Difference between revisions of "11th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry War Diary April 1943"

Revision as of 20:02, 9 April 2013

11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry War Diary April 1943

1st April VELINDRE.

A Battalion Concert, organised by Captain K.C. Johnstone and R. Ellison, was given in aid of local Charities.

2nd April 1943

2/Lt Kenneth Hoggard, posted from No 164 Officer Cadet Training Unit, reported for duty with the Battalion.

Lt. G.B. Wood was posted from the Battalion to No 4 Infantry Training Centre.

3rd April 1943

A Company continued classification Shoots on the PENALLY Ranges.

4th April 1943

C Company continued classification Shoots on the PENALLY Ranges.

15 Officers and 25 Sergeants attended a Mine-lifting Demonstration by the Divisional Royal Engineers and a Combat Group from 146 Infantry Brigade at PENYBONT.

5th April 1943

The Battalion attended a showing of the film “Desert Victory” at the CARMARTHEN Drill Hall.

2/Lt Drake was posted from the Battalion to No 4 Infantry Training Centre.

6th April 1943

Lt. J.H. Cleminson and 2/Lt A.D. Barlow attended an Artillery Command Post Exercise at 185th Field Regiment.

Lts J.E. Johnson and L. Wynn were posted to the Battalion from No 4 Infantry Training Centre for duty.

7th April 1943

A Ceremonial Parade and an Inspection were held by Lt Gen E.C.A. Schreiber C.B., D.S.O. General Officer Commanding – in – Chief, Western Command.

All Battalion transport was drawn up for inspection in the rear of the Parade. Later, the Army Commander expressed his satisfaction with the turn-out and bearing of the Battalion on the Parade.

Major J.A. Boucher, posted from 70th Battalion DLI, reported for duty and assumed command of B Company.

8th April 1943

2/Lt J.R. Kellett, posted from 161 O.C.T.U., joined the Battalion for duty.

9th April 1943

Battalion Exercise “TROJAN” took place – described on Appendix A attached to the War Diary – for details see below.

10th April 1943

The Quartermaster, all Company Quartermaster Sergeants and other representatives attended a demonstration of Packing of Stores and Equipment at Central Ordnance Depot, DONNINGTON.

Orders were received fro the move of an Advance Party to a new location at HAMILTON, Lanarkshire.

12th April 1943

An Advance Part of two Officers and 60 Other Ranks under Captain T.M. Lang moved by road to the new location, in a move titles Exercise “SOUDLEY”.

Major C.D. Hamilton, Captains C.A. Smallwood and R. Ellison left to take part in the 49th Division Exercise “BOMBARD”. This was a big exercise for the Divisional Artillery and these Officers were representing the Infantry and worked with 185th Field Regiment.

Many valuable lessons on the co-operation between Infantry and Artillery were learnt from this exercise.

13th April 1943

“SOUDLEY” Movement Instruction No 1 was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix B – for details see below.

14th April 1943

“SOUDLEY” Movement Instruction No 2 was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix C – for details see below.

15th April 1943

This was the date set for the completion of mobilisation of the Battalion. Deficiencies in personnel and equipment were still outstanding – the main item being the bulk of the Battalion’s unit transport.

As the unit transport had not yet been issued, the road move of the Battalion to the new location was delayed and the Battalion Column could not move with the rest of the Brigade. A Traffic Control Party under the command of Lt G.M. Dunnell, however, moved with the Brigade Column. Information was set out on Appendix D attached to the War Diary – for details, see below.

An Amendment to Movement Instruction No 2 was issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix E – for details see below.

16th April 1943

The bulk of new transport was drawn from the Vehicle Replacement Depot – the transport was now up to scale with the exception of the Carden-Lloyd Carriers for the Anti-Tank Platoon.

“SOUDLEY” Administrative Instruction No 1 was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix F – for details see below.

17th April 1943

The Battalion Training Instruction No 5 was issued an a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix G – for details see below.

