[Railway reconstruction Italy 1943-1946 published by Royal Engineers, 1946]

Chapter I
ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION EFFORT

Section II.
Regimental Organisation

5. - Italian Railway Engineer Units.

Among the Italian troops to surrender at the time of the Armistice was the 2nd Italian Railway Engineer Group together with subordinate battalions and companies. The 1st Italian Railway Engineer Battalion had 2, 7 and 20 Italian Railway Engineer Companies under command. The 3rd Battalion had 6, 18 and 23 Companies under command. The 13th Battalion had the 8th Company under command. The Group was very much disorganised and was short of equipment, men and clothing.

They were, however, put straight to work, the 1st Battalion under R.C.E. 1212, the 8th Battalion under R.C.E. 1 and the 3rd Battalion under M.R.S. American section. From the beginning strenuous efforts were made to improve their condition and by February 1944 the formation of two additional companies - the 21st and 31st was completed, bringing the 13th Battalion up to strength. The Battalions continued to serve with the Groups stated, through the whole campaign and although they were administered through Italians channels, their employment and disposition was controlled completely by the Group Commander, by direct instruction to the Battalion Commander.

Further formation produced the 2nd Battalion with 9 Railway Operating Section and 16 and 24 Railway Engineer Companies under command. This Battalion was allocated to the American section.

During December 1944 the 6th Battalion with 1, 3 and 19 Companies under command was formed and allocated to 4 Indian Railway Construction and Maintenance Group, I.E. for duty.

[Railway reconstruction Italy 1943-1946 published by Royal Engineers, 1946]

Alessandro Tuzza