PORT and INLAND WATERWAY UNITS ROYAL ENGINEERS

PORT and INLAND WATERWAY UNITS ROYAL ENGINEERS

Royal Engineers were responsible for the construction, maintenance and operation of
ports. These were essential in order to maintain the flow of men, vehicles and
supplies that the field armies needed.

Inland Waterways Units worked in ports and on the canals of France and Belgium.


PORTS and INLAND WATERWAYS


Port Floating Equipment Company. War Establishment IV/205/1. December 1943
Headquarters Stevedore Battalion. War Establishment IV/207/1. December 1943
Stevedore Company. War Establishment IV/208/1. December 1943
Headquarters Port Operating Group. War Establishment IV/209/1. December 1943
Port Operating Company. War Establishment IV/210/1. December 1943
Engineer Stores (Port Section). War Establishment IV/211/1. November 1943
Transportation Stores Port Depot Type A. War Establishment XIV/1002/1. October 1944
Transportation Stores Port Depot Type B. War Establishment XIV/1001/1. October 1944
Docks Maintenance Company. War Establishment IV/22A/3. July 1944
Floating Crane Section Type A. War Establishment IV/223/1. December 1943.
Port Artisan Company. War Establishment IV/162/1. June 1943.
Dredging Company. War Establishment IV/143/1. May 1943.
Headquarters Port Construction and Repair Group. War Establishment IV/116/1. July 1942.
Port Construction and Repair Company. War Establishment IV/21B/2. July 1942.
Port Repair Ship. War Establishment IV/117/2. March 1943.
Port Maintenance Company. War Establishment IV/22N/2. February 1943

Headquarters Inland Water Transport Group Type C. War Establishment IV/222/1. December 1943.
Inland Water Transport Heavy Workshop Company Type C. War Establishment IV/215/1. December 1943.
Inland Water Transport Company Type C. War Establishment IV/213/1. December 1943.
Inland Water Transport Light Aid Workshop. War Establishment IV/214/1. December 1943
Inland Water Transport Supervisory Group. War Establishment XIV/955/1. February 1945.

Regional Inland Water Transport Control Team. War Establishment XIV/957/1. April 1945.
Regional Port Control Team. War Establishment XIV/958/1. April 1945.
Both of these have the note ‘Not to be implemented without the authority of 21 Army Group’. They were intended to control Inland Water Transport and Ports in Germany after the Armistice and did not operate during the campaign.



The huge armies landed in Europe needed large quantities of every kind of supply. Initially all supplies would have to be landed over the Normandy beaches, very quickly augmented by the Mulberry Harbour. It was hoped that other ports would soon be become available, but most were so badly damaged that they required extensive repair and re construction, and some were not considered to be viable. 21 Army Group had the use of
Ostend liberated on 10th September
Le Havre liberated on 12th September but extensively damaged
Calais liberated on 30th September but heavily damaged.

The Mulberry Harbour continued in use until mid November when all Allied supplies concentrated on the port of Antwerp. This had been liberated on 4th September but the estuary leading to it from the sea was not cleared of the enemy until November. The first convoy arrived in Antwerp on 28th November and the Mulberry Harbour was then closed and dismantled. There had been plenty of time to prepare the port of Antwerp. Before it was opened to shipping the docks were fully operational, stores and offices had been prepared and civilian workers recruited and trained.

In addition to the Royal Engineer units listed here there were RASC units engaged in unloading ships into DUKWs and lighters, and unloading landing craft and small freighters which beached themselves. The RASC also provided motor launches and harbour craft.


PORT FLOATING EQUIPMENT COMPANY
War Establishment IV/205/1. December 1943
These units designed to operate the Mulberry Harbours on the Normandy coast.
This establishment applies to 870 and 969 Companies.

Major
Captain, second in command
2 X Captain
4 X Subaltern
Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
Company Serjeant Major
5 X Military Mechanist (Mechanical) including one tugmaster

serjeant clerk
6 X serjeant lighterman
16 X serjeant trained as pierhead operator
serjeant storeman, technical and departmental, railway
serjeant tugmaster
34 X lance serjeant
55 X corporal
239 X sapper including 41 X lance corporal
20 X driver

officers mess cook
8 X cook

4 X blacksmith
4 X blacksmiths striker or hammerman
2 X barge engineer (IWT) steam or diesel, corporal
4 X boilermaker
8 X carpenter and joiner, including six lance serjeant and two corporals
4 X clerk
draughtsman, mechanical
2 X driver, transportation plant, including one corporal
driver mechanic
8 X electrician including six lance serjeants
32 X electrician, diesel electric locomotive
16 X engine fitter, IC and pumps including twelve lance serjeants
4 X fitter including two lance serjeants
98 X lighterman IWT including two lance serjeants, ten corporals and twenty eight lance corporals
2 X machinist, metal including one corporal and one lance corporal
8 X carpenters mate
48 X deckhand
24 X pioneer for duty as rigger
8 X rigger including two corporal and two lance corporal
4 X riveter
8 X shipwright including six lance serjeants
24 X steelwork erector including two corporals and six lance corporals
3 X storeman, technical and departmental, railway including one corporal
4 X timberman, port construction, including one lance corporal
8 X welder including two corporals and two lance corporals

2 X batman
batman driver
10 X driver
6 X orderly

6 X bicycle
7 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt compressor
6 X 3ton 6 X 4 GS
1 X 3ton 6 X 4 Machinery RE
1 X 10 ton 6 X 4 GS to be fitted with winch
2 X water trailer


Headquarters
Major
Captain, second in command
2 X Captain
Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
Company Serjeant Major
Military Mechanist (Mechanical), Tugmaster

serjeant clerk
2 X serjeant lighterman
serjeant trained as pierhead operator
serjeant storeman, technical and departmental, railway
serjeant tugmaster
2 X lance serjeant
7 X corporal
11 X sapper
16 X driver

officers mess cook
8 X cook

2 X barge engineer (IWT) steam or diesel, corporal
6 X carpenter and joiner
4 X clerk
draughtsman, mechanical
2 X driver, transportation plant, including one corporal
driver mechanic
6 X electrician
6 X lighterman IWT
2 X machinist, metal including one corporal and one lance corporal
3 X storeman, technical and departmental, railway including one corporal

2 X batman
batman driver
6 X driver
6 X orderly

2 X bicycle
3 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt compressor
2 X 3ton 6 X 4 GS
1 X 3ton 6 X 4 Machinery RE
1 X 10 ton 6 X 4 GS to be fitted with winch
2 X water trailer


4 X Section each
Subaltern
Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
Military Mechanist (Mechanical) including one tugmaster
serjeant lighterman
4 X serjeant trained as pierhead operator
8 X lance serjeant
12 X corporal
57 X sapper including 41 X lance corporal
driver

blacksmith
blacksmiths striker or hammerman
boilermaker
2 X carpenter and joiner
2 X electrician
8 X electrician, diesel electric locomotive
4 X engine fitter, IC and pumps
fitter
23 X lighterman IWT including
2 X carpenters mate
12 X deckhand
6 X pioneer for duty as rigger
2 X rigger
riveter
2 X shipwright
6 X steelwork erector
timberman, port construction
2 X welder
driver

1 X bicycle
1 X motorcycle
1 X 3ton 6 X 4 GS

Notes:
- The following are to be trained as pierhead operators (all to be lance serjeant)
6 X carpenter and joiner
6 X electrician
12 X engine fitter, IC and pump
2 X fitter
6 X shipwright

- The following are to be trained as winchman
24 X lighterman
24 X deckhand

- The following are to be trained as divers
carpenter and joiner, corporal
6 X shipwright, lance serjeant
2 X steelwork erector, corporal
timberman, lance corporal

- 32 lighterman IWT and or deckhands are to be trained in light AA duties.

Note:
This unit was designed to operate the Mulberry Harbour. The harbour consisted of a large sheltered area of water protected from the worst of the winds and waves by prefabricated breakwaters and scuttled ships. Inside this area several activities were carried on
- The beaches remained available for landing craft of all sizes to beach and unload vehicles, personnel and stores. Small cargo ships could also be beached and unloaded into lorries.
- There was a stores pierhead where small or medium sized cargo ships could moor and be unloaded onto RASC lorries which reached the pierhead via floating roadways.
- There was an LST pierhead where LST’s could unload direct onto a pier and floating roadway. This greatly speeded up the unloading of vehicles of all types.
- Larger cargo ships could moor inside the breakwaters and transfer their loads to barges which were in turn unloaded into vehicles at a barge pierhead.
- Ships could also be unloaded into DUKW’s which could drive ashore and continue to dumps inland.