18th April 1943

The Commanding Officer left by road for the new location, spending a night en route to “SOUDLEY” at No 4 Infantry Training Centre.

“SOUDLEY” Movement Instruction No 3 was issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix H – for details see below.

19th April 1943

The Baggage train left under the command of Lt D.F. Stephenson.

20th April

“SOUDLEY” Movement Instruction NO 4 was issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix J – for details see below. (It would appear that Appendix I was not used).

21st April 1942

The Carrier train left under the command of Lt T.H. Rowell.

22nd April 1943

The Main Body of the Battalion, under the command of Major R.B. Humphreys, moved by rail to HAMILTON.

23rd April 1943

Settling in at the new location. The Battalion was stationed in Hamilton town itself – C and HQ Companies with Battalion HQ in the Town Hall, A and B Companies at BURNBANK Camp.

Captain Brewis, Lts Stephenson and Dunnell were attached to 185th Field Regiment at REDESDALE Practice Camp for Artillery Co-operation Training for three days.

2/Lts Davies and Peet were both posted from the Battalion to 14th Battalion, DLI.

26th April 1943

Settling in.

27th April 1943

A Brigade Church Prade was held at HAMILTON. Major R.B. Humphreys was in charge of the Parade.

24th April 1943

A and B Companies were firing on the CADZOW Range.

The Road Party arrived from VELINDRE under Captain K.C. Johnstone.

27th April 1943

C Company were firing on the CADZOW Range.

A and B Companies were swimming at HAMILTON Baths.

28th April 1943

Sgts Robinson W. and Robinson J, L/Cpl Armes G. and Pte Chilton A. represented the Battalion in a DLI Team playing Sunderland F.C. at SUNDERLAND in aid of the DLI Prisoners of War Fund. The DLI Team won by seven goals to two.

29th April 1943

A Warning Order was received for a move of the Battalion back to South Wales. This was a great shock and disappointment to all ranks, after only a week at HAMILTON.

30th April 1943

2/Lt G.N. Hayes was posted for duty to the Battalion from 14th Bn DLI.

The month was chiefly spent in administrative work in connection with mobilisation and the move to HAMILTON, and finally preparation for the move back to South Wales. Every opportunity was, however, taken for training, especial emphasis being placed on Range firing.

Appendices attached to the April 1943 11th DLI War Diary.

Appendix A – Battalion Advance Guard Exercise “TROJAN” – Administrative Instructions – issued 8th April 1943.

This two page document set out the instructions for the Battalion to move to NEVERN on the first phase of the exercise.

It was intended to use the Order of March – which was attached as the second page – as a basis for experience on “TROJAN” and produce a standard Order later for the Battalion, with a Field Regiment in support, when acting as the Brigade Advance Guard. The idea was to get the Battalion on the road with the minimum of delay and remove the necessity for detailed March Tables. This was not intended to encourage “jumping the queue” to get to the Start Point and thereby exposing the Battalion to sudden air attack.

Gaps would be left where Royal Artillery, Royal Engineer and Brigade vehicles were shown in the Order.

Lt J.M. McNichol was tasked with reconnoitring the Concentration Area independently with the Intelligence Section (in their 15cwt truck) at 14:00 hours on 8th April. The Intelligence Section would mark the route as far as the Concentration Area and then contact the Provost Sergeant for signs. The Provost Sergeant would ensure that these were collected by the Regimental Police in their 15cwt truck riding at the rear of the convoy.

The Instructions included a “MARCO Code” for 9th April. The Signals Officer was to issue Army Codes as required.

The attached March Table set out the constituent vehicles in the various groups – “R”, “O”, “F” and “A” Echelon, with a mile distance between each of the groups. It was notable that in the “F” Group the Anti-Tank Platoon was shown us using Portees.

Appendix B – 11th DLI Movement Instruction No 1 – issued 13th April 1943.

This single-page document set out the basic information for the move to Scotland – termed Exercise “SOUDLEY”.

