War Establishment IV/13/3 with an effective date of December 1943.

    Major, Officer Commanding
    3 X Captain
    3 X Subaltern

    company quartermaster serjeant
    serjeant draughtsman (railway or port construction)
    3 X serjeant surveyor (engineering)

    clerk
    8 X draughtsman (railway or port construction)
    3 X driver mechanic
    engine fitter (internal combustion and pumps)
    storeman
    12 X survey dutyman
    18 X surveyor (engineering)

    batman
    3 X batman driver
    5 X driver of vehicle

    Transport
    1 X motorcycle
    3 X car 2 seater 4 x 2
    1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
    6 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    4 X water trailer




    A RAILWAY COMPANY.
    War Establishment IV/14/2. June 1943.
    Major
    2 X Captain
    4 X Subaltern

    Company Serjeant Major
    company quartermaster serjeant
    8 X serjeant
    8 X blacksmith
    8 X blacksmiths striker or hammerman
    10 X blockman
    2 X boilermaker
    14 X brakeman and shunter
    3 X bricklayer
    12 X carpenter and joiner
    2 X carriage and wagon repairer
    4 X clerk
    2 X clerk, railway
    3 X draughtsman, railway and port construction
    3 X driver, transportation plant
    driver mechanic
    electrician, maintenance
    electrician, wireman
    2 X engine fitter (IC and pumps)
    2 X engine fitter (steam and reciprocating)
    4 X engine hand, IC
    14 X fireman, locomotive
    8 X fitter
    2 X fitter, railway signals
    mason
    motor mechanic
    painter and decorator
    66 X platelayer
    2 X plumber and pipefitter
    10 X railway engine driver (50% may be diesel engine drivers)
    3 X riveter
    2 X sheetmetal worker
    9 X steelwork erectors
    5 X storeman, technical and departmental, railway
    4 X surveyors, engineering
    2 X traffic operators
    6 X welder, electric and acetylene
    3 X pioneer for carpenter and joiner duties
    4 X fitters mates
    3 X general dutyman
    officers mess orderly
    2 X batman
    batman driver
    11 X driver
    4 X motorcyclist
    officers mess cook
    6 X cook

    2 X bicycle
    4 X motorcycle
    2 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
    1 X car 6seater 4 X 2
    1 X 15cwt air compressor
    6 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
    6 X 3ton 6 X 4 GS

    7 X pistol
    244 X rifle
    17 X machine carbine
    3 X Bren lmg
    7 X PIAT.



    HEADQUARTERS RAILWAY BRIDGING COMPANY.
    War Establishment IV/167/1. July 1943.
    Major
    Captain
    Subaltern, Specialist in Steelwork Erection.
    Subaltern, Specialist in Bridge Welding.

    Company Serjeant Major
    staff serjeant draughtsman (railway or port construction)
    corporal clerk
    clerk
    2 X corporal draughtsman (railway or port construction)
    corporal storeman, technical
    storeman, technical
    corporal surveyor (engineering)
    2 X general dutyman
    motorcyclist
    2 X batman
    3 X driver
    cook

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

    4 X pistol
    13 X rifle
    4 X machine carbine
    1 X Bren lmg


    RAILWAY BRIDGING SECTION
    War Establishment IV/112/2. July 1943.
    Captain
    Subaltern

    quartermaster serjeant (technical) as foreman steelwork erector
    staff serjeant steelwork erector
    serjeant specialist in bridge welding
    serjeant
    corporal clerk
    clerk
    vehicle mechanic
    draughtsman (railway or port construction)
    rivetor
    3 X steelwork erector
    storeman, technical
    surveyor (engineering)
    2 X general dutyman
    motorcyclist
    batman
    2 X driver
    cook

    2 X bicycle
    1 X motorcycle
    1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
    1 X 15cwt GS
    1 X 15cwt air compressor
    1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS

    2 X pistol
    16 X rifle
    4 X machine carbine
    1 X Bren lmg
    1 X PIAT


    RAILWAY BRIDGING COMPANY.
    War Establishment IV/221/1. December 1943.
    Headquarters
    Major
    2 X Captain
    Subaltern, Specialist in Steelwork Erection.
    Subaltern, Specialist in Bridge Welding.

    Company Serjeant Major
    quartermaster serjeant (technical) as foreman steelwork erector
    staff serjeant draughtsman (railway construction)
    staff serjeant steelwork erector

    corporal clerk
    clerk
    2 X corporal draughtsman (railway construction)
    draughtsman (railway construction)
    5 X driver (transportation plant)
    driver mechanic
    fitter
    chainman
    2 X motorcyclist
    2 X general dutyman and orderly
    photographer (cinematograph or still)
    2 X corporal storeman, technical
    corporal surveyor
    4 X driver
    officers mess cook
    cook

    2 X bicycle
    2 X motorcycle
    1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
    1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
    1 X 15cwt GS
    1 x 3ton 4 X 2 GS
    1 X 180 gallon water trailer

    Works section
    Captain
    Subaltern
    quartermaster serjeant (technical) as foreman steelwork erector
    staff serjeant steelwork erector
    serjeant specialist in bridge welding
    2 X blacksmith
    bricklayer
    2 X carpenter and joiner
    corporal clerk
    corporal draughtsman (railway construction)
    driver mechanic
    3 X rivetor
    11 X steelwork erector
    storeman, technical
    surveyor (engineering)
    4 X general dutyman and orderly
    2 X motorcyclist
    3 X driver
    cook

    2 X bicycle
    2 X motorcycle
    1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
    1 X 15cwt GS
    1 X 15cwt air compressor
    2 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS


    MOVEMENT CONTROL GROUP
    War Establishment IV/4/4. December 1944.
    This superseded WE IV/4/3 and incorporated only three amendments.
    Not strictly an RE unit but it worked very closely with the RE railway operating units and all non officer personnel came from the RE.

    4 X Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General (Movement)
    3 X Staff Captain (Movement)
    34 X Embarkation Staff Officers, Railway Traffic Officers and Military Forwarding Officers including
    17 X Captain
    17 X Lieutenant
    Captain, Administration
    Lieutenant, Administration
    Regimental Serjeant Major
    4 X Quarter Master Serjeant for movement control duties
    company quartermaster serjeant
    17 X serjeant clerk or checker (movement control)
    42 X clerk, railway
    72 X checker (movement control)
    driver mechanic
    44 X batmen and orderlies (see note below)
    4 X driver IC
    4 X general dutyman

    24 X bicycle
    6 X motorcycle
    11 X car light utility
    3 X car 4 seat 4 X 2
    2 X 15cwt GS

    4 X Bren lmg
    2 X PIAT


    Headquarters A Echelon
    2 X Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General (Movement)
    Staff Captain (Movement)
    16 X Embarkation Staff Officers, Railway Traffic Officers and Military Forwarding Officers including
    8 X Captain
    8 X Lieutenant
    Captain, Administration
    Regimental Serjeant Major
    2 X Quarter Master Serjeant for movement control duties
    company quartermaster serjeant
    clerk, railway
    driver mechanic
    driver IC

    11 X bicycle
    3 X motorcycle
    5 X car light utility
    2 X car 4 seat 4 X 2
    1 X 15cwt GS

    Headquarters B Echelon
    2 X Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General (Movement)
    2 X Staff Captain (Movement)
    18 X Embarkation Staff Officers, Railway Traffic Officers and Military Forwarding Officers including
    9 X Captain
    9 X Lieutenant
    Lieutenant, Administration
    2 X Quarter Master Serjeant for movement control duties
    clerk, railway
    3 X driver IC

    13 X bicycle
    3 X motorcycle
    6 X car light utility
    1 X car 4 seat 4 X 2
    1 X 15cwt GS


    4 X Section each
    4 X serjeant clerk or checker (movement control)
    10 X clerk, railway
    18 X checker (movement control)
    11 X batman and orderly
    general dutyman.

    Notes:
    Batman orderlies are allocated as follows
    One batman orderly per officer in small detachments where both batmen and orderlies are required. 21 will be allocated to base sub areas and 23 to regulating and railhead areas.
    One batman per three officers in large detachments. 8 will be allocated to base sub areas and 7 to regulating and railhead areas. The remainder will form a pool of general dutymen for area offices, marshalling yards etc.

