This page is one of a series of articles on researching a soldier who served in the Pioneer Corps during the Second World War. The main page for the Pioneer Corps can be found by clicking on the link below:

Researching Soldiers who Served in the Pioneer Corps

I offer both a Second World War Soldier Research Service and Document Copying Service at the National Archives.

The Order of Battle for Pioneer Corps Units Serving in Britain in March 1941

This page will allow you to find out which group a Pioneer Corps company was serving with on 11 March 1941 in the United Kingdom. At the time, there were over fifty groups operating in Britain which each administered a number of companies. The information was taken from the Order of Battle of the Field Forces in the United Kingdom Part 10 Pioneer Corps (WO 33/1848) held at the National Archives in London. Most companies served as part of a group during the war and their war diaries are very useful for supplementing the war diaries of companies. The war diaries of Pioneer Corps companies serving in Britain can be very hit-and-miss regarding the level of detail they contain. This is a common problem for non-combatant units serving in Britain. Group war diaries will mention the companies serving with it, and will usually record their activities. There may also be appendices relating to the work or training carried out by the companies the group administered.

Without having a copy of a company’s war diary in front of you, it’s often impossible to know which group they were serving with which is why I have created the following tables. However, companies often moved between groups, so I have created other pages for the Corps covering their order of battle throughout the war:

May 1940 – France
September 1941 – United Kingdom
1943 – United Kingdom

After the list of regular Pioneer Corps companies, there is a list of Non-Combatant Corps and Pioneer Corps smoke companies and mobile bath units on separate tables. Clicking on the hyperlinks in the tables will take you to the war diary’s entry in the National Archives’ catalogue. I offer a copying service for war diaries.