The Battalion was to move in five groups as follows:-

16th April – Unit transport – less the Advance Party and Rear Party – by road staging overnight at WELLINGTON, PRESTON and CARLISLE – due to arrive in HAMILTON on 20th April.

19th April – the Baggage Train – with a Baggage Party to leave NEWCASTLE EMLYN Station at 20:45 hours.

21st April – the Carrier Train – with all the tracked vehicles and the personnel of the Carrier and Mortar Platoons – to depart from NEWCASTLE EMLYN Station at 04:50 hours.

22nd April – the Main Body – by rail – departing from NEWCASTLE EMLYN Station at 00:30 hours.

The Rear Party – to depart by road once hand-over of accommodation was completed – departure to be on the orders of Battalion HQ.

The major part of the baggage would have to be loaded on to the train as soon as possible, given the timing of the departure of the unit transport, so as to make the maximum use of those vehicles before their leaving on 16th April.

Road parties would take their full complement of blankets while rail parties would take one each – the balance to be handed in on the Orders of the Quartermaster.

Arrangements were to be made by the Messing Officer, Company Commanders, the President of the Mess Committee and the RSM for ensuring that all outstanding tradesmen’s accounts were settled before departure. Imprest Accounts were not to be closed but cash balances were to be paid into the Bank and a cheque for the balance sent to the Command Cashier in Chester, and arrangements made to open new Bank accounts in HAMILTON.

Maps were to be drawn from stores for all parties moving by road. Dress for the move was to be second-best battle-dress with Field Service Marching Order and Field Service Caps.

Appendix C – 11th DLI Movement Instruction No 2 – issued 14th April.

This three-page document amplified the information set out in Movement Instruction No 1 – see above.

The loading of the Baggage Train was to start forthwith, under the command of Lt D.F. Stephenson, assisted by 2/Lts R.C. Kingston and R.H. Broughton. These three Officers were to report to the Quartermaster for instructions in the loading procedure at 12:30 hours on 14th April. The RSM was to detail a Baggage Guard of one NCO and six Other Ranks for duty from 20:00 hours on 14th April. They would come under Lt Stephenson’s command and would be detailed nightly until the Baggage Train departed.

Various Officers would have responsibility for certain specific stores and baggage as follows:-

Major R.B. Humphreys – Battalion Band instruments.

Lt J.M. McNichol – Information Room books etc.

Lt J.M. Cleminson – Dance Band instruments.

President of the Mess Committee – Officers’ Mess stores – by rail.

Regimental Sergeant Major – Ammunition and Sergeants’ Mess stores by rail.

Lt D.F. Stephenson would travel in command of the Baggage Train accompanied by 2/Lt R.H. Broughton, one NCO and six Other Ranks per Company and a representative of the Quartermaster.

The allotment of transport for the road move was only provisional as it was not known, when the Instruction was drawn up, whether the new issue of transport would have taken place. (As mentioned above this was, in fact, a source of delay in the road move). A listing of allocated transport was included covering the contingencies.

The Road Party would be under the command of Captain K.C. Johnstone with the following Officers and personnel included:-

Captain D.M. Grant – Drivers of vehicles and spare drivers.

Lt G.M. Dunnell – Anti-Tank personnel.

Lt F.W. McMichael – Motor Transport personnel.

Lt J.H. Cleminson – Motorcycle riders.

Lt L. Wynn – Four Cooks.

The March Table was to be issued later with a provisional departure time of 07:00 hours on 16th April.

All tracked vehicles, other than those for which other disposal orders had been received, were to be loaded on to the Carrier Train which was due to depart at 04:50 hours on 19th April. Lt J.B. Nicholson was to liaise with the Stationmaster at NEWCASTLE EMLYN Station regarding loading times.

Lt T.H. Rowell was to be in command of the Carrier Train, accompanied by Lt Nicholson and those members of the Carrier and Mortar Platoons not included in the Road Party.

