The link is to a blog article with photos which refers to a unit of the Royal Canadian Engineers being in Cornwall at the end of 1942. They were building the firing bases for the Bodmin Moor artillery range which was used by British & American forces preparing for D-Day and were based in the nearby town of Liskeard. Any more details on their presence in the county greatly appreciated. https://www.philhadleypublications.com/post/february-2022
Phil, I’ve done a lot of work on RCE units and I’ve been looking thru all my resources, and without more clues this is a hard one. But, some ways to approach this. The article indicates that the concrete structures have RCE in them (I looked at the photo). RCE (I’ll call them HEAVY CONSTRUCTION UNITS) had a habit of doing this, but “usually” they would also put their Unit Serial Number…….so do you know if their are ANY numbers next to or in the concrete?? The RCE set ups a “Works” directorate when they came to England, who were responsible for projects throughout the country that RCE could undertake, both for “training” and to help prepared defences etc. I’ve gone thru the War Dairies of these various HQ’s and I can’ spot anything that tells me if a unit (or sub unit) of the RCE we’re assigned this project? BUT, I have looked at the War Dairy and history of the 2nd Battalion, RCE (which was one of those “heavy construction” units)……and if my “google map” information is correct, they were doing a major Airfield job at St Eval at about the same time (CORRECTION: they were in St Eval in JUN 43, so dates do not work)…….BUT (another but)…..from the information I can’t tell if the Bodmin Moor range had these concrete structures build “near” Bodmin Moor of near Liskeard?? Would you be able to give me a “google map” marking the location of these concrete structures…….and where they “firing” into Bodmin Moor??? I’m just trying to determine the site, in order to see if their were any RCE units in those general areas…… I’m trying to give myself “clues” to the potential RCE units that may have done this work, and then I can check the War Diaires of these units to see if any mention is made of this work. I’ve also looked thru the “History of the Corps of the Royal Canadian Engineers, Vol 2) and I haven’t spotted anything that gives me clues in this time period. I have a feeling that if it was minor job, or a “side job” that one of the Engineer Units undertook, it may not be in the “official histories” I’ll re-read the information you posted (and the link) to see if I can get any other clues, location info, anything else that might point me to the possible RCE unit. Cheers
Reviewed the info again, and made these quick google maps……..have I got the right area in England and the approx locations right??? And your right, I would NOT want to be travelling that highway with artillery rounds going over it….. EDIT: I took a close look at the photo of RCE again, I think I see NUMBERS, in the red square I think I see the Number 3. (Or it could be an 8)……again if it is possible that their are numbers their, it could identify the Canadian Unit??? Or maybe its just my OLD EYES wanting to see numbers???
Hi, thanks for taking the time to check through your info. RAF St Eval is certainly close enough for them to be tasked with this as well. The site at Minions is just 4 miles north of the town of Liskeard. This link will locate the site at Minions Where's The Path 3 The map below shows the Minions firing site No 1, Berry Down No 2 and Penkestle No 3. The target area is marked T. I have also highlighted the town of Liskeard where they held the dance and RAF St Eval. I've not seen any unit numbers in the concrete and can't spot anything else in the photos I took.
Here's the RCE from a more oblique angle. I'm not sure if it's a number or just the concrete weathered in the moorland weather!
Thanks Phil……I’m in the right area……and I’ve been going thru HQ’s diaries and nothing yet. But I’ll see if I can place any of the Engineer Units “near” their (it doesn’t really have to be near there, as they could have sent a section of sappers from anywhere in the UK I guess), But I need a starting point……..OR, I could just start going thru WD for Dec 42 and see what I can find?? Also, I agree, I think my eyes “want” to see a number, but it may just be weathering. The number 3 I think I see, well all the “heavy construction units” (No 1, 2 and 3 Battalions, RCE) all had the number 3 or and 8 in their Unit serial…..so I it was just a “thought”…….anyway, I’ll see if I can find anything……I might try the Field Park Companies first, as they had more “tradesmen” in them, and they were always looking for jobs to keep them busy and to keep their trade skills up Cheers
It wasn't the only range where firing took place from outside with the rounds landing (hopefully) inside. Exmoor National Park, Exmoor Firing Range, MSO7776, Home. Does anyone know of any more. I don't know Sennybridge range, perhaps that's one. I am told Trawsfynedd had naval ships bombarding from Cardigan Bay into it.
