War Diary - 14 Company RASC

Discussion in 'RASC' started by Bruneval, Aug 10, 2018.

  1. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Good evening,

    I thought I would start to upload the War Diary for 14 Company RASC which I have been researching for the past year or so. I will type the diary entries by month/year piecemeal, so please do be patient. If anyone has further information relating to relatives who served in the Company during WW2, I would be very interested to hear from them.

    Location: SARAFAND.
    Officer Commanding: Maj AN Jenkins.

    Dates:
    3 Sep 39:
    War Declared. Unit placed under Active Service conditions. Normal station duties carried out.
    4 Sep 39: 1 Officer, 6 ORs and 3 vehicles proceed to 17 Company RASC in Haifa. Norma station duties carried out be remainder of the unit.
    5 - 14 Sep 39: Normal station duties carried out.
    15 Sep 39: Normal station duties carried out. Unit inspected by G.O.G. in C.
    16 Sep 39: Normal station duties carried out. All personnel on leave in the U.K. RETURNED. 1 vehicle and 4 ORs returned from 17 Company RASC in Haifa.
    17 - 18 Sep 39: Normal station duties carried out.
    19 Sep 39: Normal station duties carried out. 1 Officer, 1 OR and 2 vehicles returned from 17 Company RASC in Haifa.
    20 Sep 39: Normal station duties carried out. 14 vehicles proceeded on operations with 2nd Batt H.L.I. and returned the same day.
    21 - 30 Sep 39: Normal station duties carried out.
     
  2. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Location: SARAFAND.
    Officer Commanding: Maj AN Jenkins.

    Dates:
    1 Oct 39:
    Normal station duties carried out.
    2 Oct 39: Normal station duties carried out. (Unit commenced firing Annual Weapon Training Course).
    3 - 13 Oct 39: Normal station duties carried out.
    14 Oct 39: Normal station duties carried out. (Completed Annual Weapon Training Course).
    15 - 20 Oct 39: Normal station duties carried out.
    21 Oct 39: Normal station duties carried out. Jerjos Tannos, Mardiros Chcian, Kerork Hagopian, Avedis Aksorian and Hanna Kafafian were attested. Mardiros Chcian, Kerork Hagopian, Avedis Aksorian and Hanna Kafafian were rejected.
    22 - 23 Oct 39: Normal station duties carried out.
    24 Oct 39: Normal station duties carried out. Pte Kazandgian attested as a Painter.
    28 - 31 Oct 39: Normal station duties carried out.
     
  3. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Location: SARAFAND.
    Officer Commanding: Maj AN Jenkins.

    Dates:
    1 - 28 Nov 39: Normal station duties carried out.
    29 Nov 39: Normal station duties carried out. (2 Officers, 30 ORs embarked for U.K.).
    30 Nov 39: Normal station duties carried out. (25 Drivers, majority untrained arrived from the U.K.).
     
  4. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Location: SARAFAND.
    Officer Commanding: Maj AN Jenkins.

    Dates:
    1 - 3 Dec 39: Normal station duties carried out.
    4 Dec 39: Normal station duties carried out. 25 untrained Drivers commenced weapon training, Drill and Technical Training.
    5 - 8 Dec 39: Normal station duties carried out, and recruits training carried out.
    9 Dec 39: Normal station duties carried out. 10 Recruits passed Class III Driving Test. 1 x 30 cwt vehicle accompanied by Staff car (68 Company) proceeded to Tripoli on a secret mission.
    10 Dec 39: Normal station duties and recruits training carried out. 1 x 30 cwt vehicle accompanied by Staff car returned from Tripoli.
    11 - 20 Dec 39: Normal station duties and recruits training carried out.

    No further entries for December 1939.
     
  5. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    New
    Location: SARAFAND.
    Officer Commanding: Maj AN Jenkins.