The floating equipment company operated the pierheads, barges and tugs. Winchmen were required to operate the winches which raised and lowered the pierheads. Lightermen operated the barges. There were light AA guns (20mm) mounted on the pierheads.



HEADQUARTERS STEVEDORE BATTALION RE.
War Establishment IV/207/1. December 1943

Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Captain, Adjutant
Subaltern
Quartermaster

Regimental Serjeant Major
Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
Chief Clerk

corporal
5 X sapper
8 X driver
2 X cook ACC

Trades
4 X clerk
driver mechanic
2 X motorcyclist
3 X batman
batman driver
2 X orderly
sanitary dutyman

2 X bicycle
3 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS



STEVEDORE COMPANY RE
War Establishment IV/208/1
Stevedores were commonly used in civilian ports to load and unload cargoes. Army stevedores were trained to unload vessels by manhandling cargo into cargo nets in ships holds. The nets were then hoisted using the ships own derricks, booms and winches. In some cases, especially when unloading into DUKWs, the cargo net was placed directly into an RASC vehicle. More usually cargo was loaded into vehicles by hand.

Major
2 X Captain
4 X Subaltern

Warrant Officer Class I Technical
Warrant Officer Class II Technical
Company Serjeant Major

company quartermaster serjeant
8 X serjeant
8 X lance serjeant
21 X corporal
25 X lance corporal
255 X sapper
20 X driver

officers mess cook ACC
serjeant cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
5 X cook ACCC

Trades
4 X carpenter and joiner
4 X clerk
24 X driver, crane
4 X driver, transportation plant
motorcyclist
272 X stevedore

3 X batman
2 X driver
medical officers orderly, lance corporal
10 X orderly
4 X sanitary dutyman

2 X motorcycle
1 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS


Headquarters
Major
2 X Captain
Warrant Officer Class I Technical
Warrant Officer Class II Technical
Company Serjeant Major

company quartermaster serjeant
corporal clerk
lance corporal medical orderly
3 X clerk
motorcyclist
2 X driver
3 X batman
2 X orderly

officers mess cook ACC
serjeant cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
5 X cook ACCC


4 X Section each
Subaltern
2 X serjeant
2 X lance serjeant
5 X corporal
6 X lance corporal
63 X sapper
3 X driver

Trades
carpenter and joiner
6 X driver, crane
driver, transportation plant
68 X stevedore
2 X orderly
sanitary dutyman

Note: driver class personnel serve as batman, orderly and sanitary dutyman.




HEADQUARTERS PORT OPERATING GROUP RE
War Establishment IV/209/1. December 1943
This applied to Port Operating Groups 2, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

This headquarters was designed to control
A Port Maintenance Company
An Inland Waterway Operating Company
4 X Port Operating Company
However the headquarters could control five Port Operating Companies and with an increment could control up to seven Port Operating Companies.

Lieutenant Colonel
Major, Second in Command
2 X Major
Captain, Adjutant
2 X Captain
Subaltern, Administrative Officer
Quartermaster
Regimental Serjeant Major
quartermaster serjeant, clerk
3 X serjeant
lance serjeant
4 X corporal
3 X lance corporal
25 X sapper
14 X driver

Medical Officer RAMC
Ordnance Officer 3rd Class, Major, RAOC
2 X clerk RAOC
officers mess cook ACC
2 X cook ACC

Trades
9 X clerk including one lance serjeant
15 X clerk, railway, including one corporal and two lance corporal
driver mechanic
2 X motorcyclist
6 X regimental police
storeman
batman driver
5 X batman
3 X driver
4 X orderly

2 X bicycle
3 X motorcycle
3 X car 2 seater
1 X 5cwt car 4 X 4
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
1 X water trailer

2 X Bren mg
1 X PIAT

Increment when more than five companies are controlled
Major
Captain
2 X regimental police
clerk
batman
driver
1 X car 2 seater




PORT OPERATING COMPANY
War Establishment IV/210/1. December 1943
This applied to 999, 1028, 1034 and 1043 Companies in Normandy
Major
2 X Captain
5 X Subaltern
Warrant Officer Class I, Technical
4 X Warrant Officer Class II, Technical
Company Serjeant Major, Technical
company quartermaster serjeant
19 X serjeant
8 X lance serjeant
18 X corporal
34 X lance corporal
248 X sapper
23 X driver

officers mess cook
8 X cook including serjeant and corporal

Trades
4 X carpenter and joiner
32 X checker (railways or docks)
4 X clerk
11 X clerk, railway
20 X driver, crane
8 X driver, transportation plant
4 X carpenters mate
motorcyclist
4 X wagon labeller
3 X batman
6 X driver
2 X medical orderly
8 X orderly
4 X sanitary dutyman

4 X bicycle
4 X motorcycle
2 X car 2 seater
2 X 5cwt car 4 X 4, amphibious
2 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
1 X water trailer

3 X Bren lmg
1 X PIAT


Headquarters
Major
2 X Captain
Subaltern
Warrant Officer Class I, Technical
Company Serjeant Major, Technical

company quartermaster serjeant
3 X serjeant
2 X corporal
2 X lance corporal
8 X sapper
11 X driver

officers mess cook
8 X cook including serjeant and corporal

Trades
4 X clerk including one lance serjeant
3 X clerk, railway, including one corporal and two lance corporal
motorcyclist
3 X batman
6 X driver
2 X medical orderly


4 X Section each
Subaltern
Warrant Officer Class II, Technical
4 X serjeant
2 X lance serjeant
4 X corporal
8 X lance corporal
60 X sapper
3 X driver

Trades
carpenter
8 X checker
2 X clerk, railway
5 X driver, crane
2 X driver, transportation plant
carpenters mate
55 X stevedore
2 X orderly
sanitary dutyman

Attached Fire Fighting Sub Section.


AN INLAND WATER TRANSPORT FLOATING CRANE SECTION, TYPE A.
War Establishment IV/223/1. December 1943.
Designed for the operation of one 60 ton floating crane (dumb).
Warrant Officer Class II, Master.
serjeant, leading deckhand
corporal barge engineer IWT
2 X driver, crane
fireman, marine
2 X lighterman IWT, deckhands
cook
2 X bicycle.



A PORT ARTIZAN COMPANY.
War Establishment IV/162/1. June 1943.
This company consists of
Headquarters
Structural section
Electrical section
Steam and Hydraulic section
IC and diesel section
Shipwright section

Headquarters
Major
Captain
4 X Captain, Technical Officer
5 X Subaltern, Technical Officer
Adjutant and Quartermaster

Company Serjeant Major
company quartermaster serjeant
officers mess cook
serjeant cook
corporal cook
5 X cook
corporal clerk, pay duties
4 X clerk
4 X storeman (technical and departmental)
2 X orderly and general dutyman
2 X batman
batman driver
driver

Structural Section
quartermaster serjeant
serjeant boilermaker
serjeant fitter
serjeant riveter
serjeant steelwork erector
corporal blacksmith
3 X blacksmith
4 X blacksmiths striker or hammerman
boilermaker
4 X carpenter and joiner
draughtsman, railway or port construction
3 X fitter
corporal holder up or riveters helper
39 X holder up or riveter
corporal rigger
5 X rigger
2 X corporal riveter
17 X riveter
2 X corporal steelwork erector
27 X steelwork erector
2 X welder, electric
2 X welder, acetylene
pioneers for duty as
2 X boilermaker
4 X carpenter and joiner
4 X fitter
6 X rigger

Electrical Section
quartermaster serjeant
serjeant electrician, maintenance
serjeant electrician, wireman
corporal draughtsman, mechanical
corporal electrician, maintenance
12 X electrician, maintenance
corporal electrician, wireman
5 X electrician, wireman
machinist, metal
21 X electrician

Steam and Hydraulic Section
quartermaster serjeant
serjeant boilermaker
serjeant engine fitter, steam and reciprocating
2 X blacksmith
2 X blacksmiths striker or hammerman
3 X boilermaker
coppersmith
draughtsman, mechanical
11 X engine fitter, steam and reciprocating
machinist, metal
welder, electric
welder, acetylene
4 X pioneer as boilermaker
12 X pioneer as fitter

