Difference between revisions of "War Diary - CRA - October 1941"

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'''1 October 1941'''
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'''6 October 1941 – [[Reykjavik]] Area.'''
  
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Clocks put back one hour.  Local time now two hours behind British Summer Time.
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09:00 – 17:00 hours.  Anti-aircraft Signals Exercise No. 3.  Originally scheduled for 22 September 1941, this exercise was postponed until 29 September 1941 and again until 6 October 1941, owing to adverse weather conditions.  The exercise brought to light various points with regard to communications and procedure, which required amendment or further practice.  An Appendix A concerning this exercise was attached to the original War Diary file.  (No copy retained in the file at The National Archives).
  
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'''3/4 October 1941'''
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'''7/8 October 1941 – [[Selfoss]].'''
  
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G.O.C’s. Model Exercise in Mountain Warfare.  All Commanding Officers attended.
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Force Signals Exercise No. 11. This exercise had as its objective to practice Division, Brigade and Battalion Headquarters in Battle Drill in the field, with particular reference to mobile warfare.  Weather mild.  Fine.
  
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'''5 October 1941'''
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'''10 October 1941'''
  
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G.O.C’s. Conference attended by Commander, Royal Artillery.  Subject – Training of 49 Mountain Division.
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17:00 hours. Conference on Force Signals Exercise No. 11 held at Fish Shed Theatre, Thornhill Camp, [[Reykjavik]].
  
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'''6 October 1941'''
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'''15/16 October 1941'''
  
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G.O.C. held T.E.W.T. on Mountain Warfare in area GEITHALS – HELDAFELL.  All Commanding Officers attended.
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Force Exercise No. 12. Inter-Brigade Exercise with troops. 70 Infantry Brigade Blue Force. 147 Infantry Brigade  Red Force, both forces operating with attached troops. Weather – very wet. Conditions extremely unpleasant. A copy of the G.O.C’s. message to all taking part in the exercise was attached to the War Diary as Appendix B.  (No copy retained in the file at The National Archives).
  
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'''13 October 1941'''
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'''18 October 1941'''
  
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2/Lt J G B Halden Royal Artillery attached HQ, Royal Artillery, as Intelligence Officer Royal Artillery.
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17:30 hours.  Final Conference on Force Exercise No. 12 held at Fish Shed Theatre, Thornhill Camp.
  
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'''10/15 October 1941'''
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'''29 October 1941'''
  
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Senior Officers’ Course at Force Tactical School.  All Royal Artillery Regimental Commanders  attended except Lt-Colonel F W B Maufe, Royal Artillery commanding 69 Field Regiment Royal Artillery.  Major T L Chalton, Royal Artillery, attended in his place.
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09:15 – 18:00 hours.  Area [[Hafnafjordur]].
  
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'''17 October 1941'''
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Force Exercise No. 13.  This exercise was devised to provide practice for Intelligence Sections of Infantry Brigades and Artillery Observation Posts.  Enemy were represented by detachments under command Lt-Col F N Richardson T.D. Royal Artillery as follows:-
  
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13:00 hours.  Firing practice by 85 Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery 40mm Bofors Light Anti-aircraft sites at EFFERSEY and CORBETT CAMP with RAF co-operation.  Report attached to file as Appendix A.  (No copy retained in the file at The National Archives).
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507 Field Battery Royal Artillery.
  
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'''18 October 1941'''
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Two Sections Medium Machine-Guns (2nd Kensingtons).
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Two 3” mortars and 2” mortars (70 Infantry Brigade).
  
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11:00 hours.  Firing practice by 4/12 (Heavy) Anti-aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery from site R 1 with RAF co-operation.  Report attached to the file as Appendix B.  (No copy retained in the file at The National Archives).
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60 Other Ranks 143 Field Regiment Royal Artillery with Light Machine Guns and rifles.
  
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'''17/22 October 1941'''
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Two Carriers with Drivers and Light Machine Guns (143 Field Regiment Royal Artillery).
  
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Royal Artillery Refresher Course at Force Tactical School.  Mainly administrative.  The following Officers attended:- Major B Armitage, Major C T Hackett, Major T L Chalton, Major H C Catcheside, Major J F Mathews,  Captain H S Calvert, Captain R N S Phillips, Captain J A H Simmonds, Captain L A Mount, Captain W L Johnson, Lieut C W Fisher, Lieut J R Kitchen, Lieut R O Adamson, Lieut W L Prestwich, Lieut P M P Coghlan, Lieut W S Brown, 2/Lieut H G Walton.
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Officers to command various parties were provided by 143 Field Regiment Royal Artillery and Northrop aircraft of the Norwegian Squadron carried out imaginary dive bombing attack.
  
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The syllabus for the Course was attached to the War Diary as Appendix C.  (No copy retained on file at The National Archives).
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Firing took place to the following scale of ammunition:-
  
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'''19/20 October 1941'''
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25pdr – 86 rounds High Explosive, 40 rounds smoke.
  
