Seeking info on function of Land Drainage Company (Passchendaele?)

[catfishmo]

I have seen a few references to "Land Drainage Company from London." As I recall, the context was Passchendaele/Ypres as with so much shelling in the area, the streams, canals, etc, failed to function as conduits to drain the land.

The only reference I could find was here, which is pretty interesting in that it gives the numbering system for all RE companies (tunneling, quarry, E&M, road construction, etc) and it tells what company numbers went where and when.

But I still don't really know what they did. Can someone tell me what exactly they did? And what's the deal with it being 'from London'? Was there only one and the men were from London? Or Were they just a team that would go into an area and repaired the canals, streams, etc? Any specifics of numbers of men and how long they stayed in one location? I would imagine in an area like Ypres/Passchendaele with so many bodies of running water, they could have stayed awhile...

~Ginger

Edited 22 May , 2014 by catfishmo

[Terry_Reeves]

Ginger

Authority from the War Office to form two Land Drainage Companies was received on 20th September 1915. They were to be formed at Chatham for the purpose draining, on a large scale, the low lying land north of the La Bassee Canal. This included creating new drainage channels, improving/diverting existing ones and the setting up of pumping stations. Company officers were also tasked with producing inundation plans, that is flooding particular areas to prevent any occupation by German forces in the event of an emergency. Later, this latter task was later taken over by a special team of officers sent from the UK. These units were designated 196 and 197 (Land Drainage) Companies RE. The establishment was 4 Officers and 202 other ranks per company.

On 27 September 1915 the unit received their mobilization orders and Major R.P. O’Shee CMG RE (Reserve of Officers) proceeded to the Fen District to recruit specialist drainage personnel for both units. Included in the establishment were skilled mechanics to operate pumping plants. The units embarked on HMHT Manchester Importer at Southampton on the 19th and 12th November 1915 respectively. The men received no military training and were unarmed.

196 and 197 Companies and were amalgamated on 17 April 1917. This was to facilitate the formation of two additional Electrical and Mechanical Companies for the BEF, which meant the withdrawal of the mechanical engineers from the units. On amalgamation, the strength was 4 Officers and 196 OR’s. HQ and half the company was allocated to 2nd Army and the remainder to 1st Army.

There was no particular connection with London incidentally.

TR

[catfishmo]

Ok, wow. That is about it in a nutshell. Thanks so much for answering my question : )

~Ginger

[cjnd307]

My grandfather, Lt John Alexander Davidson, M.C. was in the 197th Land Drainage Company and thereafter the 350th Electrical & Mechanical Company, Royal Engineers. I believe the 197th war diary is at Kew and the RE Museum, Chatham.

CJND

[Ivor Anderson]

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Edited 22 March , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

MOVED

 

Edited 22 March , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[Terry_Reeves]

 

The war diaries for  two Land Drainage companies can be downloaded from TNA here , free:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=land+drainage+company+AND+WO95&_sd=&_ed=&_hb=

TR

 

 

 

Edited 22 March , 2022 by Terry_Reeves