BEF DEPLOYMENT TO FRANCE 1939-40

[The_Enigma]

Can i ask a quick question on the labour groups and LOC troops (incorpating the three TA divisions into this question); what exactly was their role?
I would have assumed field fortifications would have been the job of the RE and the men at the front so labour groups, are they there to develop the LOC and the LOC to guard them?

[Andy H]

Can i ask a quick question on the labour groups and LOC troops (incorpating the three TA divisions into this question); what exactly was their role?
I would have assumed field fortifications would have been the job of the RE and the men at the front so labour groups, are they there to develop the LOC and the LOC to guard them?

Hi Enigma

The Labour Groups (Pioneers) were basically used in a range of rear duties. The would help set up and maintain storage depots, railheads, grave registration, set up airstrips, provide defence units for POL depots and other high end targets such as HQ's etc. Usually they were made of of slightly older and less able bodied men than other army units. There role in relation to the RE was to provide a flexible manpower pool to help the Engineers in whatever task they were doing. Once the skilled aspect of a project was completed the Pioneers could be left to finsih the task whilst the more specialised RE units were re-tasked. They would be certainly involved in LOC provision and again they would be found at various transport , supply & signal/communication nodes, undertaking any number of tasks.

Regards

Andy H

[The_Enigma]

Hi Andy

Thanks very much for that, the pioneers have also boggled my mind! Seems a lot clearler now!

[Loïc]

hello

I found a Company 676 who seems a General Construction Company but no idea where it took usually place as curiously it appears nowhere even in the detailed ORBAT of the BEF nor the LOC despite both indicate all the RE companies...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_E ... tle_(1940)
https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.u ... Troops.pdf

withdrawn near Vendôme c. 21st may 1940 with an other R.E.'s "3rd company" (no speciality precised) there were 828 Engineers under a RE Staff in the area

[Andy H]

Hi Loic

Given the number I've a feeling that 676 was Artisan unit rather than a General Construction unit, but I maybe wrong.

Where did you come across 676?

Regards

Andy H

[Loïc]

hello

indeed the same for me given the serie 670, initially I even thought it was a field company because I found it in a French archive concerning the department of Loir-et-Cher appearing curiously translated as compagnie de terrain, as terrain/de campagne both can be translated as field
such companies de terrain exist in the French military terminology of that time but not really as Engineer units if not as Air Engineer units

but no...nor field, nor Artisan :
676 General Construction Company Royal Engineers
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov. ... /r/C163516


Regards
Loïc

[Andy H]

hello

indeed the same for me given the serie 670, initially I even thought it was a field company because I found it in a French archive concerning the department of Loir-et-Cher appearing curiously translated as compagnie de terrain, as terrain/de campagne both can be translated as field
such companies de terrain exist in the French military terminology of that time but not really as Engineer units if not as Air Engineer units

but no...nor field, nor Artisan :
676 General Construction Company Royal Engineers
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov. ... /r/C163516


Regards
Loïc

Hi Loic

Does the French archive list any additional info such as the Commanding Officer etc?

Regards

Andy H

[Loïc]

hello Andy

no names only figures and locations...

HQ in the town of Vendôme with 48 Officers NCO's and others ranks
780 men from 2 companies, 676th and "3rd", in three villages