18 Coy - 1
18 Company
(Formally No Transportation Stores labour Company)
5 Sep 39 / Formed at FORT GEROGEOLDHAM from 50 Cameronians & 228 Seaforth HighlandersOfficers:-
Maj C H Russell MC – OC
Capt T Booth MC – 2IC
2Lts W F McConnell
CSM D Watson DCM MM, CQMS C McConkey MM
14 Sep 39 / Disembarked CHERBOURG and proceeded to NANTES
18 Sep 39 / Moved to CARQUEFOU
2 Nov 39 / Joined 3 Group
30 Nov 39 / 2Lt G P S Reid – tos
8 Jan 40 / HQ & ½ coy located at CARQUEFOU remainder at BRAYE
Renamed 18 Company Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps
11 Jan 40 / 2Lt G P S Reid – sos
4 Feb 40 / HQ moved to Chateau Braye, RENNES
26 Feb 40 / Lt W F McConnell – sos to RE
6 Mar 40 / Lt R Forbes – tos
27 Apr 40 / Capt T Booth MC – sos as OC 10 Coy
8 May 40 / Capt W Pickard – tos 2IC
10 May 40 / Germans invade France – WAR STARTED
20 May 40 / Orders to reorganise the Coy into a fighting unit of a Coy HQ and 6 Platoons, 3 Anti-Tank rifles, 6 Bren Guns and transport issued.
21 May 40 / Coy entrained with 3, 10 & 28 Coys and formed a Battalion under Lt Col T E Pearman. Detrained at EVREUX at 1830 hours. Spent the night bivouacked in woods – rained all night.
22 May 40 / Marched to CAILLOUET
23 May 40 / Lt Col Brettorous Manchester Regt – tos CO and Major T E Pearman reverts to Bn 2IC. Known as ‘A’ Battalion DIGFORCE
24 May 40 / Coy reorganised into 4 Platoons and HQ.
Lt R Forbes and 34 surplus ORs transferred to ‘B’ Battalion.
Capt J C Cleeves & Lt F G Feltham – tos
25 May 40 / Took over guard duties on bridges and crossings over EURE Valley
28 May 40 / Bridge Guards at PACY taken over by ‘B’ Battalion
1 Jun 40 / Moved by road transport to FLEURY which was reached at 0900 hours. Then moved to PONT D’ANGELLE (3 kms North East)
1130 hours relief of ‘C’ Coy ‘Davis Rifles’ complete
BHQ established at MESNIL CLAQUE, 4 kms West of PERRIERS
1 Jun 40 / Coy moved from FAINS to FLEURY where it arrived at 0930 hours and relieved No 3 Coy Norfolk Regiment on the River ANDELLE.
18 Coy were on our left and 3 Coy on the right. – 10 Coy Diary
2 Jun 40 / Coy HQ moved 2 kms North to TRANSIERES – defence works
2 Jun 40 / Coy now holds 10 crossings over the ANDELLE River on a 5 km front
5 Jun 40 / News of Germans crossing the SOMME received
8 Jun 40 / Fighting reported at LA HAYE and GRAINVILLE (8 kms North of Coy HQ). Orders to stand unless otherwise ordered.
1400 hours – withdrawal ordered and commenced with 28 Coy on the left moving through the Company front. They are followed by 18 Coy from left to right. Coy march route and rendezvous on the ROMILLY – ALIZAY road. Received Battalion orders to hold LE MANOIR village with 28 Coy on the left at IGNOVILLE. 10 Coy on Right at PITRES
9 Jun 40
(Sunday) / 0100 hours – 2 out of 3 transport vehicles refused to start leaving Capt J C Cleeves and 2 Sgts of No 4 Platoon with stores at the rendezvous on the ROMILLY – ALIZAY road.
0500 hours – Small arms fire on the left (North of ALIZAY)
0530 hours – Picquet reports German infantry in view on the high ground North of ALIZAY
0545 hours – Maj T E Pearman (Bn 2IC) arrives at LA MANOIR and confirms that 28 Coy are in action in front of PONT DE L’ARCHE
0600 hours – Withdrawal to Left Bank of SEINE ordered by Battalion HQ. Carried out by sections from the right, across LE MANOIR Rail Bridge. Bridge mined and protected by AT Mines. It is impossible to withdraw the transport across the bridge. Sgt Rosser (Tpt NCO) ordered to make a crossing at ST PIERRE DU VAUVRAY his 15 cwt is to tow a broken down lorry.
0630 hours – Orders to hold the bridgehead until C Coy 2/4 KOYLI and 10 Coy have crossed. French Engineers in charge of the demolition are becoming impatient. OC insists the demolition is to be delayed as long as possible and the charge is only to be fired in the face of enemy pressure.
