Difference between revisions of "GS Branch Summary of 23rd Division Operations 10th to 31st May 1940"

Revision as of 15:03, 28 April 2011

This Summary of Operations was attached to the GS Branch War Diary for May - contained in file WO 167/262 - and effectively sets out, in a more literary form, the activities, movements and actions in which the Division was involved - thus complementing the War Diary itself.

Where information subsequently cast doubts upon the statements made in this Summary I have indicated the queries by using italic script. Otherwise, the material is as it was submitted. Because of the length of the document it has been separated into sections by date.

PREAMBLE

23rd Division was despatched to France during April 1940 for labour on the aerodromes of the Air Component. The Division was to return to England to complete its training after three months. There were two other "second-line" Divisions also sent to France as a source of labour - including 46 Division, mentioned within the War Diary

Individual training had not been completed at the time of embarkation. Only a small proportion of the men had fired a rifle and none had been properly exercised in Bren Gun or Anti-Tank Rifle. This is partly challenged as far as 70 Brigade is concerned - reference is made in the Brigade and Battalion War Diaries to the efforts made to ensure that the War Course on the Rifle had been fired by everybody.

Since the Division was intended for labour overseas and not for operations during the three months in question, it was sent overseas with only a small and modified scale of weapons, equipment and transport. Each Infantry Battalion was allocated 8 Anti-Tank Rifles and 18 Bren Guns - although of this allotment some 25 Bren Guns remained in the UK for the defence of merchant shipping. No pistols had been issued. Battalions had only twelve vehicles each.

The Divisional Artillery and Signals remained in the UK and only a modified Despatch Rider Section under 2/Lt D Bell went overseas from that Signals component. Only one Field Ambulance, rather than two, went overseas - in this case 186 Field Ambulance accompanied by one Field Hygiene Section.

On arrival in France the Division was immediately dispersed over a wide area to the aerodrome sites on which they were to work, and where they were accommodated in tented camps. Work was well underway by the end of April with the intention that the week would consist of four day's labour work, two day's training and one day's rest.

On the day of the German invasion - 10th May 1940 - the Division was dispersed as follows:-

HQ 23rd Division Miraumont N47

HQ 69th Brigade Becourt N36

HQ 70th Brigade Hurlingcourt N10

HQ Royal Engineers Miraumont N47

HQ 233rd Field Company Royal Engineers Becourt N36

HQ 507th Field Company Royal Engineers Beaucourt N37

HQ 508th Field Park Company Royal Engineers Tinques H20

8th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (Motorcycle Battalion) Dirval H21

9th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (Machine-Gun Battalion) Monchy le Breton H21

5th East Yorkshires Grevillers N47

6th Green Howards Irles N47

7th Green Howards Thelus H40

10th Durham Light Infantry Nuncq H10

11th Durham Light Infantry Nuncq H10

1st Tyneside Scottish Beauvoir N19

Supply Echelon Beaudricourt N19

186th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps Miraumont N47

33rd Field Hygiene Section Royal Army Medical Corps Miraumont N47

Provost Company, Corps of Royal Military Police Grandecourt N47

with the exception of the Field Park Company the Royal Engineers units were distributed around the Division in Sections.