John Guthrie – Regimental War Diaries
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As well as his father’s personal Military Record and Service and Casualty Record, Gordon also acquired copies of some of his regimental war diaries. In particular these cover the period from August 1939 to December 1940 when he was based at Carlingnose.
In August 1939, John joined No 3 Company, HQ Edinburgh Army Troops Engineers.
In June 1940, Nos 1 & 2 Coys City of Edinburgh (F)R.E. converted into a Field Army role as: 3rd (City of Edinburgh) Army Troops R.E., and reorganised into nucleus of:-
585 (City of Edinburgh) Corps Field Park Company R.E. [attached to the 160th Heavy Battery R.A.]
586 (City of Edinburgh) Army Field Park Company R.E.
587 (City of Edinburgh) Army Field Park Company R.E.
John joined 585 Company April 1940, then 504 Coy in March 1942
Here are the full War Diaries of
No 3 Coy from Aug 1939 to Dec 1940
504 Coast RA from Aug 1939 to Dec 1941
585 Coy from June 1940 to Jan 1941
Carlingnose Barracks
The material concerning Carlingnose comes from No 3 Coy diaries. The following are the relevant extracts:
August 1939
| 28 York Place Edinburgh | Aug 22 1939 | HASTINGS received. Telephone manned.
[The code-word “HASTINGS” meant that senior formation commanders were recalled from leave, and duty officers had henceforth to be available by telephone at all Regular and Territorial units.] |
| Aug 24 1939 | PLUMER received. Officers and men recalled by wire and by delivery of notices through G.P.O. and by officers and O.R.s in cars. Decision communicated to move out 25.8.39
[The code-word “PLUMER” meant that Passive Air Defence measures were put into operation.] |
| Carlingnose Camp | Aug 25 1939 | Unit moved to War Stations and manned: Leith Docks, Inchkeith (N, S & W), Kinghorn, Coastguard and Inchgarvie [batteries] |
| Aug 26 1939 | Unit HQ moved to Carlingnose Camp | |
| Aug 28 1939 | (John Guthrie called up) | |
| Aug 29 1939 | 18 recruits attested at Drill Hall | |
| Aug 30 1939 | Recently enlisted men (70) joined unit at Carlingnose Camp. 2nd Lt Turnbull rejoined from Leave in Italy. 15 recruits attested at Drill Hall |
|
| Aug 31 1939 | 5 recruits attested at Drill Hall |
September 1939
| Carlingnose Camp | Sep 01 1939 | Lt F.L.C. McDougall recalled from TA Reserve and joined unit |
| Inchkeith | Sep 02 1939 | New pumping engine for fresh water supply installed in conjunction with I.R.E.M. |
| Carlingnose | Sep 03 1939 | 38 post-embodiment recruits joined unit (War declared) |
| Carlingnose | Sep 04 1939 | Capt. W. Reid recalled from T.A. reserve and joined unit |
| Inchkeith | Sep 05 1939 | Lister engine from Drill hall taken to 3. Inchkeith for installation. Erection of shelter commenced |
| Inchcolm | Sep 06 1939 | Water Supply. tanks overhauled, piping repaired and removed, delivery pipes from tanks to cookhouse fitted. |
| Cramond | Sep 07 1939 | Parties of 1 officer, 27 O.R. and 2 officers 26 O.R. prceeded to Cramond and Inchcolm respectively for construction of Priority Inner Line. |
| Carlingnose | Sep 08 1939 | Parties of 1 officer, 27 OR, and 3 officers, 26 OR proceeded to Cramond and Inchcolm respectively for construction of Priority Inner Line |
| Inchkeith | Sep 09 1939 | Building of timber reserve watch shelter commenced |
| Inchmickery | Sep 10 1939 | Piping of water barge to tank and delivery pipes from tank. Work commenced. |
| Cramond | Sep 11 1939 | Cooking shelter erected |
| Sep 12 1939 | Drying Room fitted up | |
| Sep 14 1939 | Temporary shower baths erected | |
| Sep 15 1939 | 1 officer, 9 OR proceeded to Inchmickery for construction of Priority Inner Line | |
| Sep 16 1939 | Unit HQ moved to Leith Fort | |
| Sep 17 1939 | Construction of P.A.D. slit trenches and construction of dug-out A.A.L.G. emplacements constructed (Anti Aircraft Lewis Gun) |
|
| Inchmickery | Sep 18 1939 | Bucket type latrines erected |
| Inchmickery | Sep 20 1939 | Existing buildings converted to cook-house |
| Leith Fort | Sep 23 1939 | 2 Volunteers (A.T.S.) attached to unit H.Q. for clerical duties | Kinghorn | Sep 25 1939 | Erection of ablution benches and bucket latrines for garrison completed |
While September 1939 saw lots of activity on the islands that would form the Inner Line of defences, not everything was taken entirely seriously at this stage of the war. John recollects that on Cramond Island (where he was posted) the generators that powered the search-lights were supposed to be warmed up every evening prior to dusk, but nobody bothered because “they were just practising.”
