176 Workshop and Park Company - War Diaries

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by Nigel Simpson, Aug 18, 2022.

  1. Nigel Simpson

    Nigel Simpson Member

    Two weeks ago I visited Kew and copied the war diaries for the above unit from its formation on 2nd April 1943 to disbandment in May 1946.
    Happy to pass on the diaries to anyone interested or whose relatives were in the unit.
    Are there any other members of the forum whose relatives were in the unit? I think I know of two so far.

    I contacted the Royal Engineers Museum about the unit and one of their researchers came back and said they had no record of such a unit so I'm slightly confused by that.

    I'm still struggling to follow the units (and specific personnel) path on D-Day and the month or so after, in particular my father in law Ronald Wagstaff who was a sapper clerk in the HQ section of the circa 260 man unit. This is mainly because they landed in nine separate parties mostly with the Canadians on Juno and Sword.

    I've got a lot of work to do to read through what I've just copied but I'm hopeful that after comparing handwriting, I'll be able to show that my father in law had written some of the diaries.
     
  2. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    I would be interested in any information in regards to which Units or sub units of the 176 Workshop and Park Company landed by “which ship” (if remarked on in the war diaries).

    Specifically, I know that 42 men landed by Serial 1562 which was an LST of the LI Group……does the diaries tell us WHICH LST this may have been?

    And

    Some of the Advance Headquarters Elements of 176 Workshop and Park Company landed from Serial 1543, which I believe was LCI(S)537. Serial 1543 was a “Ferry Service Serial” which was “any craft available and assigned to this load”. The ship they loaded from was LSI(L) J32 HMS Duke of Wellington which was part of J2, Landing Group 324, 4th LSI Division (8th Cdn Infantry Brigade)

    And of course I’ll take anything that may link which men or groups of men from the unit land when and on which serial of ship number??

    Only if you have time, sounds like you have a lot to do for yourself

    Cheers
     
  3. Nigel Simpson

    Nigel Simpson Member

    Good morning Temujin, your question is exactly where I'm stuck too...who, by name, landed where and when. As you'll see from my spreadsheet, check the landing dates tab, it's easy for officers but not for other ranks. Later movement orders i.e. September onwards mention all ranks in some places.
    I was thinking that my next port of call would have to be some of the Canadian forums as the company was split amongst the Canadians. Any suggestions as to who I can contact?
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Yes……ME……I work as a moderator on a Canadian site called Wartimes.ca. And, I’m Canadian and have done lots of work on Juno Beach and the Landings there. So, please feel free to contact me, and I’ll see what else I can find for you or point you in the right direction.

    Cheers
     
  5. Iain D Dewar

    Iain D Dewar Member

    Hi all,

    Hope this might help. The 176 Workshop and Park Coy. R. E. was divided up into landing parties for D Day as follows-

    Party 1 – Major CT Wade, Lt CE Hingley and Advanced HQ, Lt A Roberts and Recce Party 3 & 4 Advanced Park Sections, total strength 25. Southampton Docks, SS Clan Lamont, LSI Small. Destination Juno Beach, Mike Sector.

    Party 2 – Vehicle Party HQ, 3 & 4 Advanced Park Sections, total strength 13 men 4 trucks and 3 motorcycles. Tilbury Docks, LST. Destination Juno Beach, Mike Sector.

    Party 3 – Lt J Atkinson. 3 & 4 Advanced Park Sections, total strength 41. Southampton Docks, LST. Destination Juno Beach, Mike Sector.

    Party 4 – Lt M R R Goulden, 1 & 2 Advanced Park Recce Party, total strength 4. Newhaven, LCI. Destination Sword Beach, Queen Sector.

    Party 5 – Lt D Dewar, 1 & 2 Advanced Park Sections, total strength 46. Gosport, LST 614. Destination Sword Beach, Queen Sector White.

    Party 6 – Capt E A R Lang, Advanced body of workshop Sections, total strength 22. Royal Albert Docks, SS Fort Reliance. Destination Juno Beach, Mike Sector but moved on to land at Arromanches.

    Party 7 – Capt L G Keniston, Main Workshop Party, total strength 31. Royal Albert Docks, Vessel S18. Desination Juno Beach, Love Sector.

    Party 8 – Workshop Vehicle Party, 6 men 3 trucks. Albert Docks, LST. Destination Kipling Beach.

    Party 9 – Lt J B Hoyle, Cranes Party, 18 men 14 cranes. Gosport, LST. Destination Sword Beach, Queen Sector.

    They didn't all land on D Day itself, and on landing they didn't all land where they were meant to. For individual names of personnel in each of the platoons I have uploaded a file to the resources section.

    Cheers, Iain
     
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  6. TomCross

    TomCross New Member

    Hi gents. My father was a driver with 176 Workshop & park company. Can you tell me what the function of the unit was? His name was George Crossland. He landed on d+12 according to him, and did serve all the way to the Baltic. Any info about his unit would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
     
  7. Historic Steve

    Historic Steve Researching 21 Army Group/BAOR post VE day

    Locations post VE Day to disbandment

    176 Workshop and Park Company: Major CT Wade – Major WS Gibson 6 Jul 45 – Captain later Major RB Croft 16 Mar 46
    101 CRE Works – Line of Communication 26 Jun 45 – United Kingdom 21 Jul 45 – returns 8 Corps District 1 Dec 45 – CE Hamburg District 15 Apr 46 – disbanded 31 May 46
    Goch south-west of Bocholt – J Le Grand Factory Witherenstraat 45, Vilvoorde-B north-east of Brussels-B 26 Jun 45 – Hamburg-Rahlstedt 1 Dec 45 – Hans Still Berzeliusstraße Hamburg-Billbrook 10 Dec 45

    21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)
     
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  8. Iain D Dewar

    Iain D Dewar Member

    Hi Tom,

    Some info on the 176 and your father.

    The Royal Engineers 176 Workshop and Park Company had been formed on the 2nd April ‘43 specifically for the planned invasion of Northern France with Major C. T. Wade their Officer in Command. The Company would be 260 strong and their role was specific, an armoured company of engineers whose job it was to provide the infantry division with heavy equipment, workshops and stores, to clear mines and enemy defence structures, reconstitute roads and bridges, and build forward airfields. The structure of the 176 was an HQ section, 2 Workshop Platoons, and 4 Advance Park Platoons.

    It was one of many units created specifically for the D Day landings. Your dad was a driver with HQ section and was with them right to July '45 at Vilvoorde where a company photograph was taken before the unit returned to Britain for some well deserved leave. Your dad is in this photo, listed as sixth row, 22nd from the left. I've attached a low resolution version of the photo for you.

    All the best

    Iain Dewar
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. Nigel Simpson

    Nigel Simpson Member

    Hi Tom, I've done a lot of work on the 176 along with Iain above and David Atkinson whose father's were officers in the Company. Ronald Wagstaff (my father in law) was a clerk in the HQ section of the 176 so would definitely have known George. Looking at the war diary for May 1945 I can see Ron and George mentioned in a moment order in the HQ section. If you send me a private message with your email address I'll send you everything I have on the unit via Dropbox or We Transfer or similar. I don't suppose this is him? Ron is on the right. I'm particularly interested in any of the old photos of the time so would appreciate it if you could send some if you have them. In addition I'm trying to trace relatives or information of/on the HQ sergeant, George Dixon so any clues you might have would be appreciated. Untitled 2.jpeg
     
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  10. TomCross

    TomCross New Member

    Thanks Nigel and Iain for the info.
     
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