    Dates:
    1 Jan 40:
    Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 10 Recruit drivers passed Trade Test for i/c Class III.
    2 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 10 Drivers of Palestinian Cadre joined unit from R.A.S.C. Driving School and Depot.
    3 - 5 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    6 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 2Lt Workman and Cpl Hammond proceeded to Bir Salim on a Small Arms Cadre.
    7 - 8 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    9 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 8 Drivers and 2 Clerks of Palestinian Cadre joined unit from R.A.S.C. Driving School and Depot.
    10 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 4 Sergeants A.I.F. joined unit for course in R.A.S.C. Duties.
    11 - 15 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    16 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 2 Sergeants A.I.F. joined unit for course in R.A.S.C. Duties.
    17 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 W.O. & 7 N.C.Os. & 30 Med embarked for United Kingdom.
    18 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 2 Palestinian Artificers joined unit from Driving School.
    19 - 23 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    24 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 41 Other Ranks, partly trained, arrived from U.K.
    25 - 31 Jan 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
     
  6. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Location: SARAFAND.
    Officer Commanding: Maj AN Jenkins.

    Dates:
    1 Feb 40: Normal station duties carried out, and recruits training.
    2 Feb 40: Normal station duties carried out, and recruits training. 4 Palestinian Recruits joined unit.
    3 Feb 40: Normal station duties and Recruit's training carried out. 1 Palestinian posted to Haifa. 1 Officer, 1 Sergt. finished course at Small Arms School, Bir Salim.
    4 Feb 40: Normal station duties and Recruit's training carried out.
    5 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 Sergt. and 1 LCorpl. commenced course at Bir Salim.
    6 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 4 Palestinian Recruits joined unit. 1 Private posted to 68 Company.
    7 - 8 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    9 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 Sergt. posted to G.H.Q. Middle East.
    10 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 S/Sgt.posted to F.H.Q. Jerusalem. 1 Private commenced Clerks course at Jerusalem.
    11 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    12 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 Sergt. posted to G.H.Q. Middle East, Cairo. 1 Private joined Unit from Haifa.
    13 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 Sergt. posted to unit.
    14 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 C.Q.M.S. posted to R.A.S.C. Training Centre, Moascar. 1 Private posted to R.A.S.C. Training Centre, Moascar. 2 Palestinian N.C.O.s joined unit.
    15 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 2 Palestinians posted to Jerusalem.
    16 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 Corpl posted to Cavalry Mobile Vet: Section, Rehovoth.
    17 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    18 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. One S.S.M. posted to Cyprus.
    19 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 13 Recruits fired a course in light machine gun and qualified.
    20 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 Corpl posted to Jerusalem and one Corpl posted to this unit.
    21 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 Sergt. and 1 Corpl. returned from Small Arms Course.
    22 - 23 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    24 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 13 Recruits passed recruit training (Drill).
    25 - 26 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    27 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 Sergt. promoted to A/C.Q.M.S. 2 Palestinian Drivers discharged.
    28 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 Sergt. promoted to A/C.Q.M.S. 1 Corpl promoted to A/Sergt. 1 L/Cpl promoted to A/Cpl. 1 Driver promoted to A/L/Cpl.
    29 Feb 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
     
  7. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Location: SARAFAND.
    Officer Commanding: Maj AN Jenkins.

    Dates:
    1 - 8 Mar 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    9 Mar 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 2 Palestinians posted to A.M.P.C.
    10 Mar 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    11 Mar 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 Palestinian posted to unit. 1 Palestinian posted to 17 Company, Haifa.
    12 Mar 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 12 Palestinians posted to unit.
    13 Mar 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 Palestinian Corpl. promoted. 1 Palestinian Sergeant posted to 61 Company.
    14 Mar 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 2 Palestinians posted to Driving School.
    15 - 25 Mar 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    26 Mar 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1 Private (Clerk) joined the unit. 26 Recruits passed off Regimental Training.
    27 - 29 Mar 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    30 Mar 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 16 Palestinians joined unit.
    31 Mar 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
     
  8. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Location: SARAFAND.
    Officer Commanding: Maj AN Jenkins.