Much more important was keeping up appearances – during this time John’s sergeant sent him into Cramond Village for a shave (possibly his first at age 17.)
October 1939
| Carlingnose | Oct 04 1939 | 2 officers, 28 O.Rs proceeded to Kincraig to install engines, searchlights etc., and to man this station |
| Oct 10 1939 | Barbed wire fencing for protection of Port Laing workshops | |
| Oct 13 1939 | Stoves installed in storehouses temporarily in use as barrack rooms | |
| Oct 14 1939 | Drainage of cookhouse and wash places completed | |
| Oct 16 1939 | German air raid on fleet near Forth Bridge. A.A. Lewis guns in Carlingnose Camp fired 250 rounds |
John’s recollection of the air raid was that the Luftwaffe planes flew up the River Forth in full view of the troops. When they asked permission to “open fire” with their 303 rifles, an officer refused saying “they seem to have bigger guns than what we have at the moment”. A Naval Sea plane continued doing “dive bomb” manoeuvres all the time this attack was going in. John said you couldn’t have made it up, as everybody stood about with their mouths open, wondering what the hell was happening!!!
November 1939
| Carlingnose | Nov 04 1939 | 41 “immatures” from 51 (H) Div R.E. joined unit. |
| Nov 08 1939 | H.Q. No 2 Coy. moved to Inchcolm. Manning of D.E.L.s on Priority Inner Line commenced. | |
| Nov 11 1939 | 4 “immatures” joined from 51 (H) Div. R.E. | |
| Nov 17 1939 | 22 “immatures” joined from 51 (H) Div. R.E. | |
| Nov 18 1939 | Volunteer Block “sectioned” for P.A.D. purposes | |
| Nov 20 1939 | Old 6 inch battery – repiping for water supply and sanitation completed |
December 1939
| Carlingnose | Dec 06 1939 | Demolitions to clear site for barrage balloon lorry. |
| Dec 15 1939 | Road to Port Laing widened and made up. | |
| Dec 18 1939 | Unserviceable incandescent lighting replaced by a Keighley set. | |
| Dec 20 1939 | 2nd Lts Forbes and Laird commissioned from ranks of unit. |
January 1940
| Carlingnose | Jan 23 1940 | Kincraig Works Section moved to Carlingnose Camp to assist in dismantling guns and equipment on Inchgarvie. |
February 1940
| Carlingnose | Feb 15 1940 | 30 “immatures” joined from 66 Div R.E.. |
March 1940
| Carlingnose | Mar 11 1940 | No. 1 Local Field-Works Course completed and No. 2 L.F.-W Course started. men drawn from all stations in Inner and Middle Lines |
| Mar 13 1940 | Power House (Keighley) ran two big-end bearings – overhaul commences | |
| Mar 20 to 30 1940 | All Stations. Medical Examination of all troops in the unit carried out at respective stations in accordance with A.C.1.No.184 of 1940 | |
| Mar 25 1940 | No. 2 Local Field-Works Course completed & No.3 L.F.-W Course started. Men drawn from various stations. | |
| Mar 29 1940 | “X” Section consisting of Lieut. Laird and 20 OR mustered from miscellaneous stations with purpose of moving to Dundee on 1/4/1940 to start installation of D.E.L. constructions on Tay. |
April 1940
| Carlingnose | Apr 8 1940 | 3rd F.W. Course (local) completed 36 OR |
| Apr 16 1940 | 4th F.W. Course (local) commenced 38 OR |
May 1940
| Carlingnose | May 1 1940 | Local Fieldworks Course No.4. ended and personnel dispersed to D.E.L. stations. |
| May 9 1940 | 36 OR of this Unit posted to Renfrewshire (F)R.E. | |
| May 18 1940 | 120 immatures posted from Renfrewshire (F) R.E. to City of Edinburgh (F)R.E. | |
| May 20 1940 | 1 officer and 30 OR sent to Charles Hill temporarily to carry out construction work on that station. | |
| May 23 1940 | 1 officer and 30 OR returned from Charles Hill to Carlingnose |
June 1940
| All detachments & H.Q | Jun 7 1940 | All stations (Inchkeith, Leith Docks, Kincraig, Kinghorn) – Middle Line (Inchcolm, Inchmickery, Cramond) – Inner Line All personnel less Engine rooms and maintenance duties reported at Carlingnose Barracks North Queensferry |
| Carlingnose Barracks | Jun 8 1940 | Nos 1 & 2 Coys City of Edinburgh (F)R.E. converted into a Field Army role as: 3rd (City of Edinburgh) Army Troops R.E., and reorganised into nucleus of:-
585 (City of Edinburgh) Corps Field Park Company R.E. [attached to the 160th Heavy Battery R.A.] 587 (City of Edinburgh) Army Field Park Company R.E. |
| Jun 10 1940 | 1 Officer and 10 OR returned from Berwick on completion of Bench wiring job | |
| Jun 14 1940 | Visit by I.R.E. | |