    Twelve batman orderlies will be trained as drivers
    Six batman orderlies will ride motorcycles.

    Personnel in isolated detachments not accessible to movement control headquarters will either be billeted with subsistence or attached to the nearest unit for messing.

    Cooks will be provided according to scales laid down in ACI 133 and 1222.

    Four men will be trained in gas duties and decontamination work.
    Three men will be trained in the use of the Bren lmg.

    All other ranks will be Royal Engineers.



    OPERATIONS

    Military railways were used to carry supplies over the lines of communication from the Rear Maintenance Area to Railhead which was in the Forward Maintenance Area. The Rear Maintenance Area was generally around the port used to bring in supplies and the area contained a wide range of dumps and depots holding reserves of all the many items that an army needed.

    Each day a list of the requirements for the entire army (or Army Group) was compiled and broken down into the components that each dump or depot would supply. Bulk trains carrying all these supplies set off down the Lines of Communication to a point where the loads could be re arranged into pack trains. This was done at a marshalling yard and shunting engines were used to assemble trains composed of all the supplies required for a particular unit. Usually this was a corp but could be a division on occasion. Pack trains travelled the greatest distance and before arriving in the forward area they would pass through a regulating station where the trains might be re arranged again. It might be that requirements had changed or that the unit for which supplies were intended had moved to another area. It might also be necessary to rearrange the wagons into trains destined for a particular commodity railhead, supply, ammunition or petrol. Finally the trains would arrive at railhead and be unloaded, first into depots and then onto the lorries that would take them further forward.

    It might be necessary to insert a depot somewhere on the line which could adjust the loads to a greater extent than could the regulating station. This depot would unload and hold any surplus supplies and make up any shortages from its stocks.

    Where the railway system was not yet operating, or where it had not sufficient capacity, road transport could be used instead. If possible this would consist of ten ton GS lorries. They would operate an identical system to that used by the rail transport system and the point to which they delivered was usually referred to as railhead even though there was no rail.

    Bulk petrol was not generally transported by rail. Petrol was carried as far forward as possible by pipeline. After the Normandy Campaign pipelines became the sole responsibility of the US Army. Petrol was stored in collapsible tanks until it was transferred to bulk road vehicles. When petrol was moved by rail it was already in Jerricans.

    The movement of trains was regulated as in a civilian rail system. There were Movement Control Centres which maintained communication up and down the system using telephone and telegraph wires laid along the railway line. Signalling and the operation of points was as on the civilian railways.


    MOVEMENT CONTROL POOL.
    War Establishment XIV/105/1. May 1944.
    This pool provided movement control personnel for the assault phase of the campaign, and then for the Mulberry Harbour and beaches. It was superseded in November when the port of Antwerp was opened.

    3 X Colonel Q (Two to be port commandants)
    16 X Assistant Quartermaster General (M). (May be Principal Military Landing Officer)
    36 X Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General (M). (May be Military Landing Officer)
    32 X Staff Captain (M)
    29 X Assistant Military Landing Officer.

    8 X Warrant Officer Class II

    staff serjeant clerk
    11 X serjeant clerk
    36 X corporal clerk
    85 X clerk
    3 X corporal clerk railway
    12 X checker movement control
    60 X motorcyclist
    16 X driver IC
    22 X batman
    22 X batman driver

    11 X motorcycle
    7 X car 5 cwt 4 X 4
    6 X car cwt 4 X 4 amphibious
    14 X car light utility
    13 X car 4 seater 4 X 2



    MOVEMENT CONTROL POOL.
    War Establishment XIV/105/2. November 1944.
    This pool provided movement control personnel to the Line of Communication Sub Areas and other administrative areas and districts.