    Dates:
    1 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. One Driver posted to unit.
    2 - 6 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    7 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. Four Palestinians posted to unit.
    8 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1st Junior N.C.Os. Training Refresher Course started.
    9 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 24 Privates posted to unit.
    10 - 12 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    13 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 1st Junior N.C.Os Refresher Course finished.
    14 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    15 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 2nd Junior N.C.Os Refresher Course started.
    16 - 17 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    18 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 2 Palestinians posted to unit.
    19 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    20 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. 2nd Junior N.C.Os Training Refresher Course finished.
    21 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    22 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. One Palestinian posted to unit. Medical grading started. Individual Training commenced.
    23 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. One Palestinian discharged. One Private posted to unit. One Private posted to Haifa.
    24 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. Three Sergeants posted to unit. 3 Corporals posted to unit. Ten Drivers posted to unit.
    25 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
    26 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. Three Privates posted to unit. Two Privates posted to Egypt. One Private posted to Haifa.
    27 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out. One Sergeant (Clerk) posted to unit.
    28 - 30 Apr 40: Normal station duties and recruit's training carried out.
     
  9. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Location: SARAFAND.
    Officer Commanding: Maj AN Jenkins.

    Dates:
    1 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. (Recruits training finished).
    2 May 40:
    Normal station duties carried out.
    3 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. 1 Corpl. 6 Drivers and 3 Lorries to Egypt.
    4 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. 1 Corpl. posted to Haifa. 1 Corpl. posted to this unit.
    5 - 8 May 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    9 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. 1 Corpl. 6 Drivers and three lorries from Egypt. (see two attachments - Corpl's convoy report).
    10 May 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    11 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. 1 Corporal reduced to the ranks.
    12 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. 1 Sergt. and 5 Drivers reported to P.R.T.D. for Training Course.
    13 - 15 May 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    16 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. One S.Q.M.S. posted to Egypt.
    17 - 20 May 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    21 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. One Corpl and one L/Cpl posted to Egypt. One Private posted to Haifa.
    22 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. 3 Privates (Clerks) posted to Haifa.
    23 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. One Private (Issuer) joined station. Individual training finished owing to Internal Situation.
    24 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. One Sergeant and five Drivers finished course at P.R.T.D.
    25 May 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    26 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. Two Sergeants and five Drivers commenced course at P.R.T.D.
    27 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. One L/Cpl reduced to the ranks. One L/Cpl and 2 Drivers commenced swimming (Life Saving) course at Gaza. One Private (Clerk) posted to Jerusalem.
    28 - 30 May 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    31 May 40: Normal station duties carried out. 2/Lt Wiener returned from P.R.T.D.
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Location: SARAFAND.
    Officer Commanding: Maj AN Jenkins.

    Dates:
    1 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out. One Corporal posted to unit.
    2 - 3 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    4 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out. One L/Cpl and two Drivers returned from swimming course.
    5 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    6 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out. Three Drivers attached to 6 Div. Four Drivers attached to C.M.P. on probation for transfer.
    7 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    8 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out. Two Sergeants and 7 Drivers returned from course at P.R.T.D.
    9 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    10 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out. Individual Training commenced.
    11 - 16 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    17 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out. N.C.O's Refresher Course commenced.
    18 - 21 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    22 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out. Individual Training finished.
    23 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out. One Officer returned from Middle East Training Centre.
    24 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out. Individual Training commenced.
    25 - 27 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    28 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out. One Corpl proceeded on course to M.E. Trg School Moascar. 3 Drivers posted to O.C.R.A.S.C. Cairo.
    29 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    30 Jun 40: Normal station duties carried out. 3 N.C.Os to P.R.T.D. N.C.Os Cadre Course.
     
  11. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Location: SARAFAND.
    Officer Commanding: Maj AN Jenkins.