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Force Signals Exercise No. 14 to practice R.O.F.T. system.  Weather extremely wet and conditions bad.  Composite HQ Royal Artillery provided by 143 Field Regiment as HQ Royal Artillery engaged in Royal Artillery Refresher Course.
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3” mortar – 40 rounds High Explosive.
  
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'''22 October 1941'''
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2” mortar – 35 rounds High Explosive, 5 rounds smoke.
  
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17:00 hours. Final Conference on Force Exercise No.14 at Force Tactical School.
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Medium Machine-Guns – 1500 rounds .303 Mark VII.
  
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'''28/29 October 1941'''
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Light Machine Guns and rifles – 1500 rounds .303 Mark VII.
  
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Force Exercise No. 15 to test P.A.D. and A.R.P. arrangements both military and civilian.  In conjunction with this exercise was staged Anti-aircraft Signals Exercise No. 4.  A Report on the Exercise was attached to the War Diary as Appendix  D.  (For details see below).
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This exercise provided excellent practice for both Infantry and Artillery Observation Posts and much useful experience was gained.  Weather fair.
  
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'''Appendices attached to the October 1941 War Diary file for Iceland Force Commander Royal Artillery.'''
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Weather for month generally mild, though considerable rain and high winds. Owing both to weather conditions and shortage of aircraft very little Anti-aircraft training in co-operation with the RAF was possible during the month.
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'''
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A.A.D.C’s Report on Exercise 15 of 1941.'''
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This report on the Signals Exercise ran to three pages and provided a comprehensive account of the operational difficulties encountered in the running of the Operations Room and maintaining contact with gun sites etc.  Delays and missed messages were frequent and many suggestions were made for tightening up the process, ensuring a degree of silence and the need for message traffic to be constantly monitored.
 
  
 
To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - [mailto:70brigade@newmp.org.uk click here].
 
To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - [mailto:70brigade@newmp.org.uk click here].

Latest revision as of 11:54, 4 May 2018

6 October 1941 – Reykjavik Area.

09:00 – 17:00 hours. Anti-aircraft Signals Exercise No. 3. Originally scheduled for 22 September 1941, this exercise was postponed until 29 September 1941 and again until 6 October 1941, owing to adverse weather conditions. The exercise brought to light various points with regard to communications and procedure, which required amendment or further practice. An Appendix A concerning this exercise was attached to the original War Diary file. (No copy retained in the file at The National Archives).

7/8 October 1941 – Selfoss.

Force Signals Exercise No. 11. This exercise had as its objective to practice Division, Brigade and Battalion Headquarters in Battle Drill in the field, with particular reference to mobile warfare. Weather mild. Fine.

10 October 1941

17:00 hours. Conference on Force Signals Exercise No. 11 held at Fish Shed Theatre, Thornhill Camp, Reykjavik.

15/16 October 1941

Force Exercise No. 12. Inter-Brigade Exercise with troops. 70 Infantry Brigade Blue Force. 147 Infantry Brigade Red Force, both forces operating with attached troops. Weather – very wet. Conditions extremely unpleasant. A copy of the G.O.C’s. message to all taking part in the exercise was attached to the War Diary as Appendix B. (No copy retained in the file at The National Archives).

18 October 1941

17:30 hours. Final Conference on Force Exercise No. 12 held at Fish Shed Theatre, Thornhill Camp.

29 October 1941

09:15 – 18:00 hours. Area Hafnafjordur.

Force Exercise No. 13. This exercise was devised to provide practice for Intelligence Sections of Infantry Brigades and Artillery Observation Posts. Enemy were represented by detachments under command Lt-Col F N Richardson T.D. Royal Artillery as follows:-

507 Field Battery Royal Artillery.

Two Sections Medium Machine-Guns (2nd Kensingtons).

Two 3” mortars and 2” mortars (70 Infantry Brigade).

60 Other Ranks 143 Field Regiment Royal Artillery with Light Machine Guns and rifles.

Two Carriers with Drivers and Light Machine Guns (143 Field Regiment Royal Artillery).

Officers to command various parties were provided by 143 Field Regiment Royal Artillery and Northrop aircraft of the Norwegian Squadron carried out imaginary dive bombing attack.

Firing took place to the following scale of ammunition:-

25pdr – 86 rounds High Explosive, 40 rounds smoke.

3” mortar – 40 rounds High Explosive.

2” mortar – 35 rounds High Explosive, 5 rounds smoke.

Medium Machine-Guns – 1500 rounds .303 Mark VII.

Light Machine Guns and rifles – 1500 rounds .303 Mark VII.

This exercise provided excellent practice for both Infantry and Artillery Observation Posts and much useful experience was gained. Weather fair.

Weather for month generally mild, though considerable rain and high winds. Owing both to weather conditions and shortage of aircraft very little Anti-aircraft training in co-operation with the RAF was possible during the month.


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

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