326th Ordnance Depot Company
notes by John Dixon
from History written by C.O. Capt. Jack A. Claywell copied from declassified carbon copy,
with additional information from Waldo R. Kingen, ex-Personnel Clerk.
10 February 1941 organised as 53rd Quarter Masters Regiment at Fort Bragg, N.C.
30 September 1942: re-designated 326th Motor Transport Co.
5 December 1942: Company of 299 enlisted men and 3 officers left Fort Dix, N.J. and boarded Queen Mary; 10,000 on board (This was her first trip since crashing into a cruiser Curacao, killing 338 sailors on 2 October 1942).
16 December 1942: fast crossing but QM had been hit by a mountainous wave 700 miles from Scotland. James E Parson: "When the wave hit the ship I thought this is it....... ". disembarked at Greenock
17 December arrived by train at Ashchurch: aim to set up a depot from scratch but now an ordnance company not just transport.
G-25: "largest depot in British Isles": 5 large hangars like airplane hangars + 1 bulk storage of 4/5 acres. Troops houses first in bell tents at "Camp Northway". Whilst at G-25 entertained by Bob Hope and Francis Langford. May 1943 a shower room built for the enlisted men. "The utmost cooperation was given by English authorities." Because of its high standard the company mess was selected as "Model Mess for the XVII District".
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