Pioneer Corps Companies Order of Battle

Pioneer Company	War Diary	Group	Group War Diary
1	WO 166/5487	1	WO 166/5431
1 (Spanish)	WO 166/5488	56	WO 166/5477
2	WO 166/5489	65	WO 166/5479
3	WO 166/5490	2	WO 166/5432
4	WO 166/5491	41	WO 166/5470
5	WO 166/5492	33	WO 166/5462
6	WO 166/5493	40	WO 166/5469
7	WO 166/5494	3	WO 166/5433
8	WO 166/5495	30	WO 166/5459
9	WO 166/5496	3	WO 166/5433
10	WO 166/5497	16	WO 166/5446
11	WO 166/5498	5	WO 166/5435
12	WO 166/5499	12	WO 166/5442
13	WO 166/5500	37	WO 166/5466
14	WO 166/5501	4	WO 166/5434
15	WO 166/5502	34	WO 166/5463
16	WO 166/5503	8	WO 166/5438
17	WO 166/5504	16	WO 166/5446
18	WO 166/5505	18	WO 166/5448
19	WO 166/5506	8	WO 166/5438
20	WO 166/5507	23	WO 166/5453
21	WO 166/5508	36	WO 166/5465
22	WO 166/5509	15	WO 166/5445
23	WO 166/5510	5	WO 166/5435
24	WO 166/5511	17	WO 166/5447
25	WO 166/5512	6	WO 166/5436
26	WO 166/5513
27	WO 166/5514	40	WO 166/5469
28	WO 166/5515	28	WO 166/5457
29	WO 166/5516	13	WO 166/5443
30	WO 166/5517	21	WO 166/5451
31	WO 166/5518	30	WO 166/5459
32	WO 166/5519	1	WO 166/5431
33	WO 166/5520	8	WO 166/5438
35	WO 166/5521	28	WO 166/5457
36	WO 166/5522	29	WO 166/5458
37	WO 166/5523	50	WO 166/5474
38	WO 166/5524	28	WO 166/5457
39	WO 166/5525	52	WO 166/5476
40	WO 166/5526	13	WO 166/5443
41	WO 166/5527	15	WO 166/5445
42	WO 166/5528	27	WO 166/5456
43	WO 166/5529	9	WO 166/5439
44	WO 166/5530	49	WO 166/5473
45	WO 166/5531	12	WO 166/5442
46	WO 166/5532	2	WO 166/5432
47	WO 166/5533	13	WO 166/5443
48	WO 166/5534	34	WO 166/5463
49	WO 166/5535	40	WO 166/5469
50	WO 166/5536	30	WO 166/5459
51	WO 166/5537	14	WO 166/5444
52	WO 166/5538	3	WO 166/5433
53	WO 166/5539	42	WO 166/5471
54	WO 166/5540	33	WO 166/5462
55	WO 166/5541	9	WO 166/5439
56	WO 166/5542	12	WO 166/5442
57	WO 166/5543	17	WO 166/5447
58	WO 166/5544	38	WO 166/5467
59	WO 166/5545	4	WO 166/5434
60	WO 166/5546	48	WO 166/5472
61	WO 166/5547	16	WO 166/5446
62	WO 166/5548	4	WO 166/5434
63	WO 166/5549	9	WO 166/5439
64	WO 166/5550	14	WO 166/5444
65	WO 166/5551	10	WO 166/5440
66	WO 166/5552	28	WO 166/5457
67	WO 166/5553	19	WO 166/5449
68	WO 166/5554	30	WO 166/5459
69	WO 166/5555	38	WO 166/5467
70	WO 166/5556	48	WO 166/5472
71	WO 166/5557	40	WO 166/5469
72	WO 166/5558	17	WO 166/5447
73	WO 166/5559	35	WO 166/5464
74	WO 166/5560	18	WO 166/5448
75	WO 166/5561	50	WO 166/5474
76	WO 166/5562	39	WO 166/5468
77	WO 166/5563	23	WO 166/5453
78	WO 166/5564	34	WO 166/5463
79	WO 166/5565	13	WO 166/5443
80	WO 166/5566	28	WO 166/5457
81	WO 166/5567	21	WO 166/5451
82	WO 166/5568	37	WO 166/5466
83	WO 166/5569	15	WO 166/5445
84	WO 166/5570	49	WO 166/5473
85	WO 166/5571	35	WO 166/5464
87	WO 166/5572	38	WO 166/5467
88	WO 166/5573	42	WO 166/5471
89	WO 166/5574
90	WO 166/5575	50	WO 166/5474
91	WO 166/5576	38	WO 166/5467
92	WO 166/5577	20	WO 166/5450
93	WO 166/5578	32	WO 166/5461
94	WO 166/5579	8	WO 166/5438
95	WO 166/5580	5	WO 166/5435
96	WO 166/5581	51	WO 166/5475
97	WO 166/5582	20	WO 166/5450
98	WO 166/5583	30	WO 166/5459
99	WO 166/5584	36	WO 166/5465