Major R.B. Humphreys was to command the Main Body Train, assisted by 2/Lt R.N. Peet as Messing Officer, in the absence of Lt W.L. Carr on a Course. The rail party’s kit was to be loaded by Company on to the train at the Station, while the kit for the Road Party would accompany them on the trucks.

The third page of this Appendix, containing the last couple of paragraphs, was a poor copy and could not be read clearly.

Appendix D – Exercise “SOUDLEY” – Instructions for Traffic Control Party – issued 15th April 1943.

The Traffic Control Party was given a route to follow for each day as follows:-

16th April – VELINDRE – LLANDILO – LLANDOVERY – BRECON – CLYRO – LEOMINSTER – LUDLOW – BROMFIELD – BRIDGNORTH – WELLINGTON (overnight at Apley Castle Staging Camp).

17th April – WHITCHURCH – TARPORLEY – WARRINGTON BY-PASS – WIGAN – PRESTON (overnight).

18th April – LANCASTER – KENDAL – PENRITH – CARLISLE (overnight at Hadrian’s Camp).

19th April – GRETNA – LOCKERBIE – HAMILTON.

The Party was responsible for its own route-finding on the first day but from the second would come under the control of the Brigade Transport Officer, who would issue Orders for the establishment of several Traffic Control Posts.

The planned Order of March of the Brigade Group Column was as follows:-

Divisional HQ, Divisional Signals, Brigade Company R.A.S.C., HQ R.E.M.E., 187 Field Ambulance, 60 Field Security Section, 70 Brigade HQ, Divisional Postal Section, 1st Tyneside Scottish, 35 Field Hygiene Section, 10th DLI.

Special attention was to be paid to vehicle maintenance en-route.

Appendix E – Amendment No 1 to 11th DLI Movement Instruction No 2 – issued 15th April 1943.

This amendment dealt with the implications of the new transport for the Battalion NOT being available in time for the planned move on 16th April, as it was then that it was being drawn from the Vehicle Replacement Depot (see above). The Road Party would not now move before 18th April, other than Lt Dunnell and seven Other Ranks from the Traffic Control Platoon of B Company, and five motorcyclists from the Carrier Platoon, who were to operate as originally intended, as the Traffic Control Post, leaving as planned on 16th April at 07:15 hours.

The Party were to take their full kit and equipment, blankets and rations. Arrangements were made for them to draw rations from 10th DLI en route.

Appendix F – Exercise “SOUDLEY” – Administrative Instruction No 1 – issued 16th April 1943.

This Appendix dealt with the details of handing over accommodation and stores in a clean and tidy condition, ensuring no security documents were left behind and that all accounts etc were settled.

Appendix G – Training Instruction No 5 – issued 19th April 1943.

As previously, this document covered a wide range of subjects as follows:-

Introduction – this stressed the imminent nature of active service and made clear that, with an unknown time left, individual and collective training had to be pursued simultaneously, as well as preparations made for training for an assault landing. The record of the other DLI Battalions in North Africa was seen as an achievement to be emulated.

Collective Training – the maxim was quality, not quantity. The aim was for Company Commanders to take their men out into the countryside for spells of 2 to 4 days at a time before returning to HAMILTON. Constant road marches should be used to toughen the men’s feet, and night exercises made a regular weekly feature. Battalion exercises were to take place fortnightly.

Individual training – the highest standard of fitness was to be achieved. Early morning PT Parades would continue, supplemented by cliff assault training using ropes and scaling ladders in full equipment and using scaling nets to access landing craft. Weapon training would have top priority and skills would be honed using at least 40 minutes training per day. Fifteen rounds a week remained the minimum to be fired plus special attention being given to firing the Bren Gun at 500 yards.

Swimming - was also to be pursued and efforts were in train to find a suitable baths – results were to be recorded in each man’s AB64.

Assault landing – dummy landing craft were to be constructed to practice men in embarkation and disembarkation – and this would also be reflected in fitness and PT training.