| Jun 14 1940 | No 1 Section 586th Coy withdrawn from Riccarton to Carlingnose | |
| Jun 14 1940 | 2 Air Raid alarms received between 00.01 and 02.00 hrs | |
| Jun 26 1940 | Air Raid between 00.15 and 02.30 hrs | |
| Jun 27 1940 | Air Raid Alarm 00.01 – 01.00 hrs |
July 1940
| Carlingnose Barracks | Jul 7 1940 | Field Works Training (General) continued along with 585th Coy. |
| Jul 12 & 18 1940 | Enemy Air Raids in the vicinity of Firth of Forth area. Some bombs dropped. | |
| Jul 22 1940 | D.E.L. trained personnel of the 3rd Army Troops R.E. moved south to be attached temporarily to D.E.L. Coast defence Stations as under:- | |
| 585th (C of E) Cp Fld Pk Coy< 7 OR to 325 Hy Bty R.A. Yarmouth | ||
| 17 OR to Suffolk Hy Reg RA Gorleston | ||
| 7 OR to 386 Hy Bty RA Parkerfield Lowestoft | ||
| 5 OR to 327 Hy Bty RA Southwold | ||
| 586th (C of E) Army Fld Coy 22 OR to Kent & Sussex Hy Regt RA Ramsgate | ||
| 16 OR to Kent & Sussex Hy Regt RA Newhaven | ||
| 27 OR to Hampshire Hy Regt RA Portsmouth | ||
| 587th (C of E) Army Fld Coy 37 OR to Tyne Electrical Engineers. Tynemouth | ||
| 18 OR to North Riding (F) R.E. Hartlepool | ||
| Jul 23 1940 | 12 OR from 585th Coy attached to Fixed Defences Forth, for temporary DEL duties | |
| Jul 28 1940 | 2 Lt A.K. Cochrane sent on M.T. Course to S.M.E. Chatham. |
August 1940
| Carlingnose Barracks | Aug 1-31 1940 | 585th (C. of E.) Corps Fld. Pk. Coy R.E. ) 586th (C. of E.) Army Fld. Coy. R.E. ) 586th (C. of E.) Army Fld. Coy. R.E. ) All Companies of this formation continued on a local Field Works Training programme at this station during August. |
September 1940
| Carlingnose Barracks | Sep 1-30 1940 | 585th (Edinburgh) Cps Fld. Pk. Coy R.E. ) 586th (Edinburgh) Amy Fld. Coy. R.E. ) 586th (Edinburgh) Amy Fld. Coy. R.E. ) All Companies of this formation continued on a local Field Works Training programme at this station during September A Local NCOs refresher Cadre course was held separately. From 23rd Sept to 30th Sept. |
October 1940
| Carlingnose Barracks | Oct 1-8 1940 | Preparation of Carlingnose Barracks for arrival of 240 Army Class Intake (Barracks painted, Camp electric lighting system overhauled and erection of steel corrugated hut put in hand.) |
| Oct 7 1940 | 586th Coy – 1 officer and 23 OR forming a works section moved to Gt Yarmouth for Camouflage and other works under arrangement s with H.Q.R.A. (C.O.) Eastern Command. | |
| Oct 9 1940 | An Army Class Intake arrived at the Barracks. Approx 80 men posted to each Company. i.e. 585, 586, 587, thereby bringing the strength of the Companies approximately to War Estab. | |
| Oct 9-31 1940 | Training of intake under the supervision of 585th Coy continued to eh end of the month. |
November 1940
| Carlingnose Barracks | Nov 1 – 30 1940 | Proceeded with 2nd month of Training Programme for Army Class Intake. (240 men) |
| Nov 23 1940 | 587 Coy. 24 personnel of 587th (Edin.) Army Field Coy. on temporary D.E.L. duties at Tynemouth returned to this station. |
December 1940
| Carlingnose Barracks | Nov 1 – 30 1940 | Proceeded with 2nd month of Training Programme for Army Class Intake. (240 men) |
| Carlingnose Barracks | Dec 1 – 20 1940 | 585 Edinburgh Corps Field Pk. Coy RE. 587 Edinburgh Army Field Coy RE. Proceeded with 3rd month’s Training Programme for Army Class Intake. |
| Dec 2 1940 | Official date of conversion of Edinburgh (Fortress) Royal Engineers to Field Role under designation of Edinburgh Army Troops Engineers authorised by War Office letter 20/Engrs/6856/2(A.G.7.s.) dated 2.12.40 | |
| Chelmsford | Dec 1 – 18 1940 | 586. Edinburgh Army Field Coy. R.E. made arrangements for the return of all Edinburgh Army Troops Engineers Personnel, who had been loaned to South and South East of England Coast Defences for D.E.L. duties to report to their Chelmsford HQ |
| Chelmsford | Dec 19 1940 | 586. Edinburgh Army Field Coy R.E. moved from Chelmsford to Cowdenbeath, Fife, Scotland |
| Carlingnose & Cowdenbeath | Dec 20 – 31 1940 | Re-sorting of personnel and allocation of Army Class Intake into the respective Companies to bring each up to approx. 90% of War Establishment. |
| Dec 30 1940 | Formation Advance party moved to Halifax on 39th Dec 1940 |
| In future War Diaries will be submitted by Companies individually |
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