100	WO 166/5585	9	WO 166/5439
101	WO 166/5586	3	WO 166/5433
102	WO 166/5587	16	WO 166/5446
103	WO 166/5588	65	WO 166/5479
104	WO 166/5589	30	WO 166/5459
105	WO 166/5590	1	WO 166/5431
106	WO 166/5591	9	WO 166/5439
107	WO 166/5592	32	WO 166/5461
108	WO 166/5593	51	WO 166/5475
109	WO 166/5594	5	WO 166/5435
110	WO 166/5595	9	WO 166/5439
112	WO 166/5596	18	WO 166/5448
113	WO 166/5597	29	WO 166/5458
114	WO 166/5598	19	WO 166/5449
115	WO 166/5599	11	WO 166/5441
116	WO 166/5600	42	WO 166/5471
117	WO 166/5601	42	WO 166/5471
118	WO 166/5602	24	WO 166/5454
119	WO 166/5603	60	WO 166/5478
120	WO 166/5604	40	WO 166/5469
121	WO 166/5605	41	WO 166/5470
122	WO 166/5606	48	WO 166/5472
123	WO 166/5607	35	WO 166/5464
124	WO 166/5608	14	WO 166/5444
125	WO 166/5609	26	WO 166/5455
126	WO 166/5610	51	WO 166/5475
127	WO 166/5611	33	WO 166/5462
128	WO 166/5612	30	WO 166/5459
129	WO 166/5613	23	WO 166/5453
130	WO 166/5614	33	WO 166/5462
131	WO 166/5615	35	WO 166/5464
132	WO 166/5616	16	WO 166/5446
133	WO 166/5617	41	WO 166/5470
134	WO 166/5618	41	WO 166/5470
135	WO 166/5619	42	WO 166/5471
136	WO 166/5620	11	WO 166/5441
137	WO 166/5621	6	WO 166/5436
138	WO 166/5622	34	WO 166/5463
139	WO 166/5623	31	WO 166/5460
140	WO 166/5624
141	WO 166/5625	22	WO 166/5452
142	WO 166/5626	38	WO 166/5467
143	WO 166/5627	30	WO 166/5459
144	WO 166/5628	22	WO 166/5452
145	WO 166/5629	2	WO 166/5432
146	WO 166/5630	22	WO 166/5452
147	WO 166/5631	19	WO 166/5449
148	WO 166/5632	31	WO 166/5460
149	WO 166/5633	23	WO 166/5453
150	WO 166/5634	19	WO 166/5449
151	WO 166/5635	4	WO 166/5434
152	WO 166/5636	4	WO 166/5434
153	WO 166/5637	23	WO 166/5453
154	WO 166/5638	37	WO 166/5466
155	WO 166/5639	40	WO 166/5469
156	WO 166/5640	40	WO 166/5469
157	WO 166/5641	4	WO 166/5434
158	WO 166/5642	16	WO 166/5446
159	WO 166/5643	26	WO 166/5455
160	WO 166/5644	49	WO 166/5473
161	WO 166/5645	11	WO 166/5441
162	WO 166/5646	18	WO 166/5448
163	WO 166/5647	48	WO 166/5472
164	WO 166/5648	51	WO 166/5475
165	WO 166/5649	52	WO 166/5476
166	WO 166/5650	28	WO 166/5457
167	WO 166/5651	36	WO 166/5465
168	WO 166/5652	40	WO 166/5469
169	WO 166/5653	20	WO 166/5450
170	WO 166/5654	50	WO 166/5474
171	WO 166/5655	23	WO 166/5453
172	WO 166/5656	21	WO 166/5451
173	WO 166/5657	29	WO 166/5458
174	WO 166/5658	29	WO 166/5458
175	WO 166/5659	24	WO 166/5454
176	WO 166/5660	23	WO 166/5453
177	WO 166/5661	36	WO 166/5465
178	WO 166/5662	42	WO 166/5471
179	WO 166/5663	2	WO 166/5432
180	WO 166/5664	5	WO 166/5435
181	WO 166/5665	29	WO 166/5458
182	WO 166/5666	29	WO 166/5458
183	WO 166/5667	29	WO 166/5458
184	WO 166/5668	50	WO 166/5474
185	WO 166/5669	50	WO 166/5474
186	WO 166/5670	26	WO 166/5455
187	WO 166/5671	56	WO 166/5477
188	WO 166/5672	21	WO 166/5451
189	WO 166/5673	32	WO 166/5461
190	WO 166/5674	38	WO 166/5467
191	WO 166/5675	49	WO 166/5473
192	WO 166/5676	51	WO 166/5475
193	WO 166/5677	6	WO 166/5436
194	WO 166/5678	42	WO 166/5471
195	WO 166/5679	19	WO 166/5449
196	WO 166/5680	19	WO 166/5449
197	WO 166/5681	39	WO 166/5468
