RAOC, 1 & 3 BIGU 1945/46

Further to my earlier post re Sgt Freddie Wm Clow, on receiving his service record, after various X's, Y's TOS's and SOS's, he appears to have been posted as a Sgt Storeman, from 17 Btn to 6 Coy (Upon re-designation of Unit), and from there to No. 1 Base Industrial Gas Unit (25/4/44). A following entry has him SOS to 3 BIGU We7 Nov 1945, with a ref- 2 C/4095/45 BOAR.

I am aware of WO 171/6825 and WO 171/10124 at Kew, and I'm contemplating requesting copies, but would anyone have prior knowledge as to where 1 BIGU was located (UK), and 3 BIGU, believed N France or Belgium towards the end of hostilities?

Photo: Sgt Freddie Wm Clow at right.

 

Hi

From the TROX RAOC part of this website

BASE INDUSTRIAL GAS UNIT
War Establishment IV/254/1. April 1944.
There were three Base Industrial Gas Units assigned to 21 Army Group. Initially they remained in the UK and sent gas in cylinders to units. With the advance across France and into Belgium two Base Industrial Units went overseas. No 1 operated in France and No 3 operated in Belgium. Increasingly they used civilian installations and concentrated more on supervising the production from these. No 2 remained in the UK. Civilian installations were used also to produce inert gas for flame throwers.

Consisting of
Headquarters
Oxygen Section with 2 X 600 cubic foot plants
Acetylene Section with one 600 cubic foot plant

Headquarters
2 X Captain or Subaltern Ordnance Officer 4th Class
Warrant Officer Class II Storeman, Technical
corporal clerk RAOC duties
corporal clerk
batman
batman driver
general dutyman
2 X cook ACC
2 X motorcycle
1 X 15cwt 4 X 2 GS

Oxygen Section
2 X serjeant storeman, technical
2 X driver mechanic
4 X storeman, technical
8 X general dutyman
2 X corporal electrician (vehicle and plant) REME
2 X corporal vehicle mechanic REME
2 X vehicle mechanic REME
2 X Tractor 6 X 4 with 15 ton 2 wheeled semi trailer, oxygen plant

Acetylene Section
serjeant storeman, technical
corporal storeman, technical
2 X storeman, technical
7 X general dutyman
corporal electrician (vehicle and plant) REME
serjeant vehicle mechanic REME
corporal vehicle mechanic REME

'idler' has a copy of the RAOC Official history and may be able to help with their locations.

Hope this helps

Gus

 

Thanks for that Gus. I had seen it a while back, but just hoping someone may have knowledge as to actual 'sites', so I could perhaps resolve 'where' a couple of family pictures depicted.

David.

 

Having received the War Diaries for 1 & 3 BIGU for the last months of the war and into 1946, I'm really no wiser as to their locations. However for 1 BIGU, in Oct - Nov 1945, the daily "Situation" sheet indicates they are in Belgium with a Map Scale of 1:250,000 and Location Ref of J-583572. Would anyone be able to locate this site for me please?

David.

 

Can help post VE Day 8 May 45

1 Base Industrial Gas Unit RAOC – GHQ Troops/L of C – disbanded 29 Nov 45
Brussels-B

3 Base Industrial Gas Unit RAOC – 1 Corps from 24 May 45 1 Corps District to 25 Oct 45
Gemen north-west of Borken

21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)

 

Thanks for that Steve. We thought it may be Brussels for 1 BIGU. The remnants have then joined up with 3 BIGU, as you say, at Gemen / Borken, just a few miles from the German / Dutch border.

Last few pages of 1 & 3 BIGU attached if anyone else is interested.

David.