Here are some dates for 56th Field Company: 56th Field Company, RE Station: Lydda, Palestine June 1919 – Returned to United Kingdom from German and reduced to Cadre September 1922 – Reformed at Bulford again in 3rd Division May 1927 – Hong Kong (in transit to China) November 1927 – China with Shanghai Defence Force December 1928 – Returned to Bulford October 1938 – Palestine with 7th Division August 1939 – Cease to be in support of 7th Division but still in Palestine 7th Div - until 31/8/39 Lydda Area, Palestine 30/9/39 Lydda Area, Palestine 31/1/40 Command Tps, Palestine u/c 16th Inf Bde 30/6/40 6/40 in Palestine Force Tps, Palestine 31/1/41 1/1/42, 15/4/42 u/c Army Troops PAIFORCE u/c XIII Corps Troops Engineers – Italy 43-45 June 1941 – Iraq March 1943 – Joined XIII Corps Troops April 1943 – Palestine 1943 – Egypt 1943 –North Africa July 1943 – Sicily September 1943 – Italy January 1947 – Redesignated a Field Squadron in 1st Armoured Division in Egypt
Thanks David. So it appears that it did not go to Tobruk with the 16th Brigade, or part of the 70th Division. What is Army Troops PAIFORCE please? David W
Hello There I am researching my Fathers War history,and he was transferredfrom142 Field to the 56th and moved to Iraq,which is in the itinery showed earlier,what I am trying to find out is why and what for was the move to Iraq. Help Please Jazz
In case they're needed, here are the National Archives war diary references for 56 Field Company RE: *** ARCRE WAR DIARY SEARCH RESULTS *** WO 169/1871, 56 Fd. Coy. (1941 Jan.- Nov.) WO 169/5261, 56 Fd. Coy. (1942 Jan.- Dec.) WO 169/10592, 56 Fd. Coy. (1943 Jan.- Dec.) WO 170/1620, Companies: 56 Coy. (1944 Jan.- Dec.) WO 170/5163, Companies: 56 Coy. (1945 Jan.- Dec.) WO 170/8077, Companies: 56 Coy (1946 Jan.- May) (Downloaded from ARCRE War Diary Search Engine: http://www.arcre.com/wdsearch - 2014-01-13 18:19 GMT) Lee
Persia and Iraq Force (PAIFORCE) was created to defend the region after both Persia and Iraq were taken by the British in mid-1941. It was the overland route to Russia and included critical oilfields. There was also a threat that the Germans in Russia would send forces south. The engineers would be used to maintain the infrastructure of for the area including communications.