198	WO 166/5682	20	WO 166/5450
199	WO 166/5683	39	WO 166/5468
200	WO 166/5684	30	WO 166/5459
201	WO 166/5685	52	WO 166/5476
202	WO 166/5686	27	WO 166/5456
203	WO 166/5687	61
204	WO 166/5688	16	WO 166/5446
205	WO 166/5689	2	WO 166/5432
206	WO 166/5690	35	WO 166/5464
207	WO 166/5691	33	WO 166/5462
208	WO 166/5692	28	WO 166/5457
209	WO 166/5693	22	WO 166/5452
210	WO 166/5694	6	WO 166/5436
211	WO 166/5695	65	WO 166/5479
212	WO 166/5696	40	WO 166/5469
213	WO 166/5697	28	WO 166/5457
214	WO 166/5698	5	WO 166/5435
215	WO 166/5699	60	WO 166/5478
216	WO 166/5700	37	WO 166/5466
217	WO 166/5701	31	WO 166/5460
218	WO 166/5702	39	WO 166/5468
219	WO 166/5703	27	WO 166/5456
220	WO 166/5704	32	WO 166/5461
221	WO 166/5705	60	WO 166/5478
222	WO 166/5706	51	WO 166/5475
223	WO 166/5707	51	WO 166/5475
224	WO 166/5708	32	WO 166/5461
225	WO 166/5709	60	WO 166/5478
226	WO 166/5710	39	WO 166/5468
227	WO 166/5711	39	WO 166/5468
228	WO 166/5712	31	WO 166/5460
229	WO 166/5713	52	WO 166/5476
230	WO 166/5714	31	WO 166/5460
231	WO 166/5715	6	WO 166/5436
232	WO 166/5716	49	WO 166/5473
233	WO 166/5717	16	WO 166/5446
234	WO 166/5718	33	WO 166/5462
235	WO 166/5719	11	WO 166/5441
236	WO 166/5720	11	WO 166/5441
237	WO 166/5721	20	WO 166/5450
238	WO 166/5722	16	WO 166/5446
239	WO 166/5723	24	WO 166/5454
240	WO 166/5724	23	WO 166/5453
241	WO 166/5725	13	WO 166/5443
242	WO 166/5726	13	WO 166/5443
243	WO 166/5727	56	WO 166/5477
244	WO 166/5728	56	WO 166/5477
245	WO 166/5729	32	WO 166/5461
246	WO 166/5730	11	WO 166/5441
247	WO 166/5731	65	WO 166/5479
248	WO 166/5732	12	WO 166/5442
249	WO 166/5733	12	WO 166/5442
250	WO 166/5734	16	WO 166/5446
251	WO 166/5735
252	WO 166/5736	5	WO 166/5435
253
254	WO 166/5737	24	WO 166/5454
255	WO 166/5738	24	WO 166/5454
256	WO 166/5739	11	WO 166/5441
257	WO 166/5740	12	WO 166/5442
258	WO 166/5741
259	WO 166/5742	49	WO 166/5473
260	WO 166/5743
261	WO 166/5744	16	WO 166/5446
262	WO 166/5745
263	WO 166/5746	6	WO 166/5436
264	WO 166/5747
265	WO 166/5748	51	WO 166/5475
266	WO 166/5749	39	WO 166/5468
267	WO 166/5750
268	WO 166/5751	52	WO 166/5476
269	WO 166/5752
270	WO 166/5753	52	WO 166/5476
271	WO 166/5754	4	WO 166/5434
272	WO 166/5755	40	WO 166/5469
273	WO 166/5756	52	WO 166/5476
274	WO 166/5757
275	WO 166/5758
276	WO 166/5759
277	WO 166/5760	17	WO 166/5447
278	WO 166/5761	17	WO 166/5447
279	WO 166/5762	17	WO 166/5447
280	WO 166/5763	17	WO 166/5447
281	WO 166/5764	17	WO 166/5447
282	WO 166/5765	17	WO 166/5447
283	WO 166/5766	8	WO 166/5438
284	WO 166/5767	42	WO 166/5471
285	WO 166/5768	42	WO 166/5471
286	WO 166/5769	8	WO 166/5438
287	WO 166/5770	17	WO 166/5447
288	WO 166/5771	42	WO 166/5471
289	WO 166/5772	42	WO 166/5471
290	WO 166/5773	8	WO 166/5438
291	WO 166/5774	8	WO 166/5438
292	WO 166/5775	8	WO 166/5438
293	WO 166/5776	8	WO 166/5438
294	WO 166/5777
504	WO 166/5782	26	WO 166/5455
505	WO 166/5783	26	WO 166/5455
506	WO 166/5784	2	WO 166/5432
507	WO 166/5785	26	WO 166/5455
508	WO 166/5786	32	WO 166/5461
901	WO 166/5828	28	WO 166/5457

