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.