IC and Diesel Section
quartermaster serjeant
serjeant electrician, diesel electric locomotive
serjeant engine fitter, IC and pumps
electrician, diesel electric locomotive
corporal engine fitter
10 X engine fitter
machinist, metal
sheet metal worker
welder, electric
welder, acetylene
2 X pioneer as electrician
12 X pioneer as fitter

Shipwright Section
quartermaster serjeant
serjeant boilermaker
serjeant shipwright
3 X boilermaker
draughtsman, railway and port construction
20 X holders up or riveters helper
corporal riveter
9 X riveter
corporal shipwright
4 X shipwright
10 X timberman, port construction
2 X welder, electric
2 X welder, acetylene
4 X pioneer as boilermaker
5 X pioneer as shipwright

2 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS


A DREDGING COMPANY.
War Establishment IV/143/1. May 1943.
Consists of
Headquarters
2 X Bucket Dredging Sections.
2 X Grab Dredging Sections.
1 X Suction Dredging Section.
2 X Tug (up to 250 tons)
6 X steam barges.
6 X dumb barges.
Personnel may be interchangeable between any type of vehicle available.

Major
3 X Captain (Master)
3 X Captain (Engineer)
Subaltern Administrative Officer
Subaltern Surveyor
3 X Subaltern (Mate)

8 X Warrant Officer Class I Master
Company Serjeant Major
3 X Warrant Officer Class II Boatswain
2 X Warrant Officer Class II Tugmaster
6 X Warrant Officer Class II Engineer

company quartermaster serjeant
serjeant clerk
2 X serjeant boatswain
3 X serjeant lighterman
9 X serjeant barge engineer
18 X corporal including four lance serjeant
133 X sapper
13 X driver

Total 215

Attached
4 X officers mess cook
14 X cook

Trades
20 X barge engineer (steam)
2 X clerk
8 X driver (transportation plant or crane)
34 X fireman (marine)
77 X lighterman
6 X pioneer for duty with surveyors
2 X storeman (technical and departmental)
2 X surveyor (engineering) (for port construction duties)

Drivers for duty as
7 X batman
driver of vehicle
5 X sanitary dutyman

1 X motor cycle
1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2

15 X pistol
216 X rifle
2 X machine carbine
22 X twin Bren gun including
1 for Headquarters
2 for each bucket dredging section
1 for each other vessel.

Headquarters.
Major
Subaltern Administrative Officer
Subaltern Surveyor

Company Serjeant Major
company quartermaster serjeant
serjeant clerk
2 X clerk
6 X pioneer for duty with surveyors (includes a corporal
2 X storeman (technical and departmental)
2 X surveyor (engineering) (for port construction duties)
11 X sapper
batman
driver
officers mess cook
cook

Bucket Dredging Section (X2)
Captain (Master)
Captain (Engineer)
Subaltern (Mate)
Warrant Officer Class II Boatswain
serjeant lighterman
corporal barge engineer (steam)
2 X barge engineer (steam)
2 X driver (transportation plant or crane)
corporal fireman (marine)
3 X fireman (marine)
5 X lighterman
2 X batman
sanitary dutyman
officers mess cook
cook

Grab Dredger Section (X2).
Warrant Officer Class I (Master)
serjeant boatswain
2 X barge engineer (steam)
2 X driver (transportation plant or crane)
6 X lighterman
sanitary dutyman
cook

Suction Dredging Section
Captain (Master)
Captain (Engineer)
Subaltern (Mate)
Warrant Officer Class II Boatswain
serjeant lighterman
serjeant barge engineer (steam)
2 X barge engineer (steam)
2 X driver (transportation plant or crane)
corporal fireman (marine)
5 X fireman (marine)
9 X lighterman
2 X batman
sanitary dutyman
officers mess cook
cook

Tug (X2)
Warrant Officer Class II Tugmaster
serjeant barge engineer (steam)
barge engineer (steam)
2 X fireman (marine)
2 X lighterman
cook

Steam Barge (X6)
Warrant Officer Class I Master
Warrant Officer Class II Engineer
serjeant barge engineer
barge engineer
2 X fireman
corporal lighterman
3 X lighterman
cook

Dumb Barge (X6)
corporal lighterman
2 X lighterman



ENGINEER STORES (PORT SECTION) RE
War Establishment IV/211/1. November 1943
To be administered by the port operating unit to which the section is attached.

Captain
2 X serjeant
10 X checker (railway or docks) including
2 X lance serjeant
6 X corporal
2 X sapper
batman driver

4 X bicycle
2 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2




TRANSPORTATION STORES PORT DEPOT TYPE A
War Establishment XIV/1002/1. October 1944

Captain
2 X serjeant
2 X corporal clerk
4 X checker (railway or docks) including two lance corporal
3 X driver, transportation plant including a lance corporal
batman driver

2 X bicycle
2 X motorcycle
1 X car light utility




TRANSPORTATION STORES PORT DEPOT TYPE B
War Establishment XIV/1001/1. October 1944

Captain
3 X serjeant
8 X checker (railway or docks) including two lance corporal
3 X driver, transportation plant including a lance corporal
batman driver

3 X bicycle
3 X motorcycle
1 X car light utility




DOCKS MAINTENANCE COMPANY
War Establishment IV/22A/3. July 1944
This establishment is for working with up to five port operating companies. An increment is added for six or seven companies.

Major
2 X Captain
4 X Subaltern
Warrant Officer Class I, Technical
Warrant Officer Class II, Technical
Warrant Officer Class II, Clerk
Company Serjeant Major

company quartermaster serjeant
11 X serjeant
3 X lance serjeant
11 X corporal
17 X lance corporal
119 X sapper
26 X driver

Captain RASC
2 X staff serjeant RASC
4 X corporal RASC
10 X private RASC
Captain or Subaltern RAOC
2 X Warrant Officer Class I, Clerk RAOC
2 X lance corporal RAOC
2 X private RAOC
officers mess cook ACC
serjeants mess cook ACC
5 X cook ACC

Trades
3 X blacksmith
3 X blacksmiths striker or hammerman
4 X boilermaker
4 X brakesman and shunter
2 X bricklayer
10 X carpenter and joiner
6 X checker
3 X clerk
15 X clerk, railway
2 X draughtsman, mechanical
draughtsman, rail and port
2 X driver, crane
9 X electrician, maintenance
engine artificer
2 X fireman, locomotive
12 X fitter
painter and decorator
8 X platelayer
2 X plumber
4 X boilermakers mate
butcher
10 X carpenters mate
6 X dock gateman
12 X fitters mate
2 X plumbers mate
3 X railway engine driver
9 X rigger
2 X riveter
6 X storeman, technical and departmental, railway
2 X tinsmith and whitesmith
2 X welder

3 X batman
batman driver
6 X driver
2 X motorcyclist
10 X orderly
2 X sanitary dutyman
2 X water dutyman

3 X bicycle
2 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater
1 X car 4 seater
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt compressor
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS

5 X Bren lmg

Note: A fire boat section was attached.


Increment for six or seven companies
Subaltern
Warrant Officer Class II, Technical
2 X serjeant
5 X corporal
5 X lance corporal
38 X sapper
6 X driver
cook

Trades
blacksmith
blacksmiths striker or hammerman
boilermaker
2 X brakesman and shunter
4 X carpenter and joiner
4 X checker
clerk
5 X clerk, railway
draughtsman, mechanical
draughtsman, rail and port
driver, crane
fireman, locomotive
12 X fitter
painter and decorator
5 X platelayer
2 X boilermakers mate
4 X carpenters mate
3 X dock gateman
2 X fitters mate
railway engine driver
2 X rigger
storeman, technical and departmental, railway
welder

batman driver
motorcyclist
4 X orderly

1 X bicycle
1 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater




PORT MAINTENANCE COMPANY
War Establishment IV/22N/2.
Consisting of a Headquarters and four Sections.