Smoke Companies Order of Battle

Company	War Diary	Group	War Diary
801	WO 166/5787	27	WO 166/5456
802	WO 166/5788	27	WO 166/5456
803	WO 166/5789	34	WO 166/5463
804	WO 166/5790	18	WO 166/5448
805	WO 166/5791	32	WO 166/5461
806	WO 166/5792	42	WO 166/5471
807	WO 166/5793	7	WO 166/5437
808	WO 166/5794	7	WO 166/5437
809	WO 166/5795	24	WO 166/5454
810	WO 166/5796	29	WO 166/5458
811	WO 166/5797	7	WO 166/5437
812	WO 166/5798	7	WO 166/5437
813	WO 166/5799	29	WO 166/5458
814	WO 166/5800	52	WO 166/5476
815	WO 166/5801	7	WO 166/5437
816	WO 166/5802	32	WO 166/5461
817	WO 166/5803	7	WO 166/5437
818	WO 166/5804	34	WO 166/5463
819	WO 166/5805	60	WO 166/5478
820	WO 166/5806	60	WO 166/5478
821	WO 166/5807	11	WO 166/5411
822	WO 166/5808	24	WO 166/5454
823	WO 166/5809	7	WO 166/5437
824	WO 166/5810	27	WO 166/5456
825	WO 166/5811	52	WO 166/5476
826	WO 166/5812	52	WO 166/5476
827	WO 166/5813	65	WO 166/5479
828	WO 166/5814	52	WO 166/5476
829	WO 166/5815	27	WO 166/5456
830	WO 166/5816	?
831	WO 166/5817	?
832	WO 166/5818	40	WO 166/5469
833	WO 166/5819	40	WO 166/5469
834	WO 166/5820	4	WO 166/5434
835	WO 166/5821	4	WO 166/5434
836	WO 166/5822	22	WO 166/5452
837	WO 166/5823	30	WO 166/5459
838	WO 166/5824	10	WO 166/5440
839	WO 166/5825	50	WO 166/5474

Non-Combatant Corps Companies Order of Battle

Company	War Diary	Group	War Diary
1	WO 166/14127	42	WO 166/5471
2	WO 166/5832	39	WO 166/5468
3	WO 166/5833	37	WO 166/5466
4	WO 166/5834	65	WO 166/5479
5	WO 166/5835	24	WO 166/5454
6	WO 166/5836	33	WO 166/5462
7	WO 166/5837	38	WO 166/5467
8	WO 166/5838	33	WO 166/5462
9	WO 166/5839	2	WO 166/5432
10	WO 166/5840	11	WO 166/5441
11	WO 166/5841	11	WO 166/5441
12	WO 166/5842	11	WO 166/5441

Mobile Bath Units Order of Battle

Mobile Bath Unit	War Diary	Command
1		Northern
2	WO 166/5933	Eastern
3		South Eastern
5		Northern
7	WO 166/5935	Northern
8		Western
11		Northern
12		South Eastern
13		British Troops in Northern Ireland
14		War Office Reserve
15	WO 166/5938	War Office Reserve
16		Northern
17		War Office Reserve
18		Eastern
21	WO 166/5941	Eastern
24		Eastern
25	WO 166/5944	South Eastern
26	WO 166/5945	British Troops in Northern Ireland
27		Scottish
28	WO 166/5947	Southern
29	WO 166/5948	Northern
30		South Eastern
31		Western
32		London District
35		Southern
36	WO 166/5949	South Eastern
37		Northern
38		War Office Reserve
39		Southern
40		Western

Researching the Lives and Records of WW2 Soldiers

A Professional Research Service into the Lives and Records of WW2 Soldiers

Pioneer Corps United Kingdom Order of Battle March 1941

The Order of Battle for Pioneer Corps Units Serving in Britain in March 1941

Pioneer Corps Companies Order of Battle

Smoke Companies Order of Battle

Non-Combatant Corps Companies Order of Battle

Mobile Bath Units Order of Battle