Filebird Folder: Survey

1943

The information for a Survey Regiment Battery is based on War Establishment III/13/8 dated 23 November 1943.

Recce Party

	Car 4 Seater 4×4	Battery Commander (Maj), Batman/Driver
	Motorcycle	BC’s Orderly
	Car 5 cwt 4×4	Observation Troop Commander (Capt), Surveyor, Batman/Driver
	Motorcycle	Orderly
	Car 5 cwt 4×4	Sound Ranging Troop Commander (Capt), Surveyor, Batman/Driver
	Motorcycle	Orderly
	Car 5 cwt 4×4	Survey Troop Commander (Capt), Surveyor, Batman/Driver
	Motorcycle	Orderly

Battery HQ Party

	Car 5 cwt 4×4	Captain, Batman/Driver
	Motorcycle	Orderly
	Truck 15 cwt Office	Clerk, Surveyor, Driver
	Truck 15 cwt Fitted for Wireles (FFW)	2 x Signallers, Gunner, 2 x Driver/Operators – Wireless set No.19
	Truck 15 cwt GS	3 x Gunners local defence, Driver – 2 x LMG’s
	Motorcycle	Battery Sergeant Major
	Motorcycle	Vehicle Mechanic

Observation Troop

	Truck 15 cwt 4×4	Subaltern, Driver
	Motorcycle	Orderly
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 GS	2 x Gunners (line & wireless), Driver
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW	Sergeant Surveyor, 2 x Surveyors, 2 x Driver Operators
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2	5 x Surveyors, Gunner (line & wireless), Driver
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW	Sergeant Surveyor, 2 x Surveyors, 2 x Driver Operators
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 Cable laying	5 x Surveyors, Gunner (line & wireless), Driver
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW	Sergeant Surveyor, 2 x Surveyors, 2 x Driver Operators
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2	5 x Surveyors, Gunner (line & wireless), Driver
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW	Sergeant Surveyor, 2 x Surveyors, 2 x Driver Operators
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2	5 x Surveyors, Gunner (line & wireless), Driver

Computing Centre

	Car 5 cwt 4×4	Subaltern, Sergeant Surveyor, Batman/Driver
	Motorcycle	Orderly
	Motorcycle	Signals Sergeant
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 Office	4 x Surveyors, Driver – Office stores, LMG
	Lorry 3 tom 4X4 GS	5 x Surveyors, Driver – Plotting, technical stores
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW	2 x Signallers, 2 x Driver operators – 2 x wireless sets

Observation Troop Echelon

	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	Batman, 2 x Cooks ACC, Water Dutyman, Driver – Cooking sets, Rations, LMG, PIAT, tows Water trailer
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	Storeman, Driver – MT stores
	Motorcycle	Vehicle Mechanic

Sound Ranging Troop

Observation & Microphone Section

	Truck 15 cwt 4×4	Subaltern, Sergeant Surveyor, Driver
	Motorcycle	Orderly
	Motorcycle	Surveyor
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW (radio link)	2 x Surveyors, Signaller, Gunner (line & wireless), Driver – Advanced Post
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW (radio link)	Surveyor, Signaller, Gunner (line & wireless), Driver
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW (radio link)	Surveyor, Signaller, Gunner (line & wireless), Driver
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW (radio link)	Surveyor, Signaller, Gunner (line & wireless), Driver
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW (radio link)	Surveyor, Signaller, Gunner (line & wireless), Driver
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW (radio link)	Surveyor, Signaller, Gunner (line & wireless), Driver
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 GS	Signaller, 2 x Gunners (line & wireless), Driver

Computing Centre

	Car 5 cwt 4×4	Subaltern, Batman/Driver
	Motorcycle	Orderly
	Motorcycle	Signals Sergeant
	Truck 15 cwt (radio link)	2 x Signallers, 2 x Driver Operators
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW	3 x Surveyors, Signaller, Driver – Recorders wireless set
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 Office	Sergeant Surveyor, 4 x Surveyors, Driver – Office stores
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	2 x Surveyors, Signaller, Gunner (line & wireless), Driver – LMG
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW	4 x Surveyors, Driver – Line laying, PIAT
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 FFW	4 x Surveyors, Driver
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 Office (Meteorlogical section)	Flt Lt/Sgt RAF, Corporal RAF, LAC RAF, Driver

Sound Ranging Troop Echelon

	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	Batman, 2 x Cooks ACC, Water Dutyman, Driver – Cooking sets, Rations, 2 x LMG’s, Tows Water trailer
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	Storeman, Telecommunications Mechanic REME, Driver – Q & MT stores
	Motorcycle	Vehicle Mechanic

Survey Troop HQ

Truck 15 cwt 4×4

Signaller, 2 x Driver Operators

Survey Sections

Section 1	Section 2
		Car 5 cwt 4×4	Subaltern, Surveyor, Batman/Driver
		Motorcycle	Orderly
		Car 5 cwt 4×4 & Trailer	2 x Surveyors
		Car 5 cwt 4×4 & Trailer	2 x Surveyors
		Car 5 cwt 4×4 & Trailer	2 x Surveyors
		Truck 15 cwt 4×4	Sergeant Surveyor, 4 x Surveyors, Driver

Survey Troop Echelon

	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	Batman, 2 x Cooks ACC, Water Dutyman, Driver – Cooking sets, Rations, LMG, Tows Water trailer
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	Storeman, Driver – Quartermaster & Technical stores, PIAT
	Motorcycle	Vehicle Mechanic

Battery Echelon

	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	BQMS, Corporal Cook ACC, Driver – Q stores
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	Sergeant Surveyor, Technical Storeman, Equipment Repairer, Carpenter & Joiner, Vehicle Mechanic, Driver – MT stores, 2 x LMG’s, PIAT
	Truck 15 cwt 4×2 Water	Driver (trained in water duties)

1943

The tables are based on the following War Establishments. The information for a Survey Regiment Regimental Headquarters is based on War Establishment III/13/8 dated 23 November 1943.