    3 X Colonel Q
    17 X Assistant Quartermaster General (M)
    59 X Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General (M)
    50 X Staff Captain (M)
    105 X Captain Movement Control Officers
    102 X Lieutenant Movement Control Officers
    6 X Captain Administrative Officer
    6 X Lieutenant Administrative Officer

    37 X clerk general duties, clerk railway or checker movement control includes
    6 X Warrant Officer Class I RE
    31 X Warrant Officer Class II RE

    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant

    120 X clerk general duties, clerk railway or checker movement control includes
    7 X staff serjeant RE
    113 X serjeant RE

    401 X checker movement control RE
    327 X clerk general duties or clerk railway RE
    10 X driver mechanic
    67 X motorcyclist
    171 X driver IC
    170 general dutyman, including batman

    36 X cook

    204 X bicycle
    67 X motorcycle
    20 X car 5 cwt 4 X 4
    20 X car light utility
    31 X car 4 seater 4 X 2 or 4 X 4
    83 X 15cwt GS
    3 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS

    War Establishment XIV/105/3, March 1945, has the following additions.
    2 X Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General (M)
    4 X Staff Captain (M)
    Warrant Officer Class II RE, Clerk (Technical)
    2 X serjeant clerk, railway
    13 X clerk, railway

    Movement Control played a vital role throughout the campaign, ensuring that the limited transportation resources were used efficiently. However there were a number of occasions when exceptional measures were required.

    Movement Control was involved from D Day in keeping units, supplies and replacements moving on the limited roads in the beachhead.

    During Operation Market-Garden the movement problem for 30 Corps was a very difficult one. It involved the tactical movement of approximately 20,000 vehicles across Holland along one route, supplemented in places by a subsidiary route. Traffic control was exercised through three regulating HQs each of which controlled three traffic control posts with wireless communications. It was laid down that movement would take place by day only. Formations and units would harbour along the road each night retaining their order of priority. They would be fed into the axis as road space became available. For the first forty-eight hours rearward movement was to be restricted to an absolute minimum.

    To counter the German offensive in the Ardennes 30 Corps was rapidly moved to cover the line of the Meuse. This involved crossing both the British and the American L of C but it was successfully achieved. To counter the same offensive 6 Airborne Division was brought over from UK. The move of the whole division with skeleton transport took place entirely by sea through Ostend and Calais and was completed in about four days.

    In order to release British personnel from the rear areas, two Belgian Movement Control Groups were formed on British War Establishments, one early in January and the second in the middle of March.

    Operation Goldflake was the move of 1 Canadian Corps and 5 British Infantry Division from Italy. Movement Control staffs were despatched to Marseilles and to all road and rail staging camps and halts. The rail journey was planned to take three days and the journey by road took five days. The movement started on 18 February and was completed in the second week in April.

    For the initial crossings of the Rhine a special organisation was established to control the movement of personnel and vehicles across the river by amphibians and rafts before the bridges were complete. This organisation was modelled on the lines of the beach group without the service elements except for Medical, Provost and REME and was known as the "Bank Control Group". Bank control groups were formed on the basis of one per assault corps and controlled all movement forward from the marshalling areas to dispersal areas on the far bank.



    BUILD UP CONTROL ORGANISATION
    War Establishment XIV/57/1. December 1944.
    Supersedes VIII/685/2. This was a UK establishment.
    A Build Up Control Organisation was established in UK to control the movement of ships and craft from the UK and the movement of personnel and vehicles to ships and craft from the concentration and marshalling areas. This organisation was also responsible for the post D-day concentration plan and for ensuring that all units were ready in time to move to marshalling areas for embarkation.

    Colonel, General Staff. Chairman.
    staff serjeant personal assistant

    Staff
    3 X General Staff Officer 2nd Grade
    3 X General Staff Officer 3rd Grade
    9 X clerk RASC including
    corporal clerk
    corporal short hand typist
    4 X clerk
    3 X shorthand typist
    draughtsman topographical RE

    Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General
    Deputy Assistant Adjutant General
    Staff Captain A
    Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General
    Staff Captain Q
    8 X clerk RASC including
    2 X serjeant
    4 X clerk
    2 X shorthand typist

    Despatch Office
    corporal clerk RASC
    7 X clerk RASC

    Local Administrative Appointments
    Captain Camp Commandant
    company quartermaster serjeant
    4 X batman
    3 X batman driver
    clerk RASC
    3 X driver IC
    4 X orderly

    3 X car light utility
    3 X car 4 seater 4 X 2

    Notes:
    Light utilities include two for staff at port of embarkation.
    Six clerks will be ATS.
     
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