Headquarters
Major
3 X Captain
Subaltern
Regimental Serjeant Major, technical, mechanical
Regimental Serjeant Major, technical, electrical
Company Serjeant Major
2 X serjeant
serjeant clerk
2 X corporal
5 X lance corporal
39 X sapper
10 X driver
officers mess cook ACC
serjeants mess cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
5 X cook ACC

Trades
2 X bricklayer
corporal clerk
2 X clerk
2 X draughtsman, mechanical
2 X electrician, maintenance
2 X machinist, metal
motor mechanic
2 X painter and decorator
8 X platelayer
storeman, technical and departmental
2 X timberman
2 X turner
Pioneers for duty as
4 X bricklayer
3 X electrician
2 X medical officers orderly
orderly
officers mess orderly
2 X serjeants mess orderly
4 X steelwork erector
2 X timberman

batman
batman driver
4 X driver
motorcyclist
water dutyman
sanitary dutyman

1 X bicycle
3 X motorcyclist
3 X car 2 seater (including 2 for use by sections)
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt Compressor


4 X Section each
Subaltern
Quartermaster Serjeant, Technical
serjeant, technical, construction
serjeant, technical, maintenance of craft
lance serjeant
2 X corporal
3 X lance corporal
37 X sapper
5 X driver

Trades
blacksmith
2 X boilermaker
3 X carpenter and joiner
clerk
coppersmith
2 X electrician, maintenance
3 X fitter
engine fitter, IC and pumps
engine fitter, steam reciprocating
plumber and pipefitter
sheet metal worker
3 X rigger
3 X riveter
2 X shipwright
steel erector
storeman, technical and departmental
welder, acetylene
welder, electric
blacksmiths hammerman
Pioneers as
2 X boilermaker
electrician
3 X fitter
orderly
plumber and pipefitter
3 X riveter
2 X shipwright

batman
driver
motorcyclist
water dutyman
sanitary dutyman

1 X bicycle
1 X motorcycle
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS

A Fire Fighting Section will be attached.


HEADQUARTERS PORT CONSTRUCTION and REPAIR GROUP
War Establishment IV/116/1. July 1942.

Lieutenant Colonel, Port Construction Engineer
Major
Captain, Adjutant
Subaltern, Hydrological Surveyor

Regimental Serjeant Major
serjeant draughtsman, construction
serjeant surveyor, engineering
2 X clerk
driver mechanic
draughtsman, port construction
4 X surveyor, engineering
12 X pioneer for duty with surveyors party
2 X batman
3 X driver IC
5 X motorcyclist
2 X cook ACC

5 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater
1 X car 4 seater
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS



PORT REPAIR SHIP
War Establishment IV/117/2. March 1943.
Consisting of a Deck Sub Section, an Engine Room Sub Section and a Workshop Section.

This establishment was intended to man a Port Repair Ship as described below.

Deck Sub Section.
Major, Officer Commanding and Master
Captain, Second in Command and First Mate
2 X Subaltern, Ships Mates
Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant (also to act as boatswain)
serjeant lighterman
2 X corporal lighterman
10 X lighterman
batman driver
batman
officers mess cook ACC
2 X cook ACC
wireless operator RS

Engine Room Sub Section
Captain, Chief Engineer
Captain, 2nd Engineer
2 X Subaltern, Engineer
corporal barge engineer
3 X barge engineer
2 X corporal fireman, marine
7 X fireman, marine

Workshop Section
serjeant, workshop
serjeant, constructional
blacksmith
blacksmiths hammerman
2 X boilermaker
corporal clerk
clerk
draughtsman, mechanical
2 X electrician, maintenance
engine fitter, steam reciprocating
engine fitter, IC and pumps
fitter
machinist, metal
plumber and pipefitter
lance serjeant shipwright
steelwork erector
storeman, technical and departmental
sheet metal worker
2 X turner
2 X welder, acetylene
2 X welder, electric
3 X pioneer as welder

1 X 15cwt GS


General Eisenhower requested Port Repair Ships for the Invasion of Europe. The original request was for five such ships for the US Army Engineers and two for the British Army. The US Maritime Commission N3 – M – A1 was selected for conversion. There were considerable delays and the US ships did not arrive in Europe until July/August 1944. The delivery date for the British ship(s) is not known.

The Port Repair Ship was designed to provide
- heavy lifting gear for clearing away rubble, sunken small craft and other obstructions
- power from its generators and compressors for the use of its own and other engineers
- workshop facilities to assist with the repair and replacement of damaged docks
- transport for engineer plant and equipment

It was intended that it would arrive as soon as possible after a port was captured and start the work of repair. It would later be joined, and later replaced, by larger and more permanent engineer units.

The N3 – M – A1 was a diesel engined coaster 0f some 2,500 tons and a length of 291 feet. There were three holds but when converted only the forward one was used as such and carried engineer machinery and equipment. Number 2 hold was converted into a machine shop, a carpenters shop, a welding shop and space for generators and air compressors. No 3 hold was converted to stowage for steel stocks, portable generators, salvage equipment and crews quarters. It was well provided with heavy lifting gear including two 5 ton booms, two 10 ton booms, a 50 ton boom and a 40 foot cathead at he bows.



PORT CONSTRUCTION and REPAIR COMPANY
War Establishment IV/21B/2. July 1942.

Consisting of a Headquarters and 4 sections.

Headquarters
Major
3 X Captain
Subaltern
2 X Warrant Officer Class I
Warrant Officer Class II
Warrant Officer Class II as Tugmaster

Company quartermaster serjeant
5 X serjeant
4 X corporal
2 X lance corporal
44 X sapper
13 X driver
officers mess cook ACC
2 X serjeants mess cook ACC
corporal cook ACC
cook ACC

Trades
2 barge engineers
blacksmith
boilermaker
3 X carpenter and joiner
clerk
draughtsman mechanical
draughtsman rail or port construction
3 X driver mechanic
engine fitter IC and pumps
engine fitter steam reciprocating
4 X fitter
2 X lighterman IWT
2 X mason
painter and decorator
platelayer
2 X plumber and pipefitter
2 X quarrymen
rigger
2 X riveter
2 X shipwright
storeman technical
turner
welder, acetylene
3 X welder, electric
blacksmiths hammerman
pioneer as general dutyman
pioneer as water dutyman
2 X pioneer as fitter
2 X pioneer as riveter
sanitary dutyman
2 X orderly
3 X batman
8 X driver IC
2 X motorcyclist

2 X bicycle
3 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 15cwt compressor
1 X 15cwt water
1 X 3ton winch
1 X 3ton workshop
1 X 3ton GS
1 X 6ton with crane
1 X 10ton with winch
1 X 15cwt trailer



4 X Section each
Subaltern
Warrant Officer Class I
3 X serjeant
2 X lance serjeant
2 X corporal
4 X lance corporal
34 X sapper
5 X driver
cook ACC

trades
blacksmith 2 X bricklayer
3 X carpenter and joiner
3 X concretor
clerk
draughtsman rail or port construction
3 X driver, transportation plant
2 electricians, maintenance
2 X fitter
lighterman IWT
mason
miner
platelayer
plumber and pipefitter
quarryman
rigger
steel bender, ferro concrete
steelwork erector
storeman technical
surveyor
5 X timberman, port construction
welder, acetylene
blacksmiths hammerman
stoker
pioneer as electrician
pioneer as plumber and pipefitter
pioneer as riveter
4 X driver IC
motorcyclist

1 X bicycle
1 X motorcycle
1 X 15cwt compressor
3 X 3ton tipper

The Warrant Officers Class I will each have one of the following specialisms
Diver
General Foreman
Timberman
Mechanical
Steelwork Erector
Electrical

20 tradesmen will be trained as divers and 10 will be trained as diver’s attendants.







HEADQUARTERS INLAND WATER TRANSPORT GROUP TYPE C.
War Establishment IV/222/1. December 1943.