0715 hours – KOYLI crossed and take up positions on the river bank.
0745 hours – 10 Coy arrived with transport. The transport is set on fire and motorcycles are disables and pushed into the river.
0830 hours – Bridgehead evacuated but stragglers are still coming up the river from ALIZAY and IGOVILLE.
1005 hours – Bridge blown – only one span down. French and British stragglers continue to arrive on the far bank. These, about 50 in number, are brought across in boats manned by volunteers commanded by Maj T E Pearman (Bn 2IC). Coy has scattered badly on crossing the bridge and only Capt W Pickard, CSM Redpath, the Interpreter and 20 men were present at 100 hours
1300 hours – In accordance with HQ instructions commenced withdrawal to TOSTES via LERY Station and ST CYR. Owing to the small scale map and inaccurate local directions coy missed TOSTES.
2000 hours – proceeded to INCARVILLE where decision is made to billet and make for LA HAYE MOLHERBE (2nd rendezvous) at dawn. Weather very hot and the march back along the railway to INCARVILLE very trying. Rations purchased locally and hard rations are kept intact.
9 Jun 40 / 1900 hours – Marched to TOSTES where we met lorries which conveyed us to BERNAY. The night was spent in the woods west of BERNAY- 10 Coy Diary
10 Jun 40 / 0100 hours – Roused by gunfire and MG burst from the direction of LES ANDELYS. Decided to avoid LOUVIERS and march by compass through FORET DE LOUVIERS to LA HAYE MALHERBE. Route recced. Intermittent gun and MG from the East.
0300 hours – Roused men and had breakfast.
0400 hours – March commenced and crossed the LOUVRES – ELBEUF road at 0615 hours.
1000 hours – Arrived LA HAYE MALHERBE. Requested transport from 1st Armd Bde, 2 ambulances received.
1315 hours – Lost contact with Bn and Bde HQs
1400 hours – Arrived LE NEUBOURG. Defensive positions taken up on the East of the town. Still no contact with HQs. Decision made to move the the 3rd rendezvous at BERNAY. RTO contacted and coy informed a train was due to leave at 2100 hours.
2100 hours – no train as the line is broken by bombs on both sides of the town. Coy march with improvised transport, a station barrow, via GODPILLIERS to SERQUIGNY. As the coy clear the town an empty 3 ton lorry is stopped and mounted as it is going to LISIEUX via BERNAY.
11 Jun 40 / 0300 hours – arrived BERNAY but unable to contact anyone so move onto LISIEUX with the intention of reporting for further instructions.
0530 hours – arrived LISIEUX and report to BEAUMAN Division HQ. Coy attached to SAHQ and bivouacked in the woods close to the HQ Chateau.
13 Jun 40 / 0400 hours – Ordered to report to the Bde East of BERNAY
1200 hours – Reported to Lt Col T E Pearman commanding ‘P’ Bn (Lt Col Brettorous having taken over ‘C’ Bn.
Maj C H Russel MC – appointed 2IC ‘P’ Bn
Capt W Pickard – becomes OC 18 Coy
Capt J C Cleeves – becomes 2IC
Strength – 2 officers & 50 ORs
14 Jun 40 / Digging in at Bn HQ
1800 hours – move to support 3 Coy
15 Jun 40 / 0400 hours – withdrawn alongside 3 Coy and embussed.
Lt G W Welch – tos
0830 hours – arrived LISIEUX and bivouacked in woods West of town
1800 hours – proceed by MT to CAGNY (East of CAEN)
16 Jun 40 / At CAGNY
17 Jun 40 / Marched to HEISVILLE via CAEN, BAYEUX and CARENTAN
0645 hours – arrived HEISVILLE fed and slept.
1400 hours – ordered to CHERBOURG with all speed to take up a defensive position an the heights West of the town. No maps available. Roads very congested as we neared the port and sometimes completely jammed.
1800 hours – embarked on ‘Duke of Argyll’
2015 hours – sailed, ship very crowded
18 Jun 40 / Disembarked at 0400 hours. Proceeded to CRYSTAL PALACE.
84 all ranks
19 Jun 40 / Resting
20 Jun 40 / Orders for ‘P’ Bn (3, 10, 18 & 28 Coys AMPC) to leave by rail and moved to SOUTHEND ON SEA
22 Jun 40 / Reservists return to their own units. Cadre of NCOs to be retained
23 Jun 40 / Reservists (less 23 NCOs and men) left for FORT GEROGE
Sgt R Porley – promoted CSM
Sgt T McCann – promoted CQMS
30 Jun 40 / Maj C M Russell MC – resumed command
14 Jul 40 / 2Lt E Jupe – tos
15 Jul 40 / Moved to BRADFORD
Officers:
Maj C M Russel MC – OC
Capt W Pickard – 2IC
Capt J C Cleeves
Lts G E Welch & E Jupe
23 ORs (Seaforths)
23 Jul 40 / Capt W Pickard – sos
Strength 4 officers & 284 ORs. New ORs are Medical Category BII and BIII with 4 weeks service.
