1506 Artisan Works Company Royal Engineers

[Autogiro]

Hi

I am trying to find out any information on the unit known as the 1506 Artisan Works Company Royal Engineers.

Can anyone tell me what they were involved in during the First World War and where they served i.e. locations etc. Any information welcomed.

DJP

[sotonmate]

There are 61 entries for Artisan Works Companies RE in the Discovery database at the National Archives but all are for WW2. No entries at all for WW1. No unit numbered 1506. The files are in the WO 166 series if you want to see,as a sample,what duties they undertook.

[generalist]

There are 61 entries for Artisan Works Companies RE in the Discovery database at the National Archives but all are for WW2. No entries at all for WW1. No unit numbered 1506. The files are in the WO 166 series if you want to see,as a sample,what duties they undertook.

They're in under the archaic spelling - Artizan.

1506 Artizan Works Company RE - war diary, June-Dec 1917 - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details?Uri=C7356353

There's some details here - http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=149610 - looks like there were about 19 of them, all skilled tradesmen. It sounds like they may have been a fairly heterogenous collection, though - lots of different trades in an administrative unit, rather than a hundred cobblers or carpenters assembled together.

Andrew.

[sotonmate]

g

Great,never thought of the spelling !

[Terry_Reeves]

DJP

1506 Artizan Works Company was formed at Dieppe and Rouen in June, 1917. The HQ was at Dieppe and it appears that is where their work was carried out. The company was commanded by Captain J W Trodd RE. The unit war diary is not particularly informative, mainly consisting of postings in and out and numbers of men going on leave. 1506 appears to have had a poor disciplinary record with absenteeism being particularly rife. The names of these men are recorded along with those of officers posted to the unit.

TR

[Autogiro]

Hi

Many thanks for all the replies that's certainly more than I have ever found before so much appreciated everyone.

DJP