Lieutenant Colonel
Major, second in command
Major, Technical Duties
Captain, Adjutant
Captain, Technical Duties
Subaltern, Administrative Duties
Quartermaster

Regimental Serjeant Major
Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
2 X serjeant clerk
corporal clerk
8 X clerk
draughtsman, mechanical
draughtsman, rail or port construction
2 X motorcyclist
storeman, technical and departmental, railway
3 X batman
batman driver
3 X driver
4 X general dutyman and orderly
sanitary dutyman

2 X bicycle
4 X motorcycle
2 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS


Note:
When this headquarters controlled two port floating equipment companies and one inland water transport light aid detachment (as at Mulberry) the establishment was modified by deleting
Major, Technical Duties
Subaltern, Administrative Duties
serjeant clerk
3 X clerk
draughtsman, mechanical
draughtsman, rail or port construction


INLAND WATER TRANSPORT HEAVY WORKSHOP COMPANY, TYPE C.
War Establishment IV/215/1. December 1943.
Major
Captain, Diesel Engine Maintenance
Captain, Hull Maintenance
2 X Subaltern, Diesel Engine Maintenance
Subaltern, Draughtsman-Designer
Subaltern, Administrative
2 X Subaltern

Warrant Officer Class II for Technical Stores
quartermaster serjeant, technical, IWT mechanical
staff serjeant
4 X serjeant for technical duties
3 X serjeant
officers mess cook
corporal cook
3 X cook
corporal blacksmith
4 X blacksmith
5 X blacksmiths striker or hammerman
2 X boilermaker
corporal carpenter and joiner
4 X carpenter and joiner
corporal clerk
7 X clerk
2 X coppersmith
corporal draughtsman, mechanical
3 X draughtsman, mechanical
corporal driver, transportation plant
3 X driver, transportation plant
corporal electrician
5 X electrician
2 X corporal engine fitter, steam reciprocating
8 X engine fitter, steam reciprocating
2 X corporal engine fitter, IC and pumps
9 X engine fitter, IC and pumps
2 X machinist, metal
4 X painter and decorator
corporal pattern maker
4 X plumber and pipefitter
corporal rigger
3 X rigger
corporal riveter
11 X riveter
2 X sawyer
2 X sheet metal worker
corporal shipwright
9 X shipwright
corporal, storeman, technical
7 X storeman, technical
corporal turner
4 X turner
corporal welder, acetylene and electric
4 X welder, acetylene and electric
pioneers as
2 X boilermakers mate
5 X carpenters mate
6 X electricians mate
16 X fitters mate
4 X plumbers mate
12 X riveters mate
10 X shipwrights mate
2 X motorcyclist
3 X batman
3 X driver
4 X orderly and general dutyman
sanitary dutyman

2 X bicycle
4 X motorcycle
1 X car 2 seater 4 X 2
1 X 15cwt GS
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS



INLAND WATER TRANSPORT OPERATING COMPANY RE TYPE C
War Establishment IV/213/1. December 1943.

Lighters were standard steel Thames lighters. They were used to carry cargo from ships which were too large to use the pierheads and anchored in the sheltered water of the harbour. Ships own derricks transferred cargo to the lighters which then went to the barge pierhead to be unloaded. Unloading and transfer of cargo to vehicles at the pierhead was a task for stevedores. Most lighters were unpowered and were towed by the powered lighters.

Major
2 X Captain for Technical Duties
4 X Subaltern
4 X Quartermaster Serjeant, Technical
Company Serjeant Major

company quartermaster serjeant for company duties
company quartermaster serjeant as cranemaster
10 X serjeant lighterman in charge of flotillas
11 X tugmaster
9 X lance serjeant
39 X corporal
25 X lance corporal
11 X driver
182 X sapper

corporal cook ACC
6 X cook ACC

Trades
71 X barge engineers IWT including eleven corporals and 25 lance corporals
6 X clerk including one corporal
2 X driver, crane including one corporal
22 X fireman, marine
150 X lighterman including thirty five corporal
4 X orderly

5 X batman
batman driver
3 X driver
sanitary dutyman
water dutyman

6 X bicycle
5 X motorcycle
2 X car 2 seater
1 X 15cwt
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS

Plus one spare tug crew of
serjeant tugmaster
corporal barge engineer
2 X fireman
3 X lighterman including one corporal


Headquarters
Major
2 X Captain for Technical Duties
Company Serjeant Major

company quartermaster serjeant for company duties
company quartermaster serjeant as cranemaster
2 X serjeant lighterman in charge of flotillas
3 X tugmaster
12 X corporal
5 X lance corporal
6 X driver
30 X sapper

corporal cook ACC
6 X cook ACC

Trades
15 X barge engineers IWT
2 X clerk including one corporal
2 X driver, crane including one corporal
2 X fireman, marine
22 X lighterman including thirty five corporals
4 X orderly

batman
batman driver
3 X driver
sanitary dutyman
water dutyman

2 X bicycle
1 X motorcycle
2 X car 2 seater
1 X 15cwt
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS


4 X Section each
Subaltern
Quartermaster Serjeant, Technical
2 X serjeant lighterman in charge of flotillas
3 X tugmaster
9 X corporal
5 X lance corporal
1 X driver
38 X sapper

Trades
14 X barge engineers IWT
clerk
5 X fireman, marine
32 X lighterman
batman

2 X bicycle
1 X motorcycle



INLAND WATER TRANSPORT LIGHT AID WORKSHOP RE
War Establishment IV/214/1. December 1943

Major
Captain
4 X Subaltern, including one for Administration
Company Serjeant Major

company quartermaster serjeant
serjeant clerk
16 X serjeant, technical
18 X corporal
144 X sapper
16 X driver, including one corporal

4 X cook ACC

Trades
3 X blacksmith including a corporal
3 X blacksmiths striker and hammerman
6 X boilermaker including one corporal and one lance corporal
15 X carpenter and joiner including two corporal and one lance corporal
4 X clerk including one corporal for pay duties
3 X coppersmith including a lance corporal
draughtsman, mechanical, corporal
12 X electrician including two corporals and one lance corporal
36 X fitter including three fitters and a lance corporal
12 X holders up or riveters helper
2 X motorcyclist
12 X shipwrights mate
3 X plumber and pipefitter including a lance corporal
3 X rigger including a lance corporal
24 X riveter including three corporals and three lance corporal
12 X shipwright including two corporals and one lance corporal
5 X storeman, technical including one corporal and one lance corporal
6 X welder including one corporal and two lance corporal

2 X batman
10 X driver including one corporal
3 X orderly
sanitary dutyman

4 X bicycle
5 X motorcycle
4 X car 2 seater
3 X 15cwt GS
3 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
1 X 1ton trailer GS


Headquarters
Major
Captain
Subaltern, Administration
Company Serjeant Major

company quartermaster serjeant
serjeant clerk
5 X serjeant, technical
3 X corporal
6 X sapper
9 X driver, including one corporal

4 X cook ACC

4 X clerk including one corporal for pay duties
draughtsman, mechanical, corporal
2 X motorcyclist
2 X storeman, technical including one corporal
2 X batman
4 X driver including one corporal
3 X orderly
sanitary dutyman


3 X Detachment each
Subaltern
corporal
10 X sapper
2 X driver

blacksmith
blacksmiths striker and hammerman
2 X boilermaker
carpenter and joiner
coppersmith
plumber and pipefitter
rigger
storeman, technical
2 X welder
2 X driver


12 X Sub Section each
serjeant, technical
corporal
9 X sapper

carpenter and joiner
electrician
3 X fitter
holders up or riveters helper
2 X riveter
shipwrights mate
shipwright



INLAND WATER TRANSPORT SUPERVISORY GROUP RE
War Establishment XIV/955/1. February 1945.

To supervise chartered craft.
To consist of
Supervisory Group Headquarters
Up to 15 Supervisory Company Headquarters
Up to 45 Supervisory Sections.

Headquarters
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Captain
4 X Subaltern

company quartermaster serjeant
serjeant clerk
serjeant duty NCO
3 X serjeant lighterman
2 X serjeant tugmaster

11 X clerk (50% to be ATS)
3 X draughtsman mechanical
driver mechanic
batman
3 X batman driver
5 X motorcyclist
5 X orderly
officers mess cook ACC
2 X cook ACC

5 X bicycle
8 X motorcycle
2 X light utility
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2 saloon
1 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS

Each Supervisory Company Headquarters
Major
Captain
Subaltern
serjeant clerk
serjeant lighterman
serjeant tugmaster
corporal clerk
2 X clerk
2 X batman driver
motorcyclist
2 X orderly

2 X bicycle
2 X motorcycle
1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2 saloon
1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS

Each Supervisory Section
Subaltern
serjeant lighterman
clerk
1 X bicycle
1 X motorcycle


FIRE BOAT SECTION
War Establishment/246/2. June 1944
These were operated by the Army Fire Service and attached to RE units. The AFS fire crew and the RASC navigating crew varied with the size of the fireboat. There were also National Fire Service boats deployed.