31 Jul 40 / Moved to BLOXWICK, Staffordshire
1 Aug 40 / Moved to ESSINGTON
2 Aug 40 / Coy employed on degreasing American Automatic Small Arms
23 Nov 40 / Capt C Baldwin – tos 2IC vice Cleeves (sos embarkation)
Part of 11 Group
13 Jan 41 / Moved to WREXHAM
20 Jan 41 / Capt E Jupe – promoted 2IC vice Baldwin (sos as 2IC 4 Coy)
Lt M Sprout MC and 2Lts M W Tee & G Craddock - tos
4 Feb 41 / Moved to Upton Park, LONDON part of 18 Group
14 Mar 41 / Lt W R B Berry – tos
19/20 Mar / Land mine in Rochester Avenue, West Ham. Party under Capt E Jupe rescue 21 persons from the wreckage.
22 Mar 41 / Lt T Kelly MC – tos
24 Mar 41 / Lt W R B Berry – sos
25 Mar 41 / Moved by rail to MALMESBURY, Wiltshire and then by road to GORSEY LEAZE. Commenced work on land reclamation at Malmesbury Common
1 Jun 41 / Agricultural work
HQ & 3 sections at MALMESBURY
3 sections at SWINDON
2 sections near MARLBROUGH
3 Jun 41 / Lt G Craddock – sos to 52 Group
25 Jun 41 / Lt H L Jackson – tos
29 Jul 41 / Moved to SHIREHAMPTON for fire watching at AVONMOUTH Docks part of 6 Group
7 Aug 41 / Moved to AVONMOUTH
23 Aug 41 / Capt E Jupe – sos (embarkation)
28 Aug 41 / Lt T Jonathan – tos
30 Aug 41 / Lt D H Bellamy – tos
2 Sep 41 / Lt C W Farley – tos
3 Sep 41 / 2Lt C S Clarke – tos
12 Sep 41 / Lt G P Scott – tos but detached to 8 Group
18 Sep 41 / 2Lt C F Johnstone – tos
11 Oct 41 / Lt M W Tee – sos (embarkation)
20 Oct 41 / Lt G E Welch – sos (embarkation)
21 Oct 41 / Lt H L Jackson – sos to 2 Group
Lt J E O’Toole MM – tos
30 Oct 41 / Capt A F Mullins – tos 2IC
17 Nov 41 / Lt J A Meeks – tos
17 Dec 41 / Lt J A Meeks – sos to 21 Group
19 Dec 41 / Capt A G Brommage – tos 2IC vice Mullins (sos to 828 Coy)
19 Jan 42 / Lt D H Bellamy – sos to 810 Coy
19 Feb 42 / Coy having handed over firewatching duties at AVONMOUTH to 828 Coy moves to BURNHAM ON SEA, Somerset
25 Mar 42 / Capt C W Farley – promoted 2IC vice Brommage (retires)
Lt T Kelly – sos to 828 Coy
13 Mar 42 / Moves to SHIREHAMPTON
8 Jun 42 / Lt C S Clarke – sos (embarkation)
9 Jun 42 / Lt N L Thompson – tos
Lt T Jonathan – sos
13 Jul 42 / 2Lt J A Cruse – tos
17 Aug 42 / Lt L F Fletcher – tos
17 Sep 42 / Maj C H Russell MC – sos as 2IC 32 Group
28 Sep 42 / Maj J F Scott – tos OC
10 Oct 42 / Maj J F Scott – sos as 2IC 36 Group
19 Oct 42 / Lt Bullock – sos to 99 Coy
2Lt J Wallace – tos
21 Oct 42 / Maj W J Willis – tos OC
18 Nov 42 / Lt T W Armstrong – tos
19 Nov 42 / Lt J Wallace – sos to 828 Coy
24 Nov 42 / Lt J A Cruse – sos to No 6 Centre
11 Dec 42 / Lts E Angood & W H L Coleman - tos
23 Jan 43 / 2Lt J Prebble – tos
26 Jan 43 / Lt C F Johnstone – sos to 828 Coy
5 Feb 43 / Lt D Carne – tos
25 Feb 43 / Lt J E O’Toole MM – sos to 38 Group
5 Mar 43 / 2Lt H B Jupp – tos
17 Mar 43 / Lt T W Armstrong – sos to 6 Group
10 Apr 43 / Moved to WEYMOUTH