Phil, I haven’t forgotten you. I’m working on it. This is going to take some time though. So far I’ve been able to rule out HQ, 1 Cdn Corps Engineer Troops WD that being: 12, 13, 14 Cdn Field Companies, and 1 Cdn Corps Field Park Company. (1 Cdn Corps records indicate all of the above units were on other training and exercises during Dec 1942.) EDIT 1 Gone thru HQ, 1st Cdn Infantry Division RCE WD, their units were all on exercise that time period, so we can rule out” 1, 3, 4 Cdn Field Companies and 2 Cdn Field Park Company EDIT 2 2nd Cdn Infantry Division RCE units…..no joy on these units, 2, 7, 11 Cdn Field Companies and 1 Cdn Field Park Company EDIT 3 After going thru a bunch of the Field Companies, I’m finding that NONE of them seem to be employed in other work other than military training…….so I’ve switched my focus and I’m looking thru the War Dairies of the Construction Companies (which were dedicated to construction projects) Headquarters, Cdn Construction Engineers, RCE - NO (no mention of work in WD) 5 Cdn Construction Company, RCE - NO (they were working on Bramshot Hospital addition and a Sewage plant expansion) 6 Cdn Construction Company, RCE - NO 7 Cdn Construction Company, RCE - NO 1 Cdn Battalion, RCE - NO 2 Cdn Battalion, RCE - NO 3 Cdn Battalion, RCE - NO 4 Cdn Battalion, RCE - NO EDIT 4 I’ve found going thru the above Construction Companies, its very difficult to understand some of the acronyms of the Construction Projects as they are based on UNIT’s they are supplying the work to. I’m able to decipher most, but some are new to me…..BUT….I’ve noticed that since this work was around Christmas 42, the war diaries of ALL the units tell us about parties they were having….so I’m focusing on see if I can find the unit that had the Xmas party on the 19th Dec 42 that is mentioned in your information, it may lead me to the right Unit…..or not Still looking…….I was actually hoping that I could eliminate some of the RCE units if they hadn’t arrived in England…..BUT, almost all the 5 Divisions had arrived, and First Cdn Army and Both 1 & 2 Cdn Corps HQ’s so I have to go thru every RCE unit (that WD are available)…. So, I’m still on it and I’ll keep amending this post as I confirm info
Phil, while working on this, I was doing more research on RCE in Cornwall, and found this site, that “seems” to suggest that the photo’s you have are of a old mining site??? They say the RCE moved in to dig for tin in 1942…….I’m going to do a bit of research on this option, as the RCE did have Drilling and Tunnelling Companies, and I do know that they did work some “old” tin mines?? Could one of those units done some construction for mining equipment (mining engines, lifts etc??) and marked the concrete?? Could this be a possibility?? Let me check (as I’m having almost NO luck finding an RCE unit in that area in 1942)??? Silver Valley Mine - Explore Cornwall The remains visible today result from workings initiated by Liskeard Minerals Ltd in 1937. In April 1942 60 Royal Canadian Engineers came to the mine and with others deepend the shaft and carried out prospecting work for strategic minerals Tin and Wolfram. No production was achieved and they left in June 1943. Silver Valley Tin Mine information and photos
The first tunnelling unit I check, seems to have all sorts of info in their War Diaries about men from their Unit in Cornwall and their HQ officers looking for civilian mining equipment in locations is Swansee etc……I’m going thru it now to confirm what I have found and then will post it.
Went thru “some” (not all) of the War Diaires, that confirm that 1 Cdn (S) Tunnelling Company RCE was assigned the task to develop the Silver Valley Mine in Cornwall. Here are just a few pages out of their War Diaires confirming the work. Also note, I believe the “bed plates” for engine & compressors or the head frame and winches etc is the concrete construction that you have photo’s of. War diaries : T-18796 - Héritage And articles from I presume a local paper So, in summary, the “flat” concrete area could indeed be for Artillery guns…..but the area that is marked with 1942 RCE is the concrete foundations for a mining operation built by 1 Tunnelling Company RCE in Aug 1942. I have not found an RCE unit that mentions building artillery site yet, not saying they didn’t, but the types of units that would have done this type of work (Construction Units) do not mention this work?? Silver Valley Mine. If you wish to go thru the rest of the file that I found this information (possibly they may mention building the artillery platforms but I didn’t see any, but I didn’t go thru every page in the file: file has over 1600 pages, and NO search engine, all manual page by page searching) here’s the link: War diaries : T-18796 - Héritage
Temujin, that's great work. Thank you for your time and efforts. Much appreciated. I had always thought the old mining works were further north (nearer to what was known as West Phoenix) and further west (more down in the shallow valley) but I guess they were the Victorian works and not the 1937/1942 exploration. I agree that the RCE 1942 is probably engraved on the concrete bed for the engine and compressor. I had assumed it was a generator bed for the huts on the site. I am certain the large flat concrete beds are the bases for huts given the steps into them at one end. The larger separate concrete blocks were probably anchor points for the headframe. What is also not in doubt is that it was the location for the artillery firing. Local oral history and eye witness testimony over the last 40 years has confirmed that. When the weather allows I shall have to visit the two other firing sites and see what remains. I shall add a link to this discussion on the blog article.
Your welcome Phil. As I said, those other concrete area’s could be artillery stands or huts as you said, they may even be concrete bases for huts that the Drilling Company made (to store tools, or equipment on the site). Do you have a DATE that the range was opened and used??? It looks like the RCE Tunnelling Company was there at least from August 1942 (maybe earlier) onward until 1943. I did not go thru all the months, as by this time was getting a little tired from looking at RCE war diaries and needed at break (just had cataract surgery a few weeks ago and the other eye coming up this next Thursday so my eyes get tired quickly BUT, I have much improved vision, in one eye, again)….. Cheers and good luck on your continued research