A Medium Fireboat
serjeant AFS
corporal AFS
3 X fireman AFS
serjeant RASC
corporal RASC

A Large Fireboat
serjeant AFS
corporal AFS
4 X fireman AFS
serjeant RASC
2 X corporal RASC

An Extra Large Fireboat
serjeant AFS
2 X corporal AFS
8 X fireman AFS
staff serjeant RASC
2 X corporal RASC
2 X private

In each case one Fireboat and one dinghy were operated.





PORTS and SHIPPING.
NOTE: For details of the ships see Others/Royal Navy.
PORTS
It was a long established principle that the operation of ports used to supply the army in the field should be an army responsibility. The actual construction, repair and operating of the ports was the responsibility of the Royal Engineers. By 1944 they had considerable expertise having already constructed and operated the military ports at Faslane and Cairnryan in Scotland.

THE BEACHES.
The Normandy beaches were the worst ever used for a combined operation from the point of view of slope; the gradient varied from 1/100 to 1/250, with a rise and fall in tide of the order of 20 feet. It was impossible to discharge M.T. from craft for two hours on either side of low water, and on a falling tide it was rare for a craft to be able to beach and retract owing to the speed of the ebbing tide.

The beaches were divided into three sectors, "Gold", "Juno" and "Sword". "Gold" consisted of one beach used by L.S.Ts. and M.T./stores coasters, and one for L.C.Ts., landing both personnel and stores. "Juno" had one stores beach and one for M.T.; "Sword" was a mixed beach. "Gold" sector extended from Port-en-Bessin to La Riviere, "Juno" from La Riviere to Petit Enver, and "Sword" from Petit Enver to Ouistreham. On 16th July "Sword" was in effect closed because of enemy shelling. Transhipment areas for transferring stores from DUKW to lorry were set up behind all beaches, so as to economize in the turnround of the DUKWs and make the maximum use of them for their primary amphibious purpose. In the "Sword" sector, however, for tactical reasons, DUKWs continued to work right through to dumps for a long period.


MULBERRY.
To provide sheltered water for the many thousands of small craft operating to the beaches, and for their protection during heavy weather, five groups of block ships, known as "Gooseberries", were sunk off the beaches in such a way as to form small artificial breakwaters. The 30 ships used were placed in position with speed and accuracy on all three beach fronts between D+2 and D + 4.

The construction of the artificial ports known as "Mulberries" was a fundamental part of the invasion plan. The two main component parts of "Mulberry" were breakwaters and piers. The breakwaters consisted of lines of concrete caissons known as "Phoenix", equipped with light A.A. protection and ranging in size from 2,000 to 6,000 tons; the size was so arranged that as far as possible the tops of the caissons when sunk in position were at the same level. The "Phoenix" were sited in conjunction with the "Gooseberry" so as to form one continuous line, thus affording the sheltered anchorage desired. The piers were composed of pierheads, and floating roadways connecting the pierheads to the shore. The pierheads were in two parts, the "Spuds" resting on the bottom and supporting upright piers on which the floating steel pontoons rose and fell with the tide. There were three separate piers, the Barge pier and the L.S.T. pier each with a single floating roadway and the stores pier with two floating roadways connecting it to the shore.

The Advanced Party arrived at Arromanches at 08.00 hours on 8th June and construction work started the next day. The discharge of coasters inside the artificial breakwater began on 11th June, and the first coaster discharged at the stores pier, served by a single roadway, on 18th June. The storm of 18th-22nd June did considerable damage to "Mulberry B". Construction then went ahead again and the second roadway to the stores pier, completing the traffic circuit, was in operation on 6th July. After that date coasters regularly discharged at the pierhead, but its main use was as a non-tidal lighter quay. In the sheltered anchorage originally designed for 16 coasters only, there were by the end of July berths for seven Liberty Stores ships and an average of 23 coasters. Cargo was discharged overside to DUKWs and ramped power barges (P.B.R.), this being the only place in the British area where DUKWs could work to large store ships.

The L.S.T. pier had been planned to deal with 20 L.S.Ts. a day from 18th June onwards but, as a result of the storm, was not in fact opened till 20th July. This failure to open the L.S.T. pier on time meant that LST had to continue to beach which resulted in a far higher figure of L.S.T. casualties, which in turn had a serious effect on the vehicle build-up. The pier was designed to discharge both decks of a L.S.T. simultaneously, but in order to do so the L.S.T. required a slight modification to the upper deck. The pier worked to capacity until the end of July but after that the period of rapid build-up by L.S.T. was over, and the importance of the pier declined.

COURSEULLES.
The fishing port of Courseulles was unsuitable for shipping but well suited for barges which were used for unloading ships in the anchorage. The draught over the bar was 9 ft. 6 in. A steady average of 850 tons a day in June and 1,500 in July and August was attained, and the port continued in use until 7th September. The Royal Navy based a portion of their repair and salvage organization on the port. It was also the only place where rail-served berths were available, although initially the rails did not run anywhere; as soon as rail working was opened up, heavy lifts were cleared through the port. Courseulles was made part of the beach organization on "Juno" beaches under the Principal Military Landing Officer.

PORT en BESSIN.
Port-en-Bessin was used primarily as a bulk petrol port, and was operated on a joint British/U.S. basis, the petrol installations being inter-connected with the U.S. installation some two miles to the westward. Tankers of up to 14 feet draught were taken alongside in the outer harbour, and "Tombola" lines (pipe-lines from shore to ship) for tankers of up to 5,000 tons dead weight at moorings were in operation by 1st July. Small coasters of limited draught were accommodated in the inner port, and the quays, which were relatively undamaged, were used for the discharge of heavy lifts from L.C.Ts. and barges. The port was opened for stores on 12th June and for bulk petrol on 24th June. The Port Commandant was put under the Port Commandant "Mulberry", thus making Port-en-Bessin a satellite. The total bulk petrol discharged up to 31st July was 86,000 tons. The port was finally closed on 25th September.

CHERBOURG.
The port of Cherbourg was opened by the U.S. Forces on 16th July, and 500 tons a day were allotted to the British. There was a long road and rail haul to the R.M.A.; rail connection was opened on 26th July. The port was very useful since it contained the only deep-draught tanker berths in the whole allied area, and the strain on the small class tankers using Port-en-Bessin had been considerable. In particular locomotives were landed for the British army.

OUISTREHAM.
Ouistreham, at the seaward end of the Caen-Ouistreham canal, was captured on "D" day with the locks virtually intact, and although it was too near the front line to be used as a port, preparations for its eventual use were made by the building of hards and quayside berths, and by shoring up and sandbagging on the lock gate. It was not until 21st August that the course of operations enabled work on mine-sweeping to begin at Ouistreham. Work on the development of the port installations themselves had begun about a fortnight earlier, and plans were based on the assumption that Caen would be a major bulk coal port, handling some dry cargo in addition.

CAEN.
The limitations on the working of the port of Caen were the draught, which was limited at the canal entrance, and the working of the locks, which would only permit a certain number of ships through at high tide. The port was opened for discharge on 3rd September, and averaged 2,300 tons a day for the first month. Owing to the rapid advance of the Allies and the capture of Dieppe and Ostend, Caen was not used to its fullest extent for general cargo, and remained only as a coal port except for a small maintenance tonnage for troops based in Normandy. This use remained until the end of hostilities. It was used for the loading of coasters to transfer stocks from the RMA to Antwerp and for the return of surplus stocks to the UK.

DIEPPE.
A programme for 4,000 tons a day of P.O.L., supplies and ammunition in coasters had been arranged with the War Office before the port was captured. Plans had also been made for discharge over beaches by DUKW if the ports were blocked, in view of the vital importance of shortening the L. of C. Port reconnaissance parties entered Dieppe on 1st September with 2 Canadian Division, and found a good deal of destruction and blockships, but large-scale demolition of the quays, although prepared, had not taken place. Prompt action saved the port, and by the time minesweeping and wreck dispersal was complete several berths had been cleared of debris for alongside discharge. The beaches were so heavily mined and covered with obstacles that discharge over them would have been impossible.