Lts N L Thompson & Sillerman – sos to 330 Coy
30 Apr 43 / Lt N Fisk – tos
7 May 43 / Lt D Carne – sos to 311 Coy
2Lt Cohn – tos
11 May 43 / Joins 35 Group
15 May 43 / 2Lt E C Jackson – tos
23 May 43 / Lt E Angood – sos to 37 Group
31 May 43 / Moved to DENMEAD, Portsmouth
30 Jun 43 / Officers:-
Maj W J Willis – OC
Capt C W Farley – 2IC
Lts J Prebble, H B Jupp, E C Jackson, N Fisk, G Thunder, E J Furse & D G Williams
12 Jul 43 / Capt J Prebble – promoted 2IC vice Farley (sos to 373 Coy)
Jul 43 / Lt C Asquith – tos
27 Aug 43 / Moved to DORCHESTER
Aug 43 / Lt A A Morse – tos
26 Sep 43 / Joins 30 Group
13 Oct 43 / Lt D W T Dade – tos
18 Dec 43 / Lt Blankley – sos to No 6 Centre
27 Jan 44 / Lts Dane (Dade?), D G Williams & G Thunder – sos to 372 Coy
31 Mar 44 / Moved to WEYMOUTH part of 56 Group
18 Apr 44 / Capt K G Johnson – tos 2IC vice Prebble (sos as OC 128 Coy)
Lt C Asquith – sos as 2IC 37 Coy
21 Apr 44 / Moved to STRENSALL, York
10 May 44 / Moved to ST LEONARDS
1 Jun 44 / Capt C Asquith – tos 2IC vice Johnson
Lt R S Davis – tos
4 Jun 44 / Capt N Fisk – sos to XII List
2Lt C E Blagg – tos
17 Jun 44 / Landed dryshod in NORMANDY and moved to OUISTRAUM
19 Jun 44 / Moved to BENY SUR MER. Road construction and maintenance.
Officers:-
Maj W J Willis – OC
Capt C Asquith – 2IC
Lts E J Furse, C E Blagg, R S Davis & A A Morse
5 Jul 44 / Moved to PIERREPONT – accommodated in slit trenches
25 Jul 44 / Joins 40 Group
27 Jul 44 / Joins 13 Group
8 Aug 44 / Moved to STMAVIEU – still on roads
11 Aug 44 / Moved to LE MESNIL near VILLERS BOCAGE
22 Aug 44 / Moved to MIGNONEIRE
3 Sep 44 / Moved to GLOS LA FERRIERE
10 Sep 44 / Moved to TUDIZE and joins 13 Group
20 Sep 44 / 3 sections move to BRUSSELS
22 Sep 44 / Moved to LOUVAIN with detachments in ENGHEIN, BRUSSELS, HAECHT, DIEST, WEACMAEL and BOURG LEOPOLD. Employed as guards to transport colums
2 Oct 44 / Lt J Coupland – tos
11 Oct 44 / Moved (whole Coy) to MOL
15 Oct 44 / Moved to TESSENDERLOO
6 Nov 44 / Lt A A Morse – sos to 736 PW Coy
13 Nov 44 / Part of 45 Group
10 Dec 44 / Lt J E Davies – tos
22 Dec 44 / Capt R S Davis – promoted 2IC vice Asquith (sos as OC 120 Coy)
Working at BSD
27 Dec 44 / Lt J Connor – tos
10 Mar 45 / Moved to KEVELAER, Germany working at 54 BSD
15 Mar 45 / Lt W C J Avery – tos
2 Apr 45 / Moved to BURGSTEINFURT
12 Apr 45 / Moved to FREISTATT – still with BSD and part of 63 Group
29 Apr 45 / Joins 35 Group
11 Apr 45 / Lt C E Brook – tos and attached to 35 Group
28 May 45 / Moved to NEUMUNSTER (60 Group)
Officers:-
Maj W J Willis – OC
Capt R S Davis – 2IC
Lts C E Brook, J Connor, J E Davies, C E Blagg & A C W Avery
23 Jun 45 / Maj R S Davis – promoted OC vice Willis (relinquishes command)
8 Jul 45 / Capt N W Fearnside – tos 2IC
20 Nov 45 / Disbanded at LOCKSTEDTER, Germany
Maj R S Davis - OC
18 Coy - 1
26/04/04