- Contributed byÌý
- MichaelTipton
- People in story:Ìý
- Albert Ronald Chester
- Location of story:Ìý
- Liverpool to Italy
- Article ID:Ìý
- A3271592
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 14 November 2004
The image attached to this story cannot be viewed for moderation or technical reasons
My grandfather, ALBERT RONALD CHESTER served with the Royal Engineers 221 Field Company and was one of the Black cats.
Below is a list of the outline history of the company taken from his documentation.
Outline History
221 Field Company ROYAL ENGINEERS
U/C 56 (London) Division.
Serial Date Event
1. 1918 Served with 47th Division in First World war.
1918-1939 Peacetime TA company of the London Divisional Engineers.
2. Sept, 39 Mobilised.
3. Sept, 39/ May, 40. Joined BEF, France as an Army Field Company with 1st Corps and 3rd Corps on extension Maginot Line.
4. May 1940 Took part in the withdrawal from the HALLE canal through BELGIUM into FRANCE. Went into the Line at CORBRIEUX as infantry.
5. 30th May ‘40 Evacuated from DUNKIRK (80 men taken prisoner).
6. June, 1940 Reformed at NEWARK.
7. August, 1940 Rejoined 1st (London) Motorised Div. Moved with them to 12th Corps (SE Command): thence to 4th Corps (Eastern command). During this period, the DIV became known as 56th (London) Division.
8. July 1942 Mobilised with 56th (Lon) Div for Services Overseas.
9. 28th Aug 1942 Embarked for overseas services with 56th Division.
10. Nov ‘42 Landed in IRAQ U/C PAIFORCE with 56th Div.
11. Nov ’42 — Mar ‘43 Served in PAIFORCE.
12. Mar / Apr ‘43 By road from PAIFORCE, through PALISTINE, EGYPT TRIPOLITANIA to TUNISIA.
13. Apr ‘43 Joined 5th Army (still under 56th div) for the battle of ENFIDAVILLE.
14. May ‘43 With Eight Army to the end of the TUNISIAN campaign.
15. June/Sept ‘43 Refitted: trained for combined ops.
16. 9 Sept ‘43 Took part in SALERNO landing (5th Army) with 56th Div. (Served as infantry for two weeks).
17. Sept ‘43/ Jan ‘44 In action with 5th Army: Major actions —VOLTURNO, Monte CAMINO, GARIGLIANO.
18. Feb ‘44 By sea to ANZIO. (Served in line as infantry).
19. 31 Mar ‘44 Relieved from ANZIO and went to MEF, via NAPLES & TARANTO to refit.
20. July ‘44 Returned to ITALY with 56th Division to EIGHTH army.
21. August ’44 — May ‘45 In action with EIGHTH army - Major actions GOTHIC line, SAVIGNANO, rivers RONCO, LANONE, SENIO, RENO, lake COMACCHIO, river PO, river ADIGE.
22. June ‘45 Arrived in TRIESTE.
23. JUNE ROLL OF HONOUR, As Appendix ‘A’.
My Grandad’s war started off from Liverpool’s Princess docks on the 28th August 1942, where he and 3000 men set off on the SS OROUNA accompanied by 10 destroyers. He arrived 9th September 1942 in Freetown West Africa. From there they moved on to Cape Town before arriving in Bombay on the 19th October. A month later they were in Kirkuk (IRAQ). My Grandad’s war then basically followed through North Africa and into Italy with the 56th (London) Division and American 8th Army.
© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo