No.1 Advance Base Workshop

Mark W. Tonner · #2 02-03-06, 03:08

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave Block
I have an undated 'official' RCOC Christmas card from my dad marked as 'No.1 Advance Base Workshop'. What kinds/types of vehicles would be allocated to this unit?

Hi Dave;

There were only two Canadian Advanced Base Workshops.

Some brief notes on No. 1 Advanced Base Workshop:

Serial 844A - Advanced Component, No. 1 Base Ordnance Workshop, R.C.O.C.
Authorized under authority of: GO 95/43 - Effective 20 Jan 43, Converted & Redesignated under authority of: GO 327/43 - Effective 10 Mar 43
Converted & Redesignated: Serial No. 844A - No. 1 Advanced Base Workshop, R.C.O.C. - under authority of GO 327/43 - Effective 10 Mar 43

Serial 844A - No. 1 Advanced Base Workshop, R.C.O.C.
Authorized under authority of: GO 327/43 - Effective 10 Mar 43, Serial Number changed to 913 - Effective 4 Jan 44
Serial Number changed under authority of Letter M.259 dated 4 Jan 44

Serial 913 - No. 1 Advanced Base Workshop, R.C.O.C.
Authorized by Letter M.259 dated 4 Jan 44, Disbanded under authority of: GO 401/45 - Effective 14 Aug 45.

Some brief notes on No. 2 Advanced Base Workshop:

Serial 1707 - No. 2 Advanced Base Workshop, R.C.O.C.
Authorized under authority of:GO 380/43 - Effective 26 Jul 43, Disbanded under authority of: GO 52/46 - Effective 10 Oct 45

General Notes:

Nos. 1 and 2 Advanced Base Workshop provided fourth line service in the field. These two workshops operated under the control of the Director of Mechanical Engineering 21st Army Group. After Normandy, both workshops moved to Belgium, where they remained located for the rest of the war, No. 1 Advanced Base Workshop being located in a factory at Machelen and No. 2 Advanced Base Workshop, in a factory at Antwerp.

The designation of the majority of LADs; Workshops; etc., of the Overseas Army never changed to that of R.C.E.M.E., their designation remained R.C.O.C. However, after the creation of R.C.E.M.E., new LADs; Workshops; etc., that were authorized and placed on Active Service bore the R.C.E.M.E. designation.

Cheers