Royal Engineers June 1944

Hello Marie,

Thanks for the Diary pages. That's just what we need.

I've had a quick look at the War Diary for the period 01June to 09June. It’s looking like the four coasters that arrived on 08June were not carrying 999 POC – they were just the next ships that were to be unloaded by the company.

Meanwhile, you typed: "His service records states he embarked UK on 3/6/1944 as part of 999 POC and part of 607".

Does your Dad's service record actually say that? Then, if so, we can safely place him onboard LCI(L) Serial 607.

However, on the day of his embarkation (03June) the War Diary tells us at that it was only the three coasters "403, 622 and 685" that were "marshalled and embarked at Southampton". In which case, given that his Army trade at the time was “Stevedore”, then he was almost certainly onboard Glengariff, Marcel or Northgate.

And here's a pic of one those three coasters - No. 403 Glengariff (albeit taken after 1951 when it been renamed Ballyknock). The photo comes from the website: http://www.clydeships.co.uk


And, quite literally adding a bit of colour to the story, a piece of war art. This was painted by the War Artist E.J.I. Ardizzone, on or about 17Jun44. This pic also comes from the Imperial War Museum - this is IWM Art.IWM ART LD 4437. The title is "Dock operating company boarding a Steamer to unload it".


Regards
Arty

 

I love this painting. It is amazing. Thank you for responding to the files I put on the site Arty. I appreciated the acknowledgement.
I have looked again carefully at my father's own service record and realised I was talking rubbish. Somewhere I saw he was part of 607 but I cannot find it now.
His personal service record states he joined 999 DOC 18/ 03/ 1943 under the command of Captain A.E Yeo.
He had been trained to be a Stevedore 11.
The record entry for 3/6/1944 says 2E21/4525/44 (no idea what that means) 999 POC - Embarked UK - Rank- Sapper - signed A E Yeo Captain.
He remained with 999 POC until he was demobbed in 1946
Not 999 DOC became 999 POC. Don't know why.
I suspect this information is not telling me where he was on June 6th.
Thanks again.
Marie

 

Hello Marie,

I suspect this information is indeed telling us where Sapper Hildyard was on 06June.

Reiterating what I said in my last post... The info in the Operation Order & the War Diary entries for 01June to 05June are fairly clear about the embarkation of 999 POC's Officers & OR's. Again, given your Dad's Army trade (ie. Stevedore) and the notation in his Service Record of him embarking on 03June, we can be fairly confident now that he was onboard Glengariff, Marcel or Northgate - all of which arrived off the Queen sector on the afternoon of 06June.

Back to the War Art. The artist, Ardizzone, recorded in his diary on 17June: "Learn at about lunch-time I am to leave by the Ability, a coaster. Board her about 4p.m. after the usual appalling climb up a rope net. Find a gang of R.E.S (Docks Operating Co.) still unloading cans of high octane into waiting D.U.K.W.S, a tough-looking crowd of men but wonderful workers. I am treated with wonderful courtesy and hospitality by the ship's captain and crew." Again this info is from the IWM website. Of note Ardizzone seems to have painted other works in the Sword area at the time - so this pic might just depict 999 POC in action. I've got to say though, it looks like a bloody dangerous way to go to work!

The reference to "DOC" is the abbreviation of "Docks Operating Company". By 1944 the correct nomenclature was "Port Operating Company".

Regards
Arty

 

Arty, Thank you for your response and the further information you have given me. The family will be so pleased with all we have learned from this great site and from the people like yourself who have responded to my initial enquiry.
I seem to have come a long way in my journey of " where was dad?" and it is thanks to the response of kind members who have welcomed me, a mere novice to share in your knowledge of the amazing events of that time in WW2.
It has been a pleasure to have been able to make a small contribution to the knowledge of the group in supplying 999 POC's War Diaries.
To all the people who responded a big thank you and hope the diaries are of interest.
I am logging as much as I can and the pictures for the family.
Thank you again. If any further information come to light I would of course love to hear it.
To you all, keep safe and well and my thoughts are with you and all on the coming Remembrance Weekend.
Regards,
Marie

 

Hi, I have just discovered this post from over 5 years ago but I have just read it all with complete interest & amazement & can completely relate to it all. It has helped me immensely as I have recently received my fathers war records & to my astonishment it is a virtual copy of my dads records as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers !! My dad would rarely speak about his war days & always said he would tell me when I was old enough. Sadly he passed away at an early age before I was old enough. However he did occasionally mention a few snippets, one of them strongly relates to dates around D Day & what I have read in this post : He told me he was on a ship on the 4th of June with other men which was also his 21st birthday. The ship had been delayed & there was a bit of a celebration for his 21st. After the ship had departed it was night time & they could here planes & distant military noises, then out of the blue a plane appeared in flames and came crashing down into the see, his exact words were "it was a spectacular site but was shocking & everyone on the ship went silent" I am continuing to put all the 'pieces of the jigsaw' together with the records, my dads occasional war snippets & what I have read in this post which is a massive piece of the jigsaw. So huge thank you to the contributors in the post if you are still on here & hope that Marie has managed to piece her Dads service history successfully (I wander if they knew each other !!) Thank you, Dave

 

Coaster convoy EWC1A arrived 7/0600
Vessel Flag Beach
Crewhill Br Omaha
Cushendun Br Utah
Donaghmore Br Utah Naval Stores
Erna Du Omaha
Gem Br Utah
Hawarden Bridge Br Utah
Moelfre Rose Br Omaha
Rockleaze Br Omaha
Stuart Queen Br Utah
Wallace Rose Br Utah
Escorted by: HMS Goatfell and HMS Ryde

I have found this thread after looking for information on the Stuart Queen. I must have missed this on previous searches. Lots of good information.
I can see by your list that Stuart Queen was designated Utah beach sector. Would she have been carrying general essential stores?. Also how would these stores have been transferred off the ship. Would they have been transferred onto smaller vessels to get them ashore?