The first convoy of coasters entered the port on 7th September carrying mainly P.O.L. and supplies. Import of vehicles by L.C.T. and personnel by L.C.I.(L) also started on 8th September. A rail fitted L.S.T. hard was built, but was used only on one occasion owing to difficulties of dealing with these large vessels in a small harbour already being used to capacity. Construction of a train ferry terminal and connecting rail track was put in hand, and the first train ferry of the Zeebrugge type discharged there on 29th September. This innovation enabled rolling stock to be imported north of the Seine instead of through Cherbourg. There was only one berth in Dieppe suitable for L.S.I, and this was reserved for hospital carriers, the first of which embarked casualties on 16th September. The port was extensively used from mid-September for the evacuation of prisoners of war by L.C.I. (L) and occasionally by LCT.

Although Dieppe was invaluable during September and October, it was already far behind the front line. It would only deal with a substantial traffic until the more forward ports were brought into use. During October, in anticipation of the rapid advance being resumed before Christmas, a very large tonnage of bridging was imported through Dieppe. This included "wet" Bailey with pontoons. Traffic declined in November and the port was closed on 28th December except for import of coal under French arrangements.

LE TREPORT.
Le Treport, a very small port with limited facilities, was brought into use as a satellite of Dieppe on 2nd October, but was used only to a limited extent for small craft. Traffic was mainly confined to a "shuttle" service of up to four L.C.Ts. (Mark 4) daily, carrying R.A.F. "Queen Mary" trailers loaded with crashed aircraft bound for the United Kingdom, and returning to the Continent with urgently required RAF stores.

BOULOGNE.
The urgent need for more port capacity north of the Seine, particularly for deeper draught ships, coupled with the preliminary reconnaissance which showed that damage to port installations was not serious, prompted the decision to open the port of Boulogne although it was rather far back on the L. of C. In fact, the clearance of sunken obstructions proved to be a difficult task and delayed the planned programme, and the first stores ship did not arrive until 12th October. Several alongside coaster berths were available by this time and, in addition, three buoy berths in the Rade Carnot anchorage (two Liberty type ships and one coaster). It provided a useful tonnage in coasters and larger type vessels and was also used for the import of replacement vehicles in L.C.Ts. from Dover at the average rate of eight to ten landing craft a day. The stores programme continued in a small way until 13th January, but L.C.Ts. continued to use the port until the end of hostilities.

CALAIS.
After much discussion Calais was finally allocated by S.H.A.E.F. on 20th October to British operation. The port was severely damaged and obstructed and its clearance was a long and difficult task. First objectives were to construct a train ferry terminal for the "Twickenham" type ferries and rail fitted L.S.T. hards, and to restore the Quai Maritime for future personnel traffic. The "Shepperton Ferry" successfully berthed on 21st November, and on the following day the first hard was ready for use. This began the work of Calais, which was destined to become the busiest personnel port in the British sector.

OSTEND.
The capture of Ostend, on 9th September, gave to the British Forces a port which could make up for some of the deficiencies from which they were suffering - berths for personnel ships, L.S.T. hards and additional stores import capacity on a shortened L. of C. The clearance and development was therefore pushed rapidly ahead. The chief obstacle was the number of vessels sunk in the entrance, but by the 26th September these wrecks had been sufficiently dispersed to allow stores coasters to enter the harbour. Repairs to roads and bridges and the construction of L.S.T. hards were also put in hand. By early October L.C.Ts. and L.S.Ts. were discharging vehicles on the beach at the west side of the entrance, though this method ceased as soon as the hards inside the harbour were completed.

The first L.S.I, arrived from Southampton on 13th October. The port was also brought into use for hospital carriers on 21st October, thus reducing the long haul back to Dieppe, and L.S.Ts. were used for the evacuation of prisoners of war from 23rd October. The work of the port was considerably upset on 27th October when Royal Naval Force "T" arrived for the mounting of the combined operation against Walcheren Island.

The stores programme for Ostend was based on a capacity of 4,000 tons a day, but this included types of traffic requiring more than the normal amount of handling and supervision (e.g. mail, stores by express coasters, special ordnance and M.F.O. packages in containers). The original intention was to operate the port on a purely transit basis and to forward the stores direct to the Advanced Base Depots. As Antwerp soon began to flood these depots this idea proved to be impracticable and local depots for certain commodities had to be established. As well as coasters with stores from the United Kingdom, those from Caen clearing the Rear Maintenance Area were also dealt from December onwards.

The port was notable for its rapid turnround of shipping. In December the average discharging time for each coaster was 1¼ days, a record not equalled in any other port. The import of bulk petrol in small tankers into a newly constructed installation was also an important part of the work of the port.

By November it was usual for the port to be working three L.S.Is., a hospital carrier, five L.S.Ts., and several coasters and tankers each day. This variety of work and the ideal situation on the L. of C. made Ostend the most important port in the British area during October and November. Even after the opening of Antwerp, Ostend still continued to be used for stores and vehicles up to the end of the campaign, as well as being firmly established as the principal port for duty personnel travelling to and from the UK.

ZEEBRUGGE.
A L.S.T. hard was constructed at Zeebrugge to relieve Ostend, but owing to silting of the entrance channel, heavy mining, and the destruction of the Mole, the hard was never brought into use.

ANTWERP.
Although Antwerp was captured virtually intact on 4th September, the Germans still held both banks of the Scheldt below the port. While the difficult and hard-fought operations to clear these were going on there was ample time to plan the use of the port, to put its rusty equipment into working order and to lay out the depots in the Advanced Base area of Antwerp and Brussels. It was decided by S.H.A.E.F. that the port would be controlled in the broad sense by the British (in whose territory it lay) but would be operated jointly by the British Army and U.S. Army under detailed plans to be worked out. The Port Staff (British and American) were appointed, and in a joint Port Executive Committee under the Chairmanship of the British Naval Officer-in-Charge started to plan the daily working arrangements. The port was in a unique position in this war in that a number of the depots which it was to serve were already working by the time the port was open. These had been partially stocked by stores moved up the L. of C. from as far back as the R.M.A. (Bayeux). The only limiting factor that could be foreseen in the operation of the port to achieve the planned discharge figure of 40,000 tons a day was the shortage of inland movement facilities for moving the stores from port to depots. With the fall of Walcheren Island, the Scheldt was clear of the enemy; then began one of the biggest naval minesweeping jobs in history, to clear the river for navigation. This was achieved ahead of the estimated date and on 26th November the first Allied ships - the coasters "Lysland", "Thyra III" and "Fano" - entered Antwerp. The real importance of Antwerp, however, was in its berths for deep draught shipping.

Antwerp soon got into its stride and by early December stores were pouring ashore as fast as the depots could accept them. In addition M.T., bulk oil and frozen meat were being handled. A large proportion of the stores imports consisted of food for the liberated countries. Food for Belgium was handed over to the Belgian authorities in the port and that for Holland was stockpiled to be ready for movement into Dutch territory as it was liberated.The importance of Antwerp was so obvious as the main supply port for both the British and the U.S. Forces that it was only to be expected that the Germans would do their best to limit its use. They accordingly turned on to the Antwerp port and town area much of the weight of the V-l and V-2 attack which up till then had been directed at London. In fact, apart from ugly incidents both in the port and the town, and considerable loss of life and property, the attack by "V" weapons was a miserable failure. The Belgian dockers continued to work even on the worst days, and no ships or cargo were seriously damaged or destroyed during the whole period. Up to "V.E." Day, on British account alone Antwerp dealt with a total of nearly 50,000 vehicles; over 1½ million tons of general stores and 160,000 tons of bulk grain.

GHENT.
It was decided to open the port of Ghent as a standby in case Antwerp should be wholly or partially put out of action. A small programme of stores on U.S. and British account was arranged within the estimated capacity of 12,500 tons a day. The port suffered from a draught restriction of 24 feet and could not, therefore, deal with the bulk of the ships loaded in North America. At first it was uncertain whether Ghent was to be used for British or U.S. traffic, although plans had been made for it to handle both, as at Antwerp; the U.S. Forces were keen to use it, particularly as the Antwerp quays were getting filled up with stores that could not be cleared, and they had several ships under load. On 19th December the first ship entered Ghent and started to discharge, being accorded a suitable civic reception. Initially, at any rate, British traffic only was passed through the port. During January it was decided to divert American ships from Antwerp to Ghent owing to the risk of damage in Antwerp from V-l and V-2 attack. This decision took time to implement owing to certain draught limitations in the entrance to Ghent. Like Antwerp and Ostend, Ghent was worked entirely by civil labour, which meant a material saving in Transportation units, which could then be used elsewhere. A small reserve of Transportation personnel was kept for use in the event of strikes. On 22nd April the port was closed to British military traffic.