The War Establishment for ‘Light Aid Detachment Types A and B REME’  WE III/100/3 effective date 10 December 1943 (Type B for non armoured formations) covers the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers attached.

RHQ Party

	Car 4 Seater 4×4	Commanding Officer, Subaltern, Driver
	Motorcycle	CO’s Orderly
	Truck 15 cwt Fitted for Wireless (FFW) R Sigs	Driver Operator, Operator – 2 x Wireless set No.19
	Truck 15 cwt FFW	Second in Command (2i/c), 2 x Driver Operators – Wireless set No.22
	Motorcycle	2i/c’s Orderly
	Motorcycle	Despatch Rider R Sigs
	Truck 15 cwt FFW R Sigs	Corporal Operator, 2 x Operaors, Driver Mechanic – 2 x Wireless set No.19
	Car 5 cwt 4×4	Survey Officer, Surveyor

Adjutant’s Party

	Truck 15 cwt	Adjutant, Sergeant Clerk, Signaller, Batman/Driver
	Motorcycle	Adjutant’s Orderly
	Truck 15 cwt FFW R Sigs	Signals Officer, Batman/Driver
	Truck 15 cwt FFW R Sigs	Corporal Operator, 2 x Operators, Driver Mechanic – Wireless sets No.19 & No.19 HP
	Motorcycle	Signals Sergeant R Sigs
	Motorcycle	Despatch Rider R Sigs
	Motorcycle	Linesman R Sigs

RHQ Group

	Motorcycle	Regimental Sergeant Major
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	2 x Clerks, Sanitary Dutyman, Batman, Driver
	Car 5 cwt 4×4	Medical Officer (MO), Batman/Driver
	Truck 15 cwt	MO’s Orderly, Driver – Medical stores
	Truck 15 cwt FFW	3 x Signallers, 2 x Driver Operators
	Truck 15 cwt	Sergeant, 2 x Gunners local defence, Driver – 2 x LMG’s, Tows Travelling Platform 20mm
	Car 5 cwt 4×4 R Sigs	Corporal Linesman, 2 x Linesman, Driver – tows 10 cwt trailer
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 Signals Office R Sigs	2 x Corporal Operators, 4 x Operators, 2 x Linesmen, Driver
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 R Sigs	Corporal Electrician, Instrument Mechanic, Operator, Cook ACC, Driver Mechanic
	Truck 15 cwt R Sigs	3 x Linesmen – Cable layer
	Motorcycle	Signals Electician R Sigs
	Motorcycle	Despatch Rider R Sigs
	Motorcycle	Despatch Rider R Sigs

B Echelon

	Truck 15 cwt	Quartermaster, RQMS, Batman Driver
	Truck 15 cwt Water	Water Dutyman, Driver
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	Technical Storeman, Vehicle Mechanic, Sergeant Armourer REME, 2 x Gunners local defence, Driver – 2 x LMG’s, Tows Travelling Platform 20mm
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 Machinery Z	Armanent Artificer (Wireless), Telecommunications mechanic, Armanent Artificer (Instrument), 2 x Instruments Mechanics, Driver
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	Butchery Dutyman, 3 x Cooks, Driver – Cooking sets & stores
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	Storeman, Driver – Quartermaster stores

HQ Observation Troop

This troop was for ranging friendly artillery air bursts rather than observing enemy fire. Normally one observation section would be deployed to each forward division. Its communications were to the Corp Counter Battery Officer.

Headquarters

	Car 5 cwt 4×4	Captain, Sergeant Surveyor, Driver – tows 10 cwt trailer
	Motorcycle	Orderly
	Truck 15 cwt 4×4	Signaller, 2 x Driver Operators

Observation Section

Section 1	Section 2
		Car 5 cwt 4×4	Subaltern, Surveyor, Batman/Driver
		Motorcycle	Orderly
		Car 5 cwt 4×4	2 x Surveyors – tows 10 cwt trailer
		Car 5 cwt 4×4	2 x Surveyors – tows 10 cwt trailer
		Car 5 cwt 4×4	2 x Surveyors – tows 10 cwt trailer
		Truck 15 cwt	Sergeant Surveyor, 4 x Surveyors, Driver – tows 10 cwt trailer
		Truck 15 cwt	Driver – Cable layer, cable reels

Troop Echelon

	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	Batman, Water Dutyman, 2 x Cooks, Driver – Tows water trailer
	Lorry 3 ton 4×4 GS	Vehicle Mechanic, Storeman, Driver

Light Aid Detachment REME

Car 4 Seater 4×2	WO1 Armament Artificer, Sergeant Vehicle Mechanic
Motorcycle	Storeman
Lorry 3 ton 4×4	Storeman, 2 x Vehicle Mechanics, Driver Mechanic – Stores & tools
Lorry 3 ton 4×4	Electrician Vehicle & Plant, Welder, 2 x Vehicle mechanics, Driver Mechanic – Stores & tools
Lorry 3 ton 6×4 Breakdown	Vehicle Mechanic, Driver Mechanic

The Regiments initially consisted of of a Headquarters and three specialist batteries, one each for Survey, Sound Ranging and Flash Spotting. This was changed later in the war to a two battery system with a troop of each speciality in each battery.

1939

1943