Hours of Parades – were set out and it was also confirmed that on Saturday mornings there would either be A CO’s, Adjutant’s or RSM’s Parade prior to breakfast.

Officers’ training – this would concentrate on assault landings and co-operation between Infantry and Tanks.

TEWTs and Officers’ Days would be held weekly – usually Fridays. An evening lecture programme would be included in Battalion Orders.

Company Commanders were to ensure that all newly joined subalterns qualified on Rifle and LMG and were familiar with all Platoon weapons, including grenades. All Officers were to be given instruction on the Anti-Tank Gun.

Every Officer had to be proficient with both the No 18 and No 38 Wireless Set.

The following Officers were to be trained for the appointments shown:-

Adjutant – Lt D.F. Stephenson.

Signals Officer – Lt M.C. Hebbert.

Mortar Platoon – 2/Lt A.D. Barlow.

Carrier Platoon – 2/Lt R.C. Kingston.

Anti-Tank Platoon – 2/Lt R.H. Broughton.

Pioneers – 2/Lt K. Hoggard.

During the last stage of training every opportunity was expected to be taken to give extra responsibility to junior Officers, Warrant Officers and NCOs to develop their initiative and powers of command so they could take over as casualties occurred. This was to be extended to administration and the CO accepted that errors might well occur, but would be forgiven if initiative and common sense were displayed. Specialist training – a new class of eight Signallers were to be trained beginning in the week commencing 16th May, while the existing men concentrated on wireless and line training.

Sub-calibre shooting was to be given top priority for the Anti-Tank Platoon with the intention that they move on to full calibre as soon as possible.

Stretcher-bearers – a new class of four men per Company – including S Company – were to commence training in first-aid stretcher-bearing duties on 26th April 1943. They were not to become part of the body of stretcher-bearers but would return to their Companies after training as a first reserve. Only first class men of good physique were to be chosen for this extra role.

Drill and turn-out – the CO expected the Battalion to make a good reputation for itself around the town as a result of smart dress and bearing.

Care of equipment – now that mobilisation scale of equipment had been issued to the Battalion each man was expected to pay attention to its care and maintenance in good order. A daily period at the end of the working day of half an hour was to be devoted to cleaning, repair and maintenance of weapons and equipment.

Appendix H – Exercise “SOUDLEY” – 11th DLI Movement Instruction No 3 – The Road Party.

In view of the delay in issuing the unit’s transport the movement of the Road Party was not likely to take place before 20th April – the actual date would be notified.

This was therefore essentially a revision in some details of the earlier Instruction, with Captain K.C. Johnstone in overall command of the convoy and Lt McNichol in charge of the Traffic Control Party, who would mark the route and set up the relevant Traffic Control Posts. The route and staging points remained the same.

The Battalion’s convoy would be self-contained and included Cooks and arrangements for rations en route. The make-up of the convoy and the timings for reaching and departing the various points were included on the attached March Table. Five groups of vehicles were involved in the convoy – totalling some 55 vehicles.

Appendix J – Exercise “SOUDLEY” – move of the Personnel Train – issued 20th April 1943.

The train containing the Main Body of the Battalion’s men was due to depart at 00:30 hours from NEWCASTLE EMLYN Station, arriving at HAMILTON Central at 12:20 hours the same day. It had now been decided that the men would not march to the Station as had been planned previously, but taken by a ferry system of 3-tonners, on a timetable with fifteen minutes between each group.

Rations were to be loaded and items such as the Band instruments were to be at the Station by 23:00 hours. The train would be taken over by Lt J.E. Johnson on 21st April. Arrangements were made for a supply of tea at the various halts on the journey.

Each Platoon was to detail a Bren Gun Team with three loaded magazines per weapon for immediate protection. The RSM and the CO’s Bugler were to be as close on the train to the compartment of the OC Train as feasible.

An amended version of the make-up[ of the Rear Party was also included in the document – this was to be under the command of the Quartermaster.

To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.