    Dates:
    1 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. Individual Training finished.
    2 - 5 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    6 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. One Driver proceeded on unqualified Cooks Course.
    7 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    8 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. Ten Drivers posted to Egypt.
    9 - 11 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    12 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. Three N.C.Os returned from course at P.R.T.D.
    13 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. One M.Q.M.S. joined unit. One Driver re-mustered as clerk and posted to Egypt.
    14 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. Three N.C.Os proceeded on course to P.R.T.D.
    15 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. Three Drivers posted to Egypt.
    16 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. One M.S.M. joined unit.
    17 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    18 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. 1 L/Sgt posted to Egypt. Company Training commenced.
    19 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. Company training completed.
    20 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. 1 Corporal joined unit.
    21 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    22 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. 2 Drivers posted to Egypt. Section training commenced.
    23 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. 3 Drivers re-mustered and posted to Haifa.
    24 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    25 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. 1 Dvr posted to 61 Coy R.A.S.C.
    26 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    27 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. 1 N.C.O. returned from course Middle East. 3 N.C.Os on course at P.R.T.D. 1 Dvr on course at Middle East School of Cookery. Section training completed.
    28 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. 3 N.C.Os proceeded on course at P.R.T.D. 1 Dvr proceeded on course Middle East School of Cookery.
    29 - 30 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    31 Jul 40: Normal station duties carried out. 2 Sergts and 4 Corporals ordered to stand by on 24 hrs notice.
     
  12. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Location: SARAFAND.
    Officer Commanding: Maj AN Jenkins.

    Dates:
    1 - 8 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    9 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. One Corporal and 2 L/Cpls returned from 3rd Cadre Course P.R.T.D.
    10 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. Three Drivers posted to Egypt. One L/Cpl deprived on Lance stripe.
    11 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. One Driver posted to C.M.P. w.e.f. 18/7/40.
    12 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. One Driver re-mustered as Clerk and posted to Haifa. Company commenced Stand-by-Flying Column.
    13 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. One Driver (Cook) posted to Egypt.
    14 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    15 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. Three Drivers promoted to L/Corpls w.e.f. 16/23/8/40 and 10/8/40.
    16 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    17 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. 1 Driver proceeded on Cooks Course. 1 Sergt, 2 Drivers posted to Egypt.
    18 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. Company finished Stand-by (Flying Column).
    19 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. 1 Driver returned from Cooks Course. 1 Driver returned from Sanitary Course.
    20 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. 50% N.C.Os on T.E.W.T.
    21 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. Remaining 50% N.C.Os on T.E.W.T.
    22 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. 50% N.C.Os and men on T.E.W.T. 5 Drivers posted to Abbassia, Egypt.
    23 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. Remaining N.C.Os and men on T.E.W.T.
    24 - 27 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    28 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. All available N.C.Os and Officers on T.E.W.T.
    29 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out.
    30 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. All available personnel - Training.
    31 Aug 40: Normal station duties carried out. Twenty Palestinian personnel posted to this Company.
     
  13. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    I have now completed the first year of the War Diary and as you can imagine 14 Company starts to ramp up their preparations for deploying on operations. I will now attach the War Diary entries.

    SEPTEMBER 1940.

    Key points:
    • Maj AN Jenkins is posted to 61 Company RASC on 2 Sep 40.
    • Annual Weapon Training completed.
    • Company Stand-by Flying Column.
    • 11 Vehicles and 40 personnel move in convoy from Palestine to Egypt.
     

    Attached Files:

  14. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    OCTOBER 1940
     

    Attached Files:

  15. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    NOVEMBER 1940
     

    Attached Files:

  16. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    DECEMBER 1940

    14 Company re-designated to 38 Res MT Company.
     

    Attached Files:

  17. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    JANUARY 1941
     

    Attached Files:

  18. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    FEBRUARY 1941
     

    Attached Files:

  19. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    MARCH 1941
     

    Attached Files:

  20. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    APRIL 1941
     

    Attached Files:

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