673 Artisan Works Coy, Royal Engineers

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by Doug Lewis, Apr 15, 2004.

  1. Doug Lewis

    Doug Lewis Member

    I'm researching the men on a local memorial,one of them served in the 673 Artisan Works Coy Royal Engineers, he died 23/5/40. Could anyone tell me what the role of this coy was.
    Regards Doug
     
  2. Gerry Chester

    Gerry Chester WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Originally posted by Doug Lewis@Apr 15 2004, 02:14 PM
    I'm researching the men on a local memorial,one of them served in the 673 Artisan Works Coy Royal Engineers, he died 23/5/40. Could anyone tell me what the role of this coy was.
    Regards Doug
    Before being renamed, RE Artisan Work Companies were called General Construction Companies. As the name implies, that is what they did. An officer with the rank of Major commanded.

    With best wishes,
    Gerry
     
  3. Doug Lewis

    Doug Lewis Member

    Gerry
    Thanks for the information.

    Regards Doug
     
  4. TDavis

    TDavis Member

    Gentlemen:

    I know this string is over 10 years old now, but I am also researching the 673 Artisan Company of the Royal Engineers. Doug mentioned he was researching someone who died on May 23, 1940. My Grandfather, John Rickwood was in this company and was wounded and captured on the same date. I have desperately been searching for any news of him, or of the Company at the time of his capture. Any information you would share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
     
  5. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Welcome to the forum. I suspect this thread slipped under the radar in the 'Unit History' section rather than the supremely active (and extremely helpful)1940 sub forum !

    673 Artisan Works Company's War Diary for January to June 1940 is held by the National Archive (Reference WO167/1040) and I believe that Drew has copied it....I'll draw his attention to this enquiry.
     
    Drew5233 likes this.
  6. TDavis

    TDavis Member

    Hi Rich! Thank you so much. I am blessed to have a cousin who lives in England, who went to the NA for me (as I am in the USA), and sent me the War Diaries. While fascinating, I was only able to find out by deduction that Grandad was captured at Calais, which was then confirmed by his service records. As the gentlemen previously stated that he was researching someone who died on the same day and from the same company as Grandad, chances are they were together and most likely acquainted.
     
  7. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    If he was at Calais then information is likely to be a little scarce as any accounts could only be written-up in captivity or afterwards. Which published sources have you looked at ?
     
  8. TDavis

    TDavis Member

    Knowing that he was not evacuated at Dunkirk and upon family history, I have read a multitude of articles about the battles fought in and around Dunkirk in the same time period. I also have his service records and I have read the War Diaries. It's a lot of information.
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    The Company were fighting with the Irish Guards on the 23rd May 1940 at Outreau and Boulogne before the Company was split in two with group staying in Boulogne and the other taking the 'Calais Road'. There is no further mention of the later group. I would get your cousin to visit Kew again and see if your man completed a PoW Liberation Report.
     
  10. TDavis

    TDavis Member

    Hi Drew. I have the War Diaries as well as my Grandfather's Military Records, and there wasn't a POW Liberation Report, however, he was quite mentally and physically ill upon his return and they discharged him pretty quick, so he may not have filled one out. Food for thought though!
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Sadly many didn't complete the Lib Reports.
     
  12. TDavis

    TDavis Member

    I was able, however, to get his medals; there were two, a star and the one issued for 1939-45. Quite beautiful. So pleased that I was able to track them down~! Neither my mother, or her sister even knew he earned them.
     
  13. darren g avison

    darren g avison New Member

    I am a collector of Second World War memorabilia and I have a full cabinet to major s Bedford who was in charge of this coy. And an original log of there retreat from etaples through Berlonge and to Calais where there were evacuated in 1940.
     
  14. Hello Gents,
    I know this is an old thread but...my great uncle Sydney Bellingham 1918172 was a sapper in the 673rd Artisan Works Company. He was killed 23rd May 1940, he was laid to rest in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.

    Any information relating to Sydney and the 673rd would be much appreciated. Having noted above that a number of members have stated that they have the war diaries of the unit I wondered if there is any possibility of being sent a copy by one of your good selves. I have looked on the National Archives but it hasn't been digitised as of yet and my chances of getting anywhere near Kew when it opens are infinitesimally small unfortunately.

    Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Scott
     
  15. Hello Darren,
    My great uncle Sapper Sydney Bellingham, 1918172, served with the 673rd but was killed 23rd May 1940. I wonder if there's any information you could provide?

    Many thanks,
    Scott Rogers
     
  16. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Scott

    One thing you may want to do in the meantime is to send off for his 'official' service records, they can only be found at the MOD and the forms you need are here - Request records of deceased service personnel you wont need a copy of his death certificate as he died in service but you will need to download the CWGC certificate from this link Casualty Details | CWGC scroll down and its on the left hand side

    TD
     
    CL1 likes this.
  17. Hi TD,

    Thank you so much, as soon as I can get the money together I'll definitely be giving a go. I really appreciate your help
     

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