by Catherine Lambert, June 2026
A brief history of his military and NOFU service.
Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit
Dad joined NOFU and was issued number 1854. He was in the fourth draft, which consisted of 963 volunteers under the command of Edgar Baird. On 23rd January, 1940, they left St. John’s, Newfoundland on board MS Chrobry.
Convoy moored in Cardwell Bay, Gourock.
They arrived at Gourock, in the Firth of Clyde, on 7th February. On 8th February they disembarked in King George V docks in Glasgow.
During World War II, Greenock served as the headquarters for the Flag Officer in Charge (FOIC) Greenock. Greenock directed Atlantic convoys, oversaw anti-submarine defences, and hosted Allied naval operations. However, most convoys were too large to moor in Greenock, rather they had to moor in Cardwell Bay, Gourock, downstream of Greenock.
Once disembarked they were dispatched to their respective logging camps. Dad was assigned to Laggan Camp, situated in Strathmashie Forest, SW of Newtonmore in the Cairngorms.
British Army
Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps
On 25th October, 1940, he enlisted in the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (AMPC) at Recruiting Centre No 107, Inverness, and was posted to AMPC No 5 Centre, Liverpool for his basic training.
The Pioneer Corps was formed in 1939, and was called the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps until 22nd November, 1940, when it was renamed.
Mobile Laundry and Decontamination Unit
On 4th December, 1940, after basic training, he was attached to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) Mobile Laundry and Decontamination Unit No 12 (MLDU No.12).
Pioneer Corps 50 Company
16th April 1941 he was posted to 50 Company.
Pioneer Corps Smoke Companies
Smoke Companies were formed to protect key sites in the UK from Air Attack. In 1940 they were static and operated screens around locations such as dockyards and factories; operating smoke pots and generators. Later a number became Mobile units to provide cover for military operations.
Pioneer Corps 807 (S) Company
1st October 1941 Dad was transferred to the 807 (S) Company.
Pioneer Corps 846 (S) Company
20th May 1942 he was transferred to 846 (S) Company.
Pioneer Corps 810 (S) Company
4th April 1943 he was transferred to 810 (S) Company.
11th June 1944 arrived in Normandy as part of 21st Army Group (21AG) in North West Europe (NWE).
T Force
With the successful crossing of the Rhine in 1945 five Pioneer Corps Smoke Companies, Nos. 805, 806, 810, 845 and 846 (to be joined later by 803 Company), were transferred to “T” Force, an inter-services body formed for the purpose of moving in immediately behind the assault troops to seize and safeguard selected intelligence “targets” from destruction and looting until they could be examined by experts.
He remained with T Force until 23rd September 1945.
23rd September 1945 He was transferred No.12 Holding & Training Unit (12 HTU).
16th November 1945 Dad was transferred to Prisoner of War Camp 30, based in Stratford, London.
He remained there until 9th February 1946 when he was released from his service in the Army.