SHIPPING.
For the "Assault" and "Follow-up" in Naval ships and craft, and for the M.T. ships in the pre-loaded "Build-up", the allocation of personnel and vehicles was planned in extreme detail. Loading tables showed exactly what vehicles and personnel would be carried. After the initial flight of ships and craft, all subsequent personnel and vehicles had to be transported in the same ships and craft as had been used initially; it was not, therefore, possible to prepare tables showing the allocations in any detail until about 48 hours before embarkation.
The vessels used included L.C.Ts. (Mks. Ill and IV), L.S.Ts., M.T. ships, L.S.Is., and also, on D + l and D + 2, large personnel ships carrying over 2,000 personnel each. L.C.Ts. were beached for discharging. L.S.Ts. were to have been discharged by the use of "Rhino" Ferries (a floating raft of Naval pontoon equipment with its own engine and tugs), but as numbers of these became unserviceable on the voyage across, it was decided to beach the L.S.Ts. for discharging. M.T. ships were unloaded by their own derricks into L.C.Ts., L.C.Ms., "Rhino" ferries or, during emergency, into L.S.Ts., though this was uneconomical. Vehicles were unloaded onto the upper deck of the LST and lowered to the main deck by the vessels lifts. The LST then beached or docked at the LST pier as normal. The unloading of personnel ships and L.S.Is. could be carried on at any time using the L.C.As., or L.C.Ms., carried at the ships' davits, plus any other craft available. The first hospital carrier for the evacuation of casualties was brought over on 14th June 1944, and thereafter in general there was always one hospital carrier off the British beaches. Evacuation to the carrier was by water ambulance, a number of which were carried by each ship. These were not hospital ships.

When other ports were opened vehicles were landed by much the same methods. Hards were built for LCT and LST. MT ships were unloaded at wharves or onto barges. Unloading was greatly helped by the fact that most vehicles by this time had sling hubs fitted. These enabled a rope sling to be slipped over each sling hub and then the vehicle could be lifted and lowered. The slings could be fitted and removed in seconds.

Personnel were mainly carried in small LSI, most of which had been cross channel ferries. From the United Kingdom there were reinforcement drafts, formations to cover the German thrust in the Ardennes, and later for garrison duties on the L. of C. and in Germany.

Movement to the United Kingdom was also great, owing to the disbandment of formations, the return of personnel of all arms for conversion to infantry, and the sending home for training of Belgian, Dutch, Czech and Polish liberated manpower units. A daily shipping lift of 1,500 duty personnel to Ostend was usually met by LSIs but L.C.Ts. and L.S.Ts. were also used. Calais handled leave personnel. Antwerp was not used for personnel because of the danger from mines. Casualty evacuation from January onwards was primarily by air, but the balance, amounting to one or more carrier sailings a week, was dealt with on the Ostend-Tilbury route by the ex-L.M.S. steamer "Duke of Argyll".

Calais was used to bring over part of 6 Airborne Division to strengthen forces west of the Ardennes. This formation also returned through Calais after the crossing of the Rhine. The first B.L.A. leave ship "Canterbury" sailed from Calais to Dover on 1st January 1945. From 4th January 1945 the leave rate was 3,000 a day, spread over the three routes to Dover, Folkestone and Harwich.

The leave rate was increased to 4,000 a day from 1st March 1945, achieved by increasing the transit facilities at Dover and Folkestone. At the camp at Calais was extended to cater for 14,000 sleeping and 22,000 feeding each day.

After the opening of Antwerp vehicle movement was allocated to ports as follows:-

Boulogne - awkward vehicles and unit vehicles required in France by L.C.T. shuttle service from Dover.

Ostend - the majority of Army and R.A.F. unit vehicles in L.S.T. from Tilbury. Later this route was used for replacement vehicles and Civil Affairs vehicles.

Antwerp - replacement vehicles in M.T. ships and tracked vehicles in L.S.Ts., both loaded in Tilbury.

In addition to the normal Army replacement requirements, vehicles for equipping liberated manpower units, Civil Affairs, and even those imported on a commercial basis by the French, Belgian and Netherlands Governments were all carried in military shipping.

Return movement of vehicles also increased considerably. Army units were normally permitted to take only specialist vehicles out of the theatre, but the majority of R.A.F. units returned with all their vehicles. Unaccompanied vehicles (including tanks) were shipped back in large numbers for repairs - "runners" usually in craft and "non-runners" in M.T. ships.

The train ferry service started on the Southampton-Dieppe route, but after the sinking of the "Daffodil" by a mine in March, all traffic was dealt with on the Dover-Calais route. A large number of locomotives and wagons were ferried over and in emergencies the ferries were used for personnel and vehicles also.

Stores for the first seven days were pre-loaded before the operation was launched, and the ships due to arrive on the first two or three days were tactically loaded. In addition a number of craft were also pre-loaded with stores, both to assist in the rapid initial landing of essential stores before the coasters could be reasonably worked, and also as an emergency reserve in case of need. After the pre-loaded phase, subsequent deliveries of stores were dependent on returning shipping, and on certain Liberty type ships which were introduced to deal with the increasing volume of the stores programme. The first Liberty type ships on the British sector were planned for D + 9.

In addition to routine programmed shipments, an Express Coaster service was instituted, by which one coaster load of stores which was given priority in loading and unloading was provided daily, bids for which were required at from three to four days' notice. A similar arrangement was instituted for ordnance stores, because the United Kingdom was acting as the Base Ordnance Depot for the Force. These express and ordnance coasters carried a reverse traffic on their return voyages, consisting of repairable M.T. assemblies, crashed aircraft, mail and M.F.O. traffic, and any other high priority stores.

The first coasters were due to return to ports in the United Kingdom on D + 3 and it soon became apparent that the assumptions which had been made about turnround time were optimistic. To fill the gap caused by the failure of coasters to return to the United Kingdom as planned, coasters which had not been allotted to the operation were taken up at very short notice. Seven coasters on Ministry of War Transport coasting service and two coasters on RASC service were pressed into service.

In order to make the maximum use of Dieppe and Ostend (opened on 8th and 26th September 1944 respectively) and Boulogne (opened on 13th October 1944) it was necessary, owing to the limited number of alongside berths and the absence of suitable anchorage berths where coasters could lie pending discharge, to regulate the daily sailings to these ports. This was achieved by daily telephone calls from the United Kingdom to the Port Commandants, who gave their coaster requirements for 48 hours ahead and were informed of the code numbers, cargo and draft of coasters which would arrive within the next 24 hours.

During September a demand was placed by 21 Army Group for a large quantity of bridging, part of which was given the highest priority. In all, seventeen coasters were loaded with this material (including five which also carried supplies) and all were to be discharged through Dieppe, but owing to clearance difficulties at that port it was necessary to hold some of these coasters for a considerable time under load until they could be called forward.

Antwerp was opened on 26th November 1944 and discharge of six small coasters began on the 27th when 789 tons were landed. Seven ocean-going stores ships were received in the port on the 29th, seven on the 30th and six on the 1st December 1944.

The first shipment of coal was made in the 12 coasters which arrived off the beaches on "D" Day, each taking, among other general cargo, approximately 2 tons of bagged coal. In order to facilitate handling over the beaches it was necessary during the early stages of the operation to ship all coal bagged. This method of shipment was discontinued as soon as rolling stock, which was being shipped in train ferries, was available for the carriage of unbagged coal. 6,600 tons were shipped in bags during the period 7th August 1944 to 23rd September 1944, and 375 tons by R.A.S.C. M.T. companies. As from the end of August, however, it had been possible to deliver in bulk, first to Caen for British requirements and to Cherbourg for U.S. requirements, and then to a number of shallow draft ports. Coasters were used for the carriage of this bulk coal. As they had to be drawn from the "Overlord" coastal fleet, at that time heavily employed in the carriage of stores, it was only possible at the outset to allocate a small number for the purpose, with the result that only 50 per cent, of the demand was met. The opening of Antwerp and the employment of ocean-going shipping released more of the coastal fleet for the carriage of coal.